I joined Lifestyle Family Fitness today

It looks like it will be a good solution for us.  They don't have basketball.  They have the elliptical machines instead of a track.  But it is amazing how much exercise equipment they have.  I couldn't count the number of elliptical machines or the cycling machines (with a tv) that they had in the main area.  then they have a bicycling class in a separate room.  But the seats in the main area look more comfortable to me!  They have bike classes, exercise classes, a weight training section, and a circuit area.  They also have a tanning booth and a sauna.  It is really a nice set-up.  I really hope that Jesse and Nathan will get a good work-out there and they will stick with it.  If they stick with it long enough to discover that they actually feel good after they work out, maybe they will stick with it.  It is also great for kids with ADHD to get the exercise.  It helps their brain work better.

Good for you guys.   I did not answer your plea for ideas for the kids, but this type of thing is about all you can do. Plant seeds for later, even if they do not seem to take right now. Put out better foods, do more active things!  My kids used to go to the gym with me. One kid still likes activity, was born that way, - the other never did, never will, probably!  NOTE:  One of the hardest lessons I have learned becoming a mom is that kids come to us a certain way - not exactly as 'moldable" as once believed! Big shocker to most - all of you out there who have none, but will, and if they are cooperative - you got lucky. I had to drag my youngest everywhere out from the tv or just layin about, did not work. Gyms are a good, direct answer to the questions, "How can we move today?"  I have been kind of gym bashing lately and felt bad about that - there are many positives. I have belonged to Golds, Family Fitness, another local gym - YMCA - all with very positive payoffs.  In my case, i am so cheap that i will NOT pay for something I do not use - so that can be a big motivation.

I still need to find ideas for how to sneak more protein into their diets.  I put vanilla protein in Jesse's oatmeal this morning.  It was the weight loss version already.  So he got 21 grams of protein in breakfast.  Should I try to sneak some fiber in there with it too?  He requested a second bowl.  But I told him to drink some water instead.  He should be full. If he feels hungry, I need to find ways to help him feel satisfied with less food and fewer carbohydrates.  His birthmother and her dad's side of the family have to continually work to control their weight. I hope they will utilize the gym.  Nathan needs to finish his personal fitness badge in Boy Scouts.  I told him he can do that at the gym.,  Maybe Jesse needs to work on that badge too. I had told the man at the gym that I homeschool both boys.  He helped me find a way to work this in so all three of us can get exercise.  Maybe they will play up to the "grown-up" element of them going to the gym.  Jesse especially would eat that up. Now I plan to make sure they have gym shorts they can wear for tomorrow.  I also need to get their water bottles out.  Jesse and I got new sneakers and a lightweight Nike bag for each of them to change their shoes when they go.  I still have mine from Curves.  They will also want to have some electrolyte water flavor things to go with that.

If he's still hungry after his oatmeal, maybe a piece of fruit would work.

I had Jesse with me today for my doctor appointment and then took him with me for errands.  Everything he wanted was high in calories and high in fat and carbohydrates.  He even cried when I asked him to make a better food choice when he asked for greasy potato chips. I wonder if we need to see a dietician. Jesse wanted me to buy junk food for groceries.  He kept telling me that we were out of food.  I tried to explain to him that his dad and I have had to change our eating habits and substitute old foods for healthier choices.  But he still wants the other foods. I hope we can help him get things turned around.,  Wish us luck when we go to the fitness club tomorrow morning. Loretta

Fiber especially would help! Psyllium husks is a great thing - however it is kind of unpalatable - texture mainly. I have similar concerns about my oldest GS - when he hits the top of a growth spurt, he kind of fleshes out a bit. He seems to be built like my brother and I - brick sh*t houses! Very muscular, but on the chubby side. My DD and I agreed that the way we will try to deal with him is make him wait for 15 minutes before he gets seconds. We also must make sure he has eaten all of his meal first!  He rarely asks for seconds, but we just do not want to encourage more food.  I wonder if he has the familial trait of a broken "appestat" - cannot tell when he is actually full.  I'm not sure this would work well with a special needs boy, that might be a whole nuther level. Maybe set a timer, then when he isn't looking, turn it off - good chance he will be otherwise occupied.  If he still asks for more food, give him half of what he asked for.  It is hard - all of us need more food once in a while - when to give in, when to withhold?

Sort of a stupid question, but does psyllium husk come in any form that a pill or powder to drink (like metemucil).  Why I'm asking this is that I'm wondering if they all expand.  I know the powder of course does, and I read on the pill bottle that they do too.  Just something I've been wondering about.  Would like to find some that doesn't expand like that.