we need to watch what we do and say

I am a mother of 2 young children. I am also 14 months post op and have lost 152 pounds. Well most people including myself think thats great and for the most part it is..Well it is except my 8.5 year old daughter who only weighs 43 pounds has picked up my new eating habits. She reads labels, wants to count carbs and protein. She was always a picky eater and now its gotten worse. I thought it was sweet when she would exercise with me in the beginning and lord knows exercise never hurt anyone but now her weight just continues to drop. Everyone says I have ruined my child. Could this be true??? I do want my children to eat healthy and live healthy normal lives. I dont keep them 100% away from junk but yes we do eat healthy in our home. I make her drink health drinks per the doctor now since she doesnt eat enough. My son is 7 and weighs a normal 50 pounds. Am I going about this or thinking wrong? Like i said, I dont deprive them of anything, including sweets, i just moderate everything and i do substitute sugar for sugar free and they like it.....But I didnt mean for my 8 year old daughter to be so self conscious about weight. I dont want her to have problems as she gets older. From the time I had my surgery she could tell you pound for pound how much weight i have lost. Now I am getting ready to have my abdomnioplasty next month and I really worry about her...Any advice would be appreciated.. Thank you, Tina Kings Mtn,NC

Hi Tina: First congrats on your weight loss and upcoming PS. I know what you mean about having a child who mimics your post-op behavior. At first, I too, thought it was cute and endearing when my 4 year old daughter wanted to exercise with me. Actually, she still participates in about 50% of my exercise regimens. However, lately, I've noticed that she's starting to "PB" (in the LapBand world, that means Productive Burp, which happens if a Bandster eats too quickly or too much, the food above the band is thrown up). I mean, she'll be eating her dinner, and towards the final bites, when she's full, she'll say ... "Mommy, I have a stomach ache and I'm too full." And then proceed to gag and spit her food out! My mother is mortified. I'm a little less concerned, because my baby DOES like to eat. She's a healthy 42 pounds (and 42" tall). This concerns me, because your daughter is twice her age, and weighs the same. In any event, I wanted you to know that I share your concerns. Being WLS patients and mothers of daughters, we have to be EXTRA carefull. Here's to wishing you a good outcome. And don't sweat others' telling you that you've "ruined" your child. She already has the propensity to be overweight from your genes (and your husbands). In the end, I'm sure she'll start picking up weight. Once the summer is here and she is expending more energy in playtime, she will have an increased appetite and perhaps pick up some pounds that she has lost. In the interim, I'd switch to whole milk for her and your son, and "regular" or non-diet foods and condiments. They can spare the calories, we can't. LOL Good luck! Staci LapBand 4/26/04 267/171/135-145

First off, congratulations on your weight loss. I understand your concern for your daughter. I would advise you to tell her your concerns, & talk to your doctor. But dont harp on it. My daughter is only 2, but I was so worried when she would gain even a pound that she would be fat like me. We are animals first. There are no fat lions or skunks. right? That's because no one is harping on them about what is right or wrong about food. If they are hungry they eat and if they are full they stop. We humans screw that up. And all of the junk food in the world will not make your daughter any healthier. If you are providing healthy meals and snacks, & she still wont eat, than maybe its time for a Pshcologist, not a twinkie! & Drop the blame! You have done the very best for your family by teaching them the healthy way to eat. Be proud of your choice!