Kids & Weight???

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2003
Kids & Weight???
4
Tue, 03-01-2005 - 6:34pm

My daughter is going to nationals for Tae Kwon Do in June. She wants to lose weight so she can fight in a lower weight division.


Avatar for queenbeana
iVillage Member
Registered: 06-25-2003
Tue, 03-01-2005 - 7:21pm

Hi Gretchen...

Does she drink any soda??? What are her snacks like??? What does she eat??? I agree she doesn't need to do anymore working out but if she is determined maybe some Yoga... I know flexibilty could only help with Tae kwon Do *sp.

Anyway, Did you ask her why she wanted to be in a lower weight class?? Does it have to do with she is more comfortable being the big fish so to speak??? I think my first step would be to talk to her coach about her wishes and see if he has any suggestions on the safest way fo her achieve her goal.

Good Luck.

Sabrina

iVillage Member
Registered: 03-19-2003
Tue, 03-01-2005 - 8:28pm
Gretchen-- I think that you should find out why exactly she feels or wants to be in a lower weight division. For me I worry about children/young adults being concerned about their weight-- yes, there are a few who might need to (and have parental support in doing so), but from what you write about your physically fit DD it just seems that there is no real need for her to drop weight. Sabrina's suggestion of talking to the coach is great. I'd agree there, see what they have to say.
~IslandGirl


:~:~: Moderation is Key :~:~:

Getting Fit In Your 30's
cl-vi_islandgirl

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iVillage Member
Registered: 04-17-2003
Wed, 03-02-2005 - 7:47am

The biggest concern I see here is that her desire is to be in a lower weight class for this tournament. It is like with wrestling - they diet before a meet to be in a lower weight class, then when the meet is over they put the weight back on. They continue this cycle and are therefore yo-yo dieting. Now, usually they are dropping below a healthy weight and that is not the case with your daughter but it is the only real area I see where you should have some concern.

As for wanting to drop weight - 114 is a healthy weight for her height and age - I would recommend she stop eating past 7:00pm, cut out any pop she may drink and increase her water intake. I do not see where she should increase her workouts at all.

I did karate for 4 years, the tournaments are tough and I don't blame her for wanting to be in lower weight class - good luck to you both.

iVillage Member
Registered: 04-09-2003
Wed, 03-02-2005 - 11:45am

I agree with all of you. I would really hate to see her change too much. She does eat all the time which I attribute to the fact she works out so much and is a growing kid. She eats fairly healthy and quite health conscience.


I keep debating about talking to the instructor who is heading up her nationals team. She's okay and everything but a little bit of nut when it comes to Tae Kwon Do, as is my daughter. I wonder if she is really qualified to give diet instruction. Particularly to impressionable young kids. I'll have to think on how to best handle that.


I will talk to the instructor about the benefits of which would be the best division for her to fight in. The age range for her division is 11 to 15. However, if there is enough older kids they will split that in half and have older kids and younger kids.


I think her motivation is to be the "big fish" in the pond as one of you put it. In her last tournament she was the only Jr., female of her rank so they moved her up to the adults. Which they told the adults to "remember she is only 12" Ha! One kicked her in the solar plexus (sp?) and they had to stop the match, then another kicked