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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/11/2009 3:55:41 PM

purepleasure

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pixie, is he on any medications right now?

Depending on his abilities, teach him to measure and how to apply portion control with food. Find some cute measuring cups, and make a game of sorts in measuring your meal portions. For instance, if you're having green beans, and the portion is 1/2 cup, use the 1/2 cup measure and dole out a portion for Mommy, and one for Junior, same with the meats and whatever else you're having. Immediately put any leftovers away, even before eating. Explain that the rest of the food is for later, and now it's time to eat only what's on your plates.

Does he like to toss a baseball or playground type ball? Any type of movement is beneficial to both of you. The Wii is a great idea. A few years ago there was a dance type game that required the player to step on different spots on a floor pad.

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/11/2009 3:59:14 PM

devilishpixie

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Music is hard for him to tolerate for to long then he looks for a quiet place. That is another reason that I stay away from dance classes and aerobic classes, loud noises and big crowds are hard for him.

We do have a large trampoline that I try to get him on at least a couple times a week, he loves to try and bounce me off. lol

I didn't realize the Wii Fit was so quick and easy with the games.

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/11/2009 4:01:57 PM

devilishpixie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: purepleasure

pixie, is he on any medications right now?

No, he isn't on any medications as of yet. We have been able to deal with his issues though a strict routine and controling his environment as much as possible.

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/11/2009 4:03:26 PM

devilishpixie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: CalifChick

Have you upped his water intake? I tell my kids that sometimes when we think we're hungry, we're actually thirsty.

Cali

He drinks ALOT of water. lol

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/11/2009 9:05:53 PM

NovelApproach

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If Wii Fit is hard to find in stores, try Wii Sports Resort, Active Life, Family Challenge, and other "sports" games. The sales associate at your local game store should be able to help you. Workout DVD's could also be fun - pick something based on popular dance moves or martial arts and spend a little time doing that together every day. You might also like to get him a step counter and challenge him to hit a certain goal each day. Reward a streak of days with a fun activity and a slight increase to his target number. If his balance is good enough, try jump-roping, hula-hooping or one of those skip-counter toys... I think its called a Skip-It, but I could be mistaken.

Do you have any sort of playgroup or support group with other families with autistic kids? You could try organizing some sort of group athletic activity. You might even be able to set up a special-needs class. Take the whole group to laser tag or paintball if you think they can handle it. CB adores paintball and airsoft, but he's significantly older and on the higher-functioning end of the spectrum, so YMMV.

The thing with the measuring cups sounds like a good idea. You could also use a small scale and weigh your plates.

Make sure to eat a good breakfast, as early as is feasable - it'll help kick-start your metabolisms so you'll process fats and sugars better. Be on the lookout for high-bulk, low calorie foods - soups, whole-grain breads, low-starch fruits and veggies like melon, cauliflower, and celery.

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/11/2009 9:42:44 PM

lovingpet

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I have a couple of suggestions. One of them is kind of near and dear to me because it has been the one activity that my oldest has been involved with that has really given him self esteem, helped him to relate to his peers better, and pushed him to become and stay physically fit. It is scouting. I know some have issues around the religious aspect of it, but it really is a phenomenal program for boys. If your local council turns him away, contact the national council directly because that absolutely should not happen. Scouting is designed to allow every boy who does the work to be able to achieve. There are adjusted programs for boys with special needs and it can all be adapted to fit his capabilities. I can't recommend this highly enough. It is the place where my son shines and it is so great to see.

My other suggestion is simple. Physical activity for kids was always supposed to have been FUN!!! Frankly, aside from the concept of having a physically demanding job, it is supposed to be for adults too. Working out is a flawed concept on that basis alone. It's not supposed to be work. It is supposed to be a good time. There is a lot of talk about the price of gym and pool memberships or the price of equipment, but honestly that is not really necessary. It is getting cold so that does put an extra block in your path. Active video games can be good, but I will warn you the kids learn really quickly how to play with the least effort possible and even back to sitting once again. Dancing video games could be good. Shadow boxing and just turning up some fun music and having a blast are great ideas. Ever let him just bounce on the bed? You'd be amazed what a "workout" that can be! LOL When it gets warm, just toss the ball in the yard or at the park, go to the pool and toss those water bomb balls around, go hiking, just have loads of good physical fun together. You will be amazed at how it flies off you both! Plus, out of the house and away from the TV and food. A perfect win!

Good luck! I know it is a tough battle, but it is one you both can win! All my best!

lovingpet

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/11/2009 11:57:41 PM

mmsprecious

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Just a thought...I don't know if you have a YMCA nearby, but they do have funding available for families who might not otherwise be able to afford membership.

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/12/2009 2:55:03 AM

devilishpixie

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I want to thank everyone for the advice. I am going to speak with his teacher and p.e. teacher today and find out of they have any suggestions or can point me to a program of some sort. As well as going to think of little things that I can put on his schedule (and yes we have a written schedule for home) for him to physically do that he might enjoy. I spoke with the kids dad last night, he gave me impression that to use the Wii Fit you have to buy the Wii game system , the Wii Fit then the individual games. So that may be out of the question.

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/12/2009 4:10:37 AM

angelikaJ

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A few thoughts:
Special Olympics and also therepeutic horseback riding...that works especially well with people who are autistic.

Also, the reason why pasta and potatoes are a less than optimal option is that they tend to cause bloodsugars to rise rapidly.
So, have potatoes very occasionally and switch to whole grain pastas.
Bown rice and for some reason also Uncle Ben's converted rice have less impact on bloodsugars.
Sweet potatoes actually have a lower impact on blood sugat than regular potatoes.
Fiber is your friend!

http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/whattoeat/a/glycemicindlist.htm

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/12/2009 4:15:17 AM

DesFIP

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If there's a therepeutic horseriding program around, I definitely recommend that.
http://www.horsesthatheal.org/

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/12/2009 4:31:48 AM

DarkSteven

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quote:

ORIGINAL: devilishpixie
I have my own issues with food and excersize and it's obvious they have bleed over to my son.

I wonder if he's simply modeling behavior. I suspect that as you exercise more and eat less, he may pick up on those behaviors.

It sounds like both you and NumbianMuscle are working out more. Could you include your son in it?

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/12/2009 4:46:00 AM

devilishpixie

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven

quote:

ORIGINAL: devilishpixie
I have my own issues with food and excersize and it's obvious they have bleed over to my son.

I wonder if he's simply modeling behavior. I suspect that as you exercise more and eat less, he may pick up on those behaviors.

It sounds like both you and NumbianMuscle are working out more. Could you include your son in it?

I tried that yesterday, it was a huge mess. Granted it was not in his routine so he reacted. I need to plan it out and put it in his schedule so he has a visual of whats going on and stick to that schedule. Like with anything else I do with him.

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Post #: 32

RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/12/2009 4:47:40 AM

sirsholly

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quote:

does't have that trigger that says "you're full".

Pixie...there is a much misunderstood malady called Pratter Willi Syndrome.

http://pwsausa.org/

I urge you to address this with his pediatrician if you feel it is appropriate. If nothing else, i suggest you look into the behavior modification techniques used to treat Pratter Willi kids.

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Post #: 33

RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/12/2009 5:33:12 AM

purepleasure

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pixie, I understand about having to work a change in his schedule in. When my brother has a Dr. appt., about a week before, I put a note on the refrigerator that says

Dr. _______ for <my brother's name>
on <date>
from <time he needs to start getting ready to leave>
until <usually 3 hours later, in case of long waiting>
If <my brother's name> is a good boy,
supper will be <pizza or taco bell - 2 of his favorite take out foods>

This way, he can process the information with little resistance on the date of his appt. I also do the same thing, if he has any changes to his medications. I list what he's supposed to take, and at what times, even though I have a pill organizer for him. If there's a pill he's not familiar with, he hands his pill cup back to me and says, "Incorrect", and won't take any of them.

Perhaps something like this would work for your son. For instance, create a simple schedule/calendar that you can print out, and itemize different activities for each day at a certain time. Maybe on Mondays, do an exercise video for 15 minutes. I'd keep the times short to start with, mainly because of his current condition. Here's a link for videos geared towards kids. Tuesdays, sit on floor and roll the ball to each other. Wednesdays, nature walk around the neighborhood, etc. Make them activities that involve the whole family. The time spent together is just as important as the exercise itself.

You mentioned that he rocks. Christmas is coming, and a core balance ball would be a great gift idea! Some of them come with dvd or video workouts. Even if he just sits on it alone and rocks, it's still exercise. You could also use the ball for rolling across the floor or yard to each other.

Years ago, we would have "butt races" . Sit on the floor and "walk" across the room on your butt. This doesn't take alot of balance or good gross motor skills.

< Message edited by purepleasure -- 11/12/2009 5:37:00 AM >

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/12/2009 5:38:57 AM

devilishpixie

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pure,
If its not on his calander it doens't happen in his world so EVERYTHING has to be on his calander. I also have a list of chores he is to do daily posted on it as well. Honestly yesterday I was just overwhelmed and frustrated and I have to slowly incoperate stuff into his normal routine. It wont happen today or tomorrow but I can gradually start working stuff into his calander for him to do physcially.

holly,
I had never heard of the Pratter Willi Syndrome i do know that not having that trigger is common and noramal for autistic children.

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/12/2009 5:44:47 AM

DiurnalVampire

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This may sound silly, but you should look into some of the fitness VHS tapes available in the mid-80s and early 90s for kids. There was a huge push to make kids fitness fun, so more kids would take part. They had one my Mr. T, one by Hulk Hogan and even one from Disney in there somewhere. They were just follow along type things, where the characters did the excercise, you could sing along to kep your breathing normal and the ecercises were a few minutes long each and there was a ton of activity with them so even someone with a minimal attention span could keep interested. My younger brother had most of these tapes, since he was morbidly obese by age 9, and they helped him start excercising to keep it at least under control at that age.

And, if he likes the music, theres always things like Richard simmons and those types of video/dvd workouts. They are fun and encouraging and might keep him entertained enough to stick with it. He only needs about 30 min a day at first, so start small and youll see some major differences.

DV

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/12/2009 3:53:43 PM

devilishpixie

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His teacher and I are going to meet next week to come up with ideas. Today he wanted on the laptop, so I bribed him. I told him to ride the excersize bike for 20 minutes and he could get on it. He did with no argument. Then I made a salad for dinner with chicken breast and artichoke hearts. He has NEVER eat'n salad before. Infact he avoids leafy vegitables like the plague or did until today.

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/12/2009 4:21:14 PM

impishlilhellcat

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quote:

ORIGINAL: devilishpixie

Today I took my son to get his physical and his flu shot. He saw his new doctor for the first time. My son is 11 and autistic, he does't have that trigger that says "you're full". So food is an on going stuggle for him and for me. As a mother it is hard to deny him more when he says he is hungry. Although I have gotten better at it. I realized today that he is almost 50 lbs over weight. This is my fault. He is a child and this is on me as his mother. They had to do blood work because diabeties runs in my family like wild fire plus the doctor wants to do a test on his liver because of his weight. He was such a trooper between giving blood and getting shops today. He didn't even flintch. But truthfully, I feel so helpless. I have my own issues with food and excersize and it's obvious they have bleed over to my son. It's really hard because he is autistic there aren't many sports activities locally for him to participate in, his balance or lack of it makes riding a normal bike impossible, and he has such a short attention span. I want to help him, but other than changing his diet (which I have done) I dont know what else to do.

Tonight he wanted to watch a movie in my room so I tried to encourage him to ride my excersize bike while he watch it. It turned into a huge battle. He told me I was going to jail (it's what he says when he is upset with you) then ran out of my room and slammed the door and sat on his bed rocking for 25 minutes. His doctor wants to see him again in 2 mths and wants to him to have lost a minimum of 5 pounds by then.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

How about trying to make it fun. The two of your spending mom and son time together. Maybe you walk to the park so he can play or you walk to the video store to get videos or games or something along those lines. THen maybe it won't be such a battle and not only are you helping, but you are helping yourself too.

Note: someone may have suggested this already, but I didn't read any of the previous entries.

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/17/2009 11:03:34 AM

DesFIP

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Froz fruit instead of ice cream or popsicles. Pure frozen fruit. Satisfies the sweet taste but without added sugar or corn syrup. Because if you take everything away, he will feel like he is being punished.

More fiber in the diet, whole grain oatmeal with fruit. You can do this in a crockpot overnight or do a batch every so often and reheat in the morning. Sweet potatoes instead of white. Mine prefer them cooked with apples and a little butter.

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RE: Seeking advice to help my UM... - 11/17/2009 12:51:18 PM

CallaFirestormBW

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One thing that hasn't been mentioned is having his physician recommend a good physical therapist. Many times, the PT can help develop a program specially tailored to your son's needs, and because it is a medical referral, most insurance will cover at least part of the expense. Then, the therapist will provide a tailored "at home" program that you can add to his day-to-day practices.

I would -also- strongly suggest that you have your doctor recommend a visit to a nutritionist who is familiar with autism and managing autistic patients. Xhe can help you set up a nutritional plan and shopping lists, and help your son to become an active participant in his own health.

Calla

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