OT: Weight loss and my son

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DianeW - 25 Feb 2005 05:10 GMT

My 17 year old so has been in a weight lifting program since last June
had gained 14 lbs since he started. In January, he started conditioning
for the Lacrosse team tryouts consisting of running and weight lifting.
And he made Varsity! Yeah! When I took him to the doctor about a
month ago for a cold/cough he weighted in at the 14 lb higher weight.
He weighs himself around once a week cause the coach tells the boys he
wanted at least 10 lbs of muscle on them by the time season starts
which was last week. Our boys are generally on the small side this week
and the other schools varsity teams have larger boys.

Anyway, Nick has now LOST 10 lbs in the past two weeks for no apparent
reason. He seems to be eating the same amount. Sleeping the same
amount. He has thrown up twice from coughing - once before I took him
to the doctor and once today. The only new things in the past two
weeks: The doctor changed him to Advair as his asthma was acting up
with the bronchitis. And he is only lifting weights once a day instead
of two times on some days. But now he is practicing lacrosse at least 4
times a week for 2-3 hours so that should be a wash. Lots of running
there but then he was running 2-4 miles every day since Christmas
already.

Should I be concerned about this weight loss? Does is warrent a call
to the doctor?

DianeW aka Worried Mom

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spodosaurus - 25 Feb 2005 05:16 GMT

> My 17 year old so has been in a weight lifting program since last June
> had gained 14 lbs since he started. In January, he started conditioning
[quoted text clipped - 21 lines]
>
> DianeW aka Worried Mom

Sounds like he might be overtraining, which can cause strength and
weight loss, as well as an increased susceptibility to infections such
as upper respiratory tract ones. Ten pounds in two weeks has heppened to
me before, but only when I was VERY ill from an opportunistic infection.
However, the amount of lacrosse practice, running, AND weight training
is too much, and this could easilly lead to an overtraining syndrome
with weight loss and more frequent infections. What's his resting pulse
rate?

Cheers,

Ari

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Newsgroup Spambuster - 25 Feb 2005 06:06 GMT

Hi Diane,

I say put the call into the doctor. Can't hurt, and if nothing else,
may just put your mind at ease! Sure hope it is nothing, but keep us
posted as to how he does!!!

Hugs!

Donna G

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RhondaM - 25 Feb 2005 06:05 GMT

I have to agree with Ari, my son is a football player and when he is out
working out he builds muscle, but looses weight. This is usually when he is
going at it too hard.
BTW congrats on the varsity team, but tell him to slow it down a bit. If you
talk to your doc maybe he/she can recommend a supplement or a protein drink
that might help.
RhondaM

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Carole - 25 Feb 2005 06:52 GMT

I would call the doctor. Better to be safe than sorry. Believe me, I
wish I knew back in December what I know now. A checkup can't hurt.

Hugs,
Carole :)

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Janet R - 25 Feb 2005 14:26 GMT

My 17 y/o stepped up his cross country training and he lost weight as well,
even with his weight training daily.

His appetite remained the same and otherwise was healthy. That was in
August...and he weight has stabilized. His diet is great (much better than
mine!)....so for now I am keeping an eye on him. My DH is a pediatrician
and he isn't too concerned about the situation as long as his weight loss
has stopped and he is otherwise fine.

If all else...a quick trip to the doc for a check up could put you at ease.

Janet R

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DianeW - 25 Feb 2005 15:06 GMT

Thanks everyone for the replies. His pediatrician's son is also on the
lacrosse team so he's very aware of the training program. In fact, he's
at every game. I think I'll give him a call just to be on the safe
side. The school is very careful with kids having pre-season physicals.
In fact, this year they required ecg's (?) a heart test - hope I don't
have the initials wrong! before the kids could train. I'm sure it's
ok. I think he's probably eating less than he thinks he is.

DianeW

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Alex Barna - 25 Feb 2005 16:27 GMT

> Thanks everyone for the replies. His pediatrician's son is also on the
> lacrosse team so he's very aware of the training program. In fact, he's
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> DianeW

ECG is correct, ElectroCardioGrams. I would talk to Nicks doctor
or his coach about his diet. He is probably at the point where he
has more muscle & is burning fat faster than before & needs more
carbs & protein. Young men need that body fat.

The only time you should worry is if his pee starts getting dark
& stinky. That means his body is burning kidney fat for energy &
he needs to see his doctor fast. That happened to my son John
when he was into body building.

GramPaHugs,
Alex,

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DianeW - 25 Feb 2005 18:05 GMT

Unable to get ped today so that will have to wait till monday. Talked
to friend who is mother of team captain and two other athletic boys now
grown. She told me that her son has been struggling to keep his weight
up also and easily loosing 3-5 lbs in one day if he's not "pounding
carbs" which Nick was doing before the second weight lifting was
stopped. What happened was he has weight lifting as a regular gym class
as part of his school day. That teacher wouldn't let him slack off when
he was then required to lift weights again after school every day for
lacrosse conditioning. He did maintain his weight throughout that
time. Then when the running started in early January the weight lifting
slowed down to every other day for training and still once a day for
school. Now it is just once a day. So I think maybe the weight loss is
coming from the lack of pounding carbs like he was doing before. He
still eats a lot but not so concentrated. I'll ask him about his pee.
Son's always love questions like that from their Mom! LOL Thanks!

DianeW

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Jo Firey - 25 Feb 2005 20:24 GMT

> Thanks everyone for the replies. His pediatrician's son is also on the
> lacrosse team so he's very aware of the training program. In fact, he's
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> DianeW

He may also be increasing his protein intake deliberately and inadvertently
cutting down his fat intake at the same time. My guys have been into
protein bars and drinks trying to build up muscle and it sometimes kills
their appetite for "real" food. They don't realize they are dropping carbs
and fats and that will cause a drop in weight as well as a drop in
hydration.

Another culprit can be those "energy" drinks. Red Bull might wake you up
for class, but before practice or a game the caffeine will make you
dehydrate. Not good for performance.

Jo

Jo

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Caroline Marold - 25 Feb 2005 23:10 GMT

When my daughter was in middle school and had her
physical, the stand in doctor [hers out sick] told me
she was anorexic. When I said isn't that where you eat
lettuce leaves and not much else -- this child eats
anything not nailed down. Then she is bulimic. Don't
think so -- she hates to vomit when she is sick and she
is a slob. I have a hunting dog's nose and I would
smell it. Turns out Jen was way way underweight but who
could tell under all those 80's clothes. Kids were
wearing their father's clothes.
So we were ordered to get more fat, sugar and carbs
into her. All the dancing, performing and the like at 6
times a week had her burning more than she was taking in.
So I went to the store and bought cookies and candy and
cake and... She gain 4 pounds and I gain 8. sigh
There was a reason that stuff was not in my house.
Duckie

>>Thanks everyone for the replies. His pediatrician's son is also on the
>>lacrosse team so he's very aware of the training program. In fact, he's
[quoted text clipped - 20 lines]
>
> Jo

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Bruce - 25 Feb 2005 15:57 GMT

Can be adolescent hormones also. If so no amount of training or eating will
change it.
Bruce

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Adelle - 01 Mar 2005 02:04 GMT

Sounds like perhaps your son isn't taking in enough calories to support the
amount of training he's doing.

Hillary Swank said that while she was training for her boxing movie, she had
to wake up during the night and drink this raw egg shake just to keep her
weight up, because she couldn't consume enough during waking hours. In
fact, she went through 5 dozen eggs a day. Boxers are famous for these raw
egg drinks cause you can consume them quickly, they are high in protein, and
there was something about the kinds of fats and nutrients in the yolks,
too, but I forget what it is.

Do you have decent medical insurance? Maybe a referral to a nutritionist
specializing in sports nutrition might be helpful.

Adelle

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