My son stepped on a scale yesterday for the first time in years?!

My son stepped on a scale yesterday for the first time in years?

and found out he weighs 211 pounds. He's only 12 years old. Now he's gung ho on exercising and losing weight, which is a good thing. We've all been trying to lose weight around here, and I have changed my whole family's way of eating. But now that my son seen how much he really weighs, he's depressed. He doesn't want to go swimming with us today even though I told him swimming is good exercise. He wants to stay at home and do exercise today. How do I get him to realize that even though he's overweight he still needs to do things with the family and not hole himself up at home?

2 weeks ago
Dream, did you not read my question at all? I know that I'm the parent and I HAVE been changing my family's dieting and exercise habits. Your answer was not helpful at all thanks.

maybe if you let him know that he is not alone in the struggle to lose weight (his family is going through it as well) he will not feel as alone. although it is important to encourage interaction with his family, if he will not have a good time swimming because he is worried about the way he looks, he would not get as good of an exercise than in the privacy of his own home.

maybe let him know that he will be in a "safe place," example, we are your family and we think you are great no matter what, come swimming with us. we will all be swimming today and we would love to have you come with us, we will teach you the backstroke, i challenge you to swim a half mile with me, etc etc. if he truly loves exercise, he would love the competition :)

this is a tough question, and i hope i helped, if not just gave an honest opinion. being over weight as a child is not fun, i have been there. but my family got me through it and i am at a healthy weight now because of them.