Losing Weight

[APhishOutofWater]

Hi, I'm Phish, and i have a bit of a weight problem. I'm twelve years old, and weigh about 160 lbs which obviously isn't healthy. I'm extremely embarrassed about the way I look and barely have a self-esteem. I've lost a little bit of weight but lately i've been stuck at 162 lbs. Any advice?

[Spindrift]

What kinds of food are you eating? How often are you eating?
What kind of exercise have you been doing?

I use Livestrong.com to keep track of how many calories I use and gain.

[New York Mermaid]

Hi there,

The biggest thing is to drink more fluids and eat fruits and veggies, and smaller portions for meals try not to eat anything after 8pm and try to work out (keep it varied like cardio one day, weight lifting the next etc.), i know it can be hard but breads, pasta and sweets need to be taken out of your diet. It helps alot. I also have fitness pal on my ipod to keep track of what i eat and what excersises i do.

[Princess Kae-Leah]

Now, goodness knows I'm certainly no nutritionist or personal trainer, so feel free to take my advice with a grain of sea salt(hehe!), but I can tell you from personal experience that I lost 15 lbs and kept it off from simply trying harder to control my portions. For example, I used to have this really nasty habit of eating ice cream straight from the carton every day, but I have now switched to single-serving cartons and I no longer eat it every single day. It isn't always necessary, in my opinion, to go cold turkey on the junk foods you love, as serious deprivation will sometimes only make you want to binge even more, but obviously eating fast food every day isn't a great idea, so try your best to practice balance and moderation in your eating choices. If you have a habit of snacking every time you watch TV(I know I've struggled with that!) whether you're truly hungry or not, try to your best to break it, maybe by keeping your hands busy with something else, like maybe texting, playing a handheld video game, or doing a craft. As for exercise, I've found the best kind of exercise is when you don't realize you're exercising, such as by spending a day having fun at a theme park, zoo, carnival, or even the mall, you'll burn some calories by simply walking around.
With all that said, the most important thing though when once loses weight, IMHO, is to have the goal of becoming healthier by eating better and exercising more, NOT conforming to a narrow societal standard of beauty. After all, there are plenty of people who are perfectly healthy according to the BMI Index but still would be considered fat and unattractive by some people's unrealistic standards. Please don't get it in your head that the true worth of a person is a number on a scale, and if people have been teasing you about your weight, please don't take it to heart. The more you love yourself, the more you'll want to take better care of youself.

[APhishOutofWater]

@Spindrift
We only cook health food, and I rarely snack. As far as exercise goes, I swim alot, and occasionaly go walking.
@MermaidLanai
Thanks for the help. I definetly will download Fitness Pal :)
@Princess Kae-Leah
Thanks for the advice!

[Spindrift]

I would suggest to also stop eating dairy. Or at least stop drinking milk (if you've been doing that everyday). Drink water before every meal to limit how much you eat. And I'd increase the intensity of your exercise. Try jogging, at 6-7km/hr for 20 minutes each day or every other day, and see how that works out for you (bring music). If you need help with motivation, I usually think of exercising as a game, and its basically "leveling up". Specific accomplishments equate to new levels and the like. :P

... I'm pretty nerdy.

[Spindrift]

... Exactly how tall are you? If you're really tall your weight may not even be that much of a problem.

[Princess Kae-Leah]

@Spindrift-Yeah, I would definitely recommend going to one of those online BMI Index/healthy weight calculators, which tell you a healthy weight range for your height and age.

[malinghi]

I agree with most of what was said here- experts agree that it pretty much all boils down to proper nutrition and physical activity. At the same time I want to stress that I think a doctor, nutritionist, or trainer would be more qualified to recommend specific dietary and exercise options. If possible you really should speak to a professional.

[Lorelei]

@Spindrift: Why should you not drink milk? :/ I'm just curious how milk could effect weight because I've had milk practically everyday of my life (I go through a gallon within a matter of 2-3 day sometimes). I'm not super skinny but, I'm 5"2 and 115lbs.

And @AFishOutOfWater, good luck on the weight loss :) I'm no where near a nutritionist so, i could only recommend what everyone else has already said. Just take smaller portions, plenty of water, exercise , etc.

[Princess Kae-Leah]

@Lorelei-again, I'm not a nutritionist, but consuming lots and lots of dairy really isn't considered the best thing for you any more, I think because dairy products tend to be highly processed, lots of people are lactose intolerant, and it really isn't even very natural for humans to be drinking cow's milk, which is naturally intended for baby calves, not us. I could never see myself being totally dairy-free, as I love cheesy pizza and ice cream too much and could never be talked into giving them up cold turkey even though of course I know they aren't even close to health foods, but provided one isn't allergic to soy, switching to using soymilk instead of dairy milk when possible definitely has its benefits. Basically, if one can be sure they aren't lactose-intolerant, dairy products in moderation don't usually do a lot of harm, just don't think it's ever super-healthy cause it really isn't.

[Lorelei]

@Princess Kae-Leah: Thank Q for explaining, :) I understand. My parents brought it to my doctors attention when I was young and they had me switch to organic non-fat, which is what I have now. In choir, we had to stay away from dairy like the plague, so I have gotten more used to just drinking water lol.

[Spindrift]

@Lorelei: Yep, what Kae-Leah said. My reasons border along environmental impact as well, but health-wise, think of all the hormones they pump into those cows to keep them at maximum milk production shape. Those hormones and other chemicals (like the ones they use to make cows grow really fast, pesticides put into the food the cow eats, herbicides, etc) show up in the milk and can cause a lot of health problems in humans including things like the inability to lose weight healthily and being overweight.

You can Google the question as well and a ton of sites will explain the situation a little more in-depth, if you are interested.

[APhishOutofWater]

Thanks for all the help everyone, and Spindrift I'm not very tall, I'm about 4'11.

[AniaR]

you need to see a nutritionist because every person and their needs are unique there is no easy way to change weight it all depends on your body :)

[Taylor is a Mermaid]

I highly recommend weight watchers if it's in your budget. I'm not the best person to take weight loss advice from as I am overweight (quite a bit more than you), but I have lost weight following the weight watchers system and am continuing to do so pretty consistently. I also think it's important to somehow track calories. I like the weight watchers system because you're tracking points instead of calories, and I'm bad at math so smaller numbers are better. I'd also recommend switching to whole grain as much as possible; there's a lot of empty calories in white flour, and most of us eat a lot of wheat products. I love dairy and could never give it up, so I've switched to low fat cheese and skim milk. Also, since you said your family mainly cooks at home, pay attention to how much oil and what kind of oil your family is cooking with. That may be a source of hidden calories. For me, it's helpful to look up everything and find out its nutritional value before it goes in my mouth. Sometimes what seems like the healthy choice may not actually be so healthy. It's really hard to eyeball it and just guess. And I second what Spindrift said: livestrong.com is really helpful!

Oh, and one more thing: props to you for tackling this issue now while you're still young. It gets so much harder as you get older and your metabolism slows down. I wish I could go back and tell that to my 16-year-old self.

[malinghi]

you need to see a nutritionist because every person and their needs are unique there is no easy way to change weight it all depends on your body :)

Raina is totally right. Everyone here means well, but you should get information from a qualified professional. If you can't find a nutritionist your doctor can probably refer toy to one.

[Blaze]

I lost 85lbs over the past year and a half (started in January 2010) by working with my Doctor, watching my food intake & exercising A LOT (interval training on the treadmill, light weights & LOTS of belly dance). Went from a size 16/18 to about a size 5. :D

My Doctor & I have been trying to get my weight down for years, I was even on Phentermine for a period of time (& thought my heart was going to come through my chest, ugh). So it wasn't an easy process. It takes a lot of time and work but I couldn't do it myself either; I've dieted pretty much all my life. Weight watchers did work for me as well once but as soon as i stopped the program (couldn't afford the meetings & foods) I gained it all back & more. :p

Anyways. My suggestion is to find a professional to at least guide you and then find your support group at home or even here! :D Good luck!

[Taylor is a Mermaid]

I lost 85lbs over the past year and a half (started in January 2010) by working with my Doctor, watching my food intake & exercising A LOT (interval training on the treadmill, light weights & LOTS of belly dance). Went from a size 16/18 to about a size 5. :D

My Doctor & I have been trying to get my weight down for years, I was even on Phentermine for a period of time (& thought my heart was going to come through my chest, ugh). So it wasn't an easy process. It takes a lot of time and work but I couldn't do it myself either; I've dieted pretty much all my life. Weight watchers did work for me as well once but as soon as i stopped the program (couldn't afford the meetings & foods) I gained it all back & more. :p

Anyways. My suggestion is to find a professional to at least guide you and then find your support group at home or even here! :D Good luck!
WOW I am so inspired! I've checked out your website and I thought, "man, to have a body like that!" I would never in a million years have thought you ever had a weight problem. That is just amazing!

[Blaze]

Yep. Here is a (rather embarrassing) picture of me from January 2010 at a medieval event; I went to my Doctor again in tears after seeing the pictures from this & we started our new plan of attack that week.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2743/4251877444_bdc2b83da0_z.jpg

I'm on the left with the red hair (obviously). That was the highest weight I'd ever been. I'm now the lowest weight I've ever been in my adult life; I weight less than I did when i got out of basic training in the army when I was 18. Only a few pounds less but still, it counts! :D

Anyways. Like I said, I suggest getting with a professional. Your Doc is a good place to start; even if you want to do weight watchers you should always get a complete workup to see if there is maybe anything medically preventing weight loss. if not you can go from there with the Doc!

I'll be here to support you too! :D

[NikkiNeptune]

It's really difficult to make changes to how you eat, but if you do it now at your young age, it will change the rest of your life. I've been eating unhealthy since I was young because my family did, but that's no excuse. There are so many positive things about losing weight I can't even begin to tell you, even just the way it makes you feel more confident is reason enough. Alot of the suggestions here are fantastic, but mine are to take baby steps.

1.) No more white bread, switch to wheat. It takes some getting used to, but do it anyway.
2.) Start skipping the mayo on your burgers, and if you can muster it, try turkey burgers.
3.) Cut way back on the cheese.
4.) As far as salads, try a pomegranate vinagarette, or just squeeze lemon onto your salads for flavor instead of dressing.
5.) Grab your blender and do a fruit smoothie every day for breakfast. There are so many combinations you can come up with to find what you like the taste of, but these are great for filling you up AND getting mass amounts of fruit! My favorite is frozen bluberries, raspberries, blackberries, and a whole banana, some water and the secret ingredient: Blue agave sweetener. (It's super sweet like honey but way low-calorie).
6.) A small portion of french fries or chips has like 500 calories, which is almost a meal in itself. And they're not that good anyway, lol. Do fruit, apples, or cottage cheese instead (2 kinds of proteins to get you going, and keep you going and a thousand and one ways to flavor it.)
7.) Do sugar free energy drinks...my favorite is Go Girl which has less than 5 calories. I drink this instead of coffee in the morning because I tend to dump tons of cream and sugar in my coffee to make up for the taste.
8. You can do dessert when you're craving sweets, but do a small one! Or share a big one with somebody :)

[Blaze]

Another thing I wanted to mention; EVERYTHING is ok IN MODERATION. For example; I LOVE pizza & swedish fish. For the most part on the pizza I learned how to hand make healthy ones myself but occasionally I wanted my favorite NY style pizza or a handful of swedish fish.

If you say 'I'm never going to eat **** again!" you will probably fixate on **** and eventually give in and feel you messed up. If you allow yourself to occasionally indulge you are much less likely to binge. This isn't a race after all; you don't have to be miserable by giving up everything you love. Just be smart about it! :D

[Taylor is a Mermaid]

Crimson Vision, you look so much younger now that you've lost weight. The difference is absolutely amazing. And yes, I've started making my own pizzas at home too. I just wish there was a way you could order ONE slice of pizza, lol, because sometimes I just want one, but buying a whole pizza and eating one slice...yeah not gonna happen. I also still sometimes (not very often, because I'm tempted more by salty and savory than sweet) eat dessert, but I almost always split it with one or more people. I don't need a whole bunch of ice cream to be satisfied; I just need a few bites now and then. NikkiNeptune, I use a tiny bit of low fat mayo but it still adds extra fat so most of the time I skip it. I also have found websites that have recipes for homemade salad dressing, which I do occasionally. My favorite recipe site is skinnytaste.com.

[NikkiNeptune]

Damn Crimson Vision is a HOTTIE!!!! <3

[Odette]

truth is, this is going to be difficult. to change your weight means changing your life style. dont eat things with fat in them. what i mean is check your label for serving size and anything with more than 5 grams of fat is too much.do any kind of physical activity an hour a day. your friends encourage bad health choices, avoid them or tell them you are on a diet. see your doctor and dont take drugs first. some doctors do that for money. they will run hormone tests and that should determine any other issues other than your lifestyle. the swimming is great. call your primary doctor as he will know the best thing for you.he/she will recommend you to a specialist too.
check glucose and blood pressure. stress holds more fat to the body. carbs are immediate energy so eat them before a workout.
i hope something i wrote here can help.

[Mermaid Star]

You said that you eat only health food and rarely snack... how many calories a day are you eating? Firstly, I want to make sure you aren't over or under eating. Under eating can cause weight gain as well, so you have to keep your calorie intake between a certain range. If your calorie intake is with in normal range and you are still gaining weight, you may have a thyroid problem. Please, as Raina has said, consult a doctor and nutritionist. They will be able to help you a lot more than we can. Good luck!

[kazekoh]

As Star said, the problem may be that you are under eating, or it may be a biological problem. I would go to a doctor.
It sounds to me you may be one of the people who exercise and diet may not be the cause of the weight gain. Yes, they do exist. I am friends with one.
And as, Crimson Vision said, depriving ones self isn't the way to go for most people. It leads to Yo-yoing.
I have been struggling with undereating and depriving myself. I have only gotten bigger! Dx

And just a tip from me, you are 12 years old. The fact that you have to worry about your weight and have a low-self esteem already makes me sad. You are not stuck here, you can get thinner if you wish. But, do it for yourself. Don't do it to impress anyone or make anyone else happy.
Also, don't think you have to be extremely thin to be pretty; if anything that can be equally unhealthy if you are too thin. I wish you luck dear and I hope that you can boost your self esteem up a little <3

[Maple]

Also, don't think you have to be extremely thin to be pretty; if anything that can be equally unhealthy if you are too thin. I wish you luck dear and I hope that you can boost your self esteem up a little <3

Hear, hear!

[kazekoh]

I actually saw a program last night that may be intresting and helpful for you. It is called Killer Stress. It said that the more stress you are under and the more you feel like you aren't in control of any part of your life, the more likely you are to have abdominal fat; Even with diet and exercise.
http://www.pbs.org/stress/ That is the website..so maybe watch it and see if it can help you at all <3

[taom]

OK so this is going to sound impossible but here goes: Stop eating meat. Seriously. Your body does not process animal protein efficiently. It ends up storing a lot more fat with out the benefit of any omegas or vitamins that are present in plant proteins (found in nuts and such things). Also, going on a raw foods diet for even just a couple of weeks will make a whole lot of difference. By eating mainly raw plants, you are not putting any empty fats (by this I mean fats that are not good-for-you omegas) so your body begins to burn (efficiently!) the stored body weight. The other thing is, and I'm sure it's already been mentioned, is portion. A lot of the time, our body starts putting on weight because it's convinced that it is winter all the time. Evolutionarily, our bodies were made to eat a lot just before the winter so that they can put on weight to make it through a period of time with little food. In the summer, we are supposed to cut back and eat fresh fruits and the like. Now a days, we eat the same amount through out the year and do not modulate our exercise or portion. Because we are not following our body's natural pattern, we put on excess weight. So ya. Two minute sermon over. XD

[MermaidAiera]

I second the nutritionist idea! A diet tailored to your own body and personal needs will end up improving your overall health. Secondly, I believe that exercise is a HUGE part of losing weight because not only does it burn off extra calories, but it helps speed up your metabolism which is the #1 contributer to weight loss/gain. You mat have a slow metabolism which automatically causes you to have a few extra pounds. My suggestion is to join a private COMPETITIVE swim club where the activity is intense and laborious. It will be very hard at the start, but as you condition yourself, you will both see and feel the difference! Finally, try asking Little Orca about weight loss~ she has been EXTREMELY successful (80 Lbs.) Good luck! ;)

[melbel1023]

I'm all too familiar with weight loss issues - I used to be an ideal 150 lbs until I had two major surgeries, both a year from each other and both left me bed-ridden for days/weeks at a time.
I ended up never burning off the weight, and its still around... I found exercising for an hour a day, usually 5 times a week, DOES work. The only problem is saving the time to do it, and also the weight loss tends to feel slow (and most of us are accustomed to a society that wants everything NOW lol). I lost a few inches on my arms and thighs when I worked out, but then my classes got to Finals week and I couldn't spare the time to study and work out. Then I got lazy and stopped going during my summer vacation. Now I'm going to start up again this Monday.

[MermaidSaku]

Well considering your young and everything i would say just swim your little heart out lol.
I have been using cellulite wrap to help with my weightloss ,but i don't think it would be something for you to do.
You would have to ask your parents about that.

[ide]

My husband (http://zlotniks.wordpress.com/about-us/sasha-zlotnik/) studies nutrition and is contemplating doing doctorate work in that field, so I hear a lot about what diet advice is awful and what is actually good for you from what I consider to be a much more trustworthy source than say, weightwatchers.

Of course, I'm biased, but I am also a professional athlete, and he was a competitive gymnast for a decade who is all about bodies and cooking. If I have any advice for ANYONE regarding nutrition, it comes in two simple points (and has nothing to do with calories or fatty foods, although I could throw in "stay hydrated" as general health advice):

1) Avoid sugar, especially in drinks. If you drink soda or juice, don't do that anymore.
2) Exercise in ways you genuinely enjoy.

Also, watch this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM (Yes, it's worth taking the time to watch the Whole. Video. I promise. This is for everyone to be aware of, it effects us all profoundly.)

I might also add to eat frequently. The more often you eat, the more stable your metabolism becomes, especially if you're playing* a lot. Yes, it's good to eat before bed - that whole "don't eat after 8pm" thing is a total urban legend. Eat whenever you're hungry, and expect to be hungry much of the time. Then, eat things that look like real human food - less processed foods with fewer ingredients & chemicals. Farmer's Market, organic, local food is heavenly. The more I eat, the thinner & more muscular I get, because I like physical activity.

I'd also say that no one should make an exercise plans that involves activities they don't enjoy. If you don't like lifting weights, don't tell yourself you're going to lift weights because you have a goal to get stronger - you won't do it. Find something active you actually like, and then do it because you like it, not because you're "doing the right thing". It can be swimming, dancing, fencing, DDR, playing on trampolines, lazer-tag... whatever you're into. Just do it often & have fun. Make it a social activity.

It was noted while I was on tour with the circus (in July, across Arizona, Texas and Louisiana - so it was HOT) that each of the aerial acrobats (think trapeze artists) ate a pint of ice-cream [each] Every. Single. Day. Our ringmaster noticed us, baffled, but you know what? Icecream has a lot of good fats in it, and not a ton of sugar (it's still a desert, but it's a less sweet one), and that icecream sustained us while we were working hard. Fat can be good for you.

Oh, and partially hydrogenated oils give you cancer. Quickly. Anything with that in it, don't eat it, it might as well be rat-poison.

<3 /Essay.

*Playing. You know, running, dancing, jumping, climbing, singing, swimming... doing happy monkey activities that we were built to do, very, very well.

[ide]

and the secret ingredient: Blue agave sweetener. (It's super sweet like honey but way low-calorie).


I just have to say something about this - in the context of a healthy diet, "calorie" means nothing, but sugar-content is very important when it comes to health and weightlosss. Agave nectar is worse for you than high-fructose-corn-syrup or sugar (which are equivalent to one another). It's pretty awful stuff, even though vegans and hippies like it.

A smoothie is healthy until you add sugar to it, and then it's not healthy anymore.

I know I mentioned that juice is always unhealthy, I should clarify: if it has enough fiber in it, it's OK again. But if it doesn't have the whole fruit in it (like a smoothie) it's toxic. So, apple juice will kill you, but a real smoothie, as long as you don't add any sweeteners to it, is great for you.

If you are going to add a sweetener to anything, add honey. It's still sugar (which is poisonous), but it has other health benefits: local honey is good for your immune system, when taken in small quantities. :) It only works if it's local though. When you move somewhere new, having honey from that area is a great idea to help your body adjust to area-specific microbes. If you want the benefits without the sugar/toxic, you can eat bee pollen. I think bee pollen is weird and tastes funny, but.. *shrug* it's good for immunity.

[waternok]

quite interesting information. I have been dreaming of losing 10 kg for a long time.

[angelicascream]

I also want to note that I am losing weight perfectly thanks to Lasta.

[waternok]

Instead of restricting different foods and food groups, focus on incorporating an abundance of nourishing foods that you can add into your diet to promote overall health and weight management. The water and fiber in produce adds volume to dishes and are naturally low in fat and calories but nutrient-dense and filling. You can create lower-calorie versions of delicious dishes by swapping out higher calorie ingredients for fruits and veggies. Think cauliflower rice in place of starchy white rice or doing 50/50. If you think about making any meal mostly veggies (at least 50% of anything that you’re having), you’re on the right track to better health.

[mermankar]

Hello. I was able to lose weight with duromine https://nevergiveupteam.com/blog/duromine/ . Duromine is a weight loss drug that is used to help people lose weight safely in the long term. It works by helping the body to burn more calories, which can help you to lose weight.

[waternok]

I managed to lose 4 kilograms in a month

[angelicascream]

Hey! I battled with weight loss for what felt like an eternity, but my luck turned around when I began using the Planner Muscle Booster calisthenics workout (https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=musclebooster.workout.home.gym.abs.lose weight) app two months back. The results speak for themselves – I've shed 8 kilograms since then! This app's dynamic calisthenics routines and progress tracking capabilities have truly been a game-changer. I can't stop raving about how fantastic it is!

[Benjemin]

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[Kelly Delilah]

to reset is a problem for me. I don't know how not to break down maybe someone knows an effective method?