Can Someone Help Me Lose Weight?

Do you drink regular sodas? If so I'd say that's probably the biggest culprit.

I know isn't what you want to hear, but the problem could very well be hormonal. I was a ballet dancer, dancing 10 hours a week and I was 4'10" and 160lb. I went to a doctor and found out I had a hormone imbalance that was encouraging weight gain. You should first see a doctor and get blood work done before going on any weight loss program. As far as a program goes, I am a nutrition student and have been involved in many studies on the proper diet to lose weight. Try to eat less meat and instead use beans, seitan, and tofu into your diet. Eat and drink less dairy. Add more fruits and vegetables into your diet and avoid carbonated beverages. They encourage water gain and gas build up, which can cause expanding of the stomach. Remember that losing more than 2 pounds a week can cause heart and lung problems, and malnutrition due to intestinal inabsorption. Be very careful about how much you lose each week and make sure to have regular doctors visits (1 every month or so) to make sure you are getting the nutrition needed for proper brain function.

There are really no quick fixes or diet wonders. I would start writing down what you are eating. A lot of times if we journal our food, we're surprised at the end of the day the calories we've consumed. It's a great way to be accountable for what you are eating. Avoid fast food with your friends, and talk to your family and doctor about it. Set up an appointment with a nutritionist or lifestyle coach to help you along the way.

Good luck sweetie! Remember, it's a long road, but the destination is life changing!

I really admire you for staying so active. Playing sports is fun, and it helps keep your metabolism up. I agrees that the firt stop should be a trip to a doctor for a thorough exam which includes a complete blood work up.
You might consider joining a weight loss group. Sometimes it is helpful to have the support of a group, plus the information you can learn from a group is so helpful in choosing the foods you eat.
Regarding the foods that you eat, something that worked for me was to choose a few healthful foods and stick to them for a few weeeks. In other words, if I had fewer choices to make, it was easier to stick with a plan.
I wish you success!

As a diet and fitness professional, I would totally agree with Cher on this one! Considering your age, you'll really need to speak to a Doctor and/or professional nutritionist about setting up an appropriate program.

Hey there,

I was quite overweight when I was 13 too (I'm the same height as you and now weigh about 120lbs -- but it took me quite a few years to get to this point!)

Have you tried keeping a food diary? It's great that you're so active (I was as inactive as possible as a teen!) but unfortunately, it is an awful lot easier to eat calories than to burn them, in my experience...

Also, as others have said, do see your doctor. It wasn't until I was 22 that I was diagnosed with PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) -- I suspect that this was the reason I gained weight fast in my teens & struggled to lose it. And there are a host of other conditions that could be responsible too.

Don't be in too much of a rush to lose the weight either, the slower you lose it, the more likely it is to stay off!

Good luck,

Ali

Lots of good advice above & yes, Cher had a good point along with Michael in the first comment.

I was always the heavy friend BUT I did eat fattening stuff & lots of calories. My friends could eat all that stuff & fast food & never gain weight BUT not me AND I wasa active too. So, I would say to evaluate what you are eating (log that food) & see what is going on. Is it medical or are you just eating too many calories. Just because our friends can eat that, does not mean we can. It is tough but it is what it is.

Good luck & you can do it! Keep active but eat better & healthier.

Try the website, www.sparkpeople.com and TRACK everything you eat, day and night.

I suspect that you will find you may be taking in too many calories. The problem with food now days is that most of it is nutritionally lacking, so your natural, growing hunger pains are magnified. Basically you are likely over eating.

It could be a hormone imbalance, as someone else mentioned, I was in my teens when I put on a whopping 100 lbs. BUT this was also due to poor eating habits.

I'd start with tracking calories, cheaper and much more satisfying. From there, you can check out one of a million calculators that will tell you what your caloric requirements are per day, and if you cut out a mere 500 calories a day, thats a pound a week in weight loss. Thats the equivalent to 2 cans of pop or a hamburger each day. Easily done. It's a little harder to cut 1000 calories from the diet, which would equal 2lbs a week - 30 weeks of work. Not too bad.

good luck! Get it tackled NOW before you get older and your metabolism slows and while youre so active.

It's all about calories in and calories out. The simple fact is that you're eating more calories than you burn.

It's also quite likely that you're over-estimating your activity.

At 13 years old it shouldn't take more than cutting the fast food and sweets out of your diet.

Try ditching the video games too.

Just wondering if you've mentioned your concerns to your parents? Are you the only overweight person in your family? If you are ready to get the weight off, just know that there are no quick fixes--and you will need support, particulary from your family who I assume is doing the food preparation for you. Don't be discouraged, and keep up the good work with exercise. The next step is having your health care professional recommend a healthy food plan for weight loss. Good luck!

In all seriousness if you want to lose that amount of weight. Its going to take some time, its not a quick change its a life-style change. And to make it even harder you're still a developing person, so if you try to do it too drastically it can have lasting effects on your health.

I would follow what some of the others here have advocated and I would keep a journal or log of what kind of calories you're taking in. But don't try to crash diet, thats the last thing a kid your age needs.

Hey Kmint,

Sorry to hear you are unhappy. One thing I wanted to advise is that you are still growing. I know, I hated hearing that when I was a teenager! But you are. I was a bit hefty at 13 (about 35-40 pounds over my 'ideal' weight) and it came off by the time I was 16 without changing my eating or exercise habits. I also grew about 7 inches in that time! My point is, your body is trying to store up fuel for that last growth spurt. Don't overdo the dieting right now, or you might stunt that spurt. You might end up tall and modelesque! Consider waiting until age 16 or 18 to diet off any remaining weight, and until then, choose healthy foods and keep getting that great exercise. I also agree that your doctor can advise whether you have a biological problem, and can advise how to manage your weight without affecting your growth -- please don't jump into something without advise. Good luck -- we are all sending prayers and positive thoughts your way!

Hi Kmint. I'm sorry you have to deal with this at such a young age. The fact that you are so very active and still cannot lose weight raises some red flags for me. One poster above mentioned she had a hormonal problem which led to weight gain. I, myself, had a disease called Cushing's Disease which caused me to gain 100 pounds. Now that I'm cured I have lost half my weight and look foward to losing the rest. I would advise you to seek help from your pediatrician. He/She can test you for any imbalances you might have. I wish you luck!

Try www.sparkteens.com - part of the SparkPeople website, a site I've been using to help me manage my weight for the past 2.5 years!

Every day I am conscience of the food that passes my lips. I really do take responsiblity for my food intake.
I walk evey day, drink at least 2 litres of water and walk a minimum of one hour a day.
Still I can put on 700gms a day.
Please help.

I found out what works for me is is getting all my carbohydrates from fiber rich foods. Aim for atleast 30 grams a day. so thats foods like oatmeal, lentils, beans, fiberone bars or granola bars that have atleast 9 grams of fiber each and also alot of veggies espeacially green veggies and upto 3 servings of fruit but eat as much watermelon as you like because it is very filling and you will most likely just pee it out. Anyways I pray that you lose the weight stay active.

ya im 13 well barely turned 13 and i am over weight i extersive i actually gained weight when i extersized i dont know what to do and i really want to ose weight i hate being over weight im done with all the names i've been called messenge back

Hi i am 28 years old and i weigh 340lbs. i ahve been overweight almost all my life.I have tried a bunch of different diets troughout my life.But it seams that nothing works. i start to lose weight but i gain it back plus more. I have 2 children and i worry for about them because i am afraid that some day i will have a heart attack. i am looking for help/ I cant afford surgery or anything of that sort. i want to be able to play woth my kids without getting tired.i feel that i am gaining more the older i get. I am always tired and i try to exercise but my heals, and knees always endup hurting. pls Tell me what to do.I am desperate!

I am 16 years old and I weigh 200 pounds I dont know how to loos wrigh I have tried to loos wight but i just cant. I have bin overweigh almos my hole life I am so tierd of it ever since I was a little girl people have mad fun of me I wish they could know how I felt even my family have made fun of me i am so tierd of being made fun of i dont want to be the same but i dont know what to do. Some one please heip