Reply from Annie, Age 11 - 1/17/01 - IP#: 172.164.106.95Please don't despair. I know exactly how you feel. I am on a diet as well, although my mum has warned me it will be a gradual process although I want to lose the weight like instantly. The first thing to do is to talk to somebody close to you about this and get their support i.e. your mum or a close relative or even an understanding friend. Your self esteem seems very low right now but once you start losing the weight then you will start to feel better about yourself but it won't be instant. You have to be extremely strong willed and cut out all the foods that are high in fat i.e. burgers and high in calories - which is just about everything that tastes good. It will be very, very hard at first but once you have got over that first period then you will begin to feel better about yourself. Find out how many calories a girl of your age and height should be eating. A school nurse might know this or the doctor. Also, find out how many calories certain foods are. It sounds very boring but write everything down that you eat and work out your food to a certain level i.e. 1500 calories or whatever. I eat a lot of low calorie soups that fill me up plus lots of fruit and water. My weight is slowly going down but I accept that it will take time. Please don't despair. If you really, really, really want to lose weight sensibly then be positive, think positive, be strong-willed and cut out all the fattening foods. If you are worried you will feel hungry then take to school food you can nibble on like fruit or carrots. I really, really miss eating burgers and chips but I know that at the moment I can't. I still have a lot of weight to lose and I still look in the mirror and think I look huge but I am doing something positive about it. Look on today as the beginning and don't dwell on what you look like. Just think 'I am going to cut out the fattening foods and lose weight'. Good luck. |