 I think my low metabolism is working against my attempts to lose weight! |
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=> I am really overweight. I am starting 7th grade in august and want to lose 10 lbs. I am in soccer and i walk A LOT! I have very low metabolism. Can you give me some tips?
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 There are three ways we burn energy:
1) Basic Needs (Basal metabolic rate or BMR): energy we use up while at rest (to keep the heart beating, brain functioning, blood circulating, etc.) This makes up 70% of the total energy use in a sedentary (low activity level) person.
Basal metabolism varies by about 25-30% within the general population. We do not have much control over BMR, but here are some factors that influence it:
• Body size and composition. People who are larger or have more muscle mass, will burn more calories, even at rest. (So overweight people are more likely to have a faster metabolic rate — not a slower one.)
• Sex. Boys typically have less body fat and more muscle mass than a girl of the same age, so they will burn more calories.
• Age. Muscle mass decreases as we get older, which slows down the rate at which calories are burned.
2) Food Processing: energy we spend on digesting and storing nutrients from food. Typically the body burns only 5-10% of the food calories consumed in this type of metabolism.
3) Physical Activity: energy spent in physical activity (walking, sports, cleaning the house, chasing the dog) accounts for about 20% of the energy used by sedentary people.
It may seem reasonable to think that low metabolism can cause significant weight gain or be related to overweight. But in reality, "low metabolism" is rarely the cause of overweight. Moreover, few people have had their metabolism measured due to the expense, which requires an air tight room to assess the rate of energy use under scientifically controlled conditions. If you still think your metabolism is too slow, your doctor may be able to check for uncommon conditions that interfere with metabolism, such as hypothyroidism and Cushing's syndrome.
Weight gain is more likely due to an energy imbalance — consuming more calories than your body burns. To lose weight, eat fewer calories, increase the number of calories you burn through physical activity, or preferably do both.
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| What can I do about stretch marks? |
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=> i have stretch marks on my thighs. it makes me really self-consious about weaing shorts in the summer i spoke to my mum about it and she said that if i tone my legs they with go but will they really?
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For those who may be wondering, stretch marks are skin scars, usually reddish, when weight gain is particularly rapid. The skin does not have time to stretch and thus ends up breaking apart on a microscopic scale (not visible to the naked eye). This often occurs for women during pregnancy. Overweight people may also experience stretch marks not only on their stomachs, but also legs, arms, breasts, thighs, and buttocks.
Stretch marks usually fade over time, but they may not go away completely. Cocoa butter, vitamin E oil, and other moisturizers are often suggested to treat stretch marks by kids on this website. Although these creams and lotions are probably safe to use (unless you are allergic), there are not any research studies that have shown they can reduce the appearance of these marks. There are some treatments offered by dermatologists (skin doctors) that include the use of lasers and other high-tech equipment. But beware; these treatments can also result in adverse side effects, injuries, and high costs. Besides, none of these high-tech treatments have been shown to make stretch marks go away completely.
Your best option is to reduce factors that are contributing to your rapid weight gain (if it’s still happening), be patient with allowing your skin to heal on its own, and wearing clothes that hide these marks if you are self-conscious about them. For example, instead of shorts, consider wearing Capri or light weight pants and summer skirts when days are hot. Some day, you may proudly refer to your faded stretch marks as “battle scars” from the days you lost weight. That is, if anyone even notices them. |
| Portion Control |
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=> did you do anything rather than cut everything in half?
=> ive been cutting down on the unhwalthy foods watching what i eat and how much i eat and i havent been drinking fatning things and drinkkng lots of water and excersizing alot more about the whole week for about 2 months and im still not losing weight what are som tips to losing some weight or what am i doing wrong im lost
=> I have a tip. Its not about what you it its how MUCH you eat. I eat in portions.
=> I way 131 and i am 12 and all of my other friends can like wear like bikinis that show off your belly and i want to wear that kind of stuff i can't even wear my omos clothes from when she was like a size 5 i am like a sixe 10 in womens what can i do to lose the weight so i can have a flat stomach but where my mom doesn't have to buy special things like special low fat stuff or any thing i want to eat like the food she eats but hjow can i do that with out putting on more weight?
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Cutting the amount of food you eat in half is a rough guide. The amount that is best to cut back on depends on how much you currently eat and your activity level. Americans (and many others in industrialized nations) eat significantly larger portions than just a few decades ago. What is considered a “normal” portion size by many people today may really be too much. It doesn’t help that we have tempting foods that are more readily available. Eating when we just feel physical hunger (like a growling stomach) can also be a good strategy.
There is an excellent guide at MyPyramid.gov that gives photo examples of how much one serving size equates to in different food groups. Go to their “How Much Should You Eat?” page to learn more about gauging portion sizes.
You can also get a customized food guide at MyPyramid Plan by entering in your age, sex, weight, height, and average daily physical activity level. It will then tell you the recommended daily calorie intake and how many servings to eat from each food group. Most kids need to eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. If you follow their guidelines and don’t see any weight loss after several weeks, you may need to cut back on your portions even a little more.
Although you can try to lose weight by reducing your overall food intake of your current diet, we hope your food choices are already healthy and provide sufficient nutrients for kids and teens. Otherwise you are missing out on nutrients especially important for growing bodies such as calcium, protein, folic acid, potassium, fiber, beta-Carotene, and much more! We do know that highly processed junk food is missing most of these essential nutrients.
Remember to try to get your heart beating faster through activity 30 to 60 minutes most days of the week. Work up to this slowly and check with your doctor if you are not already at these levels. Portion control combined with Exercising Smart should help give positive results. |
| Binge Eating |
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=> im 11 and i weigh 9 stone. I go on diets like just eating breakfeast, lunch and dinner but i keep it up for 3 or 4 days then binge eating, whats a easy diet to have
=> Here is my info:
12 years old
4'8
134.3 lbs
Do I need to lose weight? I try so hard. I eat healthy, but then after a few days, I binge. HELP!!
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It may not make sense at first, but binge may start by not eating enough earlier in the day. Many kids and teens make the mistake when they first try to change their eating habits by eating too little (or starving) early in the day. But this usually adds to stress and frustration later leading them to eat a lot of food at one time, also called binge eating. This binge eating is often done in secret.
 Binge eating may also result from severe emotional stress and using food to cope. The food eaten may not be actually enjoyed but simply wolfed down in an attempt to relieve the stress.
You can stop binge eating. Many kids and teens may find it helpful to talk with a counselor about binge eating and about their stress. In addition, here are three strategies to help reduce and eliminate your binge eating episodes:
1. Don’t Skip Meals. That includes eating sufficient food at breakfast and lunch every day.
2. Eat Balanced Meals. This means diversifying your diet to include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and calcium.
3. Don’t go below 1200 calories per day if you are calorie counting. Here is a calorie guide for growing kids and teens based on their sex, age, and activity level.
4. Learn to cope with stress without using food. Squeezing your hands together tight, and slow deep, slow breathing and relaxing are ways to relieve stress. Writing your problems down with a plan for each problem also helps. See our tip on stress eating.
For more details, read Lucy’s tip on how to stop binge eating. |
| Am I overweight? How much should I weigh? |
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=> I am going on a vacation to California to see my grandparents.I haven't seen them in two years so I really want to impress them by how I look. I weigh 104lbs. and I am 4ft 6in. Any idea how much weight I should lose and how to lose it?
=> i am 13 years old(5 FOOT 10) and i weigh 163..am i overwieght.. and wat are some tips to lose weight
=> Lucy am i overweight i am 12 years and 10 months old i am 5'3" and my weight is inbetween 145 and 150
=> hey lucy i am 11 and wieght 135 pounds is that fat i think it is so those my dad mom brother my dad and brothet always insult me especially my bro how can i lose wieght i am starting middle school in september can i lose at least 30 to 20 pounds
=> What is the average weight for a 5'2.7 girl whos 12 and 11 months?
=> I don't exactly know if i'm over weight. I'm 15, about to be a sophmore. i'm 5'0 and weigh about 132-134. Buut i'm pretty active and don't eat that bad.
Can you help me?
=> im 14. how much am i suppose to weight being at the height of 4'10 or 4'11?
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Use our weight calculator to find your BMI (body mass index), which will help you to determine whether you are overweight or obese, and to see the recommended healthy weight range for you*. The BMI reflects how your weight compares to your height. For math minds, the exact equation is:
weight/(height)2 = BMI
Whether the BMI number means that you are overweight or not may depend on your gender (male or female) and age. For example, a BMI number of 22.3 is considered overweight for a 13 year 8 month old boy who is 5'4" and 130 pounds, but 22.3 is just within the healthy range for a girl of the same age, height, and weight. The BMI number is also interpreted differently for adults. So it is important to use a weight calculator that computes your percentile, such as the one on our website. Your percentile shows how you compare to everybody else. For example, if you are 80th percentile that means you are heavier than 80 out of 100 kids your age and sex. The age range for our calculator is 2 - 20 years, and for this age range, BMI percentiles can be interpreted as follows:
• BMI 1st to 4th percentile: Underweight*
• BMI 5th to 84th percentile: Healthy Weight*
• BMI 85th to 94th percentile: Overweight*
• BMI 94th to 100th percentile: Obese*
For tips on losing weight, visit our Healthy Weight School and numerous weight loss tips posted by Lucy.
*Weight recommendations by the CDC (Center for Disease Control) |
| School’s Almost Here! |
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=> I start school september 8th and i recently just went to my doctor an she says that i need to lose 10 to 15 pounds i have been dieting for about two weeks an i still see no change
what should i do for a diet? my family is not very supported an says im fine i really need to lose the weight so i can be healthier and feel better
=> hey lucy im eleven years old and fixing to go to jr. high and i way over 190 how do i lose weigth fast before school starts
=> I'm 14 years old and i used to weight 156 one month ago now i weight 138 ( i lost all that without exercise). I really want to get to 130 or 133 before august.
and then 125 before September :]
i only eat a bowl of cereal in the morning
and i eat a SMALL portion of food for dinner
and then in the night i eat 5 diet crackers.
and i drink lots of water (8 or 9 bottles of water a day)
do you think i will get to my goal ?
=> im starting the 7th grade in 3 weeks and ive always been the chubby kid and i waunted to go to school looking fit in 12 years old 5feet 2 inches and weight 151 and my goal weight is 110 and i waunt to at least lose 10 lds by the time school starts safeley
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School is about to start for many teens and kids and you may be anxious to look your best. Losing 1-2 pounds (1/2-1 kg) per week in overweight children is believed to be the safe rate of weight loss by many health professionals. Faster weight loss, such as 18 pounds in 1 month may not be healthy if you are not taking in adequate nutrients, especially for a growing body. For example, your bones may not be receiving enough calcium, leaving you more likely to break bones and/or develop osteoporosis. See “Losing weight fast: Is it safe?” six questions down to learn more about the problems with rapid weight loss. Rapid weight loss should only be under the advice and direction of a physician.
On the other hand, if you feel that you are not losing any pounds at all, despite your attempts, read the next question: “How Do I Lose Weight?” Remember to set realistic goals. If losing 1-2 pounds per week does not allow you to reach your goal weight by the time school starts, this does not mean you can not reach your goal later in the school year. Weight loss is often a journey. It takes a long time. Please allow yourself time to lose weight safely. |
| How Do I Lose Weight? |
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=> I am 12 years old and I live in California.I have been overweight since the age of 9 I am having trouble with losing weight. Any help! Please write back!
=> lucy i am 135 and i am only 12 years old i need to lose weight. So how do i lose weight
=> I'm a 12 yr. old girl whos 5'2 and weighs 122lbs. I know that overweight and i want to lose some without my parents, do you have any workout and eating tips?Please?
=> im 14 and im about 4'10 or 4'11 and i weight 143.2. im ready to go to high school. im tired of looking fat and unhappy with my body. i want to feel like im beautiful and great. before i go to 9th grade i want to look thin. i have like 3 days til school is over. can i do anything to loose 15 to 25lbs during summer?
=> im 14 years old and i weight right at 180 to 188 pounds.I really dont understand why because i am very active and the weight does not really come off.i have tried dieting and more excersize but its very hard.im about 5'6 could that be where the weight is in my height?help me please!?!?!?
=> i am 17 years old and i am 210 and only 5'5 i don't like to be this fat it is the biggest i have ever been and i need to lose it fast is there anyway you could help with that i want to be 110
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Most of you realize that you are overweight and are ready to do something about it. If you haven’t already, visit our weight calculator to see what healthy weight range is appropriate for you. Losing weight involves lifestyle changes which can be extremely hard. It may take several tries before you find something that works for you and start seeing positive changes. If we only ate when we were hungry, most of us would probably remain at a healthy weight. But often there are other reasons why we eat above and beyond our needs.
Try to identify the times and reasons for when you eat. Do you snack a lot after school, on school breaks, or when eating out with friends? Do you seek out food when you are bored? Anxious? Stressed? Frustrated? Angry? Depressed? Are your portion sizes within reason or do you often find that you help yourself to seconds? All of these situations can contribute to overeating and thus weight gain. Visit our Healthy Weight School to learn how to get started with weight loss. |
| Will I grow out of my baby fat? |
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=> I'm 12 and im 5'3 and weigh 120 to 125 lbs. I'm not sure if I will grow into it or if its all just baby fat! How do I find out if I will grow out of it?
=> Im 12 and a half years old weighing 103-104 lbs at 5ft and a half, fluctuating water weight through out the day which i heard is absoulutly normal!!! I eat healthy, exsersize all the time, and obviously cheat some days on occasional sleepovers.
My Question and problem is:
Trying to loose that excess baby fat? I know im still growing but its summer and im going into seventh grade you want to look your best!!! i just need help and options on how to tighten that baby fat up!!!
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It is difficult to know how tall one may grow although an educated guess may be based on your parent’s height since it is largely determined by genes. Many children are still growing at the age of 12. If you are within the healthy weight range or just inside the overweight category (check your statistics on the weight calculator), then it is probably best to ask your doctor about whether you should attempt any weight loss, or just maintain your current weight while growing out of the excess “baby fat”.
If you still believe that you have baby fat despite being at a healthy weight range, try not to focus on losing pounds (or kilograms or stones) but rather strive to increase muscle strength. Increasing muscle mass will help to define your body so that it will look more trim even though you weigh the same or even a little more since muscle does not take up as much room as fat. For example a teenager weighing 130 pounds with 19% body fat will look smaller (and healthier) than a similar teenager also weighing 130 pounds, but carrying 35% body fat.
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| Do I have a Weight Problem or Eating Problem? |
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=> i have a weight problem and i play volleyball is there anything i can do
=> i have a weight problem and im 14 yrs old and im 5'5 or 5'6 and weigh about 205 pounds but im not round or anything im tall and long but i want to get to 140 pounds
i tried everything but i dnt know wat to do and wat i shuld eat?? can you help me
=> I am 11 years old, and I weigh 149 pounds and counting! First of all...I have to admit that I eat when I'm borred, but I don't know what to do, because when I get borred my body thinks its hungrey and if I don't eat when I need to I get shakey and on the edje to passing out. Also, last year I weighed 100 pounds, I usually don't gane weight real fast, but within two months...out of nowhere I ganed 23 pounds!!! I wasn't over eating or anything! It made no since! I was on the average eating time! Then I gained even more weight! I'v gone to docters, health speacalists, est. I DON'T KNOW WHATS RONG! I NEED HELP!
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Weight gain happens when you eat more than you burn up in physical activity. Children are not as active as they were just a few decades ago. This lack of activity can contribute to the overweight and obesity problem. But by far, over-eating is the biggest contributor to weight gain. Excessive food intake is a result of the availability of cheap, high-calorie foods that is used not just for hunger, but to relieve boredom, depression, anxiousness, low self-esteem, or other negative feelings. Food is often used as a means to comfort since it is not possible to feel pleasure and emotional pain at the same time. Unfortunately, emotional pain returns after the food is consumed. In the meantime, this extra food has contributed to weight gain. Finding alternative activities to Comfort Eating can help bring food consumption back in line with our true caloric needs.
So even though children who are overweight often refer to themselves as having a “weight problem”, in truth what they have is an “eating problem”.
Here are examples of how much physical activity is required to burn off certain foods. Visit our Food Bar to see more examples.
Ice cream cone: 10 miles
Muffin: 2 miles
Chicken sandwich: 2 miles
Grapes: 0 miles
Chips: 4 miles
Apple: 0 miles
Cheesecake: 6 miles
How many miles have you walked today? If you’d like to keep a close track on how far you’ve walked, try using MapQuest or using a pedometer. A pedometer is a device you wear that keeps track of how many steps you take. They can be a great motivational tool for some people who want to increase their physical activity. If you sign up for a weight chart in the eCare Area on the home page of our site, you can put your pedometer readings in and it keeps track for you. |
| I need a Self Esteem boost…and people who support me |
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=> I'm 12 and 5'0 and weigh 190 pounds! all my friends are skinny and like shopping and changing with there friends and i just wait until they are gone or dont even change i walk my dogs everyday and not a lot of times to the gym but i need help i dont have a lot of clothes because i feel akward and i suck in my stomach a lot and i dont feel like myself i cry because no one supports me and if i try to talk they dont care no one does only my brother encouraged me (but not in a nice way) and i dont get made fun on but i dont want to look like this i eat healthy and excersise but i keep on gaining. i need help with bein not akward round people.
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Giving your self esteem a boost so you don’t feel so awkward around others, can help ease the transition into a healthier lifestyle that will allow you to reach your weight goals. Try starting a Self Esteem Kit where everyday, you write down three things you enjoyed or liked about yourself in a notebook. Once a month, write down something you want to do when you reach a healthy weight. But instead of waiting, take action to make those dreams a reality today! Maybe you would like to join choir at school or become a photographer. Start looking into course options now that interest you and be sure to sign up for them when school starts again.
Finding others who support you in weight loss will be very helpful in keeping you motivated. Your brother may be interested in seeing you reach a healthy weight range, but perhaps he does not know how to express and encourage you in a positive way. If a sibling is not nice about your weight, take them aside sometime and let them know how their treatment is hurting your feelings. Let them know that positive encouragement would be more helpful and suggest ways in which you would appreciate their help. Other sources of support can be parents, friends, and online motivational mates.
Finally, you might find useful dressing tips by other kids and teens who use this site on the Clothing & Fashion Board. |
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