 Realistic Weight Loss Expectations and Clothing |
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=> each day i try to lose weight and its working but its taking for ever i used 2 weigh almost 13 stone and now i were 12. 5 stone. why is it takin so long to lose weight? all my friends and family wears smallers sizes than me and i can never show my arm so i wear a sweater but i start to sweat in the heat. i only wear short sleeves at home.
should i be ashamed of havin big arms and legs?
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 Weight loss, when done safely, is a slow process that may seem frustrating at first. But you have to give yourself credit for the weight you've lost so far! Remember the body is very good at compensating for overeating or under-eating in the short term, but over a long period of time these effects add up. Just as you did not become overweight overnight, it will also take some time to return to your desired weight.
You shouldn't have to feel ashamed of the size of your arms and legs. We see celebrities on TV and magazines ads that tend to show only the skinny people, but they are not a representative cross-section of healthy body shapes. Your body image and weight is only one part of you and losing extra pounds will be good for your health. However, your self worth is NOT dependent on your weight or the shape of your arms or legs. There are many other qualities that contribute to the self worth of a person. Try writing down a few of the qualities that you admire in yourself. Perhaps you are a great sister to your brother or sister, or you are good at art or math, or you are a patient listener to your friends' problems. There are so many other things in life that define a person than just arm and leg sizes! Here is just one source for plus-size kids clothing: You might also consider wearing long sleeve shirts with a very "airy" fabric if you don't feel comfortable wearing short sleeves in warmer weather right away.
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| Gaining Weight Despite Exercise |
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=> I have been trying to lose weight buy playing a sport so ive been trying to cut down on eating but now im starting to gain weight. Why?
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You are on the right track by increasing your activity but you may be pushing yourself too hard too quickly. There is a point where exerting too much energy while not taking in enough calories will cause your body to think it is at risk of starvation. Then the body may try to ensure its survival by trying to slow its metabolism. This ability to slow metabolism when the body perceives famine was quite handy hundreds and thousands of years ago in human history when the supply of food was not always reliable. It's not quite so handy in today's society when we are trying to lose weight.
Thus, you might end up with some weight gain despite your extra exercise. This can be a common problem for kids just starting their weight loss journey who want to see results quickly. Instead, think of weight loss as a long term goal and expect to lose only 1-2 pounds per week. Don't go too overboard with the exercise, or if you are comfortable with the amount of activity in your current sport, then consider not being so restrictive in how much you eat. Small changes will add up over time! |
| Tips on losing weight? |
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=> Hello Lucy. I am 10 and I am 148 lbs. I am tying to lose weight. any tips?
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Basically, you have to give up some of the pleasure you are getting from food, which is numbing bad feelings like stress or boredom that none of us likes to feel. Write down what you eat and what you feel before, during, and after you eat the food. If you are stressed or bored and eating to make yourself feel better, then doing other things to relieve stress or boredom instead of eating is the idea, like call a friend, take a walk with your dog, or do a hobby. Look at the School Area on the site. |
| Can I lose weight just by exercising? |
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=> Dear Lucy,
How did you lose weight? I mean I try and do exercise everyday but nothing is working. I do eat a lot but with plenty of exercise, I thought that would help. I am ashamed of my body. All my best friends are so much skinnier then me. What am I to do?????
Thank you!
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Very few kids are able to lose weight just by exercising. For example, you have to walk 35 miles just to work off one (1) pound. You burn up 100 calories per mile walking, and 1 pound of fat equals 3500 calories. To lose weight you must also cut back on the food you eat. You must give up some of the high pleasure food you are hooked on. Its easier if you just pick one food that you have a problem with, like ice cream or candy, and completely stop it, forever! You will have wicked bad cravings for two weeks, and then the cravings will get a lot better and mostly go away, as long as you dont eat that food again. Then pick another food you have a problem with and stop it completely, as well. But be careful not to abuse another food in its place. Find other things to comfort yourself. |
| When I lose weight, how do I keep it off? |
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=> Hey Lucy, I'm 13 years old and weigh 245lbs. I can't seem to loss any weight. I lossed some a while ago but it came back again(with another 40 lbs) I can't see my feet and have given up hope. What should I do?
=> Hi. I used to go to Slimming World about a year ago and lost just over a stone. A few months later I but it all back on and more... Any help would be appreciated
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Losing weight is easier that keeping it off. When you lose weight people congratulate you, and you look better, which makes you feel good and keep going. But when the congratulations stop, you make seek comfort in food again, and then you gain the weight back. Posting on the Teens Bulletin Board about what you feel after you lose weight can help. The other kids will support you. Plus you can then become a helper to teens just starting out, which will actually help you both. Read Taylors question and the answer up above, and read "How do I lose weight?" |
| My parents make me exercise to lose weight. |
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=> My parent say that i am to fat to be on the swim team and that the make me do every excrice that they can think of. And i am getting really tired of beaing bossed around even though i'm adopted and i really want to lose weight to get them to stiop making me excirce. thank you lucy , please give me some great avidie.
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Exercise helps to lose weight, but it should be fun stuff, like hiking with other kids, or easy games. Call your local Parks Department or your YMCA and ask if they have fun stuff for kids to do. Your school nurse may also know of fun things you can do. Good luck! |
| How can I help my friend who is overweight? |
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=> I have a friend with a weight and self-esteem problem. She is 5'4" and approximately 175 pounds, which puts her in the category of obese. Even though she plays a lot of sports, she eats badly so she keeps the extra weight on. Sometimes she feels severely depressed and her body has a ton to do with it. She has even considered suicide. How do I help her lose body fat without damaging her body and boost her self confidence without a professional?
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You are a wonderful friend. Help your friend to think about why she eats so badly. Usually its to cope with sad emotions like poor self esteem or the stresses of life. Unfortunately, just being obese can make kids depressed. Then they eat to feel better, which of course makes them gain more weight, then more depression, then more overeating, and so on. This is called a "vicious circle". To break the vicious circle, persuade your friend to do things with other kids, anything fun and active, like walking or hiking clubs. Also, tell her about this site and the kids here. They would love to help her as well. |
| I'm scared that I might die from being overweight. |
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=> am 13 am a female and i weigh 158 pounds... i dont wanna die i eat kinda healthy i love suger but have cutt down but the wigeht wont come off nnot only that it rises am so scared i hate neddles i hate blood test i hadent had one before but am scared of pain i dont wanna die what do i do !!! help
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You sound really motivated to do something about your weight, because you are worried about your health. When you are about to eat a food that you have a problem with, think about your health and what you fear (needles, pain, etc.) Then ask yourself, Is the brief pleasure that I get from this food worth it? |
| How can I get half my weight off? |
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=> im a 14 year old girl that live in philadephia .my wieght is 228 can you help me get half of it off.
=> I am 11 years old and I am about 175 pounds. I don't like being over weight...I have to change in front of other girls. I can't have both of my legs completely touching because of the size of my thighs... I wear an x-large adult... I just over eat. So I guess my main question is, how to lose the weight quick, safe, and easy?
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You have to make a decision: which it worth more, the comfort that you get from food, or stopping the pain that you feel from being 228 pounds. Sure, food gives you comfort, but only briefly, and it has the terrible side effect that it makes you heavier. If you lost weight you probably wouldnt need as much comfort, anyway. Look at the tip in the answer just above this one. But its your decision. You have to go through the terrible cravings and antsy feelings of getting off the high pleasure foods you are hooked on. But it gets a lot better if you can make it though the first few weeks. Its like detox. And at the same time you must learn to substitute other things for comfort that do not involve food. The kids on this site are happy to help you. Look at the bulletin board in the Teens Area. |
| I wish I were skinny. |
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=> Hi im almost 13 and my friend is almost 11 we both think were fat well we no were fat my weight is about 170 amd her weigt is about 165 im way taller she is 4'11 and im 5'4 we are best friends . like we will be wacthing tv and see this pretty skinny girl and will say i wish id be that skinny well we are tired of wishing
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Its always painful when you compare yourself to someone thinner. But remember that there are many kids a lot heavier than you two are, who probably feel bad when they see you. Nearly all overweight kids wonder why it is so hard to resist cravings for pleasurable food, even when they know that gaining more weight will make them more miserable. Its very much like an addiction, not really much different from smoking or alcohol.
Heres a tip. Which food do you have the worst problem with? Chocolate? French fries? Ice cream? Just stop that one food completely. Dont eat it, dont buy it, just stay away from it. Imagine that it will harm you if you eat it. You may crave that food terribly for a couple of weeks, but then the cravings will become much less, until at the end of a month you wont hardly miss that food. Then pick another food that you have a problem with and do the same with it. Just by stopping a few foods that you have the most problem with, you can lose weight. But be careful not to then abuse other foods as substitutes for what youve stopped. Find other things for comfort like calling a friend or get a pet. Look at the article on this site on "How do I lose weight?" |
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