~ QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ~

Here is where we answer your questions about your weight and reaching your weight goal. Our site provides general health information only and cannot give medical advice.
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 Food Addict!

=> I am sooo big! I am 12 1/2 years old and weigh 147 pounds. I have tried EVERY possible diet you can think of(including the nasty grapefruit and cottage cheese diets).Can you help me with a diet for an unathletic, food addict? HELP.I really need your help.

 It can feel impossible to lose weight when addicted to foods. Check out this tip to find some hints to get unhooked:

Saying Goodbye to the Food Drug.


 No support at home

=> Hi lucy. Im overweight, an astounding 201 pounds and only 11! Im going into 6th grade, and I was to be skinny. My family does not care that much, and we do not have healthy foods. BTW, my neighborhood is not a good place to jog around and stuff. Is there anyway you I can lose weight by Augest 27th?

=> Hello, I would just like to know how I can improve my fitness. I am doing this alone and my parents wont help. Please give me advice.

=> I want to lose weight real bad i feel relly upset al the time i have these funny lines on my stomach and i keep trying to diet but every one in my house keeps eating fatty foods that have lots of grease and stuff it makes me sick i want help losing weight and i dont realy no how !!! can u help me?

 Hi there. That's tough that your family does not care as much as you. You CAN still lose weight. When your family makes meals with higher calorie foods, pay attention to your stomach. Only eat when you feel physical hunger. When the hunger goes away, stop eating. Be sure to not mindlessly snack on foods between meals.

Exercise can also help you lose weight. You can exercise inside too. Check out an exercise DVD or video at the library or DVD rental store. One that many Weighcool users like and lose weight with is Walk Away the Pounds. You can also do jumping jacks or run in place during TV commercials. There are lots of things other kids and teens have tried. Be sure to come by the chat room or use the boards to get other ideas and the support you need. Good luck!


 I eat the food 'cause it's there!

=> Hi lucy, Im a 13 year old girl(about to be 14 july 27) and i weigh 190 pounds. i play basketball but it seems that, im not losing any pounds at all. it seems as if im getting bigger at the momment. i do eat alot,i dont eat it out of depression or anything but i eat beacuaes the food is there and its good, i need some help on how to be healthy at HOME! Im getting a membership at the YMCA. i wanna weigh 150 at the most, so i can look great for school, so please help me so i can be healthy. Thank You!

 You said you eat the food because it is there. You may be "visually cued" to eat. This means when you SEE a food, you want to EAT the food. Check out this tip on help your weight loss when you are visually cued to eat:

What You See Is What You Eat.

Good luck!


 Where is the weight lost first?

=> I was wondering, where on your body do you notice weight loss first? Or does it really just depend on the person?

 You are right. It depends on the person. Many kids and teens say they notice it in their face first. Others say they notice the weight loss starts from their head, then their shoulders. Even more, others say they notice it in their stomach first. Whichever it is for you, I hope you notice and feel proud for your hard work!


 What is healthy weight loss?

=> Hi, Im overweight im 13 and i weigh 171 pounds , i would really like to lose weight for the summer , lately i have been getting up eating a healthy breakfast and a healthy lunch and dinner, i have been biking , and going to dance class for the last two weeks. Anyways i was just wondering if you know what a healthy weight loss for me would be ?,

 Losing weight is tough work. If a person does everything possible to lose weight, they still may not lose 2 pounds per week. For adults, 1 to 2 pounds per week is recommended as safe and doable. For kids and teens, that may not be possible. If a kid or teen is still getting taller, she or he may only be able to maintain her or his weight. Maintaining weight in this example is just as tough as losing weight as an adult. Some kids and teens who are no longer getting taller can lose 1 to 2 pounds per week or 1 to 2 pounds per month. The most important thing to keep in mind is that weight loss takes time. There maybe weeks when you do lose weight. And, other weeks when you do not. Keep on with your goals, though, and you will lose the weight. Best wishes!


 I can't stop bingeing!

=> I am 15 years old. I weigh 233 pounds. I don't know why I eat so much. I am trying to lose weight by eating three-four Lean Cuiseans a day with water and veggies. I have an addiction and I don't know how to cut it. My parents tell me eat more veggies. I ate an entire bag of salad without dressing and it didn't phase me at all, I just want more. What I am I to do? Please help.

=> hi lucy! i weigh over 200 pounds! i just can stop eating! i wanna loose it so badddddd!!! but i just dont get y! i am having this hard time wene it is something i want reallllllllly! bad! i want boys too notice me! i want more friends! and i want too wear cute clothes that dont cossed 20.00 dollors a shirt just becouse its bigger i wear a 3x in shirt and 20 22 in pants i hate it and i am disgusted with myself

 Bingeing is tough. It makes many teens feel uncomfortable. It makes many feel guilty. A huge part of the binge begins before a person starts to eat lots of food. Usually a person binge eats when they are dieting or trying to lose weight. This happens, in part, because they are eating too little (or starving) themselves in the beginning of the day. Eating too little at breakfast and lunch is the first part of the puzzle to binge eating.

You can stop binge eating! Many kids and teens seek help from a counselor to help learn about the feelings that may spark the binge. Planning your food choices a little bit better can help too! Here are a few pointers to stop a binge:

Do NOT skip meals. Eat breakfast and lunch everyday. Skipping these meals will tell your body to eat a lot more at dinner time and at night.

Eat balanced meals. A balanced meal includes whole grains, protein, and a high calcium food. It also includes a fruit or vegetable. Click on each food to learn more about them.

If you count calories, allow yourself enough. Many overweight kids and teens eat 1200 calories or less each day. For most kids and teens, this is not enough! Eating so little can make a person binge later in the day. Click here to see some other calorie pointers.


 Failed diets and cravings HELP!

=> Lucey, every month I lose about 10 pounds, but then I gain 20. I really can't stay away from junk food, is there a way you could help me stay away?

=> I am five foot, four and i weigh currently 164 pounds. I am trying to lose 20 pounds by the end of july. My BIG problem is eating, i always feel like im hungry. its really hard for me. I ask for help all the time from my parents, and they tell me to chew minty gum. I try, but it doesnt work. Its hard to see my sister who is 18 and skinny. She eats really bad food all the time, and i really get tempted. Can you help with fighting cravings and hunger???

=> hi wiz my name is carolyn and am 12 years old i have been over weight for as long as i can remember there was never a moment in my life where i felt skinny. over the years people have called me names and made fun of me but its my chance to prove to them and to myself that i can do it that i can be healthy and active. i really wanna feel skinny and i need some tips i have been trying to less crave on food but sometimes its hard please help wiz

=> I Really Want To Lose Weight. I've Lost alot of weight before But The Problem is i dont know keep the good weight. For Example Once i lost 11 pounds but i gained them righy back. I Need to find away to lose weight asnd keep it that way not gain them back !

=> What can I do to help stop myself from always wanting to eat? Whenever i feel like eating it is because i feel like i havent eaten anything at all that day. What can i eat that is healthy, non fatning, and is something that is a good portion and keeps me full and satisfied for the rest of the day

 That sounds so tough! I wonder if you are dieting too strictly to lose that 10 pounds. This strict diet makes the cravings go through the roof! Here are some tips to help you make lasting changes:

Do NOT skip meals. Eat breakfast and lunch everyday. Skipping these meals will tell your body to eat a lot more at dinner time and at night.

Eat balanced meals. A balanced meal includes whole grains, protein, and a high calcium food. It also includes a fruit or vegetable. Click on each food to learn more about them.

If you count calories, allow yourself enough. Many overweight kids and teens eat 1200 calories or less each day. For most kids and teens, this is not enough! Eating so little can make a person binge later in the day. Click here to see some other calorie pointers.

Know what junk food withdrawal feels like for you. For many people it feels uncomfortable, antsy, or like their skin is crawling. Other kids and teens say they just really want the food and can't stop thinking about it. They want it even through they are not physically hungry.

Quitting junk food is tough. When you are trying to quit, do not diet hard core. Do not attempt a fad diet or really low calorie diet. This will make you too hungry. You will crave the junk food more, too.

Instead of going on a diet, quit one junk food or two at a time. This way, your body will not be in complete shock.

Prepare to stop eating the junk food. By preparing your mind and body, you will be ready for the change. To prepare, tell adults and friends you trust of your plans. Tell them how they can support you. Maybe you can call them or visit when you are having cravings or experiencing withdrawal. Some kids and teens say it helps when others do not eat the food with them. You need to let your support system know how to help you. Then, you need to use your supporters!

Know your triggers. Many kids and teens say they want to eat certain junk food when they are bored. Others say they want it when they see it on TV. Know what triggers you. Avoid the triggers as much as possible!

Pick a date. Plan when the best time would be to quit. You may not want to pick a time near exams or tests or a big holiday. Circle the date on your calendar. Make sure your support system knows the date too!

When your date comes around, make sure you drink lots of water. Be sure to have lots of healthy low calorie snacks to munch on. Have snacks like carrots, celery, fruit, and sugar free Jell-O on hand. For other food ideas, click here.

When the cravings get really tough, squeeze your hands together real tight. Keep squeezing until the craving goes away. For other ideas to help you talk yourself through the cravings, click here.

Believe in yourself. Even if you have messed up before, believe this time you CAN do it. I believe in you!


 What about parents?

=> how do i tell my parnets that i want to lose weight when their way more overweight then me??

 Many kids and teens say they need more support from their parents. They think this can help them lose weight. If you need help talking about your weight with your parents, read on!

Write down on a piece of paper all the reasons you want to lose weight. List as many as you can think of. List all the reasons that are important to you. If you want, you can turn this list into a letter to give your parents.

Pick a good time to talk to your parents. Make sure you pick a time of day that is not busy. Pick a peaceful time.

If you are nervous, keep that list handy. You can also just read the letter you wrote. If you do not want to read it, you can just hand it to them.

Tell your parents specific ways they can support your weight loss. Maybe you find it helpful for them to keep certain food out of the house. Maybe you do not want them making comments about your food choices. Think long and hard about what can help or hurt your weight loss.

Maybe your parents want to lose weight too. Ask them to join you in this healthy adventure!

If your parents do not want to change how they eat and exercise, respect their choice. They might just see you feeling better and join you anyway!

Go grocery shopping with them. Point out the foods that are lower calorie you like in the house. Make sure you actually eat these foods since sometimes they can cost more money.

If you and your parents are going to get healthier together, try to compete. Place a big map of your city or local area on the wall. Each person gets a different color tack or marker. Each day, keep track of how far each of you walk, run, or bike. Use this distance to mark it on a map. See who can get to a certain point first!

Good luck!


 Where are the nutritionists?

=> if u r over weight how do u find a nutrionsiants to help u

 Hey Robert! Check out this website to find a registered dietitian in your area:

Find a Dietitian

Also, come by the weekly chats with Lucy on this website every Wednesday at 7 pm EST. She is a dietitian. You can chat with her about your weight loss goals. You can ask her questions about food, exercise, and self esteem. See you then!


 My family doesn't care, HELP!

=> Lucy I try to lose weight with my family but they don't care do you have anything I can do by myself to lose weight? THANKS!

 You are right...support is a huge part of losing weight! Here are some people or places to consider to find support:

1.) Tell a trusted friend about your desire to be healthier. They may listen when you have a hard day or go on walks with you.
2.) Find an exercise buddy at home or on this website. Checking in with someone may make you more motivated and you may have more fun!
3.) Meet with your doctor or a dietitian. A professional maybe able to provide you with one on one support. They may even be able to communicate with your family so they will support you.
4.) Talk with a school counselor or an adult at your church, temple, mosaic, or synagogue. Maybe there is a neighbor you trust who would be willing to listen and support you.
5.) Visit the chat room or bulletin boards in this site for support. Many kids and teens feel the same lack of support at home. Together, you can virtually support each other! Good luck!

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