From Kareen, Age 12 - 02/04/01 - IP#: 24.25.224.xxx  Click here to reply  
hi,i am 12 years old and 5'7.i weigh 193.5 lbs.iwant to lose weight but i think i am a little lazy.i have been on the atkins and lost eight pounds but gained it back fast.then i went on it a second time lost eight pounds again but then gave up because i was tired of eating meat and salad.if you have any suggestions please reply.
Reply from Ariel, Age 15 - 02/20/01 
Listen to Sue!!!
 
Reply from Jacquelyn, Age 12 - 02/11/01 
It's great that you have lost 8 pounds! Even though I am 12 years old, I buy a magazine called First For Women (I think that's the name), and it has a great diet plan, etc. Also try the magazine JUMP, they have some help in their, too. I am trying to do the same thing you are. Email me at tommygrl32@hotmail.com and we can talk about this! :)
 
Reply from Sue, Age 40 - 02/06/01 
You have to find a diet that contains food that you enjoy eating otherwise you will just get bored again and go off of it. There are loads and loads of fad diets out there and they all work for a time but as soon as you stop them then the weight goes back on. You have to start looking a little further than just a week or a month on a fad diet but think about your whole eating pattern and lifestyle.
1. Find out the fat and calorie content of the foods that you normally eat - there are loads of lists on the Internet - and then avoid the really high calorie and high fat foods.
2. See a doctor and get advice on how many calories you should be eating, roughly, and then try and stick to that amount. You may have to write it down to keep track and know beforehand how many calories that particular food contains.
3. If your problem is that you are getting hungry then eat foods that are low in calories like carrots or brocolli or celery or fruit and have them handy so you can nibble on them. Certain soups are very filling and they have low calorie versions of everything. These can be nutritious and make you feel full.
4.Get the support of your mum or go shopping with her to get the healthier low calorie foods in the house.
5. One thing that has worked for my daughter is she eats the foods that she loves but half portions or the Weight Watchers versions of them.
6. Don't look for an instant diet because the weight will at some point go back on when you start eating normally. We all want to lose the weight in a week but I would advise you to aim for a diet where the weight is coming off more slowly because then it is more likely to stay off as long as you don't return to bad eating habits.
My daughter has now lost 10 pounds in weight just by following the above advice.