~ 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.  We cannot give you medical advice or make a diagnosis.    You should see your health professional for medical advice about your weight or health questions.

How fast can I lose weight?

=> Could Give Me Any Tips To Lose Weight Quickly? Is It Possible To Lose 2 stone, by Febuary 2009? I'm 13 years old and 253 lb.

It's common to want to see weight loss results quickly, but this is not realistic or safe. You did not gain your extra weight within days or weeks, nor should you expect to lose it in the same amount of time. Here are the reasons you don't want to lose weight too quickly: - the pounds you do lose will be more likely due to water loss, which will not only make you dehydrated, but more likely to gain the weight back again - rapid weight loss can cause fatigue or extreme tiredness - extreme restrictions in caloric intake can increase your risk of not receiving enough minerals and vitamins, otherwise known as malnutrition - losing weight too quickly will take a toll on your body resulting in dry skin, dull hair, and a gaunt complexion. It is also easy to become discouraged in trying to lose weight when one sets unrealistic goals. Losing 1-2 pounds (or 1/2 to 1 kg) per week is a more realistic goal if you are severely overweight or have stopped growing. Calculate your BMI and healthy weight range, visit the "What Is Safe Weight Loss?" page, and then meet with your doctor to find the rate of weight loss most appropriate for you.

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I don't like to exercise.

=> i dont like to exercise but how do i work to lose weigt

Exercise may be viewed by some as boring or a chore that they can't get motivated to do on a regular basis. Often exercise invokes images of push-ups or jumping jacks that the gym teacher may lead us through, or we do on our own time. For some this may work just fine. But other kids need different options to get them interested in exercise. If you find it helps to exercise with others, then some competitive school sports might appeal to you such as basketball, volleyball, or soccer. Or maybe you don't like competition but still would like to socialize while working out. Communities or local gyms will offer regular times to do aerobics (sometimes even in a pool) and spin classes (stationary bike cycling) often led by very motivational leaders with fun music. Most people who attend these classes want to lose weight just like you! Other activities that don't require any school, gym, or pool to get you moving include walks and bicycle rides in town or on trails, rollerblading on paved trails, volunteering to walk dogs at the local pet shelter, and even geocaching which often require little or long walks to find a treasure box! For an added incentive, you might even consider jobs that include a little exercise so that you get paid at the same time! These jobs could include shoveling snow, mowing lawns, vacuuming the house, or a newspaper route that is a reasonable length to walk within an hour or less per day. Visit our Exercise page for more ideas and reasons why exercise is an important component of any weight loss plan.

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How do I lose weight?

=> lucy i need a diet plan. im tired of my friend getting all the boys. => im 11 years old and i was wondering if you could help me loose weight becauxe right now i way 220 pounds. => i want to loose wight if i dont soon i will have to go in middle school fat how can i => how do i lose 100 pounds because i weight 220 and i don't like to be called fat

You all have accomplished the first step: recognizing that you have a weight problem. But what next? Have you figured out what your healthy weight range should be? If not, calculate your BMI, or Body Mass Index, by plugging in your current height, weight, and age into the Weight Calculator at this site. Ideally, you should meet with your medical doctor to decide the best weight loss goals tailored for your body. It may be that if you are in the overweight category, but still growing like a weed, that you simply need to avoid gaining any further weight and just grow into your size. However, some of you are in the obese category and should strive to lose some weight no matter how tall you are projected to grow. Overeating is a bad habit that needs to be broken. Often overweight people use food to give them comfort which causes them to eat more than simply satisfying hunger pains. One key is to find pleasurable activities to take the place of your comfort food. Next time you think of food, identify whether you are truly hungry with a growling tummy, or simply bored. Activities that can replace comfort food can be going on a walk, playing a musical instrument, dancing to your favorite music, or starting a hobby like coin collecting or knitting. Please visit the How Do I Lose Weight? under Healthy Weight School.

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Avoid TRANS FAT

=> I just heard this story about a woman who carried a hamburger and fries around for 3 years and it didn't break down. Does this mean that the fast food I ate 3 years ago is still in my body, not breaking down at all, and that I can never get fast food again?!

The story you heard about was the Super Size Me movie extra, where Morgan Spurlock put a McDonald's hamburger and fries in a glass jar and kept them at room temperature for several months. The hamburger broke down, although somewhat slowly, but the fries never did. A janitor accidentally threw out his experiment, so it's unknown how long the fries would have actually lasted. The french fries were probably fried in trans fats, which is a type of fat created by man through a chemical process called "partial hydrogenation" of vegetable oil. Most hamburgers and fries, or any food for that matter, are broken down by the body into more basic components, and stored or used as energy through time. However, scientists have found that the body is unable to break down trans fat and that it may very well stay in the body forever. Trans fat contributes to "bad" cholesterol as well as clogging arteries. Some fast food, fries in particular, have traditionally been made using trans fat, but trends are changing. Several cities, including New York City, have passed laws outlawing restaurants from serving trans fat. In addition, the federal government now requires all food to include the amount of trans fat on its dietary label. Unfortunately, there is a loop hole where a company with a food product containing less than 1% trans fat can list it as 0%. You might be able to detect if it contains trans fat anyway by looking through the ingredients list for words like "hydrogenated" or "partially hydrogenated". Everyone's goal, whether overweight or not, should be to eliminate all trans fats from their diet. This does not mean you always have to avoid fast food all the time, but check to see if your restaurant has a website or menu sheet that shows whether any of their items contain trans fat. Likewise, check nutrition labels on the items brought home from the grocery store to see if they list any trans fats. Margarine and shortening were classic products produced with trans fat. Now it is recommended to just use oil (not hydrogenated) or plain butter. Butter, however, is high in what's called "saturated fat", which also can clog your arteries, although not as bad as transfat.

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I would like to lose weight but my parents make treats easily available!

=> im a 12 year old girl thats 230lbs and my height is 5'8". the healthy weight and the weight i want to be is 150lbs. i've tried diets since i was 9 but its hard to stick to them. i went to georgia with my dad and we had ice cream every day, honey buns, cinnamon roles, cookies, and alot of fast food. it would be great to look better, feel better, and be healthy. => i am 11yrs old, 5'3, and 145lbs i have a huge sweets and bread problem i know you say to completely cut off the food(s) you have a problem with but i cant i pack my lunch everyday and sometimes my dad makes really good deserts such as pie, brownies ect. please help me i have no idea what to do

Both of you have made the first step in recognizing your weight problem, but it sounds like your parents are not always helpful in selecting a healthy diet. It is good to identify foods that you seem particularly attracted to and start breaking the habit of reaching for that food by cutting it completely out of your diet. You may have strong cravings for that food for a few weeks but it will diminish over time. It's okay to have an occasional treat, but if you always had a hard time resisting the food that you cut out, it's not a good idea to start eating that food again. Otherwise, you will get hooked again and have to go through the difficult time of cutting that food out all over again. If your parents are providing these tempting food items frequently, it's hard to say no! It's time to sit down and talk with your parents about your goals for losing weight. Let them know that you need their help by providing healthy choices. Print the "NO PIG OUT" poster to post on your refrigerator to help remind both you and your parents. Also direct your parents to the Parents Area designed specifically for them on this site. There they will find lots of tips on how to help you achieve your weight loss goals. We also plan to provide a weekly chat for parents of overweight children where they can talk with a health professional about their questions regarding weight loss for children. Check the home page for an announcement soon.

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I'm still hungry after I eat!

=> Why is it that when we are done eating, we are still hungry?

It can be easy to overeat because there is a lag time of about 20 minutes between when your stomach realizes that it is full and when the brain receives this message. That's why people who eat more slowly tend not to each as much. If you think you should be done eating but still feel hungry, put your plate away anyway and try drinking a glass of water or brushing your teeth, and then move on to some other activity. Chances are you won't feel hungry after awhile and will forget about the food as you get involved in the new activity. If you are eating to comfort an unpleasant emotion like stress or loneliness, you will feel better briefly while eating. The emotion usually returns after the food is gone, so you may "still feel hungry." But this is not true hunger, like when your stomach grumbles. Plus, you may be disappointed in yourself for overeating, so that your stress will be even worse ("vicious circle"). Generally, only a small amount of food is required to relieve true hunger pangs, although the hunger pangs may of course return once the stomach is empty again. Look for other ways to comfort yourself, like call a friend, go for a walk, or dance to music in your room.

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Why do I have a harder time maintaining a healthy weight when compared to other people?

=> Why is it that we have cravings? Why do some people eat a lot and are skinny, when others eat a lot and are or get fat? => my weight 150. iam only 12 years old and i have low self-esstem becuse of my body weight. i have so many skinny friends and i wish my metabolisim can be just like theres. all im trying to say is i need help losing weight.

As you probably already know, people who are overweight are taking in more calories than they are burning up. People who are overweight are more prone to the cravings or addiction of food because it gives us pleasure for that short time while we're eating. One big key is breaking the addiction to any certain foods that you find yourself repeatedly seeking out, such as ice cream or pop. Cut that one food out completely for 2 weeks. You might repeat the process for other foods that you know are unhealthy but you seem to seek out anyway. You may experience intense cravings for these foods, but over time those will go away the longer you avoid them. If you really desire a certain food, ask yourself if you could substitute something else like carrots or an apple. If you are really hungry, then eat one of those instead. Otherwise, try and find another activity that gives you pleasure such as working on scrap-booking, taking the dog for a walk, playing an instrument, or calling up a friend! Please visit the Healthy Weight School on this website too.

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