Overweight, what should I do?

Question

I am a thirteen-year-old girl and overweight (142 lbs.) any advice on how to lose the baby flab? My mom, grandma, and sister are also overweight, could it be hereditary?

Answer 1

It's not likely heredity. It's probably that you (and your family) always eat at McDonalds too much.

Answer 2

It can be hereditary. Those who say its not need to do a little more reading. Do not let anyone tell you any different. At the same time don't allow it you hold you back. And it could be your environment too. If you're around negative people you become negative. The same with happy people. So if you're around people that tend to eat more and don't make healthy choices... you'll tend to do the same.

The best thing you can do is not attempt to make huge life altering changes that you can't possibly stick with and goals that aren't realistic.

Its true... this should not be about a diet. It should be about you creating a comfortable life style for yourself. That does not mean that you cannot have the things that you like. It just means that you need to throw in some realistic foods as well. I lost weight one summer by having a huge salad before my meals. I would eat it until I was full then have a meal to follow. The healthy food took up the majority of the room and then while I loved my dinner... I could not eat as much of it. For breakfast, I would just have cereal and a piece of fruit.

Do not skip breakfast. It is the meal that fuels your body for the day. What’s more, when you have a bowl of cereal even with whole milk and a piece of fruit the calories are very low.

Try to let go of things you do not need. Change from regular to diet. Drop the caffeine if at all possible because it robs you of your energy. Mostly in sodas if you drink a lot of them. Try to drink more water than anything. And starting out do not push yourself. You can lose a lot of weight by simply going on a walk each day.

If you decide to do weight training check with your doctor first and make sure that it is safe for you to do. Get his opinion and it is normally recommended that you do weight training every other day. If you do it every day, you over work your muscles.

Many of these things you can do in your house. Crunches, lunges, push-ups, squats. And we all hate them. But they are incredibly effective. Most workout routines are the same things being repeated with a different style.

I hope I helped. Good luck!

Answer 3

It is possible that part of it is hereditary, but there is a lot you can to for yourself. Make an effort to make a lifestyle change.

Take the time to learn about food, what is good for you, what isn't, how to prepare your own food, etc. See if you can make an appointment with a nutritionist who can help you learn what you should be eating, what your portion sizes should be (even if you eat healthy food, if you eat too much, you can still be overweight).

Also find some activities that you like to do. Walking, jogging, swimming, Frisbee, anything that gets you out and doing something. Walking is a great exercise, its free, and you can make yourself walking Cd's or play lists to keep you motivated.

It is great that you are asking questions and want to do something about this. Keep asking questions, and avoid crash diets, pills, and anything that promises weight loss with little or no work. These things will backfire. They may work today, but when you stop and try to go back to real life, the weight will come back.

Answer 4

Yes, the tendency to gain weight is hereditary according to recent research.

Don't go on a strict diet, though. It may cause harm to your body which is still growing internally (bones, etc.). Instead, try eating healthier (fruits instead of cakes, things like that) and take up exercise.

Bicycle riding, dancing, hiking. There are a lot of exercises you can do that aren't as boring as taking an exercise class or following an exercise video. Some fun ways to exercise would include buying one of the videos that teaches funk dancing and doing that. Not only will you be exercising, but you'll also learn some hot moves.

Weight lifting is very good exercise because it builds muscle and muscle uses more calories than fat. Just be very cautious about not lifting very heavy weights at your age. You need to protect your joints and bones. A reputable instructor can help you out here.

Take up Kung Fu! Learn to Belly Dance! Just be absolutely certain you don't let someone talk you into stressing your still-growing body. If it hurts, don't do it.

Answer 5

Sorry young lady, it's not baby flab, it's fat.

As a minor, it might be a good idea to contact a doctor if possible. Having said that, i must say doctors usually don't have a clue. The AMA diet of low fat/high carb is the worst diet in the world.

More likely that while genetics tends to make us susceptible to obesity, you are also usually eating the same diet, and I'd be surprised if it isn't high carb.

Google for "eskimo diet" for information on low carb diets.

I lost 35 pounds with the Atkins Diet, and at 64 am stronger than I have been in years.

Try to get the old 1992 printing of THE NEW DIET REVOLUTION
by Dr. Atkins.

Read it and read it and read it.

Phase one for normal people is two weeks, with 20 grams. (I am very hypoglycemic thus gain weight fast at that level, am stuck at nearly 0 grams.) It usually involves the approved foods, such as meat; poultry; fish; cheese; etc, with one medium salad a day. See the book. As you lose weight, you slowly add carbs, but usually non sugar types for maximum nutrition.

But the Atkins diet is not just low carbs. It is also replacing the missing nutrition carbs usually provide.

I take daily:

1. 4 vitamin C, 500 mg, no chewables. (part each meal.)

2. 4 Calcium 600D. if you don't, you can get osteoporosis, break bones or break teeth.

3. 4 mulitivitamins a day. If you don't, you will start feeling very bad. When someone says the Atkins diet made them feel bad, and they didn't take their mulltivitamins.

4. 16 metamucil or Wal-mart equate. This is for fiber, and if you don't, you can get impacted. To put this into perspective, this is what killed Elvis. If this happens to you, because you forget your fiber, you need to dig yourself out with your finger. This happened to me once, and it was the grossest thing I ever had to do in my life.

5. 2 Stool Softeners, Wal-mart Equate. See 4.

I can tell you this is a lot of stuff to choke down. Most folks simply are too unmotivated to do this. My daughter is 5' 4" and weighs more than I do, but she is too lazy to follow it.

if you read and follow the Atkins Diet, you should never be hungry, so you at least don't have to suffer starvation like the AMA diet.

Wal-mart sells ketone test strips to dip in your urine stream. By color you can tell how much fat you are burning. Normal people measure around 160 on phase one, I usually stuck around 40 and thus lost only a pound a week until the 35 pounds were gone.

The 2002 printing claims you need no supplements, that is insane, and I suspect was printed by his staff after he died. DO NOT USE THE 2002 printing.

NOTE for person who said something about your carbohydrates requirements. There is no requirement for carbs whatsoever. If you get the fiber and vitamins and minerals, there is absolutely no MDR for carbs. Google for Eskimo Diet, there are no carbs on the ice floes.

Answer 6

Yes and no to the heredity part. But you need to take control of your diet and your life. Cut out some carbs. (not all, you are still a growing thirteen year old!) For example... everyone is eating BLT's for lunch... lose the bread and use the lettuce as the ends to keeping your sandwich together. Also, keep each sandwich to a max of 2 pieces of bacon, 2 sandwiches max fopr lunch. I cut carbs out of my diet except for breakfast and started taking a 45 mintue walk every day in the evening and lost 15 lbs. in 2 months. So you dont have to push yourself too hard to start, just eat good for you food, (NO JUNK FOOD ALL THE TIME!! Maybe one snack a day!) and start walking!!!

Answer 7

Do weight training 3-4 days a week along with cardio-workouts(running, cycling,etc) also 3 days a week, for about half-an-hour a day.
Change your diet, try to include more proteins in-place of Fats
and carbohydrates, However your diet must meet your
minimum carbohydrates and fat reuirements.Also have lots of Fruits and Vegetables. Do I need to mention sufficient water intake ? Avoid-Aerated Drinks, Candy bars, Potato chips, cut out on the alcohol, food containing refined flour,etc.
A healthy diet, Weight training and a good cardiovascular program are all you need to stay in good shape.

Answer 8

No it's not hereditary... that is just an excuse to be fat and lazy. Eat healthy every day, don't just go on a 'diet', and exercise regularly...it's a lifestyle choice. You will be happier and healthier in the long run. Good luck to you!

Answer 9

It doesnt sound like you are that much overwieght just yet but you could be headed down that road. If obesity runs in your family then you need to watch what you eat especially fats and sugars. Other than that just go for walk everyday or even just every other day to keep it under control.
Good luck
PS dont take pills, they mess with your heart and head.

Answer 10

It very well may be your genes. Try and get your family interested in a fitness plan. Get out and walk for 15 minutes. Start out small. Also, try and eat healthier. Eat salad and veggies. Cut out the desert. Or just eat less. Take your food portion adn cut it in half. Try and make it a family effort.

Answer 11

It could be heredity. What you can do to tone up would be to excersize everyday for about 30min. You can rent workout dvd's or just TiVo a workout show on a health channel. Jogging, biking, walking, or swimming work too. Also, watch what you are eating - don't eat fast foods, fried foods, junk foods. Your portion size should also be watched.