15 years old - my mum wants me to lose weight?

Question

the other day we went to the doctors - just for a regular check up - and she weighed and measured me and basically told me i'm overweight (using the BMI thingy). since then, my mum has made me join a gym (and i'm forced to go at least 5 times a week) and she has restricted my food. this totally sucks because all the exercise is making me more hungry and i have to scab food off my friends. also, i'm in year 10 this year, and all this going to the gym is really taking away my homework time!! most nights i stay up until 2:00 or 3:00 AM frantically finishing homework and assignments - i'm a straight A student and i really like to put effort into all my work which i can't do currently. it just made me feel so bad cause 3 days before going to the doctors, i had just braved enough courage to finally wear a bikini in public, and then she told me im fat. mums also freakin out i won't fit in the dress we had to buy as i'm bridesmaid for a wedding

i am approx. 165 cm and weigh 70kg what do i do?

Answer 1

So your 5'4 and weigh 154? That's not that bad. Just so you know your BMI is 26.4, which is considered overweight, normal is 18.5-24.9. But good thing is you're not that much overweight. I don't know why your mom is stressing about how YOU look. It's your body. It's not like you're really really overweight, to where you could get diabetes from it. From 154, you only have to lose 10 lbs to be considered "normal". Drink lots of water, and watch what you eat. Stay away from bread and pasta.

Answer 2

Normally, I'd side with you - and say that your mom is freaking out over your weight because you seem to be too big for a dress you bought for a wedding. Maybe she can't afford alterations but-. When you said that the doctor said you were overweight, I had to think again. The BMI chart he uses is pretty good. It's lots easier to put on more weight and more weight when you aren't dieting and aren't exercising and aren't even thinking of yourself as fat. It's better to lose some weight when it hasn't gotten too much out of control.
You say you are a straight A student. I take classes (although I'm much much older than you) and I know that studying is a lot of sitting. Combined with being in a classroom, study means sedentery. Take your reading to the gym and read while you are on the stair machine. Or while you are riding the stationary bike. I realize that you can't do some things in the gym but you can review notes and get ready for tests there.
You're scabbing food from your friends. Why not just do the diet, lose the weight, look great in whatever you wear? I'm not telling you that all dieting is good. I'm telling you that because you are female, this issue is not going to go away. It's a little more manageable with guys because they do sports and sometimes it's OK for them to be heavy but muscular.
As a girl, if you lose the weight with your mom's support now (imagine if you really wanted to lose the weight and instead of supporting you, she worked against you - that would be pretty bad..), you will have learned this skill. When you go to college, you'll have to manage your time and your diet and your studying so at least you will have had this experience already.
Good luck!

Answer 3

At the start of your question I thought you might be around 90 or 100kg. 70kg is fine. Overweight? Yes. Dangerous, or obese? Absolutely NOT. That's just enough extra body mass to consider minor food and exercise changes, not to suddenly crash diet and go to the gym five or more times a week.

You need to work on a compromise with your mother. Your priority sounds like your school work (and also a reasonable amount of sleep)... explain this to her. If possible, get a school counselor or even the doctor's office to be in on the conversation so there's a voice of authority on your side -- that way it will look more like a reasonable request and she won't think you're just whining about the effort.

Exercise is always a good thing to include in your life, since in the long run it reduces stress and increases your energy level -- BUT, it can also be very counterproductive if you overdo it. Try cutting down to three days a week, which should be a lot more manageable. You and she should also be aware that as you build muscle from exercising, your weight might actually go up for a while. Worry about your body shape and how comfortable you are with it, NOT a strict weight-to-height ratio. (If you had the guts to wear a bikini, I don't think you had a poor self-image, but with her freaking out, you will soon.)

As for diet, you actually do need more calories when you're exercising that much; plus at 15 you're still growing and developing, which also takes calories. Her cutting back your food is going to be counterproductive in the long run. If there's problems with the kind of food you're getting, you can change that (add veggies, fruit, protein; reduce carbs, fats, sugar). You can also use a food diary to track calories and nutrients you get over the course of a day. Make sure you do the math -- find your goal weight (60 to 65 kg, I'd say), and find out how many calories needed to maintain that weight with your DESIRED activity level (a few days at the gym a week). I'm pretty sure you'll find that you only need to make a few changes to bring things into line.

I hope you can come to an understanding with her, and that she backs off a bit! Keeping in shape is a good goal, but not at the expense of your happiness or education. Best wishes!

Answer 4

I think your mom is concerned more on your future weight and health than thinking you are overweight. I suggest to try eat boiled egg as a source of protein. You dont need to go to gym just walk walk walk. I was 170 cm when I was 15 and now 175 cm so you will still grow a couple of inches and will have all the weight spread out in proper places. Your mom just cared about your health. Tell her you will be more active and eat properly. No need gym

Answer 5

It sounds like you do need to lose weight. But, your mom is not going to make it happen for you. You have to want to lose the weight. I don't think your mom is doing anything wrong. I think she is just desperately trying to help you. But, if you don't like all the things your mom is doing talk to her about it. I know it is so easy to put on the weight and so difficult to take it off, but with a little self discipline and exercise you can do it. Also, to keep the weight off train yourself not to over eat or eat until you are stuffed. Good luck!

Answer 6

Tell your mom this that taking away food doesnt help its mostly eating the right kinds. suggest this: cutting out all sugar (fast food, sodas, desserts, etc.) then you dont have to eat less but now your eating healthier. then excersicing 5 times a week is unneccessary instead workout 3 to 4 times a week so your body has time to rest. within abot 6 weeks youll be where you are supposed to with your weight.( it might not take that long). also tell her that staying up to late also makes people gain weight so you neeed to tel her homework first weight later.!! no wonder its taking so long!!!!! =-D and congrtz on the straight A's. btw im in the same boat im 25 lbs overweight!!! ;-)

Answer 7

Go to your school counselor and talk to them, make sure that you tell them how late it keeps you up. I'm a inventor, so if you are over weight. after talking to counselor talk to your mother and do this==cancel gym=get bicycle and prop up back at home,excersize by rideing at home, eat lots of fruits,vegtables uncooked or fully cooked,nuts,fruit juices,tea, salads=The idea is to eat as much as you want, but the kind of foods that dont add weight. Treat yourself to hershey chocolates, this type of chocolate was invented for people on diets, I watched a documentary on it.

Answer 8

I'm so sorry that you have to go through that kind of freaked out behavior because of one person's standard. I'm not condoning being overweight, but for your mom to freak like that is not any better. everybody goes through a little heavier stage when they are growing up, if it's not extreme. my niece usually shoots up taller after a little weight gain. (actually a nice round pug in the middle) but not fat, fat.
15 years old is not an age that you should be worrying about it unless you are very over weight, at that point you do need to get a handle on it BUT not enough to loose sleep on just to keep up with the studies.
keep up with your studies first and you'll work off the rest with time. (not in a week).

Answer 9

You tell your mother that she is setting you up for a lifetime fighting eating disorders.

My mother and dr did this to me when I was your age and weight. I have never had a normal relationship with food.

That was 27 years ago.

Ask to see a nutrionist to help you. Go to the school nurse. check out some websites - www.something-fishy.org is very good. This website from the US government is also excellent http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/take_charge.htm. Life is too short. I wish I knew the damage my dr and mother were doing at the time.

Good luck, my thoughts are with you.

Answer 10

well i dont know what kg is but if you can fit into a bikini i think you are skiny enough! and your mom needs to lay off .. you should sit her down and tell her mom i cant go to the gym every night i have to do my homework. and tell her you willy to compramise... that you will go to the gym 2 or 3 times a week and that you would like HER to go with you..