Rapid Weight Loss Information: Solutions for How To Safely Lose 10 pounds in 10 Days

How do I lose weight fast?

I weigh 146 pounds and would like to know how I can lose 10-20 pounds fast. Losing 10 pounds in 10 days sounds really good, but how?

I am a 14 year old kid...Ever since second grade i hate been picked on for being over weight. Its not fair. All foods look good to me. I am a HUGE fan of Sam's Choice [coke] and i don't see that i can stop drinking it out of the blue. I might need a little help and reminding to finish and stick to my diet. Even my parents think that i need to lose like 10-15 pounds. I hate the way i look. I wear 2 piece bathing suits and i hate wearing them in public. They are the only types of bathing suits that i can wear, I cant find any one pieces in my size. Summer is for fun in the sun, getting a nice tan, and losing weight and getting fit. I have tried like 23 different types of weight loss programs and diets. None of them worked out for me. I never have been able to lose weight and keep it off. This one sounds reassuring. Please if you have any advice or can help me with my problem...please get back to me. Shelby [:

I want to lose ten pounds fast!

I weigh 210lbs. I'm 5'2" this is the most I have ever weighed. I exercise, eat healthy, and keep gaining weight. I have had my liver and thyroid checked. I have now developed hypertension and the doctor's do not know what is causing the weight gain. Do you have any suggestions?

Hello, I am a 41 year old female and in the past three years I have gained so much weight that I am so unhappy with myself. I have doctors check me out and there is no medical reason I cannot lose weight. I have tried every diet and diet pill. Can you please make some suggestions that may help me lose weight? My normal body weight was 135-137 and now I am at 250. Please help me find a solution to my problem.

Dear Katie and Donna McQuade and adri, There is a lot of useful information on this page, however, I feel that it is not really healthy for most people to concentrate on losing weight really fast. It is best to begin a diet and exercise program which is regular and consistent, thus changing your entire lifestyle rather than just temporarily following a diet regimen then sliding quickly back into your old habits of eating and sporadic or no exercise. Go to the following web page, where hopefully you will find more weight loss information and some of my answers to being consistent and regular in your endeavors and concentrating upon staying healthy rather than losing weight: Fat Burning Secrets Best regards, Dr. Leia

I'm 14 years old I'm constantly thinking I'm fat. I eat healthy and do exercise but don't seem to lose weight. Its getting me down at school now like in PE when every one's wearing dead skinny clothes and then there's me in size 10-1/2. I know you'll probably think i don't need to, but I do. I'm sick and tired of thinking I look fat making myself sick after meals, so I don't put the weight. On please help, Emily.

Dear Shelby, Wow! Trying 23 types of weight loss programs and diets is a lot! As you may have found out already, the issue is not about losing weight and dieting that will get you to where you want to be and to the right and perfect weight for you to feel good about yourself and your body. In order to do that, you will need to change your entire lifestyle and attitude about yourself and your body. You will first have to accept yourself and your body at the place where you are right now. You may also find that when you accept yourself then your friends will notice your confidence and will also begin to accept you the way you are. After accepting that your body type may not be the kind of body that will ever be super thin or slender as all the movie stars or even some of your friends, then you can begin to take better care of yourself and your body, instead of efforting to lose weight. With this new attitude of taking better care of yourself and your body, you will want to find out what foods are healthy and good to eat and begin to choose your food selections more wisely. This may mean finding a substitute for your coke and replacing it with more water to help flush out the toxins and fat from your body and may even help you to lose weight. Also, as you explore healthy food, your body will begin to crave more of it and less of the unhealthy foods which may be high in sugar and greasy fried foods or empty calorie snack foods. Please read my answer to Sarah on this page: Weight Loss Motivation. Hopefully, this advice will be of some use to you and assist you on your journey to having more fun with your exercise and diet routine and enable you to enjoy your life more. Remember, it is not about trying to lose weight, but it is more about taking better care of your body so that it will serve you to enjoy life for many more years to come. Also, with regular, disciplined exercise, your body will become and look more toned, and being toned does not necessarily mean that your body will weigh less because a toned body has more muscle which weighs more than fat. And a toned body is a healthy body!

Dear Chastity, Hypertension or high blood pressure indicates that there may be a circulatory problem which could involve either the heart or kidneys. It may be an indication that your arteries are blocked due to atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, which usually takes many years to develop, or it may be due to a kidney problem. Please ask your doctors to do more extensive testing on you, and it is perfectly ok to seek out a second or third opinion from other doctors. You indicate that you are currently eating a healthy diet and that you are getting adequate exercise and aerobics. You might like to seek out a fitness expert coach with the recommendation of your doctor, to assist you in your exercise and diet program to see if you are doing everything correctly. The added weight you have gained is serious and is putting excess stress on your organs, especially your heart and circulatory system and if you were to lose weight, then your blood pressure might return to normal. It is imperative that you have the help of an expert in this manner, rather than trying to lose weight on your own. Good luck in your search for a fitness coach.

Dear Cristin, I am going to suggest that you seek out a professional weight loss and exercise coach, recommended by your doctor, who will assist you in accessing your diet and exercise program rather trying to lose weight by yourself. As you have found out by yourself, trying every diet and diet pill that comes to your attention will not work. Since each person has an individual body chemistry, an individualized program is needed. This professional should be able to closely work with your doctor and to monitor your blood pressure and have regular check-ups as per your doctor's suggestions. Since your body weight is double your normal weight, it is imperative that you check with your doctor before trying any fad diets or exercise programs. Good luck with your quest.

Dear Emily, I know that you may think that you are fat, but there are many different sizes and shapes of body types around. Some of us should never try to wear dead skinny type clothes because our bodies are not designed to be skinny. Size 10-1/2 may seem large to you, but in reality it is normal sized. Development occurs at different rates for different girls, and you might be developing faster than some of your other friends. A healthy body is one that is toned and strong, so instead of trying to lose weight and look skinny, you might want to get involved in sports and keep fit by exercising with the volleyball team or another sport which you might enjoy. Becoming active in a sport will also help you in your co-ordination and body image. You will feel strong and healthy. Instead of making yourself sick after eating( this can be a serious problem and lead to emaciation, anorexia, bulemia, and heart problems and organ failure), you should take a walk or get involved in a regular exercise program. Sometimes walking the dog after dinner can be invigorating and make you feel better about your body. The secret is to get active and have regular exercise and keep your body moving. Please read my reply to Shelby above. And good luck in feeling better about yourself. Your health depends upon it! And you might want to seek a counselor to talk to about your feeling of being fat. Here is a good website which works with unwanted emotions such as the feeling of being fat: www.emofree.com. On this web site, you can watch a video and follow along with a fun and effective self-help technique which will make you feel better about yourself.

I am 22 years old and just had a baby 11 weeks ago. I'm looking for a way to help me get back to what I was, 135-140 lbs. I'm now 155-160 and only 5'1". I just don't know what to do. Please help me!

Hello. My name is Christina Valentine. I am 16 years old, weigh 150 lbs, and I am 5'5". Every day I look in the mirror and think to myself, "God, why am I so FAT?" I HATE feeling this way! I want to be like all the girls in my school. I want to be toned and skinny, not saggy and obese. I want to lose 20-30 pounds the RIGHT way, but how? Please help me...Christina

OK, Hello. My name is Emma and i am almost 14 years of age.I am seriously over weight I weigh 193 lbs. and I am 5' 5-1/2" tall! I do not think I should weigh this much! Is this normal for me and for my height etc? I really needed to lose weight before summer! I have NEVER been able to wear a two-piece swim suit and I was hoping maybe one day I will be able to be confident and be able to be OK with the way I look! I don't know why, but whenever I look at all my skinny friends I feel like I am not good enough and I will never get married or have my first boyfriend because of the way I look and feel about myself. I have tried several things from major diets to making my self puke. I walk every day and try to eat healthy but nothing really sticks! I can't find something that will REALLY work with my body and try to make me lose weight! It doesn't hep at all that I am a vegetarian! I only eat fish! But I don't eat as much protein as I should! I was wondering if me being a vegetarian has anything to do with this and if you have any free diets or plans for a vegetarian? I am having my grad in one week and having about 6 pool party's after this I want to look my best so PLEASE PLEASE help me. I will take anything. Just Please help me! Emma

Dear Christina and Emma M, Please see my reply to Emily and Shelby above. Both of you would do well to work on accepting where you are right now, so that it will be FUN to be active and learn to eat healthy. Beating yourself up with dieting and puking will not be the answer to losing weight. It will only make you sick and may even make you gain more weight. Please read the answers carefully and check out the links I mentioned. And please be kind to yourself.

Dear Ashlee Cheeseman, Please click on the link for "Weight Loss Motivation" above and read my answer to Sanah on that page. I hope that this helps. Regards, Dr. Leia

Hi, I am 14 years old I weigh 215 lbs. I am 5'6" and I can't seem to lose any weight right now. I exercise every day. I lose some but not much. I am trying to decide should I give up food and not eat at all or just eat fruit? I want to lose 50 pounds or more.

Hi, I'm Rachel. I'm 15 years old. I'm about 5'6" and I weigh 150 pounds. I was never one of those skinny kids. I always have a small Buddha belly but was always self conscious of it. Now that I look back on the photos of me. Well, it wasn't anything at all, I was like a normal kid, but now that I'm older that little Buddha belly has spread like an infectious disease. I hate the way I look. I have fat on my face, my Buddha belly (of course) the back side of me arm, my large love handles, my upper thigh/butt area over my rib cage, and even my calves have gotten flabby. I am always setting out to find new ways to shed about 30 pounds, because that's how much I would love to lose. But every plan I have, work out in the morning and not eat as much, goes down the drain. The problem is that I love food too much and I hate exercising for long periods of time. My mother Insists on not paying for any sort of fitness program and it's not like I have any money of my own. All I want is a simple but effective plan that will help me lose ten pounds per week. Please think of something for me. I have so many embarrassing stories about my weight. One time I was at a pool party and we were going to play chicken. This one guy told me to get on his shoulders, I hesitated at first but then I got on. I practically drowned him. He's my friend and now I don't even talk to him anymore. This is so bad and lately I have found myself worrying about it more and more. Please, it's summer now and I want to at least look good in a one piece. By losing 30 pounds I know it would change my entire lifestyle. Just please help me. Send me a plan. Anything. I don't know how much longer I can take of this. It hurts too much. And because of my problem I am becoming more and more depressed everyday. Please help. Quickly.

Hey, I'm Rachel, I'm 15 and about to be 16 in less then a month. I'm currently 5'4' and weigh 137 pounds. I'm not happy with how I look, I know I'm not fat but I'm just a little bit heavier then I would like to be. My goal would be 125-120. my problem is that I want it gone fast. I live in a town where you go to the beach everyday and I don't want to feel insecure around all my friends and feel I have to cover my body to hide it from other people. Last summer I was in shape, so I know it's possible. I went through a rough year and put on some weight. How can I get it back off quickly, like loose 10 in 10 days?

Hello, I am Liza and I am 16 years old. I am about 5'5" and weigh over 200 lbs. I feel horrible, I am always tired, and I constantly remind myself how much better I would feel if I didn't look the way I do. I understand already that I need to build confidence in myself to lose weight in the first place, like you told the 14-year-old girl. I have so many dreams; I have a wonderful voice and would like people to hear it in my future. However, I cannot see myself with a music career looking the way I look. I understand what I have to do to lose weight, but I can't seem to stay on a diet. When I don't lose the weight right away, I get depressed and turn to food. I want to live the lives that other teenage girls live. I want to go on dates, look cute in a bikini, and be lively with my friends. Please help me.

I have an eating problem, and I don't know how to stop. I just want to lose as much weight as fast as I possibly can and I don't know what to do. At 18 years old my weight has become one of my top worries and as a teen it shouldn't be. I always stay the same weight for a couple months which is good, then I gain a few pounds and stay there for a couple months. Please Help!

Do i have to exercise for this plan to work, and if so is there a good exercise routine you would suggest?

Hi Alex, A sensible exercise routine is suggested for any weight loss program.

I have been on my own low carbohydrate diet. When I worked out as much as I could, and I tried following someone else's diet plan, it never worked for me. On my own diet I lost 5 lbs in my 1st week. It was hard dieting because of my horrible eating habits. But with just cutting soda and chips out of your diet with a small workout, you'll see a big difference in the way you feel and look. It's so hard for me to keep a steady weight because I play sports, work, and go to school. Food is hard to get to sometimes, so I go to whatever I see first. I hate the feeling of eating too much and thinking I have to work out, people sit there and say they can't lose weight. You won't know until you try. It takes effort.

I am a 23 year old college senior who has struggled with her weight for four years. I am now at my heaviest, and I feel the discomfort. I know that my eating habits are affecting my life and my ability to do the things that I love. I have joined weight watchers more than I care to admit, and I am sick of crash dieting. I need help and advice. I am contemplating on joining the good old weight watchers again, but I want a permanent lifestyle change, I know that dieting is not a quick fix. Do you have any good recommendations for someone in a college atmosphere? What is the best way to go for someone who abhors too much structure but desperately needs some?

Hi, My name is Maria. I am 19 years old and I'm trying to figure out how to lose a little bit of weight. I'm 5'2" and I weigh about 132. I know that's in the normal range, but I have a very petite build. I had a baby about 10 months ago and I didn't lose all of the weight that I had gained. I run every morning for an hour and work out every other day. I do eat healthy. I only eat whole grains and fresh fruits and veggies, but I can't seem to tone my body and shed those last few pounds. I don't know what more I can do. I'm very active. I go for three walks a day with my son, and we go swimming almost every day. I even do extra runs with my husband. I just don't know what to do from this point. If you could let me know if I should take some vitamins or a special cleansing diet, I could try it. I just need to shed like 7-10 pounds. Thank you.

HI, I'm 20 yrs old. I am 5'11 and weigh 160 pounds. I need to lose 20 pounds because I want to enter a modeling competition. I was told by the organizers that most models my height weigh 130-135 pounds. That does not seem healthy at all to me. I did not think I was big at all, but I guess in the modeling world I am a bit over weight. Please, before I even start to loose the weight, I just need to know if weighing 135 pounds at 5'11-6'0 is at all healthy. I feel that that weight might actually be dangerous.

Hello, I have completed your rapid weight loss plan and it worked to great effect. I lost one stone, four pounds in ten days. However I really do not like grapefruit, is there something I can have instead?

Hi, I'm 19 years old. In three months I'll be twenty. I weigh about 225. It’s horrible, in the last year and five months, I have gained about sixty five pounds. I'm 5'5 I used to be OK with 150 pounds. In High school I was in Varsity Cheer and was very active. Then I graduated and all activity stopped. I got a job at an office sitting for 8 hours. I work every day 12:30 to 9pm and in the morning I go to school. My drive home from work is about forty minutes. By the time I get home, it’s late and I have tons of homework to do. I get little sleep and it's totally different then what my life was when I was in high school. Gaining sixty five pounds, in a little over a year, has been horrible. I don't look like I did. It's not me. I don't know how much longer I can take this. I need help; my body is deforming, and I no longer feel good in any cloths. Please help.

Hi, Lizette. Physical exercise is very important. I hope that you can work some activities into your busy schedule. If you cannot consider trying to get at least twenty minutes of exercise a day where you get your heart rate up. You could climb the stairs on campus between classes or fast walk. Also, consider cutting out comfort foods that are so easy to get on campus. You know like soda pop, candy, coffee drinks, and chips. Bring your own healthy snacks instead and keep track of what you eat. It is so easy to start studying and absentmindedly eat an entire bag of chips. Oh, and don't forget to read the serving size. They are always so much smaller than we would imagine.

I am twenty four year old stay at home mother of two. I have been chubby since the sixth grade and have always hated my body. Since I have had kids, any weight that I have gained seems to be hard to lose. Now instead of being just chubby, I am fat. My boyfriend makes it hard for me to want to lose weight, because he is set on eating a certain way. He is a country fella and diet is a curse word in his vocabulary. The greasier the food is, the better the food is. He insists on eating this way and is not willing to change his diet, even though he is overweight as well. I am gonna try your plan and if I see results, maybe he'll do it as well.

Guys, if theres one thing not to do it is starving yourself. Your body thinks you are literally starving and will die, in effort to protect you it slows down your metabolism and stores extra body fat so you can live longer. Now when you start to eat again you really pack on the pounds, its your body going into survival mode. You should eat many small meals per day. Hope this helps.

My name is Natasha, I'm 26 years old, and I've been obese my entire life. I have been on every weight loss plan you can imagine. When I was 12-15 I was on Lindora. They prescribed an appetite suppressant to me, and I lost 50 lbs. Unfortunately, it all came back. I have done Nutrisystem, the Hollywood diet, Atkins, South Beach, Curves diet plan, Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers. All have helped me lose weight, and all have proven to be short term. In the past eight months, I have lost 80 lbs. For the first time in my entire life, I know I'm going to keep the weight off. The reason is because, I worked really hard. I changed my life, and my way of thinking. It's all common sense, and every single one of you can do it too. I eat three well balanced meals a day, not going over 350 calories each meal, and I eat a 100 calorie pack snack in the middle of the day, and a 100 calorie dessert. I work out five times a week at curves, and I am training for a half marathon. The half marathon sounds a lot fancier than it really is. Anyone can do it. Look up "half marathon training for beginners" in a Google search. You start out slow, and work your way up to being able to jog a full thirty minutes. You will feel a sense of accomplishment after each session. Look, I know the thought of exercising is horrific to some of you. It was to me too. But you will never maintain a healthy weight until you commit to a regular exercise routine. It's difficult at first, but after about a week, you will feel better than you've ever felt in your entire life. I promise you. Working out not only produces awesome physical results, I went from a size 28 to a size 16, but you will feel great mentally as well. If you would like more information you can go to destination7project. I hope you all reach your weight loss goals in the healthiest way possible.

OK So, I'm 17, Female, and very over weight. I haven't gotten on a scale in for ever. The last time I did, I weighed like 280 pounds. Yes, I am disappointed in myself. But, I've always been fat. My whole life I've been fat. I've been made fun of constantly, and I get over it. But then some times it's still there. I know it's my fault for being this big, but I guess food is what I turn to. I don't know how to explain it. I am a size 22-24. I have skinny friends, and every time we go to the mall they go in to these awesome shops and buy Hollister and Abercrombie shirts and jeans. When I step in to a shop like that, I get looked at. I obviously cant buy any thing from a place like that and I hate that feeling. I've never had a boy friend. Maybe liking girls is the way to go. I used to play soft ball, and I liked it a lot. Then my sophomore year, I was judge by my coach, saying that I was to big to play. He really scared me. I think then is when I realized that I needed to do some thing. And I did. I went on a diet, but it didn't last at all. Now, I want to change. I just recently found out that I have high blood pressure and I might even have diabetes. I'm scarred and I don't want to die because Ive eaten too much in my life. I need some support. I want to achieve a goal. I know I can do it. I need to stick to it. It is time, and I think I am ready.

Hello, I am 17 and have struggled with my weight since I was 8 or 9 years old. It has caused confidence issues, low self-esteem, and all that jazz. My heaviest weight was 180 at age 14, since then it has been a constant battle because of my love of food. Many diet plans later, I had reached 165 lbs at 5'6" and was a size 13 last year. However, between Feb. and May of this year I inexplicably began to lose a great deal of weight. Well, lose a lot, gained some back, then lost some more in a cycle until I had lost 15 lbs. Of course, it was not through diet or exercise but through a loss of appetite. It all seems rather unhealthy now. My appetite came back at full force in the end, and I had to start working for my weight. Since then I have had this golden goal of reaching 120lbs. All my efforts over the summer failed. However in Sept., I started a regimented diet of fruits, veggies, green tea, yogurt, and lean meat. I would reward myself with an occasional sweet. I exercised daily through working out, bicycling, hiking and yoga. I'd gotten to 126lbs in early Nov. and was very proud of myself. However, with the holidays happening and even more coming up, I've begun to let myself slip and have gained at least 9lbs in the the past 2 weeks. Is that even physically possible? I don't usually eat junk, haven't even touched fast food in months, but I have a terrible sweet tooth. I can't seem to cut sugar back out of my diet. Now I'm getting depressed and am afraid if I don't do something all my hard work will go down the drain. I'm starting to see fat pop back up on my toned legs, arms and even more than the usual ab flab. So, can I really lose 10lbs in 10 days? Or better yet, do you have any solutions for my chocolate, sugar, carb cravings so that I can get back on my own regimented diet?

I'm 25 and have had weight problems since 13. The most I weighed was 91kilos. I am now 68kilos. I've lost some 10kilos within two weeks which was a few months back by eating only tomatoes, yogurts, soy bean milk , and tea. The effect on my brain is very bad. I had confusions, depression and was sicked most of the time after the weight loss. But I'm lighter. I have tried many weight loss programs they never worked. I realized, it's about how our mind works. I feel that as long as we are determined enough, we shall achieve what we long for. Exercise and eating right is the best way. You are what you eat. If you want results don't be lazy.

Hi, I'm Wendy. I'm 31 yrs. old and 5'4", 200 lbs. My Body Mass Index is 35. I should weigh around 130 lbs. I have a heart condition that requires me to take a beta-blocker and a benzodiazapine. My question is how can I lose the 70lbs. in a healthy way being on medications and not being able to do cardiovascular low or high impact exercise? After my daughter was born I lost 50lbs., and then I had a tumor removed out of my spine and had to use steroids, and the pain keeps me from losing the weight again. Can you give me a healthy, sensible way to lose weight?

I have just returned back from India, I was there for 10 months and before I left I weighed 184 lbs. I'm 4"11'. I now weigh 132 and it has been steady for the past 56 months. I drink water, I have cut out my soda addiction, I try to watch my eating of sweets and real fatty foods, although I still eat what I like. I have learned a lot of the time when I think I am hungry I am just thirsty. So try drinking water. I lost 15 lbs my first month drinking lots of water. You will be surprised what this can do for you. I have recently started a black salt, lemon, and hot water routine as well . My mom has been doing this for 2 months and has lost almost 25 lbs. You combine 5 grams of natural black salt, we got ours from India, and a glass of hot or warm water and a lemon squeezed. It smells gross. But you get used to it. You will not notice anything for a week or two, but after that when you drink it your body will start releasing toxins and cleaning you out. Now the secret is you must drink this as soon as you wake up, before you eat or drink anything. Good luck to all you ladies, I know weight loss is a struggle, but I would recommend a slow and steady pace and don't be too hard on yourself.

I can relate to many of the comments on here. I have struggled with my weight since I was about 5 years old, always being heavier than the kids in my classes. In 5th grade, I weighed over 180lbs and in 8th and 9th grade I was able to lose about 30. Then it just kept going up and down. I currently weigh around 220 and I'm 5'8". This is the heaviest I have ever been in my life, and I am beyond depressed. I have tried so many diet and exercise plans. The most recent one, eating salads, whole wheat foods, chicken breasts, fish, unsweetened applesauce, yogurt, and other healthy foods, averaging 1300 calories a day, walking about 30 minutes each day and lifting weights 3-4 times a week, along with workout videos 3-4 times a week, I gained 10 lbs. Go figure. I'm so depressed. It's like the harder I work, the worse it is. I've had my thyroid checked and it's fine, but my doctors can't figure out what is wrong with me. I'm losing hope. Any suggestions as to what I might do?

Amber, has your body fat ratio changed? Weight is only one part of the equation. As you put on muscle you will gain weight. This is good because it helps you burns calories faster. I would continue with your program and try to use the tape measure more than the scale.

I'm a 20 year old girl who weighs 141 pounds, and I am 5'3. I go to the gym 3-4 times a week for a cardiovascular workout as well as strength training. I can tell that I am gaining muscle, but it seems as though I'm not burning any fat. For breakfast I eat a bowl of organic Kashi cereal. At school I usually eat some yogurt, an apple, and vegetarian chili for lunch, then later an old school dinner consisting of meat, usually chicken, and vegetables or a Greek salad. I don't drink soda and rarely eat junk food, yet I can't get the fat off. Do you have any advice? Thanks, Deanna.

Deanna, have you ever used a heart rate monitor? It may be that you're not working in your target zone.

Hi, I was wondering what was the best way for me to lose weight fast and still be an athlete. I am 5' 10" and 155lbs. I have all that fat around my hips and really need to loose it fast, but I can't stop eating, or just eat small amounts. I am active for at least 2hrs a day. I also live at school and am not allowed to have a fridge in my room, so I need to be able to do this at the school cafeteria. I don't consume candy, soda, or fried food either. Every time I try to diet I get super hungry.

When I was 12 years old I weighed 161 lbs. I don't ever remember thinking I was fat, until one day I looked in the mirror, and I didn't like what I saw. So, I asked my mom to help me. My mom has always been thin and a healthy eater. I started by eating three good meals a day. I ate much smaller portions and no seconds. I cut out sugar drinks and drank a lot of water, unsweetened tea, etc. I didn't eat late at night, and had one small sweet thing a day. On my 13th birthday, 4 months later, I had lost 21 lbs., and was feeling much better about myself. Since then I have lost another 10 lbs. I will be turning 17 in two weeks, and I now weigh 130 lbs. I am 5'6". I have kept my weight off for almost 4 years now. Losing weight is something you have to do over time. It is a life style change, not a two week fad diet. I can still eat the things that I like, but just in moderate portions. If it worked for me, it'll work for you.

Hi, I'm 16, and I weight about 160lbs and I am 5"7'. I'm home schooled and don't get much exercise, I haven't really been on a diet before, last year I just did some sport everyday and lost about 15pounds in a few months. It was really hard without changing my diet. But this summer while on vacation, I gained weight and spent my time hiding when my friends where under the sun. I'm scared of changing my diet since I live with my parents who are overweight. It's very tempting to slip. I physically don't look that fat. I just have big hips, but I still weight a lot. I try and try to change but always fall back. I might be moving to America soon and going to a high school scares me a lot. Thinking I might be rejected like I was where I used to go to school. It's very hard for me since my parents make me feel low always criticizing my weight. I don't know what to do and being alone make me even more mad. When the only person I see is myself.

Hi Nikki, I wouldn't worry about being accepted because of your weight. Here in America you would be pretty average. It would be nice if you could ask your parents about getting out more. Have you thought about joining a walking or biking club like Volks Sports. They are an international club with people of all ages. It is fun to help set up the events and participate. They also do a good deal of charity work. It would be a good way to get out and get some exercise and also meet people.

Hi, I'll be 21 next month, I'm 5 feet tall and 133 pounds. I've lost about 4 pounds in 6 months so slowly. I only want to lose about 10 more pounds, but I'd like to lose at a decent pace of even just 1 pound a week. I've been trying to cut my calorie intake but I'm always so hungry. Do you recommend an appetite suppressant like Hoodia? What else curbs hunger?

Hi, I'm 18 years old and I'm a college student. I weigh 209lbs, and I am 5ft. 8 inches tall. My body distributes pretty evenly, thankfully. I want to know is there are any tips you can give me to lose weight? I lost 30lbs in about 3 1/2 months when I was in Africa. I really need to get under 200 and it's getting difficult. Also because I don't have a kitchen at school and everything you can get to eat has to be purchased pre-packaged or semi-fresh, you basically can't make anything on your own. Any advice.

Samira, if you can have a small refrigerator in your dorm room it would be helpful. You could them keep things like fresh fruit and vegetables handy for snacks. This would keep you from eating the usual campus comfort junk foods. The raw fruits and veggies have a good deal of fiber and this will help make you feel fuller.

I am a 14 year old, and I have always been picked on for my weight, but now I am trying this plan. I am going to journal everyday for six weeks and will weigh myself on the same date and same time. I have journaled today just saying what I ate and did today. So each Tuesday, I will be checking to see if my weight has gone down. I suggest others should do this also and stick with it for 6 weeks. Keep your chin up and take a picture of yourself when you start and on the last day of the 6 weeks. I will be updating my journals to show you what I am doing and if I had lost any weight. I weigh today, 4-1-08 about 227.0 pounds. I will keep in touch every week on Tuesday to tell you how everything is going.

Hi I am 15 years old and weight 190 pounds, I used to weight 150 pounds but then my doctor made a mistake and put me on the Depo shot to control my period. I am not off it. She never told me that it would make me gain weight, so now here I am with a very low self-esteem. Every time I look in the mirror I feel horrible. I try to exercise, but I get out of breath very easily. Can you recommend any diet pills or any kind of medication that may help me lose weight. Also from gaining weight it formed stretch marks on my stomach which are very embarrassing. Do you have any suggestions on how to get rid of them or at least make them less noticeable. Thanks for any help you can give me.

Hi BETTY, I think every girl or woman needs to know that the the weight required for modeling can be dangerous and is not appropriate for every woman. It depends on body structure, frame size, and genetics. Go here to check your appropriate weight> Charts.

Dear Katie, I am sorry to hear that your doctor made a mistake and put you on Depo injections. You say that you are still getting injections? These injections are made from progestin, a synthetic form of progesterone which is used mainly as a method of birth control for women who cannot use any other form of birth control. One of the drug's side effects is weight gain. A single injection lasts for three months. So if you are still getting these injections, please, please, tell your doctor that you don't want to receive them any longer. The effects of the drug will remain in your body for three months, so during these three months, it may be difficult to lose the added weight which you gained, no matter what you do. There are other more gentler ways to regulate your periods and menses, especially at your tender formative age. Here are some of the negative reasons for not using Depo-Provera: it can cause decreased bone density which can lead to osteoporosis, depression, increased blood clots, liver damage, headaches, hair loss, leg cramps, nervousness, dizziness, abdominal bloating, and weight gain. For your stretch marks on your stomach, you can rub some vitamin E on them. Just puncture a capsule of vitamin E and gently apply to your stomach area once or twice each day. The stretch marks will respond to the vitamin E if you use it regularly and use it as soon as they appear. The older the stretch marks, the longer and more difficult they are to rub away. It is best to use natural vitamin E, which can be distinguished from the synthetic form by the following small print and notations on the vitamin bottle: d- is the natural form, and dl- is the synthetic form. Use only the d- form which is the natural form. I think that synthetic substances have caused enough harm already, and should be laid to rest. Find a doctor who will listen to you, have patience until the Depo drug gets out of your system and body, and continue follow a healthy diet and exercise regimen to get back to your former weight. Please read the posts above to learn more about dieting. Good luck.

Thank you I meant to say, I am already off the shot and I now have a new doctor. I've been off the Depo shot for about 7 months, but the damage was already done when I got off the shot. Most of my stretch marks have faded to a silvery color, but I'll still try the Vitamin E. I'm trying to lose the weight but it is hard. I'll try to cut down on my calorie intake and exercise more. Hopefully that'll help. Thanks again

I have been slightly over weight most my life. Six years ago I was put on medication that caused me to gain 100lbs. in just six months. They finally got me off of it, and I have worked really hard to get myself down to a healthy 180, which is 20lbs more than before I started the medication. Six months ago I slowly started gaining weight. I am now 230lbs which is not as bad as before, but I am still gaining. I work 40 hours a week in a very fast paced kitchen and keep my caloric intake to 1900 or less. I also work out 3 times a week. Two weeks ago I found out that my thyroid is over active and the doctor said I should be dropping weight at an alarming rate, but the opposite is happening. Now he wants to slow it down, but I am afraid I will gain weight even faster. What can I do? I just want to be at a healthy weight.

Dear Cyndi, It is rare, but about 20% of patients who have hyperthyroidism, actually do gain weight. Since hyperthyroidism can develop slowly, in the beginning, it is possible to develop unhealthy eating habits, inadvertently taking nibbles and tastes of the food you work with, or eating at inappropriate times during the day, or making the wrong food choices, even though the calorie count is restricted. When the caloric intake is restricted for a long period of time, the body will try to conserve energy and make it extremely difficult to lose weight. In your case, the medication which started your weight gain may have changed your metabolism and may be responsible for altering your metabolism and metabolic rate. Also, your fast paced work schedule could also be responsible for adding to your metabolic dilemma. Please make sure that your doctor knows about the medication which originally caused your weight gain. It is important that you obtain a complete workup for your thyroid, including auto antibody testing, thyroid panel blood testing, and possibly an ultrasound to your thyroid. It is important to follow your doctor's orders. You should be under an Endocrinologist's care. This is a specialist who will know what further testing to perform. Good luck.

Ok first off a lot of you chicks are crazy. I am 5 feet 2 inches and 187 pounds. No one thinks I'm fat. I think I could stand to lose a few, but please 5 feet 5 inches and 150 pounds as a teenager is healthy. As you grow older that's when you need to worry about losing weight. Right now you are still potentially growing and shouldn't be freaking out. I used to be 4 feet 11 inches and 160 pounds, I had a growth spurt when I was 22 and grew a couple inches and looked great until I recently gained 27 pounds starting birth control. Please do not worry yourself when you are so young. If you are loosing weight because you think you will find a boyfriend you are doing it for the wrong reasons. I have a boyfriend and we love each other, he doesn't want me to lose weight. The only guys you are going to attract that way are men who just care about the physical. Please if you are going to loose weight do it for health. A guy isn't worth your time if he judges you for you size.

Starr, I agree with you that you should lose the weight for the right reasons.

Hey I'm 15 years old, and I wish I could have a flat stomach. I live in New Zealand so we go by kgs instead of pounds. I am 63 kgs and I am about 5 foot 1. I really want to lose a little bit more weight but it isn't that easy. Some people tell me I look fine and that I don't need to lose weight but just a bit more weight gone would make me happy. I'm 16 soon, and I look awful in a bikini. How can I make my body look better? Please help.

Hi Rebekah, I would follow Dr. Leia's advice and also try to tone my body instead of concentrating on how much the scale says I weigh. A toned body will always look better. Try lifting some light weights, and also work on the ab area.