Since advertisements constantly surround young people with extreme--and often artificial--examples of what the word "beauty" means, many teenagers feel the need to lose weight in order to gain acceptance. You might also feel that pressure. In reality, you may already be at a healthy weight, and even if you could benefit from losing a few pounds, you might not be interested in losing the weight slowly and steadily. However, in the end you will only be able to lose weight and feel comfortable in your own skin if you follow some healthy tips.
Focus on Your Health
Prioritize actual health over simply looking skinny. A person can become skinny but end up weak and susceptible to injury and disease. If you commit to feeling good both physically and mentally, you will ultimately have more energy and strength to follow through with a weight loss plan. See a doctor who can assess your current health before you try to lose any weight. She may or may not tell you you should lose pounds, but she will be able to give you some advice on adopting a diet and exercise routine appropriate for your age and size. Chances are if she does tell you you can lose weight, she will also tell you to lose no more than one pound (3,500 calories) per week and eat no fewer than 1,300 calories in one week in order to receive enough nutrients in your diet.
Write Out Your Plan
Keep a separate journal to document your milestones and continuing health goals. For example, if your goal was to lose 3,500 calories a week through diet and exercise, you may want to document your caloric intake and minutes of exercise per day. You may also want to write when you feel as though you've had some setbacks, and then formulate ways to turn those setbacks into progress; maybe you would have more time to pick up an extra active hobby if you spent one less hour watching television each day. The more you write about your goals, the more committed you will be to eventually reach them.
Invite Your Family
Your family members can benefit from your new focus on health if you recruit them to join you on your mission. Moreover, having support from your family can give you the extra pep in your step whenever you're feeling down. To encourage their participation, ask your parents if they would be willing to pick up some extra fruits and vegetables at the grocery store, and then offer to cook a healthy meal and pack some healthy snacks (e.g., celery sticks and peanut butter) for everyone to eat during the day at school or work. Also, plan active family outings such as hikes, swims and bike rides, and you will get in some extra bonding time as you improve your bodies.
Stay Active
If you commit to being active throughout your day, you won't ever have to step foot inside a gym. You also don't have to join a dance class or a sports team if you don't want to. Find an activity that doesn't feel like a chore to you--whether it's yoga, walking around the block, hiking or a little bit of everything--and enjoy it regularly. Also find active alternatives such as biking to school, taking the stairs instead of the elevator and dancing around the house to spice up your daily chores. Ultimately, says KidsHealth.org, you want to work your way up to getting about 60 minutes of combined exercise each day.
Member Comments