From Stephanie, Age 19 - 05/01/12 - IP#: 99.146.149.xxx  Click here to reply  
Ht. 5'4", Start: 195 lb, Today: 195 lb (BMI %tile: 96), Goal: 140 lb - I've been overweight all my life. I'm reaching 200lbs and it's driving me crazy! I feel ugly, fat and round. I have such low self-esteem that I haven't gone out with friends in months; I'm embarassed. My goal is to reach 140lbs by December. I want to show people that I am beautiful and beyond my looks, there's so much more to me. I'm slowly working up a diet and an exercise plan.
Reply from Renee the Nutritionist - 05/17/12  - IP#: 204.76.166.xxx
The focus should be VOLUME. You want to get the most VOLUME with the least fat and calories. That means more fruits, vegetables and whole grains (and good fats like avocado, nuts, and seeds). Your plate should be 1/2 vegetables (some fruit here is ok too), 1/4 protein source, and 1/4 whole grain starch. Your protein choices should be lean like chicken without the skin, fish, or egg whites (beef only occasionally), or you can have vegetarian meals by replacing animal foods with beans and rice, or beans and pasta, or beans in a salad, etc. Vegetarian meals are not only better for the environment but for your health! You 1/2 plate vegetables should be varied like leafy greens, peppers, onions, green beans, artichokes, eggplant, asparagus, cabbage, tomatoes, carrots, mushrooms, etc. Whole grains are things like 100% whole wheat bread, whole wheat pasta, brown rice, bulgur wheat, quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, barley, etc. Stay away from processed meats (hot dogs, sausages, salami, bologna, etc.) and processed flour (white flour). DO NOT have any sweetened drinks or juices in the house. These are just a gateway to obesity. Kids, and adults too, need to drink plain water (or carbonated) and milk (soy, almond or oat milk good too) and that's it. Many studies have surfaced about 100% fruit juice being as bad as soda. You get the sugar and the calories without the fiber from the whole fruits. Feel free to go to my site for healthy and quick recipes: www.2-b-well.net. And yes, you ARE beautiful!		 
Reply from Jessica, Age 16 - 05/06/12  - IP#: 184.6.212.xxx
Your Not Steph you have a great mind remember weight loss does not happen over night small healthy portions are important drink lots of water start excitering very slow walking,