Body

Should I go on a diet?

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I've always been a little bigger. I'm not overweight but I'm not skinny. I'm only eleven-years-old and a lot of my clothes don't fit me.

I've tried so much to get rid of my weight. I even made up my own diet. I play volleyball, basketball, softball and I'm not lazy. I just don't know how to lose the weight. I'd like your help.

Hey girlie, you're not the only one who's totally obsessed with her bod! Remember, at eleven, your bod is going through so many changes, and sometimes it takes a little bit of time to fall into your look. At your age, it's absurd to go on a diet. You're doing the right thing by joining tons of sports...it'll keep you active, boost your self-esteem and you'll make lots of friends. I'm sure you're beautiful and perfect just the way you are, but here are some tips to make you feel even better.

The important thing to remember when you eat is...everything in MODERATION. Yep, that means you can eat your fave French fries, just don't have them for lunch five days a week. Since you know WHAT to eat, it’s now time to control HOW MUCH you eat. Let's face it, when the food is really yummy, it isn't easy to restrain yourself. A good way of monitoring portion sizes during meal times is to put an appropriate amount (generally the size of your fist) on your plate, and then put the food away so you don't get tempted to have seconds.

Controlling overeating is not just about portion sizes, but is also about making sure you feel full. Chewing each bite longer and being aware of how fast you eat can really help control how much you eat. And don't forget to ENJOY what you're eating! Another thing? Having meals on a regular schedule will help you stay energized and on track. Make sure not to go over five hours without eating EVER! Have a little healthy snack if you're stuck between meals (apples with a teaspoon of peanut butter, a fiber-filled granola bar or a handful of nuts).

So, take these tips to mind but don't worry so much. I KNOW you're a great, smart, beautiful chica just the way you are. Focus on the insider stuff that makes you awesome...like those great grades you're getting in French class, how much fun you and your BFF have on Friday night sleepovers and how your crush makes you feel when he smiles at you in the hall. Be happy!

-Jackie E.

THINK YOU'VE GOT A BODY BLUNDER? CLICK HERE to submit your own problem to be answered on Girl Talk!

BY CAITLIN R. ON 9/13/2009 7:00:00 AM 84 COMMENTS

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im 12 im not overweight but im not skinny...everyone else at school is tiny...one girl is taller than me but way skinnier. any thing i can do to get rid of a few pounds on my stomach?

c.c33 on 1/24/2010 11:32:40 PM

Try sit ups and jumping jacks mabye it could help it helped me so give it a try

Jdog123 on 1/23/2010 11:26:39 PM

ARE YOU TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT?!?
well then consider me your online personal trainer! infact consider me anything! Im pretty great at advie with boys.. bffs.. school...parents.. but (unlike all thoes other advice givers out there) My specitalty is helping you reach your fitness goals! i have plenty of work out plans.. Eating habits.. and ways to get motivated to exersize! Why would you go go anywhere els for advice?!

Jasper_rox12 on 1/18/2010 6:36:35 PM

Jasper_rox12 on 1/18/2010 6:32:39 PM

i'm the same way but i don't let it bother me.just live with it.your body will change and you will look better just like i will. so don't let it bother you.

sukigirl1 on 12/29/2009 12:36:14 PM

MOD MOD MOD!! I'm only 11 too but I have athsma so I can only exercise for maybe 10 min at a time before I start getting really out of breath. I am a normal weight right now but I am afraid that I may become overweight because I can't exercise so much. Otherwise I am perfectly healthy, and I eat very healthfully.

Hey chica, as long as you stay healthy and keep exercising, you won't become overweight. So no worries. Keep on doing what you're doing.

Lynae P.

spyder_234 on 12/13/2009 1:36:58 PM

PLEASE DON'T READ THIS, YOU WILL BE KISSED ON THE NEAREST POSSIBLE FRIDAY BY THE LOVER OF YOUR LIFE. TOMMORROW WILL BE THE BEST DAY OF YOUR LIFE. NOW YOU'VE STARTED READING THIS, DON'T STOP, THIS IS FREAKY.

1. Say your name 10 times.
2. Say your mom's name 5 times.
3. Say your crush's name 3 times.
4. Paste this to 4 other quizzes. If you do this, your crush will kiss you on the nearest Friday, but if you read this and do not paste this, then you will have very bad luck! SEND THIS TO 5 QUIZZES IN 143 MINUTES. WHEN YOU'RE DONE PRESS F6 AND YOUR CRUSH'S NAME WILL APPEAR IN BIG LETTERS ON THE SCREEN. THIS IS SO FREAKY BECAUSE IT ACTUALLY WORKS

MusicIsMySoul4Ever on 12/10/2009 4:48:48 PM

i understand completely. I'm bigger myself and even though I am always up and doing something i cant lsoe the weight. I mean, kids at school really make you wanna think about it, especially ones who tend to make fun of you or make you feel on the spot the way they look at you. Or when something relates to you on your weight the teachers talkign about. I wish there was a way for us to do so. I mean all my friends are as skinny as a rail.

carolanneg21 on 11/18/2009 6:43:58 PM

MOD MOD MOD heyy..weight help??im 15 and 136-140 lbs but naturally quite curvy lol.about five weeks or so ago i lost approximatly 6-8 lbs but im stuck now!i do the exercise program in the last girls life mag and im more active and have more energy than before.im trying to drink more water during the day too.i reeally want to lose at LEAST 10 more lbs..puhleeez helpp?! thanks....xo;P kat

Hey girlie,

Good for you for takign care of your body and trying to lead a healthy lifestyle. You should be proud of yourself for losing that much weight! Just keep up the exercise and drinking lots of water, eating lots and lots of fruits and veggies and the rest of the weight will come off. It just might take some time. Hang in there!

Megan P.

Megan P.

lalagurl94 on 11/9/2009 1:17:07 PM

omg i'm 11 too and i feel the same way i feel that imm too wide and i really don't like it but thats as skinny i canget on my thies cuzz i can kinda feel my bones! but don't worry everybody is like thatlol but don't go overboard!

geneive on 10/26/2009 11:52:48 PM

ADVISE PLZ!!! Ok well i like eat alot and i dont gain weight....alll my friends call me a stick and i wanna hav some like meat on my bones should i eat more junk food???

nicoco on 10/17/2009 11:17:35 PM

ADVISE PLZ!!! Ok well i like eat alot and i dont gain weight....alll my friends call me a stick and i wanna hav some like meat on my bones should i eat more junk food???

nicoco on 10/17/2009 11:16:28 PM

MOD MOD MOD

Thanks so much Liz!!

hopeful on 10/14/2009 1:16:04 PM

MOD MOD MOD
I'm 13 and 150 something pounds...
How do I lose the weight?
I am also somewhat bigger boned, so I know I will weigh a little more than normal gals even if I was at a healthy weight. Everyone says they've lost weight with their doctor's help...well what did their doctor do? Set them up an eating plan or something? Or told them what they should stay away from and such?
I want to be at a healthy weightby December 8th, is this a reasonable date? I chose this date at random.... Actually New Years wuld be fine too.. As long as it's before summer

Hey girl! I've learned that wanting to be your goal weight by a certain date never works. It's more reasonable to say you want to lose a pound or two every week (which is healthy). You will lose weight by eating healthy.. that means lot's of veggies, fruits, lean meat like chicken and fish. Stay away from white breads and refined sugars (like cookies). Make sure you exercise 3-5 times a week for about 30 minutes. Doing this should help you lose the weight you want. Good luck!

XOXO

Liz

Liz L.

hopeful on 10/14/2009 12:43:44 PM

i feel kinda fat because all the girls at my school are so small i weigh 120 and suck in to look smaller because sum of my clothes make me look a bit pg and i don't want anyone going around saying that how can i lose weight

booklover96 on 10/7/2009 5:53:52 PM

I was watching tv and they had a program that was saying how bad we all eat and how over weight everyone is becoming. I was thinking how nice it would be to gain a few pounds but as soon as that happens I bet it might go out of control so I am not wishing for that.

luckykel on 10/5/2009 3:24:33 PM

ya i know how ya feel.. im into volleyball 2! check out my profile pleeeeeeez!!!!
: )

lilypad878 on 10/4/2009 9:49:29 AM

mod
Thanks Lynae! No, I'm not seriously overweight or obese but I'd still like to watch what I eat and be athletic. Thanks for your help!

cassieann23 on 10/3/2009 3:30:54 PM

MOD MOD MOD Hi. I just would like you to realize that preteens (like me) aren't way too young to be doing things like trying to maintain/lose weight and such. I'm really annoyed because I constantly see you saying that I'm way too young to worry about my weight. But seriously, what if I wait until I'm fifteen, and by then I'm obese and it's even harder to change? I'd just like you to realize that even though I'm only 11, I can still try to lose weight in a healthy way- without starving myself.

Hey girly, I don't think you're ever too young to want to be healthy, the younger you are, the better. But I do think that you shouldn't try to do drastic things to your bod while it's still changing. You're a preteen, so your bod is beginning to go through all these different stages where different things are taking place, and I just don't want you to disturb that with trying to loose weight. Now unless you're seriously overweight or obese, then it's a different story. But I defintely understand and respect your point.

Lynae P.

cassieann23 on 10/2/2009 11:35:03 PM

HEy girl, im not even sure if your still reading what people comment on this but if you are or if anyone is havi ng the same problem feel free to talk to me and comment on my page. I went htrough the same thing i was always the big kid in elementary school. i weighed double what some of my friends would weigh and i would hate it when girls would talk about their jean sizes. But then i grew taller and my stomach started to balance out with the rest of me and the weight i had before gave me killer curves in all the right places. So dont worry baout your weight focus on school and a social life and everythoing else will work its self out

fired up on 9/26/2009 10:02:05 AM

omgg if any of you girlies have problems with anything come to my profile and tell me.
i will try and answer you a.s.a.p

just come check out my profile and leave a comment. i will answer your advice in no time.

misher4 on 9/25/2009 5:49:10 PM

mod mod mod mod
how do you kiss a boy with acne? if they r ur BF and u want to kiss them but have acne how do u do that cuz that is really gross to kiss acne......

Hey, acne doesn't really get in the way of kissing, even if it's bad. Think about it - you're kissing lips where acne doesn't form. I wouldn't worry about it babe!

katelin s.

ladybuglover28 on 9/22/2009 11:20:07 PM

MODMODMODMOD!!!!!!! Let's say there's this girl named Hannah and another named Teresa. Well Hannah keeps on announcing that I'm fat to her. I feel like it's because Teresa is fatter than me and hannah is sticking up for me. I feel hurt, because she tells me that I'm fat out of nowhere. And then she claims how skinny she is. Sometimes, Hannah says she feels fat just to get sympathy, and then Teresa says that Hannah's skinnier than me. Right in front of me. I really don't know why they are doing that. Purposely hurting my feeling. What should I do? Lose weight?

Hey girl! It sounds like these girls have some insecurities about their own weight. But that is not an excuse to be putting you down. Next time they say stuff like that, tell them to stop because it hurts your feelings. If they keep doing that, they are not your real friends. Try talking to new people in your classes so you can get closer to them. Then, you can find friends who are less hurtful and more fun to be around. best, Kristen

Kristen Y.

yuffiekitty on 9/20/2009 8:36:29 PM

MOD im overweight and i hate it. i cant stand being this way. recentaly i was in the hospital with pnemounia and im still having a lot of trouble. iv gained about..10 pounds in he past month cuz i cant do anything cuz i still really cant breathe...theis really doesnt help because i dont need to gain anymore weight..i need to loose it. im really sick of this and i dont knnow how much more i can take...

Hey chica, the key to loosing wieght, is finding the right diet program for you. Since you can't really move right now, maybe you could try experimenting with healthy foods, like fruit, veggies and smoothies. Drink plenty of water. And remember you are beautiful at any weight. Beauty is from the inside out, not the other way around, so as long as you shine on the inside (and it sounds like you do) you're going to shine on the outside! Hope ya feel better soon!

Lynae P.

softballchickexoh12 on 9/20/2009 1:27:26 PM

Yeah, I think the advice given is good!
************************************************
CLUB CREATIVITY IS NOW OPEN! IF YOU ARE INTERESTED PLEASE FEEL FREE TO JOIN. JUST CLICK ON MY NAME or SEARCH lasagna or SEARCH Club Creativity. The club is under lasagna's profile. I don't know how to change it to something else, sorry.

~lasagna~
Club Creativity

lasagna on 9/19/2009 4:45:46 PM

MOD
i get really self conscious no matter where i am who's coming what im doing etc. do you have any good diet plans? (I want to look really cute in my new top)PS I'm 10 years old

Hey babe,

I think 10 years old is way too young to worry about dieting. Try to find other ways to feel confident about yourself and focus on things that you like about yourself or that other people tell you they like about you.

xoxo Allie

Allie S.

happygurl5922 on 9/18/2009 6:44:25 PM

dont diet!!!!! wait it out and u will just strech and look fine but dont diet.

i<3colesprouse on 9/18/2009 5:08:20 PM

mod mod mod mod!!! this guy at school likes me ad i like him but he is a total nerd ad my friends are mean to him. what should i do
thanks mod!

Hey girl, you shouldn't mind what your friends say. You should go out with this guy. If your friends talk down about him, stand up for him. Tell them he's a nice guy. Years from now, this guy will do something amazing. As you know, you can't judge a book by its cover. Let your friends know about the wonderful guy he is inside and hopefully they'll see too.

xoxo

Alyssa B.

gogococo753 on 9/17/2009 8:51:05 PM

Thanks mod oh and lol my name is Alyssa also ^^

Any time, chica. Love the name by the way, haha.

xoxo

Alyssa B.

XxEmOpUpPeHxX on 9/17/2009 8:27:34 PM

Is having a flat stomach something that guys really like or do they mind for it to stick out a little, not from being overweight but just because it sticks out a little?

luckykel on 9/16/2009 10:34:28 PM

MOD MOD MOD MOD!
Am I fat for a 10 year old girl I weigh 114 pounds but I just cant lose the weight!

Hey girl, you are NOT fat. You are beautiful and every girl is, no matter their numbers are. Focus on being healthy and taking care of yourself. You do NOT need to diet. Just eat the right foods and have fun. You're gorgeous just the way you are!

xoxo

Alyssa B.

XxEmOpUpPeHxX on 9/16/2009 9:34:25 PM

Mod... If I jog 1 and 1/2 miles everyday, In one week do you think I would burn about 500 calories? Or would I burn more? How much? Thank you!

Hey babe,

It depends on your size, a little bit, but I think jogging a mile burns a little over 300 calories, so you'd be burning about 500.

xoxo Allie

Allie S.

500935 on 9/16/2009 6:45:13 PM

heey! everyone check out my prof!

misher4 on 9/16/2009 4:11:21 PM

hey girl, its fine. Our P.E. teacher told us that girls naturally have more body fat than guys.... then he went into "because girls will be able to have children someday" description which was really awkward

camel490 on 9/15/2009 11:29:37 PM

hey.... i'm not REALLY big... but i'm DEFINETLY over weight.i hate watching all the skinny girls at my school eat like crap... and not gain a pound.wen/if i do that.. i gain like 20 i know if i REALLY tried i'd be able to loose the weight.i just need a really good motivater.sp? i'm dogafobic so i don't play outside or in my neiborhood.wat should i do??

!bandgeek! on 9/15/2009 8:31:03 PM

MOD!!
Ok,so i straighten my hair every day because my hair is naturally wavy.I know its damages your hair,but i would really like it to stay straight.ive tried triming it,hair spray,cutting it,...but i want it to grow out long.Any other ways that i can keep it straight without hurting my hair?Thankss

Hey babe,

Use a serum that will protect your hair against heat. If you blowdry and then use a straightener try learning how to dry your hair straight to keep from using both appliances.

xoxo Keltie

Keltie E.

stephaniee:) on 9/14/2009 11:49:36 PM

Mod we have swim team practices almost all school year and they start in about three weeks. its not that im out of shape but i really dont like how i look in my suit. im thin but my stomach sticks out really bad when i wear tightish clothes like bathing suits. or at least i think it does and it makes me really self concious do you know any workouts that would give me a slimer tummy fast? My moms a health freak so we already eat really healthy. do you also have any easy ones i could do in the locker room before practice that will strengthen my legs? our coach works us really hard and we warm up by doing a couple laps some breathing stuff and treading then finally stretchin. i have to strech before i can do any sport though. there is only two other girls on the team so i have plenty of room to stretch. thank you!!

Hi babe,

I had the exact same fear when I was on the swim team. First, drink more water. You might just be a little dehydrated, which would make your stomach stick out a bit. Otherwise you could try yoga moves like the plank, going for short jogs (30 minutes), eating less carbs until swimming starts, or doing crunches three times a week. For your legs try doing forward, backward and side lunges as well as squats. They will help tone your legs fast.

xoxo Keltie

Keltie E.

arookie03 on 9/14/2009 9:06:40 PM

trust me Ive know what you girls feel like.

B.F on 9/14/2009 8:22:21 PM

WOW GL!you are sooooo nice and amazing.a lot of websites like this make you think your not pretty enough etc etc but GL is way diff.....I LOVE IT!!

club dreamerz on 9/14/2009 8:05:01 PM

I used to be always like "oh yeah im gonna go on a diet" but i never did lol , that was like 2 years ago , and ive gotten way taller , and when u grow u get skinnier. But im happy with my body. sometimes. Hope things work out !

Maddyrox92 on 9/14/2009 3:25:26 PM

MOD MOD MOD
How can I tell when a guy likes me? It seems like I can never tell. I mean this weekend my guy friend told me he likes me a lot and he asked me out but I told him no. I had absoulutley no clue that he felt that way about me. This has happened before where they said they liked me but I had no clue they did. So how can I tell?

Hey girl! Guys can be soo confusing sometimes and their signs aren't always clear. Sometimes when a guy likes a girl, he teases her a lot. Sometimes he's mean. Other times he is attentive. If he talks to you a lot, or tries to give you hugs or put his arm around you, these could be signs that he likes you. You can find more tips about how to know when a guy likes you on the GL website.

Best,

Liz

Liz L.

Justalilcrazy on 9/14/2009 1:59:36 AM

weight....the worst subject ever...no one is ever happy with it...
comment on my profile!!!
lizzie

itzy bitzy on 9/13/2009 10:52:41 PM

MODMODMODMODMODMODMODMODMOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i went to a doctor a couple weeks ago and i am about 20 pounds overweight. i really need to lose the weight but the thing is, im a really unhealthy eater. ive never been able to go more than two days on a diet, and when i stop the diet i eat way more than i usually do. i also dont like exercising very much. my parents cant pay for epensive classes or diet programs, but if there are any cheap classes i could take that would help. also what exercise can i do on my own, and how can i lose the weight??? most of my fat is in my thighs and stomach but i have it everywhere. i really wanna be healthy and not have my body be bad because i know there are horrible things like diabetes that i could get if im overweight! how do i get rid of my extra 20 pounds, and how do i keep it off??? this is really really important for me! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!

Hey girlie! Just take one day at a time! Make healthy choices everyday and do some walking/running a few times a week!

-Taeler

Taeler L.

PINKIEprincess on 9/13/2009 10:13:26 PM

**MOD** (this is going to be long...) I don't know if it's possible for me to feel worse. I have a few issues with my family. It doesn't help that the one person I love and care about the most is torturing me without even knowing that he's doing it. For starters, it's like my dad drops absolutely everything just to please my mom. It's good that they love each other but whenever I'm in a good mood they completely ignore me, which puts me in a bad mood. And then I feel bad because I'm upset with them. My sister is 23 and thinks the world is out to get her. At least twice a week she has a HUGE crying tantrum when no one can calm her down. She always says really nasty things to me. And the worst problem is with my ex. He broke up with me almost a month ago and I found out from him that he wasn't over his ex. We're still friends but sometimes I feel like I can't take it when I'm with him. We said we loved each other when we were going out, but it's like he didn't mean it and I do. I know this isn't just my hormones controlling me because he's not what most people consider attractive, and a lot of people just don't like him. I love him so much and it's just become too much. It hurts more than words can say whenever I see him. Since it was a while ago, people have just stopped caring and cutting me slack. They expect that I healed over time but they could not be more wrong. If anything I'm just getting worse and worse every second. Last week, I even cut myself on my thighs. I haven't since then but I've just been less careful about getting hurt and it actually makes me feel better once I do. I know you're going to tell me to talk my parents but it won't work. I have no idea where to turn, who to talk to, or how I'm going to get through this. I think I'm becoming depressed. What do I do?

Hey girlie! You really need to talk to your parents or a doctor if you keep feeling depressed. The situation sounds pretty heavy and I think that's the only thing you can do. Talk to someone as soon as you can.

-Taeler

Taeler L.

stagebabe401 on 9/13/2009 9:40:56 PM

HHHHEEEEYYYYYY CHICKAS!!!!!!!!!
I’ll MOD for anyone who needs any help. If any of you guys need advice, I’M ALL EARS!!! Just post a comment on my profile and I will reply ASAP since I check my profile like 3 times a day LOLZ.

Come check out the polls posted at the bottom of “My Healthy You Profile” section on my profile and comment on it so I know what your choice is! Don’t worry this is not a club. It’s just something fun to do and you can see what other girls say too!

musicrox on 9/13/2009 8:52:12 PM

MOD MOD MOD!! ok me and my friend made a club on gl and it won't become visible because in the e-mail it didn't have the thing that was like "i give my child permission" to click on. And when we log on it says it's being moderated. what does that mean? and how do you make it visible? thx!

Hey girl! I'm not really sure what's up with your pro. Try asking some of the other girlies who started clubs on the site for advice and their personal experiences. Best, Kristen

Kristen Y.

PigglyWiggly14 on 9/13/2009 8:40:08 PM

Thanks Kristen!!!

Cali_babe on 9/13/2009 8:34:29 PM

MOD MOD MOD!!!!! HELP ME I am an a and b student but i just checked my grades and i have a d+ id pre-calc. I normally get b's in math but rite now i have a d+and i wqana cry

i am so stressed now!!! help

Hey girl! I totally know what you're going through. I've always been an A and B student, and last year I had my first C after working really, really hard. I wanted to cry too! The best thing to do is go talk to your teacher. He or she will be able to give you advice on where you need to improve and what you can do to get better. Also, try getting a study group together. I didn't realize it until I actually tried it, but study groups are one of the best ways to learn your stuff because other people can explain things and come up with q's you didn't even think of. (Plus, it's not in confusing textbook lang.) It's really stressful, I know, but take a deep breath and keep your chin up. Things will get better, and keep in mind, it's not all about grades. Understand the material the best you can, and your grades will show it. Good luck girl! I know you can do it! Best, Kristen

Kristen Y.

Cali_babe on 9/13/2009 8:24:42 PM

hey girls! if you need help with anything at all come check out the advice section of my profile! i have helped tons of girls already, here on gl and offline as well and would love to help you solve what was once considered unsolveable! come check it out i promise you wont regret it!
~ellie~

hugatree95 on 9/13/2009 6:51:49 PM

MOD MOD MOD!! Okay, me and my friends want to go as preps (Gossip Girl Style) for Halloween! What are some things to wear? I've never seen Gossip Girl before, so I really have no clue! Also it will probably be in the 40s- 50s temperature wise. What do you recommend?

Hey girl! For ideas, watch some episodes of Gossip Girl. Get a feel for what the characters on the show wear. Tights, cute dresses, and adorable headbands are all popular on the show. Also, check out our post Fashion Flash: Clothes worth Gossiping About. It talks about how Target is starting up a new line of clothes inspired by the show. Best, Kristen

Kristen Y.

Bookworm :) on 9/13/2009 6:47:09 PM

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Should I go on a diet?

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