When I look in the mirror I see a fatty, but all my friends tell me that I’m beautiful and am skinny. I know they’re just saying that because they are my friends.

Hey girl, it's pretty normal to be a little self-conscious about your weight, especially when you're going through puberty. Your body is changing and there's a lot of new, different things going on. But how you look shouldn't be your main focus.

As long as you're healthy, meaning you eat a well-balanced diet and get in a few hours of exercise each week, you have nothing to worry about. And don't skip out on getting a treat in there every once and a while, too! If you're a total chocoholic it's OK to have a cookie or two after lunch—just don't gobble up a whole box. It's all about striking that perfect balance.

Girls your age deal with fluctuating hormones and puberty changes and there's not much you can do about it other than maintaining a healthy lifestyle and having fun! Don't obsess or hate on any new curves that crop up. Embrace the different, new grown-up you.

Your friends know and love you just that way that you are, so when they say you're beautiful they truly mean it! I know you think it's cliché to say but really beauty comes from the inside and has nothing to do with weight. All girls are gorgeous in their own way. As for your pals saying stuff behind your own gal's back? Be the bigger person and don't buy in to the gossip. Say something like, "Hey guys, does it really matter how much she weighs or how she looks? She's so funny and nice. I'm proud to be her friend." Then change the subject and talk about something else.

Try to not put so much pressure on yourself. Enjoy the moment. Have fun and be silly with your friends and focus on the things that you love about Y-O-U. Write down what you're feeling in a journal and be sure to include a list of things you love about yourself. Don't jot down physical traits. Try stuff like, "I'm great at soccer," or "I'm a good friend." Ask your friends to help add to the list, too! Then hang that list right by your mirror and get prepped to feel beautiful every time you glance in the looking glass.

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1/31/2010 7:00:00 AM