How To Lose Weight Teens - The Common Sense Approach

The good news is that healthy teen weight loss is possible. Follow these simple steps and you or your teen will obtain healthy steady weight loss. A quick cure is unfortunately not possible. Fad diet can end in disaster; please do not go on one of them.

Follow these tips below and you will never as "how can I lose fat?" again.

How to lose weight teens tips:

1. The most important thing is to understand that there is no quick fix. Losing weight too fast by going on some fad diet or on a starvation diet can be disastrous for a teenager's health.

2. It is also important to be realistic in your weight loss goals. Remember you cannot change your basic build you can only improve on it.

3. Another thing that is important, get the "go ahead" from your doctor before starting a weight loss diet.

4. These tips are for girls of about 15-18 years. Younger girls and boys need to eat more carbohydrates, fruit proteins and dairy for their health and for normal growth. If you are losing more than 2 pounds a week, you are not eating enough! This is very important for your long term weight maintenance and health.

5. Do not ban all carbohydrates from your diet, it will make you very tired and hungry and that can result in a binge and no weight loss. Eat at least 5 average portions a day, depending on your level of activity. If you play a lot of sports add some more.

6. Eat at least 3 normal portions of vegetables and remember, variety is very important. Eat as wide a variety as possible. Do not only eat lettuce, tomatoes, celery and cucumbers. They are good veggies to fill up on, but they do not contain all the nutrients your body needs. Beware of adding calories with your cooking methods flavor food with a little salt and use herbs for extra flavor.

7. You need to eat at least 3 small portions of fruit each day. Do not substitute it with juice because the fiber helps with getting rid of the fat. Juice is also way too concentrated and contains far too much sugar even if no sugar has been added.

8. Eat at least 3 small portions of protein. Proteins are also very important in keeping you from getting too hungry and you need it to build those muscles that would speed up your metabolism later making weight loss easier. The protein can be lean meat, lean chicken, fish, legumes, eggs and low fat cheese such as low fat cottage cheese. Beware of the fat content in cheese as some of the hard cheese really has a lot of fat in them. Once again prepare your proteins in a way that does not add calories. You can grill the meat for instance and it will still be very tasty. When you are using tinned fish make very sure it is in brine and not in oil. If you are eating legumes, remember it has to be eaten with one of your carbohydrate portions to supply your body with a complete protein.

9. Do not cut on dairy. Use at least 3 small portions dairy. This includes the milk used in coffee and tea. If you are eating cheese as part of your dairy, do not eat more than one small portion of hard cheese. (See the explanation above.)

10. Watch your fat intake. Once again moderation is the answer. You must not cut out all fat as your body needs the fat for proper functioning as well as for the absorption of the fat soluble vitamins. If you cut out all fat you will suffer from malnutrition very quickly. Eat at least 3 small portions of fat a day. As more or less a measure, about 1 teaspoon of olive oil is more or less a fat portion. By this you can see more or less what constitutes a fat portion.

11. Drink lots of water. Your body needs the water for proper functioning. The water also helps with the elimination of waste and toxins, so please, drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. An added benefit is that cold water speeds up your metabolism and helps with the weight loss process.

12. Make exercise an important part of your weight loss routine. About half an hours exercise three times a day will be enough. If you are very active already, of course, this part of your weight loss routine had already been covered. Do not overdo the exercise just get active a little and increase the intensity as you get fitter. Weight bearing exercise is very good for the development of healthy bones and resistance training build muscles that speeds up your metabolism.

If you keep up these "How To Lose Weight Teens Tips," weight loss will be gradual but healthy and permanent. This will also teach you a new healthier lifestyle that you can keep following after you have gained your desired weight. Once you are on goal, slowly add more food and see what happens. If you do not gain weight but the weight loss has stopped, then you know that is the correct amount of food for you. Always place emphasis on a well balanced diet and never cut our one group of food from your diet. Now you will never have to ask "How To Lose Weight Teens?" again!

It may be a good idea to have a look at Teens Weight Loss and The Food Guide Pyramid for some more information.