I'm 14 going on 15 in August. I'm about 160 lbs and 5'3. I was doing VERY good on a diet since about Mid-May, and prolly lost a few pounds... I recently fell off my new plan and gained a little...

Since it's summer now and my pool is open I'm gonna be spending more time in the pool. How good is the pool for exercise? I'm usually in 1-3 times a day at about 1 or 2hrs each time... Bieng in the pool kinda motivates me to get off my butt and exercise, but as soon as I get out I feel lazy and hungry... How can I suppress my appetite? I've tried a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water but it was gross. My gramma said she's pick up some fish oil tablets, how helpful are they? Is flax seed better? I read an article about the flax seed oil and said it helps the growth of prostate cancer cells. Is that true?

What exercises can I do in the pool? What is a good diet for a boy my age? Whenever I was hungry on my old diet, I would eat a grapfruit SLOWLY (peeling off the skin and eating the actual fruit, took me a while to eat a whole one) and that seemed to fill me up, but my mother hasn't bought any lately...

I need help badly, enough is enough, I want this fat OFF me; it's embarrassing, especially in the chest area. I'm afraid to wear light clothes because they're too revealing and flaunt my fat chest...

Should I try the apple cider vinegar again? I can probably bear the taste...

Could I lose 20lbs by september?

What I basically need is energy, motivation, and appetite suppression... Also, it's VERY hard to cut out carbs; I'm surrounded.

Thanks in advance.

In my opinion, stay away from the flax seed oil. Flax seeds are good. I grind the flax seeds up with wheat berries in my food processor and make hot cereal out of it.

I don't think that you should diet by trying to lose that much weight in that time frame. Actually at your age, you may find it beneficial to switch to natural healthy foods and just exercise. Remember, you are still growing. Just stay away from the junk foods and see if that helps. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif

Just the fact that you are trying is great!!!! Don't set your sights too high at first because once you actually start losing weight you'll feel so good the amount won't make as much a difference, a set back here and there is to be expected so don't beat yourself up just go on from there. Remember that exercise is they MAIN ingredient for your age. When my child wanted to lose weight at your age the Dr. recommended swimming and walking for their exercises. Try to eat as many vegetables as you can since they will help to fill you up and provide so many good nutrients (most parents don't mind buying a few extra), eat lean meats and drink as much water as you can (recommend 8-10 glasses a day). To work you upper body try doing some push ups and sit ups, you can also get a large can of veggies or fruit or whatever is in the cabinet and just lift it up and down while your watching tv or reading.
Good luck ... you can do it!!!!!!
TAURI

Originally posted by TAURI:
Just the fact that you are trying is great!!!! Don't set your sights too high at first because once you actually start losing weight you'll feel so good the amount won't make as much a difference, a set back here and there is to be expected so don't beat yourself up just go on from there. Remember that exercise is they MAIN ingredient for your age. When my child wanted to lose weight at your age the Dr. recommended swimming and walking for their exercises. Try to eat as many vegetables as you can since they will help to fill you up and provide so many good nutrients (most parents don't mind buying a few extra), eat lean meats and drink as much water as you can (recommend 8-10 glasses a day). To work you upper body try doing some push ups and sit ups, you can also get a large can of veggies or fruit or whatever is in the cabinet and just lift it up and down while your watching tv or reading.
Good luck ... you can do it!!!!!!
TAURI

Tauri is right-on (as we used to say)

Exercise is key and swimming is the best exercise - you will get a total body workout and it's low impact so less chance of injury.

A couple things to think about. Do Not weigh youself right now. Don't think of it in terms of losing pounds. What you want is to lose the fat and build the muscle. You can use exercise to work out and build muscle and this will help reduce fat, but your actual weight may go up! If you weigh yourself and see this it is discouraging. Take measurements instead (chest, arms, waist)

Also, I drink between 1.5 and 3 liters of water a day (Just think of a 2 liter bottle of soda) When I tried to drink water by the glass (& keep count of how many glasses) I never drank enough and I had to force myself. Now, I drink only bottled water and for some reason, it's easier for me to drink water from a bottle! I'm sure freud would have a field day with that, but it works. Now, I don't buy bottled water every day -- I have a water filter on my kitchen faucet and I refill and refridgerate the bottles of water. It's way too expensive to buy that much bottled water.

Anyway, try the bottled water thing and see if that helps you increase your water intake.