How Teens Can Lose the Weight Safely & Effectively

When I was a teenager, I got my first job as a fountain worker and carhop at Sonic Drive-In. I was eating half-price burgers, tater tots with cheese, and drinking cherry limeades like there was no tomorrow. Also, our high school had open lunches, where you could eat in the cafeteria, or go into town for lunch. So, I was eating at places like Pizza Hut, or our local convenience stores that had chimichangas and burritos with beef and cheese. Oh, yeah, I was living the high life. By the time high school graduation came around, I had gained about 25 lbs.

Now, for those teens that know exactly what I'm talking about, and for those that want to lose the weight, do not fear. It can be done, but not without some work. Here are some tips that helped me to lose my weight and maintain it through my college days:

1.) Less fast food, more home made: This is probably the hardest thing to do. I mean, no Sonic or McDonalds? Yes, unfortunately, you would have to cut down or cut out the fast food. Those burgers, pizza slices, and burritos are loaded with fat and grease which are big no-nos when it comes to losing weight. Now, I know what's going through your mind, "Better said than done", right? Well, if you're truly serious and you want to lose that extra weight, doing this step will show how committed you are. Instead, make a sandwich, with some baked chips and an apple for lunch. Or, if you have to visit a restaurant now and then, go to places like Subway or Quizno's.

2.) Watch the snacking: It's very easy to go to that snack machine and grab a Snickers or a Butterfinger. Big no-no. Candy, chips, cookies, etc. are things to avoid when trying to lose weight. Instead, snack on some pretzels or apple slices.

3.) Drink Water: I used to drink a soda everyday; I absolutely had to have a Coke or at the very least, Kool-Aid. Substitute that Coke or Pepsi for a bottle of water. Drinking water is very important when trying to lose weight. It keeps the body hydrated and doesn't contain the sugar and caffeine sodas have. If you have that thirst for something other than water, drink some Lipton's Green Tea or a Snapple. They have less sugar than a soda, but water is best.

4.) Less Fried Foods, More Baked: The chicken from Kentucky Fried Chicken and Churches may be good, but not necessarily good for you. The oils used to fry the foods make them a guarantee fatty. Eat more baked foods, like chicken and fish, combined with vegetables like corn, beans, and cabbage is a much healthier food choice with not as much fat.

5.) Exercise: This is key to losing weight. You have to burn off the calories in order to get rid of that fat. Pop in an exercise tape before you go to school or join an activity in school that requires some sort of physical activity, like basketball or track. If school sports are not your thing, simply walking about 30 minutes a day will get those calories burning. You can do this by walking to and from school everyday. Another tip is that while sitting down at your desk during class, suck your stomach in and out. This is the equivalent of doing crunches.

To sum it all up: cut out the greasy foods, drink more water, and exercise. If you have a health counselor on campus, you can go to him or her for help. What I've found extremely helpful was going on the Web and reading other people's stories and how they've achieved their weight loss. They had many different suggestions and I applied those suggestions to fit my lifestyle and preferences. All these tips and suggestions will remain just words unless you have the willpower to make it work. These tips helped me to lose my weight and they'll do the same for you also.