Ask Eliza for Weight Loss Help

I'm Eating Healthy Aren't I? Teen Weight Loss Tips

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Eliza,

We have a house full of healthy food. My mom will only buy healthy meals and snacks since I have started gaining weight. I don't get how I can be so overweight when I am eating only healthy foods. What's the deal?
Mark



Hi Mark,
An interesting dilemma I'm sure. There could be a number of things contributing to your weight gain even if you are eating "healthy" foods only.

First, ask yourself, are there times outside of the home that you might eat differently. Maybe at school? Maybe at your friend's house? Everything you put in your mouth counts. As they say, the devil is in the details. So maybe mom is focused on the details at home but when out with your friends you have mayo and cheese on your sandwich and a coke. May not seem like much, but those things add up!.

I suggest writing everything you eat down for one week in a food journal. This will give you a good idea of where to start when you are looking at what might be hiding in those food details.

Also, make sure you are paying attention to portion control and calorie intake. Maybe mom is cooking healthy chicken, rice, and vegetables, but if you are eating a great deal more calories than you burn, your body will store those extra calories as fat. Which brings me to my last point. No matter how healthy you are eating, you still have to move to lose weight. It is recommended that you get 10,000 steps per day to lose weight, and believe me just walking to and from class does not cut it! We have to move more! Take the time to incorporate more exercise in your life and see if that changes things.