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A:
First of all, we need to determine
whether you really need to go on a diet and lose weight. In the
United States (and in many industrialized nations) there are many
young people (particularly females) who have an unrealistic desire
(from a health standpoint) to lose weight.
If you haven't been to your doctor
or other health care provider for over a year, it would be a good
idea to make an appointment for a check-up. Your doctor can check
your height, weight, blood pressure, (and perhaps some other measurements)
and figure out whether you are at a healthy weight for your age
and height.
Sure, we all have a "standing
in front of the mirror after taking a shower" opinion of
our bodies ("my stomach is too flabby, my butt's too big,"
etc., etc.) but when it comes time to consider a weight loss program,
the key question to ask ourselves is: "from a Medical
Health standpoint, am I at a good weight for my height?"
If you are at a normal healthy weight,
and you're terribly concerned, all the time, with losing weight,
do you have an eating disorder, such as anorexia nervosa? Discussing
this possibility would be another reason to see your health care
provider for a check-up.
O.K., let's assume that you really
are overweight for your age, and that it would be a good idea
to consider a weight loss program. The rest of the answer will
be based on the assumption that you are overweight.
First of all, most of the nationally
known, responsible diet plans all focus on the same thing -- eating
a healthy diet and getting regular exercise. It sounds as if you
get a fair amount of exercise if you play basketball regularly.
It is important to exercise hard enough that you are sweating
by the end, and these periods should last at least 20-30 minutes.
Ideally, one should exercise like this daily, but the minimum
is 4-5 times per week.
The only way to effectively burn
calories is with prolonged, aerobic exercise. Diet pills are a
health hazard, and should not be a part of a weight loss program.
The second part of weight loss involves
your diet. Many adjustments can be made to one's diet to facilitate
weight loss, and not all of them should be made at one time. Limiting
fast food to no more than once a week is of the utmost importance.
It is also a good idea to limit fried foods and replace them with
broiled and baked foods. Be bold and try to eliminate at least
one major vice from your diet, such as potato chips or ice cream,
and replace it with fruit.
If you're really not sure where to
start on making changes in your diet, keep a diet diary. You can
do this simply by stuffing a few pieces of paper in your pocket,
along with a pencil. For about 5 days write down everything you
eat. Once you've completed 5 days of an ACCURATE, and COMPLETE
diary, do two things with it: one, make believe that you're a
nutritionist, and this diary belongs to a friend, and you're reviewing
it - what do you think of the diary? Does it represent a good
healthy approach to eating? Would you make any changes in the
meals and snacks that are listed? Two, review the diary with your
health care provider or a nutrition expert.
Another very important aspect of
weight loss is when to eat. Do you eat breakfast? Many people
who are trying to lose weight will skip either breakfast or lunch.
This is exactly the opposite of what you should do. It is important
to eat 3-4 small meals a day rather than 1-2 large meals. The
reason is this: When you skip a meal, your body gets nervous and
wonders where the food is. Then, the next time you eat, your body
tries to conserve as many of those calories as possible because
it doesn't know when the next meal is coming. This actually leads
to weight gain.
When you eat frequent, smaller meals
your body trusts that it will be fed regularly and it burns calories
faster. If you have the argument that you aren't hungry in the
morning for breakfast, then you may have eaten too much the night
before! Everyone should be hungry after an overnight fast.
One suggestion for weight loss might
strike you as odd, because it doesn't have anything directly to
do with eating or with exercise: Cut down on television! If you
are overweight, ask yourself if you watch an excessive amount
of television. There's a lot of excellent research that shows
that children and teens who watch too much television are at increased
risk for obesity. It really does make sense, when you think about
it: watching television is an activity that doesn't burn off any
calories, and most of the food commercials advertise high fat
foods!
One final note: You should be doing
what is right FOR YOU - not for you as you compare to your friends.
Make sure that the way you see yourself is realistic, and that
your diet and exercise plan are healthy, effective and not excessive.
Again, seeing your doctor is a great idea.
Best of Luck.
Dr. Taube
Also see: Crisis
Center/ Eating Disorders
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TEEN
PREGNANCY
I Missed My Period - Now What?
Q: I'm 17 years
old and I have never had sex but I've been with this guy off and
on for about a year and I went to his house and we fooled around.
His penis never entered me but I didn't have my period last month.
I've been very stressed out totally between working two jobs and
everything. I also have been taking diet pills. Do you think there
is any chance I could be pregnant? It may sound stupid but I'm
a little worried. I don't get sick in the morning or anything.
What's wrong with me?
A: Your question
brings up several health concerns; let's start with the pregnancy
question. I'm assuming that when you say you've never had sex,
you mean that you've never had sexual intercourse (the man putting
his penis into the woman's vagina). Of course, sexual intercourse
is the most common way for a woman to become pregnant.
However, if a man ejaculates (or
shoots out his sperm, or "comes") when his penis is
near the outside of a woman's vagina, during foreplay (or "fooling
around"), pregnancy can occur. It's MUCH less common than
with sexual intercourse, but it can occur. So, you are NOT stupid
to worry about this. The answer to your worry is to take a pregnancy
test. There are many reliable tests for your purchase at the drug
store, or you can be tested at your doctor's office. (Later on
in this answer, I've suggested some other reasons why you might
want to see your doctor.) The modern pregnancy tests are very
accurate, and turn positive very early in pregnancy.
As I understand your question, you
"fooled around" last month, and after that you didn't
get your period. If you haven't "fooled around" since
then, the pregnancy test will answer your question - i.e if you
DID get pregnant last month "fooling around", the test
will be positive; if the test is negative, it means you definitely
didn't get pregnant then.
Whatever the result of the test is
(and it's probably negative, or "not pregnant"), it's
important to be tested early. If the test is negative, you'll
be relieved that you're not pregnant! If the test is positive,
and you are pregnant, it's important to know this as soon as possible.
Your Choices If You Are Pregnant
There are 3 choices a pregnant teen
can make about the pregnancy: 1. to continue the pregnancy, and
bring up the baby; 2. to continue the pregnancy and have the baby
adopted or, 3. to terminate the pregnancy. Whichever option you
choose, it's important to get medical care AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
If you're not pregnant, then why
have you missed your period? From reading your question, there
are two possible reasons. First, the hormones that cause a woman
to have a monthly period are released into the bloodstream by
triggers deep inside the brain. These triggers in your brain are
affected by your cerebral cortex, the wonderful part of our brain
that makes us think, feel write poetry, worry and be "stressed
out."
So...the stresses that you've been
going through certainly can make you miss a period. One possible
solution to your stress problem is to take a careful look at your
activities. Are there any ways that you can change your activities
to cut down on your stress? For example, are you comfortable with
the sexual activity in which you are engaging with your boyfriend?
Do you feel you have gone too far too fast? Is it possible that
you are being stressed out by feeling "not ready" for
sexual activity?
Or that you are stressed out by the
possible consequences of sex? You wrote to me because you are
afraid you may be pregnant - even though you've never had intercourse.
Obviously, the possible outcomes of sex seriously concern you.
Maybe you should reconsider whether the stress is worth it.
Also, are you working two jobs because
you need the income to live on, or are the jobs bringing in spending
money for "fun" purchases? Of course it is wonderful
to have extra spending money, but is the stress from holding two
jobs worth it? These are questions you'll need to answer.
Now for the second possible reason
for missing your period. When a young woman is dieting and is
missing periods, I am concerned about an eating disorder, particularly
the eating disorder known as Anorexia Nervosa. Have you lost a
good deal of weight recently? Do you have an intense fear of gaining
weight or becoming fat, even though you are underweight? Do you
have a distorted view of your body, compared with the way others
see you? In other words, does everyone else consider you of average
weight or slim, and only YOU consider yourself fat? If you've
answered yes to any of these questions, you should see your doctor
to be evaluated for an eating disorder.
Finally, even if you don't have an
eating disorder, and simply want to lose a few pounds, remember
that changes in diet and lifestyle (such as watching less TV)
are the best methods for weight reduction. Diet pills are neither
safe nor effective.
Please see your doctor to determine
why you haven't gotten your period.
Best of Luck,
Dr. Taube
Also see:
Crisis Center / Pregnancy and Crisis
Center / Eating Disorders
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