I am trying to lose weight, but I don't know how! Whatever I do, I end up overeating. I will run for two days, and then I will slack off. Help! —Chandi, 15, Albuquerque, N.M.
OK, you're in a bad cycle, and we need to help you stop it once and for all. I was there too, but not anymore — here's what worked for me: Work out three days a week for 40 minutes: Monday, Wednesday and Friday. One thought: You might want to join a local gym. Yes, it costs money. But the investment forces you to keep the promise to yourself. Plus, it will get you around other people who have the same fitness goals as you do. This makes the plan easier to stick with.
Like, the other morning, I ran into this guy from my gym — he had worked all through the night, yet he was there at 7 a.m.! He said, "I'm not here for me — the rest of the guys would totally roast me if I didn't show up." Hey, whatever works, right?
But (and this is essential), you will not get good results if all you do is exercise. Your eating patterns are key. Eat three meals a day — and always at the same time. Eat breakfast first thing (after you work out), lunch before 1 p.m. (on weekends too), and dinner before 8 p.m. If you go past either of those times without eating, your body will go into starvation mode, and you'll crave sugar and eat way more than you would have if you'd eaten on time.
Trust me — I have lived through it! This is central to not falling off the wagon! Also, make the right choices with your meals. For breakfast, eat a healthy cereal (not a sugary one) or eggs with whole-wheat toast. For lunch, have protein (chicken, turkey) and a salad. For dinner, have protein, a salad and lots of vegetables. If you need a snack at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., go ahead and grab a piece of fruit. Don't forget to drink tons of water too (no soda!). If you keep your body fueled with these types of food (as opposed to sugars and white breads), you will see results. But you've got to really want it and show discipline. Otherwise, you're just setting yourself up for disappointment, and you'll never get the results you want.
I just found out that I'm adopted. My adoptive parents, who I thought were my real parents, said I'm not allowed to look for my birth parents, but I really want to. What should I do? — Kathryn, 14, Orange County, Calif.
Right this minute? Do nothing. Don't be reactionary: This is too important to rush into. Instead, let the questions this situation poses just marinate: How does this news make you feel? Does this affect who you are? What if your biological parents end up disappointing you?
These questions take years and maturity to answer. Wait until you're 18 or even 21 to contact them. Embarking on this search now will be more difficult to handle than you realize. What if your biological parents don't want to hear from you? Once you're older and standing on your own two feet, you can do whatever you want, and you'll have the maturity and strength to deal with the consequences. See, I fear that your adoptive parents are in the middle of this too and might not be able to support you emotionally with the same strength that they could in other situations. I know that's not what you want to hear, but it's the best advice I can give.
Questions may be sent directly to Atoosa Rubenstein at: dearseventeen@hearst.com. Atoosa Rubenstein, the founding editor of CosmoGirl! magazine, is the editor in chief of Seventeen magazine.
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