Talk

• Fruits and Vegetables
  
  If you want to lose weight you should talk to your parents and friends about your goals. No one can help you achieve your goals if no one knows what they are. Your parents may be able to help you by buying more fruits and vegetables and fewer unhealthy snack foods. Your parents can also help you to find healthy ways to lose weight and can schedule an appointment with your doctor to get more information on healthy ways to lose weight. If your friends and family know your weight loss goals they can help you stick to them by providing both encouragement and accountability.
  
  

Be Realistic

• Exercise is Important
  
  It is important to set realistic and attainable weight loss goals. If your goals are too ambitious, you may experience a nagging sense of frustration for not meeting them. Losing about 1/2 pound to a pound a week is a good weight loss goal. Remember that you're only human, so don't expect perfection. Sometimes it is better to give in to temptation and have a small piece of cake rather than deny yourself and be miserable. It is also important to remember that, although many of us wish it weren't, exercise is an important part of losing weight. Just start slow and don't push yourself too hard.
  
  

Stay Healthy

• Remember that it is important to continue receiving adequate nutrition while losing weight, so dropping your daily caloric intake below 1,300 calories is not good for you and could be dangerous. Don't skip meals or try to avoid eating. Many over the counter diet pills can have serious side effects and it is best to avoid them unless your doctor or nutritionist recommends them. Try to focus on making positive, permanent lifestyle changes rather than going on and off of diets. Consult your doctor when deciding how much you need to lose to be sure that you don't try to lose too much.
  
  

Create a Positive Environment

• Set yourself up for success. Store all food in the kitchen and eat only at the kitchen or dining room table to help avoid frequent and absent-minded snacking. Although weight loss may be your ultimate goal, measure your success in ways other than just how many pounds you've lost. Pat yourself on the back if you take a walk instead of watching TV or snack on carrots rather than cookies. Throw out magazines depicting too-thin models and remind yourself that magazine photos are airbrushed and altered. Substitute posters of models and movie stars with images of healthy and robust athletes.