Wednesday, June 10, 2015

How to Lose Weight in 2 Weeks As a Teenager

How to Lose Weight in 2 Weeks As a Teenager Focus on good habits for sustained weight loss.

Weight loss is difficult enough without the added struggle of adolescence. Prom, homecoming or the general desire for social acceptance may inspire teens toward the path of weight loss. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends teenagers avoid crash dieting in favor of establishing healthy eating habits and incorporating exercise each day. Weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds per week is reasonable if teens follow a sensible eating plan and incorporate physical activity most days each week.

Step 1

How to Lose Weight in 2 Weeks As a Teenager Weigh yourself at the beginning and once a week thereafter.

Weigh yourself at the beginning and once a week thereafter. In a study by the University of California-San Diego, more adolescents participating in weekly weigh-ins lost weight than those who weighed themselves less often.

Step 2

How to Lose Weight in 2 Weeks As a Teenager Eat three meals per day and healthy snacks in between if necessary.

Eat three meals per day and healthy snacks in between if necessary. Skipping meals will not lead to weight loss. In fact, it slows metabolism making it more difficult to lose weight.

Step 3

Record your food and beverage intake in a food journal and aim to keep your calorie intake within the recommended range for your age, gender and activity level. Inactive boys ages 14 to 18 and somewhat or very active girls should keep daily caloric intake between 2,000 and 2,400 calories per day. This number increases to 2,400 to 2,800 for semi-active boys and increases even more to 2,800 to 3,200 calories for very active boys. The magic number for inactive girls is 1,800 calories per day.

Step 4

How to Lose Weight in 2 Weeks As a Teenager Choose one fruit and a non-starchy vegetable at every meal, if possible. Photo Credit IT Stock Free/Polka Dot/Getty Images

Choose one fruit and a non-starchy vegetable at every meal, if possible. Fresh produce is high in water and fiber, which helps you feel full. It is also low in calories, so a large serving won’t sabotage your daily calorie allowance.

Step 5

How to Lose Weight in 2 Weeks As a Teenager Eat a serving of protein at every meal, such as lean meat, low fat cheese or nuts. Photo Credit AD077/iStock/Getty Images

Eat a serving of protein at every meal, such as lean meat, low fat cheese or nuts. Protein is essential for energy. Dr. Lawrence Wilson, MD, explains that the body converts protein into fat and sugar for use as fuel. Your body uses protein to make and repair cells, a vitally important function especially when exercising and building muscle.

Step 6

How to Lose Weight in 2 Weeks As a Teenager Get moving for at least an hour most days of the week. Photo Credit Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images

Get moving for at least an hour most days of the week. Playing sports, hiking with friends, skateboarding and walking to school get your heart pumping and muscles moving without the boredom factor. Burning more calories than you take in will cause the numbers on the scale to drop.

 

Step 7

Avoid sugary foods and beverages as often as possible. Though Columbia University reports that occasionally satisfying a craving is OK. Highly processed and sugary foods are high in calories but low in nutrition. Sodas also fall into this category.

Warnings

    Teenagers who have not completed puberty should use caution when restricting calories and therefore should consult with a doctor prior to beginning any diet or weight loss plan. Excessive calorie restriction during puberty can stunt growth.

Tips

    Be mindful of your serving sizes. A serving of vegetables is approximately the size of a light bulb. Picture a tennis ball when you think about fruit and pasta. One serving of protein, such as chicken or beef is the size of a deck of cards. A serving of peanut butter is about as big as a golf ball.

Source: http://www.livestrong.com/article/193501-how-to-lose-weight-in-2-weeks-as-a-teenager/

Monday, June 1, 2015

10 Weight Loss Tips For Teenage Girls

Healthy Eating For Teenage Girls

Being a teenager is not the easiest time when it comes to dealing with weight changes brought on by puberty and peer pressure to look a certain way.  However, but focusing on health and nutrition, you can develop healthy habits that will keep you looking and feeling healthy and fit throughout your teenage years and into later life.  Your teens are a time when you require the good nutrition in order to make sure you grown and develop as you should.

Focus on health not weight loss

What magazines advertise is not the ideal

With magazines filled with stick thin, airbrushed models and constantly being bombarded with what is considered to be the ‘ideal’ body shape, it can be difficult to accept what you have ended up with if it doesn’t fit this mould.   It is also common for teenagers to feel that they will not be attractive to the opposite sex, or popular if they do not look a certain way.

Too much weight loss is not good

It is important to remember that too much weight loss has many negative consequences for the body and your health.  Everyone is made differently, and whilst one person may be very thin naturally and not suffer any negative health effects, for others this weight will be unachievable without putting your body under dangerous stress.

Stay away from extreme diets

Extreme diets that restrict calories to very low levels can cause changes such as hair loss, unhealthy skin and hair, irritability, depression, loss of menstruation and infertility and in extreme cases heart failure and even death.

In your teenage years your body is also still growing and developing, so by following very extreme diets there is a risk of not growing and developing as you should and also of not consuming the nutrients needed for things like bone formation which may increase risk of osteoporosis later in life.

Improve your eating and exercise habits

It is essential to think about these negative consequences and consider if they are really worth it for the loss of a few pounds more.  If you are unhappy with your weight, rather than focusing on a specific goal weight, try to improve your eating and exercise habits in a healthy way, you will soon find that you feel and look better and often lose weight along the way.

Many teenagers who start very restrictive, strict diets find them impossible to maintain for very long and usually end up gaining back all the weight they lost and then some by their early twenties.  By developing healthy habits you are more likely to have control over your weight and health in the long term and are less likely to pile on the pounds once you get a bit older and your metabolism slows down.

It is also important to remember that as a teenager you often go through a ‘puppy fat’ phase where you put on a little weight due to the changing hormones in your body.  Most teenagers grow out of this phase, so even if you feel you have gained a few pounds, keep up a healthy exercise and diet and more than likely this phase will pass.

 

How to deal with outside pressure

Teenage girls are under a lot of pressure from the media, friends and even family to look a certain way.  It is important to remember that the women in magazines are airbrushed and have access to makeup artists, personal trainers and fantastic clothes in order to look this good and probably don’t look nearly so great without all this help.  Be realistic in your expectations of how you look and you will be happier with yourself.

Remember as well that whilst the skinny girls may seem to be the popular ones now, often this changes when school is finished and you are out in the real world.  Often people who have made friends and gained popularity through their looks will end up without any other attractive qualities to fall back on when their appearances changes with age.  Those who have friends because of their generous personality, their humour or their intelligence are far more likely to be popular later on as these characteristics do not fade.

 

Easy Healthy Changes

In order to make over your diet and improve how you look and feel, here are some easy changes to make.  There is no need to obsess over calories and look at the fat content of everything that passes your lips if you are aware of the basics of nutrition and make healthy choices the majority of the time.

1. Drink water

This is the best drink as it is calorie free and contains no artificial ingredients that may be found in low calorie beverages.  Drinking plenty of water improves the condition of your skin and hair, boosts your metabolism and can also help fill you up.  Avoid sodas and juices as these are very high in calories and sugar and can contribute to weight gain and dental problems if consumed to excess.

2. Eat wholegrain

Whole grain products such as pasta, bread, and brown rice are an excellent way to get the carbs you need as well as plenty of essential B vitamins and fibre.  In your teenage years you are growing and often active, so it is important to include some carbohydrates to fuel your body in these processes.  Whole grain products also tend to fill you up more so you eat less than more processed versions such as white bread.

3. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables

These are low in calories and high in nutritional value.  By cutting down portion sizes of protein and carbohydrates slightly and increasing the amount of vegetables on your plate you can easily reduce the calorie content of a meal and provide yourself with valuable nutrients in the process.

4. Choose lower fat cooking methods

By steaming, grilling, boiling or baking food without adding fat you can cut a lot of calories and still enjoy the foods you love.  Avoid fried foods as these tend to be higher in fats and often the bad fats that are unhealthy for the heart.  Cutting any visible fat from meat before cooking and avoiding the chicken skin can also cut the fat.   A little healthy fat such as in olive oil, avocado or nuts has been shown to have health benefits and may even help with weight loss.

5. Snack healthily

If you are hungry between meals, make sure your snacks are healthy as snacking is an easy way to add a lot of extra calories without really meaning to.  Try fruit, low fat yogurt, hummus with vegetables to dip or a few unsalted nuts for healthier options.

6. Exercise

Along with a healthy diet, exercise is the other factor that will improve your health and how you look.  Try to do some exercise each day, be it running, swimming or a dance class.  Get your friends involved to make it more fun and find something you enjoy to make it easier to stick to.  Doing exercise will help tone muscles as well as make you feel more energetic.

7. Choose healthier options when eating out

When eating out beware of very high calorie take away and fast foods.  Choose foods that are based on vegetables, grilled or steamed and stay away from fried foods.

8. Cook from scratch where possible

By cooking yourself, you are in total control of what goes into your food.  This makes it easier to eat more healthily and also to get creative with healthy cooking.  A diet does not need to be boring and by experimenting with new methods of cooking and ingredients you can improve your health and make your meals more interesting.

9. Use low fat products

Simply choosing low fat products when there is an option is a good way to reduce fat and calories.  There is no need to eliminate foods such as dairy products from your diet and in fact these provide the essential calcium needed to build bones during the teenage years, but by choosing low fat versions you are limiting your intake of unhealthy fats.

10. Eat a wide range of foods

Diets that eliminate whole food groups are not advisable at any age, but particularly for teenagers whose bodies are still growing and need all the nutrition they can get.  For the best healthy, eat a wide variety of foods to get a goof range of essential nutrients for the body and eat from all the food groups.  If you choose to be vegetarian or vegan, it is important to find other sources of essential nutrients such as protein to replace meat and be aware that you may need supplements for nutrients such as iron.

If you wish to undertake a particular diet, it is a good idea to discuss the diet with your doctor or a dietician to determine if it is healthy for you, if there are any keys nutrients that you will miss out on and if your weight falls in the healthy range.

Source: http://www.caloriesecrets.net/10-weight-loss-tips-for-teenage-girls/

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Obesity & Weight Loss For Teenagers

In today's hypercritical world, it seems that nobody is comfortable with his or her weight. Kids, and young girls especially, are bombarded by images of rail-thin models who appear to represent the norm. Celebrities appear to lose weight effortlessly and are able to keep it off easily.

Causes of Unhealthy Weight and Body Image
In reality, maintaining a healthy weight is difficult. Most of us don't have the exceptionally fast metabolisms that supermodels may have naturally (through genetics).

Fast food and desserts are temptations that most of us indulge in far too often. And many adolescents are not active outside and spend much of their time on sedentary activities like watching television or using the computer.

Developing a Healthy Lifestyle

Losing weight isn't fun. Many of us try unsuccessfully to diet our way to a healthy weight. But it is possible to lose weight at a healthy pace and keep it off. It often takes more than one attempt, so don't get discouraged if you don't lose weight the first time you try.

Every body is different, and each body responds uniquely to different foods. If you are serious about losing weight, you can find a health regime that works for you.
  •     Assessing Your Current Health
  •     Myths About Teen Weight Loss
  •     10 Things Teens Wish Parents Knew About Weight Loss
  •     Are You Ready to Take That Step?

Assessing Your Current Health

We have created this page to help you achieve your goal. Before you begin, make sure you meet the criteria listed below.
  •     You truly need to lose weight. Many youth have a negative self-image and think they should lose weight when they are actually at a healthy weight. Bad body image can lead to anorexia, bulimia, or other eating disorders that are very unhealthy. If you are unsure about whether you would benefit from adjusting your eating and exercise habits, talk to your doctor or a trusted adult.
  •     You are committed to this goal. You must be willing to change your eating and exercise habits (at least slightly) for an extended period of time.
Below is additional information about teens and weight loss. If you have any other questions, you can always talk to your primary care physician. Good luck!

Myths About Teen Weight Loss

Weight Loss Confidential by Anne M. Fletcher, M.S., R.D. (referred to as WLC below) challenges the prevailing thinking on teen weight loss, including many beliefs commonly held by professionals in the field.

Misconception: Teens who diet invariably fall prey to fads and have unhealthy eating habits.

WLC: The more than 100 teens that Fletcher interviewed lost a significant amount of weight without going to extremes. Their average weight loss was 58 pounds, and three-fourths of the teens lost 30 pounds or more. Many said they followed diets, but they were healthy diets.

Misconception: Teens who have tried and failed at losing weight many times before don't succeed.

WLC: Seven out of 10 teens lost and gained weight multiple times before finally succeeding.

Misconception: The methods used by adults to lose weight are inappropriate for teens.

WLC: A number of experts steer teens away from counting fat grams and calories, keeping food records, and working out, believing these things might lead to an unhealthy obsession with weight and food. Many of the teens Fletcher interviewed used these techniques, and their attitudes about weight and food are healthy.

Misconception: Teens are rebellious by nature, so efforts to help them will backfire.

WLC: A strong majority of the teens indicated their families' support was important to their success.

Misconception: Overweight teens from overweight families are unlikely to overcome the odds and lose weight.

WLC: Most of the teens said at least one parent was overweight.

Misconception: Teens who have been overweight since they were very young don't have much hope of losing weight permanently.

WLC: On average, teens reported becoming overweight at approximately 9 years of age.


10 Things Teens Wish Parents Knew About Weight Loss

Also from Weight Loss Confidential by Anne M. Fletcher, M.S., R.D.:
  1.     "Don't tell me my weight is OK." If your teen is overweight and says he or she wants to slim down, listen to his or her concerns and offer to help find some solutions. Don't minimize the problem.
  2.     "Get off my back." Don't nag, preach, criticize, or try to coerce your teen into losing weight. Talk to your teen like a friend – not a disciplinarian.
  3.     "Let me be in charge." It's up to the teen to decide if, how, and when he or she wants to lose weight.
  4.     "Don't be a food cop." Comments like "you've had enough" and "you don't need that bowl of ice cream" will backfire.
  5.     "Be there when I'm ready." Support your teen's choices and praise his or her efforts. Help find affordable ways to exercise or a program your teen would like to attend. Be a role model for healthy eating and exercise.
  6.     Help me out; don't single me out." Create a healthy home food climate for the entire family, not just the overweight teen. Provide kids with healthy, appealing food choices without making them feel deprived.
  7.     "Love me no matter what." Let your teen know he or she is loved – whatever his or her weight and whether or not he or she succeeds at slimming down.
  8.     "Be patient." Understand that losing weight takes time, effort, patience, and often multiple attempts.
  9.     "Help me be realistic." After losing weight, your teen may not be thin, but he or she will be healthier and happier.
  10.     "Believe in me." Send the message that you know your teen can succeed and that you'll be there if he needs you.


Are You Ready to Take That Step?

From Weight Loss Confidential by Anne M. Fletcher, M.S., R.D., here are some questions teens can ask themselves to see whether they are ready to take steps to lose weight.

How would you answer the following questions (Very, Sort of, or Not Very):
  •     How concerned am I about my weight?
  •     How much do I want to do something about my weight right now?
  •     How confident am I that I can do something about my weight?
  •     Do I think I can do something about the things that are getting in my way?
  •     How ready am I to change my eating habits?
  •     Is my family ready to support me in my efforts?
Key: The more answers you choose that begin with "very," the more likely you are ready to turn things around.

Source: http://www.pamf.org/teen/health/nutrition/weightloss.html

Friday, May 22, 2015

Teen Weight Loss Secrets

With over 12.5 million of our nation’s children overweight, we need to find creative ways to encourage young people to adopt healthy habits. But it's hard enough to get adults to take responsibility for their weight and health. How do you inspire kids who are also dealing with the tumultuous nature of being a teen to succeed at weight loss?

Overweight teens bear a heavy burden. They must cope with the teasing, social isolation, verbal abuse, and emotional torture that often result from being overweight, as well as their own negative self-images.

Wes Gilbert, son of registered dietitian Anne Fletcher and one of the teens who is profiled in Fletcher’s book Weight Loss Confidential, describes his anxiety and guilt about being overweight.

"I worried about whether clothes made me look fat, what others thought of me, and especially when old friends gave me the look when they noticed how much weight I’d put on," he says. When Wes finally lost weight, he says, "a huge metaphorical burden was lifted."

"Kids who are overweight have a quality of life similar to kids with chronic diseases like cancer," says Kerri Boutelle, PhD, LP, an adolescence and obesity expert at the University of Minnesota.

At her STAR (Service for At-Risk Teens) Clinic, she finds that overweight kids tend to have, or are at risk for, depression, poor self-image, and social isolation. They are also perceived as lazy and less attractive than normal-weight teens.

Teen Weight Loss Woes

For Fletcher, her desire to help her overweight son became a passion for finding solutions to help overweight teens. She interviewed 104 kids to learn what life was like when they were overweight, and what helped them lose the weight and keep it off. The results were published in Weight Loss Confidential: How Teens Lose Weight and Keep it Off and What They Wish Parents Knew.

"Their stories broke my heart. Being overweight affected their popularity, self-esteem, ability to get dates -- everything that is important to a teenager," says Fletcher, who also wrote the Thin for Life series on weight control in adults.

One of the teenage girls in the book described boys groping her as if it were acceptable because she was overweight.

"The pain and suffering of being an overweight teen was what finally led most of these teens to embrace serious weight loss," says Fletcher.

How Parents Can Help Teens With Weight Loss

Teens cannot succeed at weight loss alone. They need supportive parents who create healthy home environments -- and who serve as good role models. When parents succeed at losing weight, their children are more likely to succeed as well. But when a teen has overweight parents, it's often very difficult for that teen to lose weight.

"The hardest part about helping kids lose weight is resistant parents who don’t want to change their own behavior," says Boutelle.

Experts agree that it's a bad idea for parents to nag or say things like, 'Haven’t you had enough?'" to their overweight teens. Instead, let your children know you are there for them and willing to help -- then back off and let them decide when they're ready.

"Parents need to give their kids some space without feeling like they are giving up on them," says Gilbert. "When parents are overbearing, their suggestions backfire, and the teen misses out on the important motivation that comes from making decisions for yourself."

Experts advise talking to them about the pros and cons of being overweight. But use examples they can relate to. For example, talk about the impact their excess weight will have in gym class, not on their health.

"They could care less about health or what is going to happen in 10 years," says Boutelle. "They live in the present."

Teens should also be involved in the process, Fletcher says.

"Ask them to help decide which snacks and foods should be on the grocery list and which ones should we eliminate for the entire family, not just the overweight teen," says Fletcher.

One of the best things you can do for overweight teens is to help them feel good about themselves, experts say. And one way to do this is to help them cultivate their assets and strengths.

"If you can help your child feel good about herself, it will empower her and help her resist the torment," says Fletcher.

And a teen who feels empowered is more likely to tackle a weight issue.

Exercise for Teen Weight Loss

Model behaviors are not limited to the kitchen.

"Active parents usually breed active kids, so if you want your kids to become more physical, lead the way," says Boutelle.

She also suggests turning off the television and limiting computer time. Parents may want to reconsider allowing teens to have TVs in their bedrooms.

"Studies show that kids who spend hours in front of screens are more sedentary, and to make it worse, there is a strong tendency to be snacking mindlessly while sitting," says Boutelle.

Keeping It Off

For virtually all the teens profiled in Weight Loss Confidential, regular exercise has become a way of life.

"Exercise, a healthy diet, and changing behaviors is what is going to make a difference and help kids lose weight and keep it off," says Boutelle.

Fletcher asked teens what helped them resist falling back into bad habits.

"The overwhelming response: These kids did not want to return to the painful days when they were overweight." She adds, "The kids are also happier, more self-confident, enjoying an improved quality of life, and feeling better in general."

Fletcher’s son, Wes, agrees. "I'm simply happier in a lot of ways. I have less anxiety about my appearance, my weight is no longer ever-present in the back of my mind, I feel healthier, have more energy, and have learned to enjoy many new kinds of foods," he says.

Teen Weight Loss Wisdom

Boutelle says that successful behaviors for teenage weight loss include:
  •     Eating more fruits and vegetables
  •     Eating more whole grains
  •     Eating more low-fat dairy and lean meats
  •     Eating less fat
  •     Drinking less soda
  •     Exercising regularly
  •     Getting on the scale weekly
For their part, parents can stock the house with healthy foods -- including some treats. They can also enjoy nutritious foods and engage in regular physical activity together with their teens. But while serving as good role models, parents should still allow teens to make their own choices. To succeed, teens need to take responsibility for what they eat and how often they exercise.

Parents may need some additional guidance to help overweight teens get to the stage where they are ready to lose weight. Health care professionals can provide suggestions that teens will listen to, as well as support for both parents and teens.

Article Sources
© WebMD, Inc. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.webmd.com/diet/teen-weight-loss-secrets?page=1

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

If You Need To Lose Weight

Lots of people need to lose some weight. If your doctor tells you that you are overweight or obese, it's important that you try to lose weight. You can ask your doctor and perhaps a dietitian about ways to lose weight. It can be a bit harder for some people to lose weight because of their genes or because of things around them, such as the food choices in their house. But with the right support and a good plan, you can get to a healthy weight. Learn more about losing weight:



Great ways to lose weight arrow top

You don't need a special diet like a low-carb or high-protein diet to lose weight. The best way to lose weight is to get the right mix of nutrients and energy your body needs. Here are some tips for losing weight in a healthy way:
  •     Follow a food guide. It can be hard to know which foods to choose. Our MyPlate guide can be a big help. It will encourage you to eat whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. These foods are full of fiber, which can help you feel full. And keeping a record can help, so try this cool ChooseMyPlate tracking tool External link.
  •     Cut back on fats. You need some fat, but even small amounts of fats have lots of calories. Read labels to see how much fat a food has. And try to cut back on fried foods and on meats that are high in fat, such as burgers.
  •     Eat fewer sweets and unhealthy snacks. Candy, cookies, and cakes often have a lot of sugar and fat and not many nutrients. Learn about treats that are delicious and nutritious.
  •     Avoid sugary drinks. Try not to drink a lot of sugary sodas, energy drinks, and sports drinks. They can add a lot of calories. (There are about 10 packets of sugar in 12 ounces of soda.) Also try not to drink a lot of fruit juice. Water is a great choice instead. Add a piece of lemon or a splash of juice for more flavor.
  •     Get enough sleep at night. Many teens stay up too late. Staying up late often increases night-time snacking and low energy the next morning (which you might be tempted to beat with some extra food).
  •     Limit fast food meals. Studies show that the more fast food you eat each week, the greater the risk of gaining extra weight. So try to limit fast food meals to once a week or less.
  •     Tackle hunger with fiber and protein. Don't wait until you are so hungry that it gets hard to make smart food choices. Instead, when you start to feel hungry, eat a small snack that combines a protein with a food that's high in fiber, such as a whole-grain cracker with low-fat cheese. These are filling but not packed with calories.
  •     Be aware of how much you are eating. If you're not sure how much is considered one serving, you can learn how to read labels. You also may eat less if you use a smaller plate. Try not to eat straight from a big package of food — it's easy to lose track that way. And if you're at a restaurant, see if you can take home some leftovers.
  •     Think about why you are eating. Sometimes we eat to fill needs other than hunger, such as being bored, stressed, or lonely. If you do that, see if you can think of some other ways to meet those needs. Consider calling a friend or listening to some great music. And if think you may be having emotional problems, talk to an adult you trust.
  •     Get moving. One great way to lose weight is by being physically active. You should aim for a total of 60 minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity each day. If you haven't been active in a while, start slowly. For more information, check out the Fitness section of girlshealth.gov.
  •     Cut down on sitting around. This means less TV, Internet, and other forms of screen time. Instead, aim for your "hour a day of active play."
Remember that losing weight is about making healthy changes in your life that you can stick with — and not just a one-time diet.

 

How not to lose weightarrow top

It can be tempting to look for a quick fix if you need to lose weight. Remember, though, that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Keep these tips in mind:
  •     Avoid fad diets. Fad diets often allow only a few types of food. That means you are not getting all the nutrients you need. And these diets may cause you to lose weight for a short time, but then you likely will gain it back quickly. Learn more about fad diets External link.
  •     Avoid weight-loss pills and other quick-loss products. Most weight-loss pills, drinks, supplements, and other products you can buy without a prescription have not been shown to work. And they can actually be very dangerous. If you are thinking about taking weight-loss pills or similar products, talk to your doctor first.
  •     Don't eat too little. Your body needs fuel to grow and be healthy. If you eat fewer than 1,600 calories each day, you may not get the nutrients you need. And don't skip breakfast. Some research suggests that teens who skip breakfast are more likely to be overweight.
  •     Don't try to get rid of food you eat. Some people think they can lose weight by making themselves vomit or taking laxatives (pills that make you go to the bathroom). These are very dangerous steps and signs of eating disorders. Your body is too precious to treat this way, so get help if you think you may have an eating disorder.
  •     Don't expect to lose weight quickly. Losing about one to two pounds a week is a healthy rate of weight loss. If you are taking extreme steps to lose weight faster, you will probably gain most or all of it back.
Source: http://www.girlshealth.gov/nutrition/healthyweight/lose.html