I need diet help...

[sk88erchick]

Basically, I'm new on this site and I noticed people are really helpful and nice, so I thought i'd ask for a little advice. I've been pretty healthy and active my whole life (i'm 16) and had never had a problem with weight. When I was 14 I started gaining weight. I have gained 35 pounds and only grown one inch since then and am obviously a little freaked out. I'm not used to being like this, so I thought i'd ask for help. I was raised a vegetarian and am still one, and I noticed all other diet plans had a lot of lean meat in them. I want a diet plan without meat in it. Also, i'm quite active on my bike (I don't drive yet), so I'm more interested in help toning up, then help wilth my cardio. Here are my stats: 5 ft 8.5 inches, 159 lbs (it's embarassing to write this....). Thanks guys!!

[Sean Summers]

Have you considered whey protein shakes?
SS

[sk88erchick]

I have a couple different kinds (my mom brings them home from work since she works at a health food store), but I don't take them regularly... Also i'm not sure which brands are the best.

[ubcpower]

you want to make sure you are getting a Whey Protein Isolate with 0 carb and 0 fat. Post up an example an average day's diet and your weekly exercise plan and maybe we can point on some key areas you could change

[sk88erchick]

you want to make sure you are getting a Whey Protein Isolate with 0 carb and 0 fat. Post up an example an average day's diet and your weekly exercise plan and maybe we can point on some key areas you could change

The thing is, I don't really have a regular diet. It's been all over the place recently. I kind of want to start from the beginning. I do ride my bike for about 45 mins a day, but thats all I do. Now that its summer I have free time to do more than that.

[Houstonbc]

well you need to commit to a solid diet and stay sonsistent with it. Consistency will be the key to your weight loss.

[Dryvrgrl]

and if you are anything like my 16 year old daughter... the insane weight gain between 13-16 will kinda start slowing down now... she had the same thing happen..
DO NOT STRESS ABOUT YOUR WEIGHT!!! just remember that every fitness magazine, gossip magazine, movie star, pop star and celebrity LIE about how much they weigh!! People have a screwed up idea about hopw much a woman should weigh... and basically if you do any of the online BMI or fat tests, it will encourage the misinformation that alot of people buy into. Worry about how you feel not how much you weigh.

Why are you vegetarian?
... I was vegetarian for many years, and within the past 3 years added fish and chicken to my diet, and eggs and dairy and it is FAR easier to stay in healthy condition as opposed to filling up on empty carbs, which is what alot of vegetarians tend to do. is it health reasons or humanitarian? and as far as being veg. what will you eat? dairy?

Basic advice I gave my 16 year old daughter when she was worried about her body image...
-teenagers dont ever drink enough water. drink more.
-don't drink pop/milk or anything with sugar.
-Don't live on smoothies or fruit juice.
-stay away from bread, have rice instead
-dont eat fried food
-grilled cheese and Kraft dinner are not real meals
-don't drink alcohol
-start lifing weights.

[sk88erchick]

Thanks dryvrgrl. I'm going to start lifting weights. I'm a vegetarian for reasons of humanity. I grew up one, and it seems strange to not be one. I do eat eggs and dairy, so I have the protein from both of those.

[ubcpower]

I would stay away from dairy.
I have a young 16 year old cousin and From what i see the young girls doing these days (and i will repeat some stuff dryvrgrl says) as far as potential reasons for weight gain:

1. Fast Food (Eliminate it period)
2. Alcohol (Binge drinking on weekends +tons of extra calories)
3. Fancy COffee DRinks (Some of these monsters are loaded with 1000+calories in one sitting)
4. "Healthy" Fruit Smoothies (All these Jugo juice and booster juice places are loaded with carbs and sugars.
5. Not enough Meals (You want 5-6 small evenly divided (in terms of protein, fat, carbs) meals spread out evenly throughout the day. Will keep metabolism reved instead of skipping breakfast, pigging out on maybe 1 meal of the day.
6. Not enough sleep. Kids are busier than ever now adays with having school, part time jobs, social life.
7. Late night Binging: dont let yourself be awake at 3am with friends and ordering pizza's or going through McD's drive through
8. Not enough Water
9. Watch your condiments : Sauces, additives...etc all come with a price.

I still would reccomend you figure out something you can see yourself following as far as a basic diet guideline....write it up here and we will help you with it...doesnt have to be 100% strict like a bodybuilder (as we understand you are only 16) but give it a try.

[Dryvrgrl]

well.. if you don't eat meat... learn to LOVE beans!! lol... Soy Beans are easy and tasty... chick peas (not processed hummus as it's loaded with Tahini sauce and yougurt, which taste great but have a tonne of fat!!)
tofu... but NOT processed sweetened coconut flavoured or veggie dogs as they are LOADED with soduim (salt)
It's good that you'll eat eggs and dairy (even though dairy is loaded in fat and lactose (sugar)) women still need calcium and even through all my training I always had yogurt in my diet.

and regular supplement of protein will be important. ... try to stay away from the bars, and find a "shake" (powder) that you like... they have less calories and fat and carbs but also force you to increase your water intake.

Have you ever thought about adding fish or chicken? would you consider it? would your family support a decision to add "meat" to your diet? I don't want to try and contradict your upbringing, but I can't stress enough the importance of protein... it will fill you up more than the empty carbs most teenagers tend to eat.