Healthy Ways Of Losing And Gaining Weight / Question
Published: December 3, 2002
Dear TeenHealthFX,
I have weighed 148 all through my high school. I eat a lot but my stomach is the only one growing. I have been working out with the tips that I read in one of your answers - protein before or after a work-out. I want to know if there is an additional part to weight gain, but not fat weight, in the stomach area. What should I do?
Signed: 14 - Gain Weight But Not Fat
Dear 14 - Gain Weight But Not Fat,
Since you are not specific about your diet or exercise regime, it is difficult to answer your question in detail. TeenHealthFX is happy to hear though that you are aware that exercising responsibly and eating properly are an important part of losing weight and being able to achieve your goals in a healthy way.
You should know that although protein is an important component of a healthy diet and can certainly help you to build strong muscle, you can over-do protein consumption and should be more concerned with maintaining a well-balanced diet instead. You only have a certain capacity to absorb or metabolize protein. If you overwhelm the body with it, you can cause harm to yourself. Check out the answer to Eating Healthy and look at the food pyramid for the amounts of each type of food that you should consume every day. It is an excellent guide to good eating.
If you still have questions, your doctor, a physical trainer, or nurse are all professionals who would be able to help advise you on developing a program that is right for you. If you would like to meet with a doctor or nutritionist from the Adolescent/Young Adult Center For Health in Morristown, New Jersey, you can call 973.971.6475 for an appointment.
Signed: TeenHealthFX
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