by Kimberly Schiller

Created on: March 16, 2010

One of the hardest parts of being a teenager is trying to figure out how to fit in. Carrying around extra weight can make that question even more difficult to answer, as well as expose a teen to peer pressure, teasing, and bullying. Many kids end up taking unnecessary health risks to try to lose weight, without ever dealing with the real changes that are needed. Here are some simple and safe tips for teens trying to lose weight.

Be honest

Do you really need to lose weight, or are you trying to look like a picture in a magazine? It can be difficult to process all the images we are bombarded with of impossibly thin, beautiful celebrities. But you can't achieve that look without the personal trainers, risky prescriptions, hours of exercise, makeup artists, and air brushing. If you aren't honest about your reasons to lose weight and your goals, no weight loss plan will ever work.

Avoid fad diets and pills

We would all be thrilled if there was a magic pill or food that would make us swimsuit ready. It doesn't exist. Fad diets and weight loss pills and drinks continue to sell because they do initially help some people lose weight. Unfortunately, you can't afford to stay on these products forever, and once you stop the weight will come right back.

These products also come with dangerous side effects, and they have no scientific proof to back up all their amazing claims. Have you ever noticed that most weight loss supplements change their "formulation" on a regular basis? They do that so there isn't enough time for a pattern of injuries, side effects, and complaints to develop. If you want to get into shape and stay that way, ignore the fads and focus on what you eat and how you workout.

Don't skip meals

The key to losing weight is eating less calories than you use, so skipping meals should work, right? Unfortunately, when you skip a meal, your body slows down your metabolism to keep you from potentially starving. This actually causes you to store more of the fat you eat later than you normally would.

This is even more important for teens, who are still growing and building bones and muscles. It's important to eat regularly throughout the day to provide your body with the building blocks it needs, as well as to keep your metabolism fired up and burning those calories. If you regularly eat meals with your family, ask them to help you to eat healthy.

You've heard it a million times, but here it is again - eat breakfast. Fueling up first thing in the morning will give

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