counting calories at 13?

I'm 13, and I'm already planning my meals, and counting calories.  I don't see what the deal is, I AM over weight, but I'm doing something about it.  Why do some people think I'm being over obsessive? Last night as I was walking out of the down town theatre, I was in mortal shock, as my crush almost go run over 3 times, and he caught me staring at him with my mouth open.  I was embarrassed, so in sheer desperadoes, I bolted to the nearest Starbucks, for a nice relaxing latte.  When I asked how many calories were in the spiced chai latte, the guy just smirked at me, and muttered something under his breath, like I had no right to know. Things seemed to escelate when I kindly asked, once again.  This time he had to go get his manager, and when he finally did tell me, and I decided that I couild to with out the extra fat, the guy rudely pointed out that there were other people behind me. I decided to leave, after this facinating encouted, and walked back to my condo, and cozied up to the newest Coso Girl.

i'm not exactly sure what your complaint is: being mortified by having your crush see you looking at him?  the rude starbucks dude?  what do either of those things have to do with being 13 and counting calories?

That was just saying, poeple think I'm being over obsessive about my weight

How much do you weigh and how tall are you?

That starbucks guy just did not know the answer to your question.  He was being rude because that is what rude people do.  Blow him off.

The Starbucks dude probably doesn't so much think you're obsessing over your weight as he thinks "what?  I'm supposed to have the calories of every drink we serve memorized?"  That's probably what the look was about.  I'm not defending him as people with customer service jobs should be polite, but you may be reading way more into the encounter than was there.

It is rude to hold up a line like that. I can see why he was rude back. You shouldn't order something in a place that is supposed to be in and out quickly if you aren't sure about the content. There are a lot of places online you can check and not hold people up, or you could just skip out.

I don't think he was really rude at all. It has nothing to do with your age though.

Original Post by dani0103:

That was just saying, poeple think I'm being over obsessive about my weight

see, this is typical of a teenaged girl; you feel like everyone is thinking about and judging you.  the truth is, 90% of the people you cross paths with don't have a single thought about you, and of those who do, 90% will forget about you in about 15 seconds.

the starbucks guy doesn't care that you're counting calories; he cares that you're making his life momentarily difficult.

I think most people are right in the fact that the Starbucks guy didn't probably think you counting calories was strange, but was probably being rude because of the inconvenience.

If I was 13 and overweight, I don't think I would count calories. I would have probably just tried to eat healthier. Maybe cut down on junk and soda; stuff like that.
At that age you're still growing and are likely to lose a lot of the baby fat as you mature.

I'm ignoring your story and getting to your question.

When I was 13, I began exercising (running 30 minutes and doing the Toning for Teens workout probably 4 times per week) and following The Diet for Teenagers Only book.  So I lost some weight over the spring and summer and did awesome in cross country the next fall.  So yeah, I can relate to you and I don't think it's bad to be MILDLY obsessive.

And as some advice - don't go too crazy.  I was pretty damn strict and once I stopped dieting, I stopped exercising and began eating like nothing else and gained more than 30 pounds in 3 years.  But now at 16, I've learned a few new things about losing weight - one of them being that nearly no one in real life cares to hear you talk about it.

I think that 13 year olds are still growing and that if they are overweight they should talk to their doctors who are educated about the topic. Thirteen is really young and you do not want to deprive yourself of calories. I would get an appointment with your doctor and ask him or her what you should be eating and how much exercise you should be getting daily. Remember; people under 18 should exercise at least 60 minutes most days of the week. I am studying to be a nurse and it saddens me how people so young are so involved with their weight. Again if you are worried go see your doctor.

Anyone else finds it just a tad troubling that after being "emotionally stressed" OP went right for a "relaxing latte" at Starbucks?

UD

Original Post by umneydurak:

Anyone else finds it just a tad troubling that after being "emotionally stressed" OP went right for a "relaxing latte" at Starbucks?

UD

Yeah - it's a bit wrong on a few levels. 

A lot of people become worried when a girl who is so young gets too absorbed in their weight because young girls are the most prone to eating disorders. It doesn't matter if you're already overweight or not, you're still prone to falling into eating disordered patterns of thinking and the same anorexic tendencies. Calorie counting is easily taken advantage of by people with eating disorders, and this website (I'm sad to say) is probably catering to a lot of those same girls who are pro-anorexia and pro-bulimia as we speak.

I'm 17 and I'm overweight, but I get looks of concern all the time, so I understand your frustration. Just brush it off, girl. Just have to reassure them that you're doing it to be healthy, even if you have to reassure them a million times.

Curling up with a magazine is what you should have done to begin with, darlin'. 

If making eye contact with a guy you like is all it takes to trigger cravings for sweets, then pause for a moment and consider why you want to get in shape: are you really doing it for yourself, or to look better in the eyes of some guy? So many times people who want to lose weight do so for the wrong reasons. If this is something YOU want for YOURSELF, you need to stop worrying about being dissected and scrutinized by random acquaintances on the street. Attempts made to lose weight to look better for others are almost always met with failure.

If you're serious about this, I too agree with previous posters: talk to a doctor who can tell you about how to improve your diet without jeopardizing your health. Your body's still got growing to do. 

Original Post by dani0103:

I'm 13, and I'm already planning my meals, and counting calories.  I don't see what the deal is, I AM over weight, but I'm doing something about it.  Why do some people think I'm being over obsessive?

At 135lbs and 5'3" your BMI is 24 which doesn't class you as overweight... be under no illusion about that.   Because you're 13 your body is in a constant state of change.  It still has a lot of developing to do (physically and mentally) and, for that reason, you will not be advised to lose weight by reducing calories since this can mean you don't get adequate nutrition to grow.  You could easily find that this time next year you are 5'5" or 5'6"..

Instead, the advice to people your age is to get more active (60 minutes per day) and to 'eat better' rather than 'eat less'.  This website aimed specifically at teens has some excellent information information on how to get a better diet & healthier lifestyle in simple, practical ways...  http://www.eatwell.gov.uk/agesandstages/teens /   If, for example, you aim from now on to get at least 5-a-day vegetables and some fruit that will help you control your weight.  Other swaps help too.... fewer Starbucks Lattes and more glasses of water, for example.  People who have a more nutritious, more filling diet, tend to naturally eat less than people who have a poor diet.  Calorie counting isn't necessary.

Good luck