Please help! Active but not losing

Hello, my name is Mary. Im 14 years old, 5 feet 8 inches and im 160 lbs.

My friends tell me im not overweight but i feel fat around them.

Im extremely active. I play soccer and softball and im very aggresive in both sports i dont hold back and i play until i cant run anymore. I own 2 horses who both live on my property and ride in competitions which means im constantly training on them. Just having them on my land is lot of work. Im currently building another section onto my barn and its only my dad and me doing the construction. Its hard labor and we work for hours. Also, Im doing these awesome work out tapes (yoga booty ballet) which i love!

I eat healthy. I love whole grain foods and I have a sister whos a vegetarian, shes got me hooked on tofu (i usually will eat tofu foods such as tofu "chicken nuggets" as snacks and will eat the serving size) I do enjoy eating junk foods with my friends but i never over eat and im always careful to not gorge myself.

The problem im having is that i dont seem to be losing any weight! I lost about 10 lbs and now i've completely stopped. Infact the more healthy i am the less i seem to lose! I dont understand and its making me hate myself. Im gaining muscle but my stomach refuses to shrink!

I dont get it i've been doing this for months now. I need help. Does anyone know whats going on?

-Mary Honora

P.S. I dont sit around watching TV and playing on the computer for hours at a time. Im not allowd to have messengers on my computer and the only times i use the computer are to check my email and maybe look at some of my favorite horse sites. Im usually outside seeing as how i live in the country on about 20 acres and one of my close friends lives down the road from me with his father. We spend lots of time riding all over our town insted of sitting inside. The only times i really laze around my house are when we're all relaxing and maybe watching our favorite show. Also, my parents have been supportive of what im doing and have been making healthier meals and letting me make my own dinner if they're craving hamburgers or something else.

ahh another horse person. Horses always keep you active....infact since I have taken a break from riding (3 months ago) I have put on the pounds. seems to me like you are very healthy, maybe you don't need to lose weight....maybe your body is telling you that the weight you are at is a good weight. Try toning, this might cause you to gain more weight because of the whole muscle thing, so take measurements. after all its only a number and how you look and feel is more improtant. how is that yoga booty ballet by the way? I saw and infomercial on it and I thought it looked interesting.

Cool! What kind of horses? Do you ride English or Western? I would have killed to be you when I was your age =) (almost still would, in fact, 30 years later ;o) )

Stop worrying about your weight. You must be very muscular, and muscle weighs more than fat. I doubt if your friends work as hard or are as muscular as you are.

Also, you're tall, so if they're shorter you might feel bigger just because of that.

Think instead about fitness. There are websites that help you calculate if your body fat ratio is within acceptable limits.

Are you 'busty' (more than your friends?)? I know what it's like to feel fat because of being large busted - you can work on reducing body fat if you're heavy busted but only so much (below those who don't have this special 'problem') before you're miserable.

If your tummy really bothers you then there are exercises you can do to strengthen those muscles and give yourself a flatter appearance there.

And, tall girl (I'm 3/4" shorter than you so I know what it's like)...stand up *straight* (no hiding or slouching) and have good posture (this will help with the tummy thing too).

5' 8" @ 14.  I'm jealous. 

Anyways, you are at a healthy BMI (24.4) for your age/weight.  I would suggest keeping track of how much you are eating, moderately active you need 2920 calories to fuel your body.  Make sure you are eating enough. Remember muscle weighs more then fat & the number on the scale is just that a number. 

Let nature take it's course.  I know it's hard to hear, especially at your age but often weight fluctuates in pre-teens / teens wildly due to growth.  I know my step-daughter (13 yrs. old) gains weight (she floats from an 11  to a 5) then grows quickly thinning out & shooting up.  Though she believes the world is ending when she starts to pack on weight.  I remind her that the weight means more height & breast.  Try not to worry, healthy eating will always work out in the end.  

Hi, I'm a Personal Trainer with 16 years experience. I'm surprised at how many teens are asking for help with weight loss on the site. I think a trainer in your area could help. You sound like you have great healthy habits, but something is amiss. To help I'm trying to pass the word to EVERYONE frustrated with their weight to read a little known book by a woman from Scotland with a Phd in Human Metabolism: Paula Baille-Hamilton. The book's title is "The Body Restoration Plan: Eliminate Chemical Calories and Repair Your Body's Natural Slimming System." EVERYONE needs to read this book to find out if  "chemical calories" are an issue for them. Chemical calories are what a person is exposed to if they eat conventional foods instead of organic foods or use commercial shampoo, make-up, etc. instead of ones made without harsh chemicals. The chemicals damage the parts of our body designed to keep us thin. The book explains this damage and HOW to REPAIR it. Right now its on half.com for under $5. Can you believe it?! It's the best book I've seen on the weight loss issue in America and no one is reading it! Bizarre! After you read it, I'll be happy to help with how to apply the knowledge. Your friend in fitness, Kam Parker, A.A., B.A., C.P.T. (Kamthetrainer@yahoo.com)

Thanks everyone for your help

More tips are welcome