Recently healthy Mom needs advice for helping my daughter reach her weight loss goals.

My 14 year old daughter has been creeping up the scale for the past 2 years.  She was always a healthy weight until she hit the 7th grade.  Then I think a combination of hormones, insecurities (typical for her age), lack of physical activity (typical for her age) and love of food made her overweight.  She is not actually overweight, but she is getting close to it and has become VERY self conscious of her appearance.  She is 5'5"  medium boned and weighs 140 lbs.  She is very toned (good genes from her dad's side), but does need to lose weight.  What I need is advice on how to motivate her without hurting her feelings or making her feel insecure.  I recently lost about 60 lbs myself and went from overweight to a very healthy weight.  I know that she is happy for me, but I also know that it bothers her that I weigh less and that I am in better physical condition.  I want my success to encourage her not make her feel resentful.  So, any moms (or dads) out there who can send me some words of advice?  Also, I would LOVE to hear from some teens who are trying to get healthy and what is it that you want from your moms?  I have shown her caloriecount and she is now a member and seems to like the web site and logging her food (I am just worried that she will become obsessed with it).  She has begun exercising (bike riding and The Firm).  She has lost 1.5 pounds this past week and I am so happy for her, but I know how it works (I have been fighting my weight for 20 years) so I am afraid that she will "fall off the wagon" after a few weeks.  So, after much rambling what can I do as a mom to 1) encourage her to continue to eat healthy and exercise and 2) not hurt her emotionally in any way and 3) make this a positive experience?

This all makes me so extremely sad!Whatever hapenned to careless teen years?

When you just live for what is good for your age?I have been screwed up too....my mother always looked down at me that I was overweight and came home telling me that people are blaming her for my overweight...that she should do something....and than came the diets (word that makes me sick by now)There should not be such thing as DIET!It is a way of living,habbits and existance.My mother and her selfish concerns have screwed me up big time...I am struggling with my weight for years and getting in and out of binge eating disorder.But I found the way not too long ago but it makes sense....Get that word DIET out of your vocabulary and introduce healthy habbits.Kids are educated by their parents...if you teach them a healthy way that is what they get into their system....as a result I did meet a 6 year old who told me that I should eat more vegetables because that is good for me;).....please do not push it.Make changes and make her follow.....she is not overweight.Do not make her fight with food so early.

Thank you to everyone for your words of advice.  Please be aware that the word "diet" is not allowed in our home.  Since the day that I began on my healthy lifestyle 1 year ago I made is very clear to my family that I was not dieting, but instead changing my lifestyle and although I have reached my weight loss goals I still maintain healthy eating and exercise habits.  We also cook healthy foods and have healthy snacks in the house.  My husband still has to have his can of peanuts and occasional box of cookies, but I cannot do anything about that.  I also have a 9 year old daughter (soon to be 10) who is learning a healthier lifestyle.  She has learned to make healthier decisions about what she eats and watches her portions when she has treats.  I encourage both of my girls to enjoy treats, but in moderation.  I always tell them that moderation is the key.  Thank you for the advice on activities.  I do believe that that is the secret to getting in shape and staying in shape, but I am having a hard time motivating her to find an activity that she loves.  She is going on bike rides and doing some cardio/weights, but I would rather see her take up an activity.  She plays soccer during fall season, but does not want to practice outside of that time.  A swim team sounds great, but we do not have one here that she could attend.  She has tried many activities in the past (dance, cheer leading, gymnastics, horseback riding, karate and soccer). but nothing has caught her attention (and she did all of those activities for at least a year).  Any other ideas?  I have tried the whole "walk/bike/workout with me as I need the help/company" and she doesn't go for it.  She truly does not like to move any more than is necessary.  She is a sitter which is so unlike the rest of the family.  We are all always moving.  She is doing fantastic with eating healthier, but I have had to tell her that she is only allowed on caloriecount twice a day to log her food because she is becoming obsessive about it.