• Teens can lose weight by expanding their lifestyles while shrinking their waistlines.diet image by pershing from Fotolia.com
  
  Dieting is never easy, but it doesn't have to be a miserable experience either. The trick is to make it pleasurable and even interesting by being open to a variety of nutritious foods and new activities. It also helps to reward yourself for having the discipline to stay with it. For teens, there are a number of health-related programs and websites and that offer free advice to help you stay motivated and meet your goals.
  
  

Eat a Healthy Breakfast

• The Mayo Clinic advises that a nutritious breakfast will jumpstart your metabolism, give you energy and keep you from eating too much during the day. Whole grain cereal or toast, yogurt or an egg will do, but breakfast doesn't have to consist of conventional fare. Try a peanut butter sandwich or leftovers from last night's dinner along with some fresh or dried fruit. Smoothies made with yogurt or soy milk, fruit and protein powder take almost no time to make and will balance blood sugar throughout the day and help with weight loss. Experiment with different combinations to keep it interesting.
  
  

Munch on Nutritious Snacks

• If you do get the munchies in between meals, or just have to have a snack while doing homework or watching TV, don't deprive yourself. Just ditch the soda and chips and stock the kitchen with nutritious alternatives that taste good. These might include black bean dip with whole grain crackers, hummus on whole wheat pita, plain low-fat yogurt with fresh or frozen berries and walnuts, string cheese with red grapes or apple slices with peanut butter and raisins. Instead of soda, try sparkling water with a lemon or lime slice. According to WebMD, snacking ensures that your body will not run out of fuel and also helps control mood swings.
  
  

Find Fun Ways to Excercise

• The trick to getting enough exercise is finding an activity that's fun. If running or aerobics classes aren't for you, start by taking the dog for a walk. Or if you don't have a dog, offer your services as a dog-walker for the neighbors and make a little money that you can save for those smaller-size clothes you'll need to buy.
  
  Challenge yourself by getting a pedometer and increasing your steps every day. Try bike-riding, skating, dancing, tennis, or get a jump rope, hula hoop or trampoline. Start out slowly if you're out of shape. You'll soon find that exercise will make you feel good mentally as those endorphins start pumping through your bloodstream, boosting your self-esteem.
  
  

Reward Your Progress

• Celebrate each weight-loss milestone by treating yourself to something special that doesn't involve food (or too much sedentary behavior) and will reinforce your increasingly positive self-image and new lifestyle. Such rewards might include a pair of shoes, a new hairsyle, a manicure, cosmetics, some fun jewelry, sporting equipment, karate or guitar classes, concert tickets or cell phone accessories. Or you could pay yourself by putting away some money for that special beach vacation you're planning.