Q: I have a problem with losing weight, Before I tell you anything else, I need to tell you that I am 15 years of age and in a few months I will be 16. I was looking at one page and it said "ask Kristine a question" Well I wasn’t quite sure how to ask, so I decided to just type to the editor, I guess. I'm really hoping you can help me out. I would like to lose weight as I have mentioned. I’m 5'3 and I’m 15 and 148 pound Female. I need a way to lose my weight FAST, and something that will not take a year to do, I'm actually hoping to lose 15 pounds I just don’t know how to go about it.

A: You may have heard this before, but a healthy, low-fat diet combined with exercise is the best way to lose weight. Losing weight can take time, but weight loss that happens gradually is the most sustainable. If you reduce your caloric intake too much to lose weight quickly you will just end up gaining it back. You do not need to take drastic measures to lose 15 pounds. Change your eating habits to limit your intake of sugar and junk food. Always eat a healthy breakfast. Choose foods like oatmeal, whole grain cereals, whole wheat toast, fresh fruit, low-fat yogurt or eggs. Limit your use of butter or margarine. Take a lunch to school rather than eating out. School cafeterias usually don’t provide many healthy choices. Pack a whole wheat pita with veggies, chicken or tuna and a little shredded cheese. Use mustard instead of mayo. Bring fresh fruit and veggies and low-fat cottage cheese. Apple slices and a little light peanut butter make a great snack, as do raw nuts and dried fruit. You’ll also find by eating these foods you’ll have a lot more energy.

Exercise is also important. Figure out what you enjoy. Speed walking or jogging is a great way to get in shape. You can do it in the morning, on your lunch break or after school. If you like sports consider taking one up or joining a school team. If you prefer something private buy a yoga DVD and practice at home. Try incorporating at least 30 minutes of exercise into your day.