Real Life Q&A with Camy Tang

July 2005

Q: I am so FAT! What's a quick and easy diet?

A: A diet is not something you "go on." A diet is the way you choose your food, it's a lifestyle thing.

You already know the secret--less junk food, more fruits and vegetables. You don't even have to pay attention to the whole low-carb thing that's in style now. You're still a teenager and don't need to worry about a slower, aging metabolism. Low-carb is for old people like me.

Think about what you eat. Do you really need another soda right now? Why not some water? Instead of candy, why not grab something else from the fridge? Think outside the box when you snack, instead of reaching for the potato chips. My favorite snack is a bowl of cereal. How about nuts? Yogurt?

At dinner, EAT YOUR VEGETABLES. Besides vitamins and stuff, they have tons of fiber, which will make you feel full faster. If you feel full faster, you won't scarf down those three Pilsbury biscuits. Also, EAT SLOWER. Take your time, give your stomach TIME to feel full. Afterward, eat a piece of fruit. Again, the fiber in the fruit will help fill your stomach so you don't go through that entire pint of Ben and Jerry's, just a scoop or two.

A side note: don't skip meals. Why? Because your body will go into "starvation mode." Then, the very next thing you eat will get turned directly into more FAT because your body doesn't know when the next meal will be coming. You can actually gain weight by missing meals.

Besides what goes in your mouth, think about how active you are. If you're not into school sports, consider a lower-level club sport team. Running is a cheap and solitary sport. Got a dog? Good--walk your pooch twice a day and your youthful metabolism will do the rest. It doesn't take much to increase you energy output. Every little bit helps.

Still feel fat? I'm going to talk serious here: Satan loves making you hate your body. It's what he gets off on. Every time you grimace at yourself in the mirror, he's happy.

Do you hear what I'm saying? Your self-loathing is spiritual warfare. When you care so much about how you look and how you fit into your jeans, it draws you away from God. That's exactly where Satan wants you to be.

I know it's hard to love yourself. I think every woman feels that way. Even when we know other people love us, it's hard to feel better about ourselves.

Here are two key things to remember:

1) Your body is a temple. Treat it like one. Respect your health. Make good food choices, make wise exercise decisions. Don't underdo, don't overdo.

2) God made you exactly how HE wanted to make you. And guess what--God wired your future husband so he'll desire you looking just the way you are.

So your best friend is a size zero and you're a size nine. Doesn't she like being with you even if she can't share her clothes with you? (And if she doesn't, it's time to find better friends.) I know it's hard, but try to focus on something besides your gargantuan rear end or barrel-sized midsection or the flab at your waistline (Besides, it'll only get worse as you enter your 20's and 30's). God created so many other things in your life for you to enjoy. Let yourself enjoy them.