I go to the gym 4 days a week. Tuesday and Thursday nights, after I do my homework, and on weekends after I eat breakfast (not my choice-I hate morning workouts). Right now, because of basketball practice one night a week, and my dad refusing to go on Monday or Friday, my schedule is NOT flexible.

I get home from school at 2:45 or so, unless I have to stay after, in which case I might not get home until 4. I have to be in bed by 10. I'm normally at the gym for 2 hours because my dad and I like to take out time. I get a good hour of math homework each night due to taking Algebra 1 with a teacher who piles on the work, plus assorted other quick and easy assignments for my other 6 classes.

I enjoy going to the gym, I really, really do, but there's no one to talk to. And, on top of it, I miss sleepovers and such because I like to alternate between missing a workout and missing hanging out with friends.

Not to mention eating healthy. My friends houses are stocked with nothing but junk food, and so is my school cafeteria. If I'm away from home, there's no way for me to eat well.

It's just too much-sometimes I wish I could be like other teenagers and not care about my health. But I can't. And I don't REALLY want to.

I'm only a middle schooler, and I feel like an over scheduled adult. I don't WANT to be an adult. I want to enjoy being a kid.

I guess I need help balancing my life, and enjoying being the kid that I am.

I see that you have lost 18 lbs and that is awesome. I used to be a Junior High Phys Ed teacher and I know how challenging it is for a young person to lose weight.

Its good that you are playing basketball and perhaps you should try and find other sports that will keep you active as well, and will have more people to talk to. If you can't get your friends to come to the gym with you, maybe try a dance class, or martial arts or something like that. Your friends might join you there, or if not you will meet new people.

In the mean time, you don't need to spend 2 whole hours at the gym! Convince your Dad that you guys can work out harder in a shorter time, and it won't seem to eat up as much of your life.

I'm actually the slow one-haha.

Thanks. I've actually lost around 30, but some of that was pre-traineo.

I hate to say it, but my friends are the laziest people on the face of the earth. I live about 5 minutes (at a stroll) from Wawa, and it's a struggle to get them to come with me when I need gum (my addiction, haha).

I actually like my current workout routine, it's just time-consuming. Track starts soon, meaning I can drop one or two of my workouts (it's 5-7 days a week...I'm doing shot, but there's still a lot of running), and when basketball ends, I'm taking up horseback riding one day a week in it's place (I much prefer it, but it's cold right now).

I suppose I'd be better off getting my friends moving than I would be by cutting my workouts.

I know how you feel. I am very busy, and usually get my homework done before bed (procrastination and desire for sleep forces me to work hard and fast ). My friends work out with me though, the gym counts as our P.E. class. They usually motivate me, or call me a wuss when I'm tired lol. I don't think you should give up on your friends, instead of eating their food try bringing some fruits and stuff. That might encourage them that eating healthy is good, but it won't give off the message that they're bad for eating unhealthy foods.


You should definitely try that Mikaela. I used to go to the gym for 2hrs as well, but instead of having sauna breaks I just work out for 1hr non-stop and I come home half asleep.

I'll try bringing fruit-god knows I love my apples (seriously, I've eaten at least one a day for as long as I could remember).

I'll also try to condense my workout-I do tend to take long breaks sometimes (especially on upper body days, when I have a ton to do as is).

I'm also considering bringing up the intensity of my cardio (right now it's pretty light) so that I can cut it from 30 minutes to 20.

It's true, being young ain't as easy as it used to be. I really feel for you.

Good news is that all of these issues of time management and juggling priorities are some of the most important skills you will ever need to know, and will see you right throughout all of adult life. There are people who never have the discipline or inclination to master these skills and never really make it far in the big wide world.

The key is to enjoy being young while you're young, though take these lessons as a blessing as they are ultimately giving your adult life a head start. You'll find that as you progress your friends will either follow your enthusiasm or you'll find you don't really have that much in common anymore and you'll make new friends.

I spent most of my youth hanging on to friends that were no good to me, while my parents tried to educate me against spending time with them. Now I am nearly 30 I can see what they were talking about. I still have some of the same friends, though I am mindful of the effect that the people around me have on me. If you want to be an Indian, don't hang around with cowboys, because sure as god made little apples you'll end up wearing a stetson and lassoing cattle. Know what I mean.

All the best and keep your faith strong that you will be fine