abs??

if you want your abs to show, you need to drop your body fat percentage to below 10% (if you're female), and below 6% if you're male (exact % differs from person)

to get rid of fat, do cardio exercises !
anything like running, swimming, cycling, anything that gets your heart rate up
clean up your diet (i.e. cut down on soda, cookies, etc.)

Hi, At 13 years old, I am personally worried that you think more about working out than having fun!!

It's great that you are already into taking care of yourself, but it already sounds like it is becoming an obsession for you. You should think more about having some fun than worrying about a flat and muscular stomach. Also, at your age, you need some body fat to help with growth.

Don't obsess too much, you have plenty of time to worry about your weight, size and shape.

Be gentle with yourself and take care.

K/x

thank you guys! i know i need to not take it to serious and i am trying very hard! i will definetly try cardio, a lot of people have told me it works.

Eat the right amount of protein. Being vegetarian makes it hard to get protein unless you eat a ton of peanut butter... My diet is mostly vegetarian but I do eat chicken and beef a few times a month. I have a bit of dairy, usually yogurt, and that all helps with getting enough protein into my diet.

I have a little bit of a belly but it's been going away because I've been swimming a lot. If you really want to show off your abs, get in a pool and do some exercises that are intense on your stomach.

It is healthy though to have a certain amount of body fat. Having a bit of fat on your arms is healthy... generally, being a little bit "overweight" (by 5-10 pounds) is healthy for a girl.

Also, weight loss will probably come with age. When I was 13, I was chunky and I was about 30 pounds overweight. All of that extra weight was gone by the time I was 17. Some of it came back over the years but staying active and eating right is making it go away again.

thank you! i have noticed that it is starting to flatten out a little bit. i think i had a growth spurt or something. I do eat peanut butter and nuts a lot. ive also been starting to walk/speed walk/run and i think it is helping a bit

peanut butter and nuts aren't the best things to eat if you're trying to lose fat

peanut butter is really oily, and (like nuts) has a high fat content
but if you're still growing, it really isn't something you should think about (unless you're eating like a jar a day)

rice and beans are good for getting the essential amino acids if you are a vegetarian

Being a vegetarian DOES NOT make it hard to get enough protein, unless you only eat junk food and don't educate yourself about which foods have the vitamins and minerals your body needs.

Beans, Spinach, Tempah, Lentils, Grains, Kale, Quinoa, Bean sprouts, Nuts and Seeds are all examples of foods rich in protein. Take a multivitamin if you are unsure about getting all the necessary vitamins. One a Day makes a daily multi-vitamin especially for developing teen girls, it also has minerals to help ward of acne! Since you are a vegetarian and dont consume dairy you NEED a calcium vitamin, Especially since you are only 13 and your body needs the calcium to help you develop correctly! Trust me I ate the same as you are now, and ended up getting sick before I started taking vitamins and eating a well rounded diet.

Remember your body is still developing and you need a certain amount of good fat to remain healthy, Omega 3's are an example of good fat, they are found in Olive oil and peanut butter. Omega 3's keeps your eyes healthy and hair shiny, among other things. Dont diet, rather focus on promoting good eating habits such as not drinking soda, or eating fried foods.

As long as your doctor says you are at a healthy weight and you are getting an appropriate amount of exercise (30 mins a day) I would suggest you concentrate on loving your body the way it is, and keep it healthy. Enjoy this time in your life it passes quickly.