I’m a 16 year old boy who is close to 400 lbs. I need to lose 200. I have high blood pressure. Is there anyone who can help me set up a plan of weight loss? Cullen. [via Ask Questions]

It is great that you want to lose 200 pounds, but if you are only 16 and your weight is 400 pounds, well, actually, it does not matter how old you are – if you weigh 400 pounds, I strongly recommend that you make an appointment with your doctor ASAP to discuss this issue.

Do not get me wrong, I am not saying you should not take proactive steps to lose 200 pounds, you should educate yourself on how you can lose 200 pounds, but you need to be very careful.

So, what can you do to lose 200 pounds? First of all, if you really want to lose 200 pounds, you have to stay away from diet fads and diet pills. I know it is tempting to try something that promises quick weight-loss results, the problem is, none of that stuff actually works.

Second, before you even start thinking about taking practical steps to lose 200 pounds, you need to focus on the mental aspect of it. When a person fails to reach a weight-loss goal, there is more than enough blame to go around. The diet was bad, the exercise program was too strenuous, an ice cream cone was winking at me, etc. All of which could be true to some extent, but most people fail to archive their weight-loss goal because they do not actually believe they can do it. So, do you believe you can lose 200 pounds?

Third, to lose 200 pounds – or any amount of weight – you have to know how to lose weight, how weight loss works, and you have to understand why you have gained weight in the first place. There are many diets available, but you need to find one diet that works for you. This is very important because if you do not find a diet that you are comfortable with, you will not lose 200 pounds. So, take a look at our diet reviews and find a diet plan that you can sustain in the long run. In addition, read Do I Know How to Lose Weight? and How Weight Loss Works.

Fourth, to lose 200 pounds, you need to start exercising. Walking is one of my favorite exercises. In your particular case, it is a perfect low-impact exercise. Start slow, walk for 15 minutes twice a week. If you feel good after your walk, walk a little longer and more frequently. If you do not feel good, do not increase intensity.

The bottom line on how to lose 200 pounds Your doctor is your friend on this one. Tell your doctor that you want to lose weight, and make sure that you tell him or her how you are going to do it. Do not start exercising and do not change your diet without your doctor’s approval.

Once you have you doctor’s approval, start slowly, do not try to do everything at once. Start by changing your eating habits. Do not go cold turkey; change your diet over time by making small changes. When you feel that you have your diet in order, start exercising.