I need advice!

[SydneyHope]

I am 16 years old and an aspiring nutritionist. I have always been relatively active with soccer almost year round. I am 5'0" and 133 lbs. I would say that I have a sort of "stubby" body type on my lower body. My upper body has never been a problem for me.
So here's the real problem:
I have always had a problem with accumulation of fat around my knees, ankles, and inner thighs. ESPECIALLY around my knees. Right now I am the heaviest I have ever been, and I can honestly say i have been in better shape before. I've been having this problem for as long as I can remember, and I just would like to hear opinions on what would cause this (its probably genetics, although I have no idea from who), and what I can do to help it. It's extremely embarrassing for me, and it gives me a strong feeling of insecurity when wearing shorts or dresses (I actually have not worn a dress since I was around 5). I have to wear shorts because I live in 100 degree weather, and everyday that I look in the mirror I get really upset. I am extremely insecure about my knees, and I would love some feedback on this issue.

 

[mattwest23]

Have you ever heard of the 90 day challenge? You can do it and gain muscle. Which burns away unwanted fat

 

[Starwarsfreak]

Don't allow a minor physical flaw to hinder your growth into an adult. You're 16 years old, you are still growing into your body. When I was 16 I was incredibly overweight and know the sad feeling you get when you look into a mirror. It is terrible, but you will overcome it. What you need to do is really watch your food intake. At your age, the easiest thing to do is cut down on sugary drinks. Completely take them out of your diet. No juice (eat only whole fruits), no soda, nothing with sugar in it. Drink water. If you want to drink milk, keep it to a minimum. You can get calcium through green veggies instead. Milk is meant for baby cows when they are calves, not for humans. It is just extra calories that you really don't need to consume in a drink.

Soccer is great exercise. If you are playing year round, you really don't need to do much more. Understand that you are still growing and that your body is going to do some funky things while you are a teenager.

 

[San2]

"What" you're eating is more important than how much you're eating or how much you're exercising. So, what are you eating?

Even repeated countless times, that statement is still completely wrong.

 

[San2]

Are you going to tell us why? I'd love to hear your reasoning.

As said countless times before - the basis of fat loss is energy expenditure. Calories in vs. calories out. That's the foundation on which everything else rests. If that isn't right, it does not matter an iota 'what' you eat. You can eat the cleanest, best, most wholesome foods in the world, you can eat nothing but mana from the heavens (if you believe in that kind of stuff) - if that food contains more calories than you burn, you won't lose weight. Simple.

So your statement of saying that 'what' you eat is the more important than how much is nonsense.

What you eat is important, yes. For health, for making sure that your body gets what it needs. Because some people react to certain food groups better than to others. But that alone cannot work without the very basic knowledge of how much energy the body needs and how much it uses.

 

[Turok1]

Have to agree. The calorie deficit is the key. You can eat the healthiest foods on earth, but as long your won't create the deficit, you won't lose any weight.