Keep Gaining Weight

Question
I am 14 years old, 190 pounds, 5' and somewhere between 5" and 6" tall.

In September of last year, (2008) I weighed 163lbs. Between then and now, I've gained all this weight. Most of it I put on since I've started PE class again. I have it everyday and the workouts are moderately intense. We often have to run up and down stairs for 7-10 minutes at a time. I have this class every other day.
My question is, if my BMR is around 2000 calories, and I've been taking in about 1500 (I started eating breakfast in April)why have I been gaining so much weight?
I haven't gained a lot of muscle. My clothes are fitting tighter, and my face is rounder.

The only weird thing is, at 163 I was a size 10 jeans, and I still fit into them, they are just a little tighter- but not a lot. Why is that?

What can I do to get back down where I was? My self esteem is suffering!

In the summer of '07, I lost 30lbs, so thats about 10lbs a month. I was at 195 at my highest point.

Do you have any diet strategies/work out regimes for me to try?

Thanks.

Answer
Dear Janice. You know how to lose weight, you have done it before. Stick with what works. Losing 8 pounds per month is a good goal to strive for. Eating 1500 calories per day and exercising everyday like you are, should produce a weight loss of 1.5 to 2 pounds per week. Next is to eat foods that can help you lose weight. Foods that can help you lose weight quicker would be foods like: lean meats, chicken, fish, eggs, whole fruits, vegetables, whole grain bread, healthy fats like olive oil, and low or non-fat dairy. Keep away from pasta, rice, bagels, sport drinks, fruit juices, cookies, crackers, mac and cheese, ramen noodles, and other starchy carb and sugar foods.
Each inch of growth is worth about 5-7 pounds, so if you have grown an inch or two between age 12 and 14, then that is why you can still fit into your clothes. You are a growing and maturing teenager, not all weight gained is fat. You gain weight because you are still growing!
Strive for your 163 pounds or about 27 pounds to lose. Pick a date on the calendar that is about 14 weeks away and strive to lose the weight by that date. It will take hard work and determination, but you can do it with a plan. Hope that helps, Laura Kraemer,Slimkids.com

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