Valerie Orsoni is always on the ball.

Today’s teens are under more pressure than ever to be thin, but the number of overweight teens continues to grow, says Valerie Orsoni.

The celebrity weight-loss coach remembers all too well what it was like to be an overweight teen.

Here are some of her recollections:

“When I was 17, my best friends were called ‘Cinnamon Roll’ and ‘Chocolate Sundae with Extra Sprinkles.’ I was quite incapable of contenting myself with just a single scoop of ice cream as opposed to most of my friends, and quite frankly, back then a cinnamon roll could be swallowed in just one bite (because they were a lot smaller than they are nowadays).

“I had zip will power. Adding a topping to my sundae was just a lame excuse to console myself after the realization that I would never get the dream figure I saw splashed all over magazine covers … that’s right, I read every fashion magazine that came my way; all of them featuring skeletal models, who to me, represented the normal weight that was attainable by anyone. I (almost) hated my friend Karen, who one day announced she didn’t like chocolates or candies. How was that possible? How was I totally unable to have such will power? I really didn’t like myself too much, I must admit!

“In a way I was lucky, because my dad was also overweight. I say lucky because due to this we decided to lose weight together. Not to look like a model, but to get healthy, and be able to live a long and happy life. So we tried every fad diet possible, always losing a few pounds (and sometimes a lot) in the process, and always regaining it all afterward. Of course, this yo-yoing became very frustrating, leaving us feeling doomed to be overweight.

“It was then that we decided that all of these fad diets were actually harming us, and we started going to the library to educate ourselves. (This was before the Internet era, so the library was the logical place to go.) At that time the Glycemic Index studies were being conducted in Australia and this concept was the springboard to helping me lose a lot of weight with a healthy approach: easy fitness (nothing crazy and dangerous), no forbidden foods, and learning how to love my body no matter what. In the end it was a combination of self love + yummy food in controlled portions + regular exercise that did it for me. I have NEVER regained the weight I lost then, and nor has dad.

“My personal struggles with my weight, and my successful journey to discovering a balanced approach to life, food, and body image, is what inspired me to build a coaching empire focused on healthy living. I have a passion for health and I believe that everybody deserves to feel great in their own skin. Be kind to your body. You can do it!”

And here are some of Orsoni’s tips for teens:

1. When at school, go for the soup to start with (there is ALWAYS a soup). It will bring you healthy nutrients and fiber and will curb your appetite by 25%.

2. At lunchtime, instead of just staying on a bench with your friends, talk and walk. You will tone your body, burn calories without even sweating!

3. To get glowing skin: start your day with a freshly squeezed lemon in a glass of water.

4. Hang out with friends who are not obsessed by their weight (weight obsession is contagious and not healthy).
Start your day with 10 sprouted almonds for great skin.

5. Always carry a small healthy snack in your bag: 1 apple + beef jerky for instance — and stay away from the 100-calorie pouches. They are a real trap!

6. To get yourself motivated, find a favorite picture of yourself and put it up somewhere where you can see it often. Write an inspirational message on it that can become your mantra anytime you need a pick me up. Good ones are “You Can Do it!”, or “You Go Girl!” and “I have the Power.” Or any other statement you like!

Visit LeBootCamp.com for more info on what Orsoni has to offer.

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