Well, for one, I can relate. I weighed 130 lbs when I was 13, and it was tough. Really, that's not all that overweight. It just means that you're developing faster than your peers.

You probably won't lose weight when you exercise, because you'll build up muscle mass which weighs more than fat. That's not a bad thing though! You can't judge how healthy you are by how much you weigh. Now I'm 19 and I weigh about 180 lbs, but it's because I train in the martial arts, and I'm very muscular.

Don't worry about the kids at school... I know that it seems like the end of the world now, but they're just stupid kids right now, and they'll grow up eventually.

It's hard to be different, but who you are matters more than what you look like. Just be a good person and good things will happen.

Also, don't ever consider suicide. It's the wrong way out of a problem. It may end your pain, but that's nothing compared to the pain that your friends and family will feel for the rest of their lives because of your actions. You've got to realize that nothing is worth hurting yourself for.

Well, here's the thing. A little cologne can be great. A little GOOD cologne, that is.

Axe is not cologne. Please, for the love of God, don't wear Axe. It smells terrible and guys tend to douse themselves in it. Women actually don't like that.

Pick out something subtle and tasteful, and only apply a little bit. Avoid anything Old Spice-ish, because it will remind them of their grandfather :P

Try Adidas Moves for men... I love that one.

Don't worry. We all go through that at some point or another. Unfortunately, as soon as I swear off dating, I always end up being asked out by someone...

Don't worry about not dating at your age. At 15, you don't need to date. It's a pain in the butt, takes too much time and energy, and it's restrictive! You're much better off spending time with your friends... If you ever feel lonely, spend time with them!

Plus, if you did find Mr. Right, would you really want to be with him forever? You're too young to be making any serious commitments, so just enjoy dating around when you're ready to.

Was it on? Whenever I lose my cell phone, I just call it from another phone. Then, when it rings, you can listen for it and find it!

It's necessary because at higher temperatures, substances will expand, and at lower temperatures, they'll contract.

Density = Mass/Volume

So, if volume is higher (because the liquid expanded) the density will be lower, because it's the same mass in a larger volume.

It works the same way for solids and gases, with the exception of water, which expands as a solid.

I actually prefer Durex, if you can get them. Trojans fit really tightly, and Lifestyles tend to break.

It is Pandora Radio. You can find it at www.pandora.com.

It depends... what chemistry are you doing?

I'm in first year university chem right now, so I can probably help.

My MSN is amanda_scott_87@hotmail.com if you want to add me.

Well, make sure you have lube. Trust me on this one. If you're not properly lubricated it will hurt... otherwise, it really all depends on his size. If he's exceptionally large, then it may hurt, but it's not going to be unbearable.

Don't over-prepare, because part of the fun of it is not really knowing what's going to happen!

My dad did it, but I didn't.

He lost 45 pounds while he was on it, so it does work... but he gained it back once he started eating a normal number of carbs again.

You should always combine your diet with exercise for optimal results.

The only thing is that Atkins is very unhealthy over long periods of time, so I don't personally endorse it.

If you're doing medical school in the United States, it doesn't matter what your grades were in university, just what your MCAT scores were. In Canada it's different, you have to have good grades to get into med school.

It is wrong. You come on here to get advice, not to be heckled.

The problem is that some people perceive criticism as rudeness sometimes. I've received low ratings before because I have given advice that the person does not want to hear. I'll get comments like "I think you're full of sh*t" and things like that, just because I maybe see things from a different perspective because I'm in a different stage of life from them.

You can always file an abuse report, and they'll be blocked from the site.

I didn't work at Victoria's Secret, but I did work at a lingerie store when I was 17. It's not really slutty at all. Just a warning, though, you will see a lot of breasts. An awful lot. It's also really tricky, because a) women are tough customers and b) shopping for bras puts most women in a bad mood so you have to be really good with people.

If you're playing a lot of sports, then the weight you're gaining is probably muscle. That means you shouldn't be losing it!

I did karate for 7 years, and I could never get my weight below 180 pounds, no matter how hard I tried... then I talked to my doctor and he said that that was because I was building a lot of muscle mass instead of fat.

I like our system (in Canada)... cigarettes are very expensive because of tobacco taxes (10$ a pack or so) and they have a huge warning label with a gross picture on it of lung cancer or something like it.

Wait for it. I know, you feel like you just can't wait anymore, but you've got years and years ahead of you to experience things.

Also, if your boyfriend isn't into "that stuff" then you shouldn't be pressuring him, so there's really no way to "make things fast".

Does it happen with any other foods? He could be allergic to tomato-based products.

Allergies can develop suddenly at any age... my dad developed a shellfish allergy when he was in his early 20s, and it's gone now.

Well, not everyone is made to be skinny. No matter how much I diet and exercise, I never dip beneath 180 pounds... and I'm a 19 year old girl! You can be healthy without looking like one of those stick-thin celebrities.

Just keep up the good work. Being healthy is far more important than fitting illogical social standards.

Here's what I explained to my friend, when she asked me why she doesn't meet nice guys in bars;

When you meet a guy in a bar, all you really have in common is partying. So, that's all that you can really talk about.

I know I'm not quite in my 20s yet, but I've had great luck meeting guys at extra-curricular activities (I ended up dating one of my karate classmates for quite a while).

As for the internet dating thing, you're using the wrong outlet. MySpace is a very superficial site, and most people will choose to contact you based upon appearances, because there isn't all that much information. Try www.okcupid.com... it's free, and it does profile matching.

What you have to think about is the fact that there is a limited number of scholarships... it's pretty easy to get one, but in the U.S. university can be very expensive. Not only is there tuition, there's also living expenses if you're going to school far from your parents' house.

It's all a matter of cost-benefit. If you pay (for example) $6000 in tuition per year(about what mine was last year... Canada has reduced tuition for citizens) and you leave with a starting salary of $50 000 per year (the average starting salary for an engineering grad), then it's worth it. But, if you're looking to pay $20 000 dollars in tuition, and you're making the same amount as a grad (which is very possible) then it's not as worth it.

My Personal Forum

My name is Amanda and I'm 26 years old. I'm currently studying electrical engineering. Armed with a fairly odd sense of humour and a sunny outlook on life, I'll take on just about anything. I'm also cussedly stubborn, which has its ups and downs. Things get tough sometimes, and I've never been one to run from it.

In my last 8 years with Advicenators, I've gone from honours student to failing out of university (and getting back on top again!), from single to married, from tenant to homeowner.

Until lately, I have been struggling with a diagnosis of bipolar disorder and OCD, which had basically ruined my life and taken just about everything from me. I'm thankful every day for every experience I've had because of this ordeal, because it's helped to make me who I am today. Things like that really make you appreciate what you do have. Now that I'm back in work and school and starting to become myself again, I couldn't be happier. I credit Advicenators with saving my life back when I was a teenager, which is a big part of why I'm still here.

I won't necessarily give you the answers you want to hear, but I'll always be honest and do my best to help.

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