Thanks for the support, everyone.

And thanks for the more methodical suggestions, silver queen. That's usually how I like to view things, myself.

To answer your questions, I can't say I restrict my caloric intake, but I do go for foods that have less calories, particularly from fat. It may seem strange: although I am very concerned about my weight, I never "count" calories. If I had to, though, I'd approximate that I eat between 1,000 and 1,200 calories in a typical day. This varies depending on if I go out to eat, or if I'm at a friend's house (to teenage boys, Bagel Bites and Kool-Aid is a meal).

About the ice cream, at first it seemed to be a temporary weight gain, but lately I can't pass it off as temporary because it doesn't seem to go away! Anyway, I guess my best bet is to stop eating junk altogether. I don't mind, really. My favorite snack is a Chewy brand granola bar. If I need something sweet, I'll usually eat a few marshmallows.

I've tried crunches, sit-ups, the like. But I've read in more than one heath-and-fitness magazine that spot-reduction doesn't work. I recommended crunches to a friend who was worried about her flab, since she's skinny, and supposedly the only thing crunches can do is tone the muscle. When I was doing crunches daily, I noticed that my upper "abs" began to stick out a little farther, but I didn't see any reduction in the fat on top of them. The lower "abs" remained the same.

My doctor approached me about my BMI when I was heavier and suggested that I try to lose weight. When I went in the last time, she told me that I looked much better and my BMI was normal.

At this point, for me, it's beyond being healthy. I want to look good for me. I'm only 15, and I want a body I can be proud of. It feels like it shouldn't be as hard as it is to get the figure I want.
I'm one of those girls that's overweight, but you don't really notice because I'm proportionate. My waist-to-hip ratio is a normal 0.7, my bra size is a 34D (hey, my dimensions are no secret with my friends), and I dress well, so people don't notice that I'm carrying some extra baggage.
It's frustrating because I know if I lost a little weight, especially from my stomach, I could be attractive. Who wouldn't want that?