The weighting game: girls are striving starving!) for unattainable goals. But here's the thing: the numbers on the scale mean a lot you think.

You've got numbers on the brain--and it has nothing to do with algebra. But did got know that focusing on how much you weigh may actually be more harmful than helpful? Time to stop being welshed down by a few annoying digits and instead take some steps to feel fabulously healthy!

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

You step onto the scale, checking to see if you've dropped any of those pesky pounds. Rats! You're no closer to your goal than last week. Being a slave to the scale is confidence-shattering and such a mood-breaker. There's got to be a better weigh! Uh, way.

DITCH THE SCALE

WHAT GIRLS DO You get right outta the shower and hop onto the scale every day like clockwork.

THE WEIGH-IN Stop that! Why? Girls who weigh themselves frequently are far more likely to use diet pills and laxatives, skip meals, binge eat and vomit, shows a recent University of Minnesota study.

And those same girls are actually three times more likely to be overweight than teens who don't focus so much on their weight. So here's the deal: Get rid of your scale. If you're going to the doctor for regular checkups, as you should, you'll be weighed then--and that's all that's necessary.

YOU ARE NOT A NUMBER

WHAT GIRLS DO There's a number in your mind that you'd give just about anything to weigh--and you're fixated on it.

THE WEIGH-IN Your best weight isn't a number--it's a range. And chances are, you're well within it. "Consider two girls, ages 15 at 5-foot-5," says registered and licensed dietitian Joanne Larsen of Ask the Dietitian (dietitian.com). "A healthy weight range is 113 to 137 pounds." That's a 24-pound differential!

"One girl may participate in sports, and have higher muscle mass and lower body fat," adds Larsen. "She may weigh toward the upper end because muscle is heavier than fat. The girl with average body fat and muscle mass may weigh toward the middle of the range. Both are at a healthy weight for their height."

DON'T FEAR EXTRA POUNDS

WHAT GIRLS DO You're getting taller, your boobs are growin', you get your period ... and you freak that you are gaining weight. Oh, puberty.

THE WEIGH-IN The message girls get from friends, celebs and the media is that they shouldn't put on an ounce-and that's completely wrong. "Teen girls are supposed to put on weight," says Larsen. "When girls grow in height, they should experience a corresponding increase in weight. And each girl develops at a different rate."

Did you know that dieting in your teens can actually stunt your growth? "Most girls reach 90 percent of their adult height by age 18. If you don't gain enough weight, you may not grow as tall as you should genetically," says Larsen.

GET THE REAL DEAL

WHAT GIRLS DO Negative thoughts about your body run through your mind like a broken record stuck on the same two words: "I'm fat ... I'm fat ... I'm fat ..."

THE WEIGH-IN Most docs believe the best way to determine a person's healthy weight is with the body mass index. "BMI creates a relationship between the appropriateness of height to weight," says Larsen. "It takes the focus off the scale." You can figure out your BMI by going to the Healthy Kid Calculator at dietitian.com. Weigh yourself--just this once!--to put it in the equation.

LIVE YOUR LIFE!

WHAT GIRLS DO The obsession with food and weight eats away at some girls and pushes more important (and fun!) parts of life off to the side.

THE WEIGH-IN The road to anorexia, bulimia, body dysmorphic disorder and compulsive exercising is short, and the way back is long and hard.

Don't get us wrong--being mindful of your overall health and fitness is always a good thing. But if you feel your worries about weight are becoming all-consuming, it is essential that you talk to a parent, guidance counselor, doc or any adult you trust. You can change your outlook and come to embrace a healthy you. Every inch!

Do Sizes Really Matter?

A glance at size charts from the most popular clothing stores confirms our suspicions--all sizes are not created equal. A "large" shirt at one store measures 38.5 to 40.5 inches, while another store's "large" is 36.5 to 38. One GL editor even fit into e size 4 and an 8 from the same store on the same day! So it's not unusual to have multiple sizes in your closet, and that's OK. Your smart move? Instead of shopping for a number, shop for what fits best.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Circle of confidence

Girls think alike when it comes to weight-y issues. A study in Australia found that girls within cliques share body image attitudes. This means girls are likely to mimic their friends' dieting practices and weight-loss behaviors. Cliques with low body satisfaction talk about dieting end thinness, while groups with higher self-esteem and body confidence are less likely to engage in negative eating behaviors. So be a positive force In your crew--help make pals more content with their weight.

[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]