Ask Dr. Dot

Dot Richardson, a member of the U.S. Olympic softball team and an orthopedic surgeon. Gerard Rancinan

I do a lot of training for high school sports; should I diet to lose weight and gain muscle?
DeAndra Denise Lopez, Corpus Christi

No! Restrict your diet and your body will simply adjust to the fewer calories, and you'll lose some of the muscle you're trying to build. If you want to shed body fat, cut back on high-fat foods and be sure to get enough carbohydrates to fuel your workouts. Just don't overdo it -- carbs that are not burned off through activity are stored as fat. If you're trying to build muscle, proper nutrition, including adequate protein, is just as important as exercise. A dietician or nutritional counselor can help you set goals, compute your calorie expenditure and create the optimal diet for you.

How can I treat a nagging hamstring? Stretching and icing haven't helped.
Pam Petro, Shelton, Conn.

The best prescription, of course, is prevention, and that means stretching at least 10 minutes before physical activity. Once you've suffered the injury it can take years to fully recover, because we use the hamstring in practically all our daily activities. Since your home remedies aren't working, see a physical therapist who can design a program, which typically includes ice, heat and stretching.

I sweat a lot, and not just when I work out. I've tried everything, but nothing helps. What can I do?
Name withheld on request

The main purpose of sweating is to cool the body. The average person perspires about a quart per day (depending on physical activity and weather); in extreme cases, it may be as much as 15 quarts. Wearing loose clothing made of natural, absorbent fibers and using antiperspirants with aluminum chlorhydrate may help. However, if you also have high blood pressure or experience anxiety attacks or weight loss, see your doctor. Once any disorder is ruled out, you may be referred to a dermatologist, who can help treat the condition.

I love baseball, but my parents want me to try softball so I'll have a chance at a scholarship. What do I do?
Christina M. Torres, Bronx, N.Y.

There are more opportunities for girls in fast-pitch softball: collegiate scholarships and competition at the national and international levels, and at the pro level with the Women's Pro Softball League. While your parents' concerns are valid, there are baseball resources out there, such as girls' clubs and amateur leagues (log on to www.womenplayingbaseball.com). As you look into colleges, ask about academic scholarships and need-based and other types of grants as well as work-study and job opportunities.

My daughter is a sprinter on her high school track team. She eats well, but should she take vitamins or supplements too?
M.J. Everett, Bushnell, Fla.

A growing athlete should eat balanced meals with samplings from the four food groups to provide the vitamins and minerals she needs. Most teenage girls don't get enough calcium or iron, so check the recommended daily allowances of the foods your daughter eats against those listed on a multivitamin bottle. If she is falling short, taking a daily multivitamin with extra calcium and iron can help correct deficiencies. Be sure that she doesn't exceed the RDA for any vitamin or mineral, and that she gets a yearly preseason checkup.

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