body 
Staying Healthy
Everybody sees our face and bodies and this is clearly important, but how you feel about yourself is much more significant than what you look like or what the scales say. As we get older, our bodies change sometimes its something we are looking forward to, in other cases it might be the last thing we want. In some cases it may not be happening or it is happening too fast and you are worried about it. Unfortunately there is little we can do to change our body shape, we are born with a certain physique and we have to make the most of it.
Have a look at:
www.mindbodysoul.gov.uk
How Can You Be Healthy?
A part of feeling good about ourselves and happy with who we are, inside AND out, has to do with eating a balanced diet and creating a 'healthy lifestyle'. Try to fit in at least 5 portions of fruit and vegetables into your meals/snacks each day. It is important to remember that being healthy is not just about the food we eat but also about the exercise and activities we participate in and also how we 'feel' on a day to day basis. The happier we feel, the 'healthier' we are!
Body image
People can feel a lot of pressure to look a certain way. Unfortunately the commercial world does not help this by using size 8 gorgeous models. The reality is that different people are attracted to different things; short people, tall people, big noses, big bums, small ears, thin people, small boobs, bigger people and so you may be trying to change yourself for other people but the reality is they will like you however you are. The most important thing is that you are happy with yourself on the outside and also on the inside.
It is really important to think about what sort of person we want to be. Do we want to be the sort of person who changes our looks or our behaviour because of other people? Or do we want to be happy with the way we are, and in general 'just be ourselves'?
Some people think that they need to look thinner and better than they already do. They think things like skipping meals and eating less food will help them. On the other hand, some people feel that the only way they can find comfort is through eating. Below are some symptoms that you should look out for if you think someone you know might be eating less than usual, or maybe even more than usual.
Some symptoms of Under Eating:
Sudden weight loss Bad circulation Inability to sleep Tiredness Periods stopping Dizziness Stomach aches Wearing baggy clothes Lying about eating Depressed obsessed with eating Weak hair, nails, skin Distorted perception of body image
Some symptoms of binge eating:
Weight gain
Large appetite
Eating odd foods
Being secretive
Feeling depressed
Mood swings
Some symptoms of Bulimia:
Sore throat
Being sick after eating
Bad skin
Mouth infections
Bad teeth
Bad breath
Eating large quantities of food
Mood swings
Being out of control
This is just a guide line, some people may suffer symptoms from the different categories and change their eating habits regularly.
There is always the opportunity to take control of your eating and feel more in control of your life.
You can contact the following people to give you advice and support:
www.edauk.com
or
www.teenagehealthfreak.org
Self harm
Self harm is when someone deliberately hurts or tries to hurt themselves. This can be by cutting, scratching, biting, burning, starving, over eating, pulling out hair, and the list goes on. This can be a one off or a regular occurrence. Most people self harm as a way to deal with other problems but in fact creates more issues. It can make people feel in control, give them a different pain to focus on or a way to punish themselves. Most people do self harm want to stop and need to for their health. It can be very hard to ask for help as firstly they need to admit there is a problem. They may feel people will judge them, label them or tease them. If one gets the appropriate help it will be managed in the most sensitive constructive possible way.
If you have concerns about yourself or others please seek help and advice at
www.selfharm.org.uk
