Eat Strong

What should you eat if you want strong muscles? You might think you need a lot of foods that contain protein (such as meat and eggs) or foods that contain iron. But there's no one magical food that helps build muscles. Your muscles - and your entire body - will be strong and healthy if you eat a variety of nutritious foods

Playing Makes Muscles

It sounds too simple, but it's true. Playing, running, jumping, and riding your bike can make your muscles stronger. Any physical activity you like to do - from dancing to playing football - can make you stronger. Why? Because you're using your muscles when you do it.

What Happens When People Drink?

When people drink too much, they might do or say things they don't mean. They might hurt themselves or other people, especially if they drive a car. Someone who drinks too much also might throw up and could wake up the next day feeling awful — that's called a hangover.
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can kill a person. Over time, people who abuse alcohol can do serious damage to their bodies. The liver, which removes poisons from the blood, is especially at risk.
Because alcohol can cause such problems, the citizens and government leaders in the United States decided that kids shouldn't be allowed to buy or use alcohol. By setting the drinking age at 21, they hope older people will be able to make good decisions about alcohol. For instance, they don't want people to drink alcohol and drive cars because that's how many accidents occur.

Getting the Right Message

"Hey, who wants a drink?"
"Oh, come on, just one drink won't hurt you. It's fun."
"It's cool. Everybody drinks, right?"
Wrong.
Drinking alcohol is dangerous for kids and teens and sometimes for adults, too. Alcohol is a drug, and it is the drug most abused by teens. Many kids have their first drink at an early age, as young as 10 or 11 or even younger.
It's easy for kids to get the wrong message about alcohol. They might see their parents drink or watch TV commercials that make drinking look like a lot of fun. You might see people drinking and watching sports together or having a big party.
But alcohol is actually a depressant. That means it's a drug that slows down or depresses the brain. Like many drugs, alcohol changes a person's ability to think, speak, and see things as they really are. A person might lose his or her balance and have trouble walking properly. The person might feel relaxed and happy and later start crying or get in an argument.

Support.

The struggle to heal your negative body-image is an ongoing battle. It is often wise to seek the professional help of a therapist and a dietitian. There are self-help groups available at no charge as well. Many books and articles have been written on the subjects of food and body. There are seminars available as well as church and temple groups. Talk to a trusted friend or relative. All of us need support. We are constantly barraged with messages about the fantasy body. We are given negative messages about food and weight. It is extremely hard in our culture to have a healthy, positive body-image. You need support. You deserve it!

Body Movement.

The body was designed to move. To walk or run or jump or dance are normal activities. By reconnecting yourself to your body, you might be amazed at how incredible it really is. Yoga is a great way to reconnect with your body. It is a noncompetitive, gentle stretching program that will relax you and make your body feel wonderful. If you do not want a structured program and hate the gym, go for a walk. A walk in nature is especially comforting, and nature is nonjudgmental. Experience how your body feels on your walks. Be aware of your breathing. Do not force yourself to exercise; allow yourself the opportunity to move.

Heal Your Relationship with Food.

If you are afraid of food, you will always be afraid of what it might do to your body. Will you become huge? Will you start eating and never stop? Will you go hungry? Be Stuffed? Explode? To heal your relationship with food, start by selecting a food to eat which is slightly out of your safe zone. One that is only a bit challenging. Sit in a quiet room and take a few deep breaths. Now eat that food. Stop any negative thoughts that enter your mind. Replace those thoughts with positive ones. Say your affirmations. Learn to enjoy the taste of food.