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had a question that you just didnt know who to ask? If you have any
questions about eating, activities, smoking or heart issues don't
hold back for a second! Ask one of our experts and we will post
their answers here!
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full of knowledge on healthy eating, heart health, smoking and
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Here are
some of our most recent questions answered:
Health and
eating
Hi, I’m getting really worried. I had a fall out with my best
friend and for the past two months I’ve not been able to eat. I’ve
been so ill and my mums angry and worried. Things don’t seem to be
going back to normal. I’ve lost about 2 stone and people are
starting to notice me 
getting thinner. What should I do?
Paul
Says:
That sounds like a difficult situation,
it isn’t unusual for people to lose their appetite when they face a
difficult situation like this. But you have made a great
step in recognizing that you need some help. I think there
are a couple of things here that need to be looked at firstly your
relationship with your friend and secondly your eating and
health. Obviously the two are
linked. The first thing I would like you to think
about is seeing if you can get some help to sort out your problem
with your friend. Are there any people at school that you could
talk too? What about any other friends or your family
members?
Regarding your eating and your health, it
is great that you have recognized that you might need some help
with regard to your food. Its not a surprise that there are
people that care about you and don’t want to see you ill. I
think you should have a chat with your mum and get her
advice, you never know she might be a great help. As you
know it’s not great to lose weight quickly, but
the main advice about how you get back to a normal eating plan is
that you should not rush it and you should eat a healthy
diet. It might seem logical to eat high fat food to
gain the weight you have lost, but it’s probably better to eat a
healthy diet and your weight should gradually creep up.
Whatever has happened with your best
friend, I do think you should have a chat with a couple of people
as they may be able to help.
Smoking
Hi,
Shall I tell my mum to stop smoking – like the adverts?
Ryan, age 11
Olivia Says:
Hi Ryan,
You should definitely speak to
your mum about how you feel about her smoking. It is
important for us to be honest with the people around us and let
them know how we are feeling (they are not mind readers – we need
to talk to them!).
But it’s also important to realise that
it may be difficult for your mum to stop smoking
straight away. Stopping smoking is difficult and smokers may need
some support, maybe nicotine replacement products
(NRT) a stop smoking group, or loads of advice. If your
mum is ready to stop she can get help thought her GP or by ringing
the NHS stop smoking service on 0800 169 0
169. You can let her know how you will support her. Maybe
you could give something up too? Or you could help plan a treat for
you both with the money she saves?
We also need to remember that
your mum may not be ready to stop. If she carries
on smoking that isn’t because she doesn’t love
you, it’s because smokers can have a complicated
relationship with smoking. It can be hard for them to feel ready to
quit even if people around them are worried about them.
Sometimes they feel really guilty about their smoking and
find conversations about it really difficult.
So be honest, loving and supportive. But
also understand it may be hard for your mum too. And if she
isn’t quite ready to give up she still loves you. And if she is
ready to stop smoking, that’s fantastic!
What are the good things about
smoking?
Kayleigh age 13
Olivia says:
Hi Kayleigh.
Hmm, that’s a tricky one. There must be
loads of good things if so many people smoke – right?
Well....actually most people who smoke want to
quit...they smoke because they are
addicted not because they enjoy what cigarettes
bring to their lives.
Some people say that smoking is good
because it calms you down. But smokers only feel calmer when they
smoke because they are stopping the feelings of nicotine withdrawal
that are part of a smoker’s life between each cigarette.
Nicotine withdrawal can make you
feel edgy and anxious- it’s easier to stay smoke free and
not have to deal with nicotine withdrawal as well as everything
else that might be happening in your life. Smoking also adds other
stresses to your life –finding money for cigs, somewhere to smoke,
worrying about getting caught....Who has space for all the
extra stress in their life??!
Some people say that smoking can make you
look cool. But more and more people see smokers as weak and
non smokers as strong enough to stand against cigarettes.
It’s not dead cool to have to cough gunk out of your lungs. Or to
need subbing all the time because your money’s gone on cigs.
Or for people getting close to you to get a big whiff of stale
cigarette smoke.
Maybe there are some good things I
haven’t thought of....but it’s a bit weird that so many
smokers are trying to stop, Not a great advert for smoking
- the people doing it think it’s a bit rubbish!
Read some of the
past experts questions.