Home       Send to a friend       Français
Recipes and news on nutrition to discover each month in Focus on Healthy weight
Get valuable information on nutrition, physical activity and healthy lifestyle habits!
Calculate your healthy weight and assess your lifestyle habits.

Read the most frequently asked questions to dietitians and physical activity experts, and most importantly, their answers which can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight.


IMPORTANT - please read Waiver of responsability


Teen and healthy weight

2 questions
Q: I'm fourteen years old, and I feel like I'm fat. But when my mom tells other moms in a joking way that I'm trying to lose weight. they all just laugh at me. I weigh 105 pounds am I skinny or not. When I look in the mirror I see an over weight teenager. - gottwinsand3
A: This really is a tough one. It seems there are bigger issues at play that are out of my area of expertise. I say this because a person’s body image (i.e. the mental picture they have of themselves) is shaped by so many things, e.g. friends, family, the media, etc. I would recommend checking out the NEDIC (National Eating Disorder Information Centre) website for more information. http://www.nedic.ca

Hope this helps.

- Zannat Reza, RD


Q: I am a teenager and I really want to eat healthy. I continuously try to keep eating healthy, but it usually only ends up lasting a couple of days. I'm really frustrated and don't know how I can permanently create a healthy lifestyle for myself. Can you help me? - UnhealthyTeen
A: You sound very motivated to live a healthy life. That is the first and very vital step to get started on a successful plan that will stick with you for life.
The key is to make it easy on yourself and to choose goals that you know you will be able to keep. The best thing is to take one positive step at a time. For example, plan to have an additional serving of vegetables every day. Or commit to having milk at lunch time. Or, ensure that your bread or cereal is always whole grain. Continue with each step until it becomes a habit that you hardly think about anymore. Simply look at it as a healthy habit that is now part of your healthy life.
When you are successful at achieving one small goal at a time, it will continue to build into a plan made up of many healthy habits. A good place to start is at "My Healthy Weight Assessment." This a place where you will get very practical advice and feedback on both your eating habits and your level of physical activity. This will help you choose the goal you would like to begin with. Remember, don’t be tempted to try to make too many changes at once. Pick one at a time. This is the best way for you to feel great about yourself and the positive steps you are taking. Be good to yourself.

Lois Ferguson


 
100% Canadian Milk