For all the adolescents who are overweight and really want to do something about it, the first suggestion is: try cutting out one calorie-full but nutrition-poor food that you're crazy about. If you can't stop eating chocolate candy bars or big dishes of ice cream or those wonderful cookies—or whatever is your favorite bad-habit dish, you're probably not ready to do very much about your weight.

Another help in the direction of self-education is keeping a diet diary. Doing this in any notebook or scratch-pad for a period of at least two weeks will give you more of an idea of what you really eat than just memory will ever do. To be of the most help, such a diary should be kept closely, itemizing what was eaten at each meal and for each snack. Addition of those items not put down during the day can be done at night. Then, when the study of your eating habits for that length of time is completed, each item can be checked for nutritional value and calorie count by using any of a number of nutrition or cook books. Of even more value would be the discussion of such a diary with a nutritionist or physician. ... read more >>

A new study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse says the key to keeping your kids off of drugs is to be a “hand-on” parent. What does that mean?

Well, these parents monitor their kids’ TV-watching and Internet use, they put restrictions on what music their kids buy, they know where their kids are after school and on weekends, and they give regular chores to their children.

How about you?

Warmly,

Mark Brandenburg

Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC
mark@eqnow.org
www.markbrandenburg.com
www.eqnow.org
Phone (+1) 651-766-9976
"Helping Men Succeed" ... read more >>

Acne is one of the most common problems in adolescent teens affecting nearly seventeen million people in the United States. Acne is nothing but a disorder involving sebaceous glands and hair follicles. Acne results from the clogging of sebaceous glands leading to the formation of pimples and cysts.
The condition usually begins with the onset of puberty. Going by the facts, as teens attain puberty the androgens also called male sex hormones are produced in high number leading to sebaceous glands becoming over active which results in sebum being produced in high proportions.

Sebum, which is nothing but oil is produced by sebaceous glands which travel to the skin surface through hair follicles. But, skin cells block the follicles which results in oil also being blocked. When these hair follicles are blocked it results in the development of skin bacteria known as Propionibacterium Acnes within the follicles which in turn results in swelling of the skin called Acne. ... read more >>

Well known life style magazine Vice magazine is on the lookout for 6-8 Teenage father’s, who do not get to see their children regularly, for an article and photo shoot.

Ideally the guys would be from London, definitely from the UK.

If you are interested please send a photo and a little about yourself to Shannon.

The American Association of University Women Foundation found that the number one concern of girls ages eleven through seventeen was how to say "no" to sex in an emotionally-charged relationship. And while this isn’t the most comfortable conversation you could have with her, it may be one of the most important. It might also be wise to talk with your son about how they treat girls and what you consider “appropriate” behavior for him at that age.

Have you had those kinds of conversations? There’s no time like the present.

Warmly,

Mark Brandenburg

Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC
mark@eqnow.org
www.markbrandenburg.com
www.eqnow.org
Phone (+1) 651-766-9976
"Helping Men Succeed" ... read more >>

Most health questions by adolescents and about adolescents have to do with growth, girth, and development.

Often the adolescent patient or his parent wants to know if the patient's weight and height are "right" for his age, or "where does Mary fit on the chart?"
Gradually doctors and others have come to the conclusion that there is not one "right" weight for every boy who is thirteen years old.

A few years back studies of weight involved only two factors: the age and the weight of the individual. All figures were then lumped together and an average found, which was considered to be correct for that age. With increased study came an understanding that the proper weight for an individual depended not only on his age but also on his height. The average was then charted for those of differing heights within specific age ranges. This meant that three factors were now taken into account: weight, age, and height.

More recently another very significant factor has been added to these three: the age at which the individual has reached, or will reach, the developmental stage known as puberty. It has been found that girls who start their menstrual life at ten or eleven years of age and boys who will reach puberty at eleven or twelve are much likelier to be taller and heavier children than those who will reach puberty at a later age. These differences are noticeable throughout childhood. ... read more >>

There are many lessons a father teaches his son, lessons that instill confidence and risk taking, lessons we fathers can teach directly and indirectly like how to treat women and respect ourselves.

There was one lesson I got to give my son that I had dreamt off for many years, it would be a proud moment for me, a sign of my son talking his first steps into manhood.

I got to give my 13 year old son Christian, a lesson on shaving!

There was resistance, he wanted to hold onto the strip of fur on his upper lip, it had taken him 13 years just to get that far!
Christian also knows I will be growing a moustache for Movember which is done over the month of November, he now wants to join in too.

I assured him that once you start shaving there is no going back, shaving will now become a regular activity. ... read more >>

In 1962, President John F. Kennedy said, “We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.” To many people 40 years ago, hardship was a badge of honor because it was the foundation of great accomplishment and a refiner of character.

Today, unfortunately, many of our young people seek only to do the easiest and most convenient thing. They bear some responsibility for their mindset, but so do many of us as parents with our basement-level expectations. So dads, let’s encourage our kids to do hard (not impossible) things because they are capable and because we refuse to indulge them with low aspirations.

Posted with permission from www.allprodad.com



... read more >>

If you're the parent of a teenager, helping them get their first job is one of the first steps toward maturity and personal responsibility. Here are seven ways you can ensure that their job hunt is a rewarding one.

1. First, work with your teen to come up with a list of personal strengths and things they enjoy doing. If they enjoy working with children and animals or love the outdoors, make a note of those items. Any seemingly small and insignificant item can lead to ideas for potential jobs.

2. Take your child's schedule and commitments into consideration. How will your teen get to and from their workplace? What other school activities are they involved with?
Will they have enough time to study, work AND socialize? (Yes parents', socializing is a natural and necessary part of being a teen - you know what they say about all work and no play!) ... read more >>

So you're between the ages of 13 and 24. What makes you happy? A worried and weary parent might imagine the answer to be sex, drugs, and a little rock 'n' roll. Maybe some cash, or at least the car keys.

Turns out the real answer is quite different. Spending time with family was the top answer to that open-ended question, according to an extensive survey conducted by The Associated Press and MTV. And even better: Nearly three-quarters of young people say their relationship with their parents makes them happy. So the answer to the enigmatic question of what makes your children happy? You do.

Don't ever forget it!

Warmly,

Mark Brandenburg

Mark Brandenburg MA, CPCC
mark@eqnow.org
www.markbrandenburg.com
www.eqnow.org
Phone (+1) 651-766-9976 ... read more >>