about

I'm Johanna. I'll Come and Go. What can I say? I try.

One thing I LOVE to do is to analyze dreams. Just tell me about a dream you had, and I'll help you understand what it means. :)

advice

When getting braces do they hurt when they are putting them on or does it only hurt after they are done putting them on? Also would they pull any teeth or would they be able to fix anything teeth that is out of place depending on how far back it is?

No, it doesn't hurt when they put them on.
Yes, your mouth may be sore for a few days after.
Take some pain killers (Ibuprofen recommended) and you should be ok.
It shouldn't hurt that much, and if it does, go back
to the orthodontist and ask them to loosen it up.
You should meet with an orthodontist and discuss your questions,
they will tell you if you need to get any baby teeth pulled.
Then if you do, they will send you to an oral surgeon.
(And that's not even that bad)
They will definitely be able to fix teeth that are out of place,
my teeth are very straight, but I have lots of problems
with them being reversed, out of place, not coming up,
so trust me, your teeth are probably fixable.

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hi. how much damage can a box of cigarettes do to your body? just a box? to be more specific, 10 sovereign. if i were to smoke them and never smoke another cigarette, how much damage? thanks

I can't give you an exact amount of damage it would do to your body. It really depends on the time period you are going to smoke them over. For example, if you smoke them all in one day...that probably can't be too good especially if you're a first time smoker. However, smoking them over maybe a week...they can still definitely do damage. They might bother your allergies, it could possibly trigger a little bit of asthma, but nothing too serious.

The most damage smoking those cigarettes would do to you is causing you to get addicted. You may think you have to smoke a lot to get hooked, but you only need one or two cigarettes. 10 cigarettes could very well turn into 20 cigarettes and so on. In the long run, it's not worth it, because health problems WILL show up later in life if you continue smoking. For what you've said, I can tell you like (or are going to like) smoking, and it can, in a blink of an eye, turn into a habit.

So will 10 cigarettes harm your body? No. Will they eventually if it becomes a habit? YES.

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okay so i'm going to the dentist today to extract [pull out] 2 of my teeth. im really really really scared! what should i expect? does it hurt?

your help is gladly appreciatedd =]

I've had 4 teeth pulled. It's not that bad. The part that hurts the most is probably getting shots of Novocain. (Though it actually is pretty cool, because it makes your mouth numb and you can't feel anything. It may ever make your cheeks and nose numb. And like the person beneath me said, it is fun to poke/pinch your face for hours until it wears off, haha.) As for the actually tooth pulling, you can usually watch TV or what I did was brought my MP3 player and listened to it really loud so I couldn't hear what they were doing. You should also close your eyes, because the tools can be scary looking. The oral surgeon will probably walk you through what he's doing, and tell you what's happening. They usually have a metal tool that they push against your tooth until it pops out. Sometimes the teeth break or crumble. You may hear the ripping or cracking sound of your tooth coming out inside your mouth, and you will definitely taste a lot of blood. But you shouldn't be able to feel anything at all, if you had enough novocain. (I actually got 5 shots of novocain, so I couldn't feel anything at ALL!) The whole experience goes by VERY fast. When I got mine pulled, I was not even aware that one of my teeth had come out, and I kept asking, "Wait, you mean you pulled out that tooth but I didn't even notice?" You can also probably keep your teeth if you want, for the "tooth fairy." (Lol!) And then you should take some painkillers, stick to soft foods and liquids like soup and smoothies. You should get all of this information from your dentist. Don't worry, you'll be fine!

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im pretty skinny i guess, 109ish, 5'3. but im loosing weight. my waist is around 26-27 inches? which is great because my abs are flat and my top half is pretty thin. like, inbetween my boobs (though im flat) i have an indent at my bone because my ribs stick out its weird. but my legs and butt is bigger. i was doing a health calculator and it said that i had a big butt, (apple shaped body). i dont really need to loose anymore weight i just want thinner thys and butt. i run, bike ride, cheer, jump on the trampoline. i know theres not spot reduction. but should i keep loosing weight or is there spacific exercises i can do?

If you don't want to lose anymore weight, don't do so much cardio exercise. Cardio exercises are ones that get your heart rate up, like you mentioned- running, biking, cheering, and jumping. You really don't need to exercise that much, since you probably have a very high metabolism. Instead of a lot of cardio exercise, try to focus on toning exercises. (That could tone your butt and legs up)

Squats are great for your butt. Just do some of those every night, very simple. For thighs, try laying on your side, and lifting your leg up in the air. Then down. Then up. (this is sometimes called leg "scissors") Keep repeating, and then do the other side. Lunges may also help you. Lunging is just like leaning on your legs. If you don't understand how to do any of these, try googling them to maybe find pictures of how to do it.

Lastly, do YOU think you have a bug butt and thighs? Just because a quiz tells you that, doesn't mean it's true. Only do this if you really think so and want to tone up the muscles.

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Is it ok to use an eye drop that's expired 6 months ago?

What will it do to my eyes if I use it?

I wouldn't recommend it. If the eyedrops were maybe a few weeks past expiration date, that might not be so mad. But 6 Months is kind of a long time.

I'm not exactly sure what would happen. The most likely thing that would happen, is that they won't work. They won't help your eyes at all, get rid of redness/itchiness/whatever, if some of the chemicals in it have expired. I don't really think they could hurt your eyes, but I wouldn't take any chances.

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the only pimples i ever get are under the skin
and they hurt really bad!
i have one right now and its like killing me!
ive tried toothe paste, visine, and a hot rag
none of it works!
any suggestions?!

Those are so annoying! I have a few right now.
Well honestly, I can't stand if there's anything
on my face that shouldn't be there, so I
usually try to pick them.
In under the skin pimples, there's usually
no "white spot" to pop.
Sometimes I take a needle or a safety pin,
and push it in, to sort of deflate the pimple.
It may bleed a little but it makes the pimple flatter.

To completely get rid of it,
you need something strong.
Look for a pimple cream,
with Salicylic Acid OR Benzoyl Peroxide in it.
They can be found in most pimple creams,
at your grocery store.

I'd sugguest any Clearasil products.
Also, you might want to get an
exfoliating face scrub.
This will help to get rid of pimples,
and to prevent new ones from forming.
Anything that says "exfoliating" on it will be good.

If you need something stronger,
see your doctor.
He/she can prescribe you a
more effective acne cream.
Such as Benzaclin (I use it- its amazing!)
or Differin. You can ask your doctor about it,
and insurance will cover most of the cost.

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Hi, I'm 15/f. And I'm 4'11. I wanna to know things I can eat, drink, or do to get taller.
By the end of this summer, I want to grow at least 3 inches. Please, I really want to get a bit taller.

Ps: Please don't tell me "Just eat a balanced diet" or as to why I wouldn't be able to grow. Just answer if you know what I can do.

Take a vitamin supplement and drink milk. Try to stay away from coffee and soda. It hasn't really been proven that they stunt your growth, but they are unhealthy for you anyways. Get a good amount of protein, specificially lean meats such as turkey and chicken. Make sure you are getting enough. If you don't like meat, try beans or nuts for protein.

You can also stretch every day. Stretching your legs, or exercising might help. Though, you probably won't gain 3 inches over one summer. You could grow about an inch to an inch and a half. Mostly, it's just up to your genes. (Like, if your mom and dad are short.)

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why are some of my pimples like reddish pink?

- what happens when blood comes out rather than the white stuff?
- can pro-active get rid of scars too?

Pimples can come in all different sizes, shapes, and colors. If it's dark reddish, it might mean that the pimple and the skin around it is irritated.

When blood comes out, it is called a blackhead. It just means that a different type of dirt or bacteria got under your skin. You might see a black dot in the middle instead of the white. They are usually harder to pop, hurt more, and take longer to go away.

I do not believe that Pro Active can get rid of scars. You might want to try a scar cream or ointment. If you're trying to get rid of acne scars, see your doctor or dermatologist. There are many things you can do to get rid of scars, but they are only offered through a health care service.

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Hi, I have a friend who is 15/16 and she has a problem with drinking alcohol. Whenever she drinks alcohol she doesnt get drunk or tipsy she just feels sick or is sick and last time she barely had much and it was her birthday and she spent all of it in the toilet :[ .
Friends have suggested that she has a problem with her kidneys or whatever but I want to help her but don't have any advice for her.
Now i dont want anyone saying that she shouldnt be drinking at her age because to be honest everyone does it o"o but her parents don't know that she drinks often and so she can't talk to them about it, and she was thinking about going to the doctors about it but wants to be sure first that she has good enough reason to.

please help as she is missing out ;]

thankyoo x x

Not to be a nerd or anything, but drinking underage can not only get you into a ton of trouble with the law, but it can harm your body really bad.

She wouldn't have a problem with her kidneys- kidneys regulate blood flow throughout your body. She may have some kind of problem with her liver- the organ used for breaking down substances such as alcohol. I'm not sure what could be wrong with it, but anything with your liver is generally pretty serious, so she should see a doctor immediately. Also, she should not continue to drink until she knows for certain what is wrong with her.

But, the problem is that, if she is underage and drinking, and then goes to a doctor and asks him what is wrong with her, the doctor will obviously find out that she is drinking and she could get in a lot of trouble. However, you both have to decide, which is more important, drinking or living? She should never take any chances on her health.

She could also possibly have IBS. (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) It's a very common stomach condition, where certain foods including alcohol can upset the stomach. It really isn't anything bad at all, and it definitely can't kill her. My mom has it, and she just has to stay away from certain foods and drinking too much.

How old is your friend? How much does she weigh? These are very important factors when figuring out how much someone can drink. If you're young, Female, and don't weigh much, then your body can't physically handle more than maybe a half a glass of alchohol. If she drinks more than one glass of alcohol a day, she could be in serious trouble and could get really sick.

I sugguest she see a doctor. (but only if she would tell him the truth) Or stop drinking.

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How much water are you suppost to drink everyday?
And how is drinking the right ammount good? Does it help your health?


I also read this somewhere

"drinking cranberry juice also helps the kidneys to flush any toxins which can lead to urinary tract infections"

Is that true? Cranberry juice is good for you?


And I also read that if urine is strong smelling and brightly colored you aren't getting enough water. If I drink more water does urine not smell as bad and will it be clear?

64 ounces like everyone else said. But you can drink more if you want to. Basically the more water you drink, the more it helps your body. But always make sure to go to the bathroom when you have to go. Never wait off too long on doing it.

Water helps you by ridding your body of toxins. It helps get germs and other bad things out of you. If you're not sick, it can prevent you from getting sick. Our bodies are mostly made up of water, but as you know, we get rid of that water (pee) every day. So we have to replace that water in our bodies by drinking more. Water helps regulate everything in your body. It also helps to dissolve and break down nutrients. Your body needs water in order to have energy. It breaks down essential vitamins and minerals and then transports them to wherever they are needed.

Cranberry juice is good for you, but the best drink you can have is pure water.

That's true. Urine is more lightly colored if you are drinking enough water. If it is very dark, you are probably dehydrated. For the last few days, I have been sick, so I've been drinking A LOT of water. When I go to the bathroom, it comes out completely clear. And that's good.

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I live in Australia =]

I'm finding it really hard to sleep at night. It takes me like 4 hours to get to sleep no matter how late or early I go to bed. It only happens on school nights and I HATE MY SCHOOL WITH A PASSION. I also had no troubles sleeping in Primary school and my first high school

So any suggestions on how to get to sleep?

It's stress. I used to have this all the time. Especially if you just changed schools, that can put a lot of stress on you.

Unfortunately, no doctor can help you with this. You'll have to find something that relaxes you, or something to think about that makes you happy. So here are some of my best ways to fall asleep:

1.)Create a "ritual," on school nights. Go on the computer for an hour, do homework, brush your teeth, etc. It sounds silly, but your body needs to know when it should fall asleep. if you do the same things in the same order every night, then your body will soon learn when it has to go to sleep.

2.) Think Good Thoughts. I've laid in bed many times just worrying about the next day or the next week. You have to stop yourself when you start to worry too much. You should try to stay positive. Think of all the things you have- safety in your house, loving family and/or friends, a bed to sleep in. Yes, it sounds corny. But if you think good thoughts, you will become more relaxed.

3.) Go to bed at the same time on school nights. It sounds like you've been trying to go to bed at different times to see what works, but the best thing to do is pick a time and try to go to bed at it every night.

4.) Relax your body. When I had a lot of trouble sleeping, I would lie in my bed and whisper to myself, "My foot is relaxed and ready to go to sleep. My leg is relaxed and ready to go to sleep..." Then you do that all the way until you get up to your eyes. Make sure to relax each muscle, or try to picture yourself "sinking" into the bed.

5.) Find your "special" place. Think of a place that makes you really happy. If you don't have one, make one up. Anytime you close your eyes, you can go to that "place." I always try to imagine a nice beach. Then I close my eyes and I try to describe that place in my head. "The sand is beneath my feet. The water is warm and foamy tickling my feet..." Every time I make up a story like this, I fall asleep usually instantly.

6.) Another thing you could do is find some good smelling oils or lotions. Sometimes they make special "sleeping" or "night-time" oils or creams, that have nice, relaxing smells. Look for something that has Eucalyptus or Lavender in it.

:]

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Alrigth, today was our last day of school.
I am completely determined to lose weight over the summer and come back to school looking amazing.
im completely devoted, to go to the gym (in-shape city)every day but sunday, and im cutting out all the junk food. Rgiht now im 190 lbs, 5'3, i know im really over weight, but how much weight do you think i could lose?
i know it only takes like 15 lbs to LOOK completely diffrent, but how much do you think i could lose in 3 months? any sugguestions?
normally when i go i do 15 minuets on the biking, 15 on a treadmill, and an hour class, sometimes i do cycling and other times i do yoga. then i go swimming for about a half hour.

Trust me, if you keep doing everything you are doing. You are going to lose weight!

I think that over 3 months, you could technically lose 15 pounds, but it should be at a steady rate. You're not going to lose 15 pounds in 2 weeks, so even if it seems like you're not losing weight at first- don't give up. It takes time. Just keep going at it.

30-45 minutes of exercise a day is good, and from what you've said, it sounds like you're getting that. The situps are definitely going to help you! Even though it may not seem like you stomach is getting flatter, it will, because that takes time too. I've done like, 10 situps one night, and the next morning my stomach was a little flatter. So it is doing something.

Any time that you feel the most comfortable with working out is fine. There's not a specific time of day where you can "burn the most calories." Try to work out when you're most alert. (Not right when you wake up, and not right before you go to bed.) 9 AM sounds good.

Last but not elast, make sure you're eating right. Not eating at all is a very bad thing, and it actually makes you gain more weight and become more likely to get colds or sicknesses. Cutting out junk food is a good idea, but just like exercise, you have to take that slow too. It's okay to have a little junk food. Such as, I have maybe 2 (okay...sometimes 10!! Lol) pieces of candy every day. Hershey kisses and miniature candy bars are great, they're really not that many calories. Or, fruit is always a great dessert, but never cut out food completely.

I think that you are definitely going to lose weight! You have a lot of motivation!

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Is there something wrong with Vitamin Water? My friend and I just had a bottle, and now we have killer cramps, and I cannot stand up straight or I feel like my insides are exploding. What is wrong with it, and what is wrong with me?

-Woahtherebabe

No, there's probably not anything wrong with vitamin water, it depends on how much of it you are drinking though. If you drink a small bottle, you will be alright, but do you know those super big bottles of vitamin water? I wouldn't sugguest drinking those.

Though vitamin water claims to be healthy, and it does have vitamins in it, it also has a lot of sugar which can irritate some people's stomachs. Vitamin water also contains a high amount of calories, which is why I never understood why people drink it when theya re trying to stay healthy or lose weight. (I've never had it...)

Personally, I would just stick with normal water. Because you know exactly what's in it, and it's virtually zero calories.

Try looking at the vitamin water label to see exactly what's in it. You could possibly be allergic to an ingredient that's in it, but most likely, your stomach pains are from something completely unrelated to the vitamin water. (Such as PMS, stress, or something you ate.)

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I dunno if this product is sold where you live, but it's the only bleach product sold where I live...I was wondering if you could use it to bleach hair on your head?...

If it matters, I want to bleach 2cm from the edges of bits of my hair. Very thin strands...

Thanks.

Yes, you can use it to maybe give yourself highlights. I have done it before, and if your hair is light brown, you will get blonde highlights. If your hair is darker brown, the highlights might turn out reddish.

It looks natural, and pretty good. But don't bleach your whole head- it might look weird. x]

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Heyy I got my bellybutton pierced almost a year ago and I found it only hurt when the barbell was put in but I didnt have a good experience! Anyways, I want my tongue pierced and I was wondering how bad that hurt!

If you think your belly button was bad, I would NOT get your tongue pierced. It hurts alot, and you may develop bumps/ a sore on your tongue near the piercing. If you don't take care of it right, it can get infected easily. Also you can't eat solid foods for about a week, because it will kill. If you really want it, weigh the good against the bad and see if you really want it or not.

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I'm 13 and I'm about 5' 1" and I weigh 79 lbs., and I know that's in the healthy range for BMI's but I can tell I have too much fat, especially on my stomach and thighs. Anyone have any advice on how to lose it?

YOU ARE UNDERWEIGHT! And to me, it sounds like you could be suffering from anorexia or bulimia. You may seem unproportional, because you're so thin, but there is an easy way to solve that: EAT! You can eat as much as you want as long as you work it off later. Just eat healthy, and work out.

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can bulimic people get ulcers???

You can get ulcers in your mouth a stomach. Being bulimic increases those chances, along with the chances of having a heart attack, hair falling out, losing all of your teeth due to infection, and many other gruesome side effects. if youa re bulimic, you need to get help soon, or it could turn deadly.

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Okay so i herd that walking is better then running for loosing weight. So if you take a walk for 30 minutes everyday and then do 10 sit ups 5 crunches and 100 that excercise thing for your abs... and eat heathy can you loos weight or do i have to exercise more or less eat less or more?
my eating
Breakfast - nothing (most of the time) sometimes cereal)
Lunch- Apples&sandwich
Dinner-Rice or somethingelse.. a dinner meal (all sorts of things)

Is that okay and plus my excersising? or should i excersise and eat less please help?


Thanks,
15/f

Not eating makes you gain more weight. My mom is a nutritionist, and I have also been researching about the matter. People who eat breakfast actually lose 3 times more weight than people who don't. Why? Because eating breakfast, something like a bagel with butter, oatmeal, or just a few pieces of toast, help to fill you up, so they prevent you from eating too much later in the day. Eating breakfast also helps you burn calories and fat faster, and boosts your metabolism.

As for the exercise, you are at a good starting point. Do what you can- 30 minutes of walking is great, and just in 30 minutes, it's possible to walk 2 miles. Start out slow with your abs, because you have to slowly build up stamina for that. Then, gradually, each night, you can increase your amount of situps. Oh, and situps don't make you lose weight-they just tone up on your stomach muscles but you probably already knew that.

Eating is critical to lose weight. If you don't eat, you won't have energy to work out. If you don't eat, your metabolism will drop, and you could actually gain MORE weight by not eating. Eat healthy foods, such as lean meats (turkey, chicken, etc.), carbohydrates, (bread, pasta, rice) and fruits & veggies. Also make sure you drink milk. Limiting junk food such as chips, and candy will help also.

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well i was high the other day and noticed that my pupils got hella small..are they suppose to get small because i thought they were suppose to get big?

Your eyes can get bigger or smaller when you smoke pot. Sometimes they get big then small, or vice versa. Your eyes also might burn too, along with your throat.

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Im planning to get a great beach body before well.. summer. also for school, so i can wear skirts around spring/summertime. How can i get more in shape? i've gained like 10-20 pounds in 1 year i think, which sucks. Im not that fat, and i do basketball (the season is almost over) and i'm about to do soccer, but it may not be enough. (Im also on the dance troupe for my school play, and may join a rock climbling club). anyways how can i lose weight without all those things you gotta buy? i want to lose those 10-20 pounds and possibly a little more, but I dont want it to be dramatic. I usually eat healthy things (with some junk food from time to time), but sometimes i overeat the healthy.. making me gain more weight. Ugh I dont wanna be obese, or overweight.. and I'm 5'4 and 155. I have muscle too, which is I guess why it doesnt appear that I weigh that much, because its not "in fat". and my friends can lift me. but i just wanna get more toned and lose some of the butt fat! lol i have a big butt which i got from being african, but i dont want it too big, or thighs too big either! and my stomach comes out a little.. I NEED A WORKOUT ROUTINE!! and how can i stop overeating? THANKS!

Hey! I'm trying to work out and eat right too! it's very important to eat healthy AND work out. If you don't eat, it is hard for your body to work out. So make sure you're eating well!

Working out in moderation is good. If you want to lose weight AND keep the weight OFF, then you have to basically work out for the rest of your life. So it's important that you start slow for right now. Try to work out the same amount of time each day, and work out every day. Start out by fast-walking, riding a bike, running on a slow treadmill, or dancing for 30 minutes every day. This is the most effective way to lose weight.

Remember to try to work out every day, whether you have school or not that day. You can probably find at least 30 minutes in your schedule at night or in the late afternoon that you can work out. Work out 30 minutes a day for about a month, or longer if you need it. Then, once you build up some strength, try to work your way up to 45 - 60 minutes exercise a day. Try to find a phsyical activity that you like to do. Like to dance? Crank up the music and just dance! It burns calories, and when you're having fun working out, you'll want to work out more. Also, you can try weight training too. Basically stretching, side bends, leg lifts, and situps are all good exercises to use weights with. Start out with 2 to 3 pound weights.

Of course eating right plays a huge part in losing weight. Starving yourself is bad, because it actually makes you gain MORE weight eventually and by starving yourself, you won't be able to work out. (By the way, working out is the most effective way to lose weight. Exercise is even better than dieting. You lose more weight from exercise than from cutting calories.)

So basically just try to eat healthy. Here's the best way to eat healthy: Don't eat a lot of cookies, chips, candy, etc. But don't cut junk food out of your diet completely! Allow yourself to have maybe 2 cookies a day and 2 pieces of candy. You need to eat SOME junk food each day, because if you don't, you will eventually give in and eat alot of it. So its better just to eat a smaller amount of junk food. The next thing you should do is, instead of just 3 basic meals, try having small snacks between meals. Eating snacks between meals can help boost your metabolism, and prevent you from overeating later. Also, you NEED to eat food to be able to work out. When I am hungry, and I'm working out, its impossible for me to work out. Thats why you should eat a meal or a snack, then wait 30 minutes, then work out. Some great snacks to try are: Apples, Bananas, Pretzels, Animal Crackers, Yogurt, or Quakers Rice Snacks.

As for the overeating part, I kind of explained it above. Instead of just eating 3 meals a day, eat snacks in between meals. It actually boosts your metabolism and helps you burn more calories. Eating snacks between meals should tide you over until the next meal. If you feel completely hungry and NEED to eat, but you've already had a snack, try drinking a glass of milk or juice. These will help to fill you up. Also, get busy! Watch a movie, take a walk, exercise, do homework, read, draw, or basically anything that will take your mind off eating.

Here is an AMAZING tip I reccently found out. Eat a snack, but when you finished your snack or a meal, and you feel like you're going to overeat- rinse your mouth with a minty mouth wash. It will make you less hungry! Try it, it actually works and makes you forget about food for a while.

Keep up the good work & remember: You're beautiful!

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