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We all deserve to be in a healthy relationship. Simply put, a healthy relationship brings out the best in you. Here are seven signs to look for: 1. You trust each other You trust your partner, meaning you have confidence in them, can rely on them, and feel safe with them physically and emotionally. You trust your partner no matter who they spend time with or where they go. When you are consistent in your actions and words (you do what you say and say what you do), you are building trust. 2. You support each other You encourage and inspire each other to be your best selves and to keep growing. When something negative happens, you and your partner are there for each other for comfort and support. 3. You are equal partners You and your partner both have a say in the relationship. From what to do on the weekend to how many children to have, you make decisions together. You view each other as equals - one partner doesn’t see themselves as better or more powerful in the relationship. Both of you also contribute your fair share to the relationship - maybe your partner cannot cook but will take care of grocery shopping. 4. You can be yourselves You deserve a partner who loves you just the way you are. So keep your identity and be honest about your likes and dislikes, show your quirks, reveal your guilty pleasures, and continue with your hobbies. You are your own person, whether you are in a relationship or not. You accept each other for the person you are right now. You don’t try to change each other. You also spend time apart to have some alone time, meet with friends, and pursue your own interests. 5. You communicate well and honestly with each other You and your partner feel comfortable expressing your thoughts and feelings freely and honestly to each other. That means there are no forbidden topics, and you both feel heard. It may be challenging to talk about tough issues, but partners in healthy relationships don’t hold back. Arguments are normal, but healthy couples fight fair. There is no name calling, blaming, or assuming what your partner thinks or feels. Your goal is to understand your partner’s point of view. 6. You have fun together You enjoy each other’s company and have fun. This doesn’t mean that you are always on cloud nine – but your life together is happy and fun most of the time. 7. You respect each other You and your partner respect each other not only as partners but as unique individuals. You respect each other’s dignity, wishes, and see value in each other. You can set boundaries with each other about what you’re both comfortable with, and those boundaries are respected. Check Out These Videos! If you would like to know more about ways to take care of your body, view the following AMAZE videos: Healthy vs Unhealthy Relationships Intimate Partner Violence What Makes A Relationship Healthy?

It’s becoming more and more evident that when it comes to weight loss or living a healthier life, calorie restriction isn’t a sustainable solution. Neither is counting carbohydrates, intermittent fasting or keeping yourself from eating certain foods. Positive health behaviors have a greater impact on sustainable changes and your overall well being. Healthy Behaviors Getting regular movement Having a healthy relationship with food Not spending too much time on screens (TV, smartphones, computers, tablets) Getting a good night's rest and caring for your mental health Because of this, if you’re looking for a way to improve your health, you should focus on behavior change rather than tracking, counting, or measuring food. COVID-19 Changing the Way We Do Things With the COVID-19 restrictions and ever changing technology development, the way people access resources is changing. What used to be in-person services like health care, coaching, exercise, etc. can sometimes now be done online. As of 2019, there were already over 318,000 health apps available, with 200 or so coming to the market everyday. However, when it comes to making changes to improve health, many of these apps still put the focus on logging food intake, counting calories, and defining foods as “good” and “bad”. Some Useful Health-Focused Apps Data shows that focusing on health behaviors is a more sustainable solution to meeting your goals, and there are some apps that can help you with that: Eat Right Now Designed to help individuals overcome emotional eating, overeating, and binge eating by increasing awareness around cravings and emotions that may be driving certain food choices. Wellory This claims to be “anti-diet”, and pairs you with a nutrition coach for one on one counseling. After a 30 minute call, you message daily and send pictures of food for feedback. Don’t Break the Chain A motivational based behavior change app that encourages you to keep trying to achieve steps towards a goal. Unlike the others, this app isn’t directly health related but allows you to set goals around any type of behavior change you’d like to achieve. Done A habit tracking app that allows you to set goals and see how well you’re doing on them. It claims to help build good habits while breaking new ones through daily tracking and progress updates in a colorful interface. But Apps Aren’t the Whole Picture And while it’s helpful to have app options that don’t focus on tracking and logging food, it’s important to keep a couple things in mind when considering any type of health coaching or goal setting app: Being on your phone often can negatively affect your wellbeing. Blue light, a UV ray emitted from electronic devices, can have a negative impact on your sleep, which will impact your body in a variety of ways. Thus, while using an app to help with health interventions may seem convenient, it can actually be counter intuitive. Working with a professional, not an app, can lead to more sustainable behavior changes. While an app will likely try to use algorithms to look for patterns to target, it won’t be able to take the same type of individualized approach that a clinician with years of experience will. Additionally, having someone you can speak with, and who can really support you throughout the process of behavior change (which is one of the most difficult things to do) is important. This could be a therapist, dietitian, or other medical provider. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, weight loss should not be the focus of health behavior change apps. If an app claims to focus on health behaviors, it shouldn’t also ask you to track your calories or count your macros. Final Thoughts? So, are there apps out there that help people make positive changes in their behavior? Yes, plenty! But will they be the right one for you? It’s hard to say! If you’re really interested in working on behavior change, it might be worth making an appointment with a health care provider to get their input on your situation before turning to an app. Check Out These Videos! If you would like to know more about ways to take care of your body, view the following AMAZE videos: Taking Care of Your Body During Puberty Social Media And Self-Image Bodies: Different Shapes and Sizes. All Beautiful!

Does social distancing have you feeling isolated? Does Social Distancing have you feeling isolated? Covid-19 or the #coronavirus has drastically changed our every day routines around the world. Watch our video for ideas on how to still feel connected while staying home. AMAZE takes the awkward out of sex ed. Real info in fun, animated videos that give you all the answers you actually want to know about sex, your body and relationships. Please like, share and subscribe.

1. Creating Leaders, Imparting Knowledge ERA Team, Cayo LAP Objective: Strengthen the self-esteem and increase the comprehensive SRH knowledge of 10 youth leaders, ages 15-21,  to become GOJoven ERA Peer Educators in San Ignacio and Santa Elena , by September 2013.  Increase knowledge, and improve decision-making and life skills of 100 “Social Agents for Change” ages 15-21 through 5 “edutainment” (education + entertainment) activities on self-esteem, stigma, discrimination, and HIV/AIDS, and th rough a recreational activity.  2. “To Know More, Be Sure, Get Tested” ROY Team Dangriga, Stann Creek LAP Objective: Increase the knowledge of 100 young people ages 16-18 on sexual and reproductive health services being offered through Claret Care, Belize family Life Association and the Dangriga Polyclinic by August 2013. 3. Southern Exemplary Xpressions of Leadership in Youth Punta Gorda, Toledo
LAP Objective: Improve SRH education on self esteem and contraception among 22 high school class presidents at Toledo Community College by January 2014. Originally published by GOJoven International, https://www.gojoven.org

YTeam Leadership Action Plan, Corozal LAP Objective: Sensitize the community and create awareness on SRH topics that affect the community of San Victor. Increase the knowledge on the proper use of contraceptive methods among 25 adolescents (ages 15-19) and their parents in San Victor village by December 31st, 2012. Bonsai Team Leadership Action Plan, Orange Walk LAP Objective: Strengthen the knowledge on the decision making process in proper condom use, contraceptive methods, and self-esteem of 22 youth between the ages of 18-25 during a semester period at the tertiary level institution, Centro Escolar Mexico Junior College. Empowering Young Girl Leaders on Sexual and Reproductive Health Education, Belize City LAP Objective: Strengthen the knowledge and leadership skills of 25 young girls from Palloti High School, St. Catherine’s Academy and Edward P.Yorke High school on Male and Female Anatomy, Sexuality, Gender and Power, STI’s and HIV/AIDS, Teenage Pregnancy and Family Planning and Contraceptives (including Emergency Contraception) by July 2013 in Belize City. Increase access to female and male condoms for youth who utilize Youth Enhancement Services (YES, a center for teenage mothers) by the end of 2013. Achieved Outcomes: Conducted three seminars on SRH topics for 26 young girls, created and distributed to seminar participants youth-friendly booklets on contraceptives available in Belize. Distributed 20 male and 20 female condoms in YES Management Centers. Estimated # of youth reached: 35 Originally published by GOJoven International, https://www.gojoven.org

Hummingbirds: “Flying Towards Positive Change”, Corozal District LAP Objective: Increase the knowledge of SRH and gender issues, including correct use of contraceptives, STI prevention, and the prevention of unwanted pregnancy of 75 young people ages 15-25 years. Increase the knowledge of Sexual Rights laws in Belize of 25 young people and their capacity to defend their rights. Achieved Outcomes: Implemented a 2-day training where 36 youth were trained in SRH issues. Applied for and were awarded a grant of $4,300 USD from the US Embassy through the American Ambassador’s HIV Prevention Program, a project of the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator along with its Caribbean Regional Office of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Promoted and implemented the first ever Health Fair in Corozal Town; over 110 community members participated. Coordinated a Youth Olympics where they promoted healthy sexuality, which involved over 200 high school students. Estimated # of youth reached: 346 Originally published by GOJoven International, https://www.gojoven.org

Sugar Daddy Syndrome, Dangriga LAP Objective: Increase the SRH knowledge of 10 young people, ages 12-19, and 10 parents by 60% in order to combat “Sugar Daddy Syndrome” (SDS). Decrease incidence of SDS by 60% among young women by training 25 young women peer educators who in turn will each train 25 other young women. Achieved Outcomes: Collaborated theDelilleAcademy for Underprivileged Students to create the “Little Sisters Club”, which helped improve SRH knowledge of 40 girls ages 13-17. Estimated # of youth reached: 40 Originally published by GOJoven International, https://www.gojoven.org

Youth Sexual Reproductive Health, Punta Gorda and Bella Vista LAP Objective: Increase the SRH knowledge of 25 youth leaders, ages 13 to 17. • Increase the knowledge of HIV and SRH in youth ages 13 to 17 through the implementation of an HIV and SRH awareness campaign. Achieved Outcomes: Trained 18 youth leaders, ages 13-17, in SRH topics. Implemented an SRH awareness campaign, which included working with to implement workshops, participating on talk shows, and giving condom demonstrations. Estimated # of youth reached: 18 peer educators trained, with over 100 youth outreached. Originally published by GOJoven International, https://www.gojoven.org

Training on Sexual and Reproductive Health, Cayo District LAP Objective: Increase knowledge of SRH issues, including available contraceptives that are free of charge, among youth in Arenal Village. Achieved Outcomes: Trained 17 youth peer-educators. Conducted a 3-day camping outing and SRH workshop for the youth of Arenal. Organized an SRH forum and health fair for over 100 youth and families, and received additional funding from the Cayo District to implement. Estimated # of youth reached: 150 Originally published by GOJoven International, https://www.gojoven.org

Knowledge without Borders, Corozal and Orange Walk LAP Objective: Increase institutional knowledge of SRH topics in 5 institutions through the implementation of a SRH and leadership skills training. Increase public awareness about HIV/AIDS among 500 youths in northern Belize through an AIDS benefit concert. Achieved Outcomes: Provided SRH training to 50 youth, ages 13-19, of various backgrounds in the rural areas of Orange Walk Town. Implemented a sports program where over 90 youth received SRH information. Estimated # of youth reached: 140 Originally published by GOJoven International, https://www.gojoven.org

Youth Empowerment Project (YES), Belmopan LAP Objective: Develop a peer educator training in order to train 30 youth from Orange Walk Technical High School and the National 4-H and Youth Development Center to act as peer educators in key SRH issues. Achieved Outcomes: In 2004, the team’s LAP evolved into a permanent program of the 4-H and Youth Development Center and continues to serve hundreds of youth each year. Estimated # of youth reached: 30 peer educators trained, with over 2,000 youth outreached. Originally published by GOJoven International, https://www.gojoven.org