Problem: Article: Colons can be used to connect full sentences that are related. When the second sentence serves to explain the first, they can be connected with a colon. Here are some examples: "Golf is more than a sport for me: it is an essential networking practice on which my business depends." "I gave him my number: I wanted to see him again." Connect two full sentences with a colon if the second sentence serves to extend, or amplify, the first. For instance, you could write, "Reading books makes me happy: reading in the morning fills me with a joy that illuminates my entire day." Connect a sentence that introduces a problem with another sentence that provides the conclusion. A colon may also imply that the second sentence is the result of the first. For instance, you could say, "The teacher finally decided what to do with her rowdy class: she added a ten-minute playground break before storytime." An example of an implied connection might be, "We brought too much bread to the picnic: the birds were very happy."
Summary: Join a sentence with another that explains it. Amplify a statement. Introduce a conclusion.

Problem: Article: Every day, make sure you get in at least three meals. Introduce larger portions at your meals to help increase your calories. You may have a tendency to skip breakfast, only eating 2 main meals, but making sure you actually eat three meals can help you gain weight. If you can't eat huge meals because it upsets your stomach, eat smaller meals throughout the day. Don't skip meals. Eating often throughout your day can provide you a steady flow of calories. Try to eat at least every 4 hours, whether it is one of your meals or a small snack. If you're not up to a meal, have a snack that includes protein and three different types of food. If you prefer, you can create 4-6 smaller meals throughout the day, rather than adding snacks between larger meals. For instance, try a piece of whole grain bread with banana and peanut butter or some celery with hummus and feta cheese. Prepare snacks ahead of time that are easy to grab and eat. If you have them on hand, you're more likely to eat when you should. For instance, you can mix dried fruit, chocolate chips (dark is best), rolled oats, and a nut butter. Make them into golf-ball size portions, and store them wrapped individually in parchment paper or wax paper. For quick snacks, keep trail mixes on hand, as the mix of nuts and dried fruit is calorie-dense. Sometimes, eating all day long can fill you up, and you don't get enough calories to gain weight. However, if you get some of your calories in liquid form, you won't feel as full. You want to skip sodas, which don't offer much nutrition. Instead, drink smoothies, liquid yogurt, and even fruit juice, all of which have calories and nutrients. Drinking water or any beverage before eating can fill you up. You want to leave room for the calories you need to consume. Instead of drinking water before you eat, try drinking a calorie-rich drink while eating, such as fruit juice or a smoothie. While chips and cookies look like an easy way to put on weight, you want to put on weight healthily. Eating these empty calories isn't healthy. Keep your foods rich in nutrients, such as vegetables, fruits, and meat, as you increase your calories. Avoid foods such as sodas and overly sugary foods. One reason you want to skip these calories is they won't help you build muscle or bone, which help support your added weight. Lifting and weight training help your body gain muscle weight, which is the best kind of weight for your body to put on. Start off slowly if you aren't used to doing this kind of training. Increase weight and decrease reps as you go along In addition, exercise increases your appetite, making you want to eat more. A simple exercise to start with is bicep curls. Hold a weight in each hand. Your arms should be bent at the elbows so the weights are out in front of you. Lift the arms together to your shoulders, then slowly bring them back down. Repeat 6 to 8 times. Rest, and do it again. You can also try exercises such as swimming, biking, or doing push-ups.
Summary: Eat solid meals. Eat regularly. Keep calorie-dense snacks on hand. Try drinking your calories. Don't drink before eating. Skip empty calories. Exercise and lift weights.

Problem: Article: This allows you to assess the situation privately and find the supplies you need to make it through the rest of the day. As soon as you suspect your period has started, discreetly ask your teacher for permission to go to the toilet. Try approaching your teacher while the rest of the class is busy working. You can explain the situation directly if you feel comfortable doing so, but if not, you could also get the message across with something along the lines of, "I need to go to the toilet; it's a girl problem." If you've suddenly found yourself with your period and have no supplies, then don't be embarrassed about going to your friends to ask if they have any pads or tampons you can use. If they can't help you, try asking one of your female teachers for help (just know that women no longer need to use tampons or pads after they go through menopause, which happens around the age of 45-50, so you may not want to ask your older teachers). You can even go to the school office to ask for extra supplies, or ask them to call your mother if you really need help. Don't be afraid to go there if you really have an emergency and can't get help anywhere else. If you need more help, consider visiting the nurse. The nurse or school counselor can explain the ins and outs of menstruation if this is your first period, or help you obtain feminine products and a change of clothing if needed. If you have no better options and find yourself in the bathroom with the new arrival of your monthly visitor, then your best bet may be to make an emergency pad. All you have to do is take a long piece of toilet paper and wrap it around your hand at least ten times until the pad is thick enough. Place it, lengthwise, in your underwear, and then take another long piece of paper and wrap it around the pad and your underwear another 8-10 times, until the pad is securely in place. You can repeat this one more time with another piece of toilet paper. Though this isn't nearly as good as the real thing, it will do in a pinch. If you have your period but it's really light, you can also make an emergency pantyliner. Just get a length of toilet paper about as long as the panty line of your underwear, fold it over itself two or three times, and place it in your underwear. If you have one available, wrap a spare T-shirt, jacket, or sweatshirt around your waist, especially if you suspect menstrual blood has leaked through your clothing. This should help hide any dark stains until you can change clothing. If this is your first period, keep in mind that first periods generally aren't super heavy, so it's possible that you've noticed before the blood has leaked through your clothes. That being said, it's still a good idea to take care of the issue as soon as possible to limit the risk of any embarrassing leakage. If you discover that blood has leaked through your clothes, change into your PE kit (if available) or ask the school nurse or counselor to call your parents for a change of clothes. Don't worry about classmates pointing out your sudden wardrobe change; if anyone questions it, you can casually tell them you spilled something on your pants and leave it at that.
Summary:
Go to the toilet as soon as possible. Ask a teacher, nurse, or friends for backup if you need it. Make an emergency pad if necessary. Wrap a jacket around your waist if needed.