<![CDATA[Wellbeing news from metro.us/philadelphia]]> en-us <![CDATA[When should you reconsider the date who made a terrible first impression?]]>
So often after a mediocre first date people dismiss any possibility of a future with someone. He or she wasn't at all what you'd hoped: He spent most of the evening talking about his work, or she complained about her friends. And what about the clear lack of chemistry between you? You sat across the table, waiting to be released, figuring that you would never have to see that person again.

Might you be quashing the opportunity to become involved with someone who could actually be a partner with potential? Consider this: You have high hopes for a new restaurant and you can't wait to try their halibut. But the place is much more crowded than you expected, and your fish is burnt. Your first thought is that you will never go back. But there are many possible things at play: Maybe the chef was off that night, or maybe they had opening-month jitters. You may have an entirely different experience on a second visit.

Along the same lines, it is hard to know if you will really like someone based on that first awkward meeting. You want there to be fireworks the minute you sit down. But chemistry is really a magic potion of many things that can't always be created during that first date. He or she might be shy and nervous, and, because of that, be inhibited and not act like himself or herself.

There are definitely times when you don't go for round two. Some examples include if your date is sloppy, or he or she spends the evening talking about the other women or men in the restaurant. But when it isn't so clear, if you can open your mind and let your expectations go, you might discover something you really like about the person that can take you to a great second date with room to continue.

 I wonder if there will be a second-chance round in Fox's new show. Without it, will the decisions be the right ones? We might never know.

-- Relationship expert Dr. Jane Greer is creator of "Shrink Wrap" - national commentary on what we can learn from celebrity relationships - and host of "Let's Talk Sex" at Healthylife.net. Her book, "What About Me? Stop Selfishness From Ruining Your Relationship," is available nationwide.

Metro does not endorse the opinions of the author, or any opinions expressed on its pages. ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143874--when-should-you-reconsider-the-date-who-made-a-terrible-first-impression Wed, 23 May 2012 16:11:23 -0400 NEW YORK http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143874--when-should-you-reconsider-the-date-who-made-a-terrible-first-impression <![CDATA[A Study Has Found: It's better to eat lunch off a toilet seat than in your break room]]>
The research was conducted by Kimberly-Clark Corporation, a company that manufactures cleaning and disinfectant products, and consulted on by University of Arizona microbiologist Charles Gerba, according to Health Day News.

Researchers collected more than 5,000 swabs from office break rooms and their findings will make your skin crawl: 75 percent of break room faucets, 48 percent of microwave handles, 26 percent of refrigerator handles, 23 percent of water fountain buttons and 21 percent of vending machine buttons have "high degree of contamination." That makes the break room the dirtiest hot spot that workers touch all day.

The study didn't specify on the what types of germs were found in break rooms, but in Gerba's earlier work studying office desk tops, he found germs like diarrhea-causing norovirus, parainfluenza, and drug-resistant staph (MRSA).

"The two things you spread in a break room are office gossip and germs," Gerba said.

How do these germs keep finding their way into the break room? Through common, everyday occurrences that you probably don't think twice about, like using a dirty sponge to wipe out your coffee cup.

"You’re really wiping your mug with E. coli," Gerba said.

Another way office employees spread germs is by greeting each other, a common activity when bumping into one another in the break room.

"You’d be better off kissing each other than shaking hands," Gerba said, noting that our palms are loaded with germs that can make us sick.

But before you cause a workplace scandal by going around and kissing your coworkers, try washing your hands and using hand sanitizer often, first.

More fun with pseudoscience:


]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143846--a-study-has-found-it-s-better-to-eat-lunch-off-a-toilet-seat-than-in-your-break-room Wed, 23 May 2012 11:21:03 -0400 CASSANDRA GARRISON, CASSANDRA GARRISON http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143846--a-study-has-found-it-s-better-to-eat-lunch-off-a-toilet-seat-than-in-your-break-room <![CDATA[In the kitchen with Teresa Giudice]]>
When we think of Italian food, we often think of heavy dishes like eggplant parmesan or spaghetti and meatballs. What are your tricks for lightening up these meals while keeping the flavor intact?

The key to a lot of it is baking and not frying. In this book I do a naked chicken parmesan: You use reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, and then it's sauce, peppers, salt, chicken breast, olive oil and freshly grated parmesano-reggiano cheese. One of my favorites, I'll tell you, is the chicken bruschetta. That's [cooked] in the oven. I have a fettuccine carbonara in my book just using eggs and egg whites instead of the heavy cream. I definitely use whole-wheat pasta. My kids, I have to say, they've gotten used to the taste -- at first they didn't like it. But now my kids love it. And you know what, it's really good for you because there's a lot of fiber in it.

How do you stay in shape?

Everyone's always [telling] me "you look amazing." They love my arms! My thing is, of course, just eat healthy, but you also have to exercise, and I think that keeps your heart healthy and it makes you look great also. My husband and I go to the gym together and this is the thing: You don't always do the same thing. You have to mix it up. I'm always mixing up my routine. I never do the same thing because then your body gets used to it and you don't see any change. Sometimes I use the machines, sometimes I use free weights, I do boxing, I do TRX. You have to mix it up so your body doesn't get used to the same thing -- that's how you see results in your body.

So are you trying to be the next Bethenny Frankel with these low-fat recipes?

Well, my first cookbook was "Skinny Italian," and I think that was even before she even came out with Skinnygirl Margarita. It takes a year for a cookbook to come out, so I think when her Skinnygirl Margarita came out, my "Skinny Italian" book came out at the same time. I wasn't copying off of her or anything. If anything, you know, "Skinny Bitch" has been around so long. My thing is, everyone always would tell me "you're a skinny Italian," so that's where I got "Skinny Italian" from.

Were cookbooks something you always envisioned yourself doing?
   
Well, cooking has always been my second nature. My parents are off the boat, I'm first-generation [Italian], so I've always cooked with my mom growing up and I've always been around authentic Italian food. I guess being on the "Housewives" gave me the opportunity to show another side of me, that yeah, I do cook for my family. For me it's very important to cook for my family every night. I think it's an important thing for every family to sit down together and have a meal together. I think the kids love it, and it's a good upbringing [for them]. ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143793--in-the-kitchen-with-teresa-giudice Tue, 22 May 2012 18:14:40 -0400 MEREDITH ENGEL, NEW YORK http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143793--in-the-kitchen-with-teresa-giudice <![CDATA[Dr. Oz's tips to transform your health]]> Get your checkup: A staggering third of Americans skip their yearly health checkup. But thinking ignorance is bliss could really mess you up.  

Being "too busy" is the most common excuse for failing to go to the doctor's, says Dr. Oz, but the truth is, people don't want to be inconvenienced with bad news. "Who wants to hear they have cancer? What people don't get is that a doctor is there to guide you to better health, not make you feel bad or embarrassed," he says. "They help you understand your health so you can prevent problems in the future. They have the tools to calculate key health indicators, including blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol levels," he continues. 

Enlist your peers: Studies have shown that people who lost weight by engaging in group activities were more successful at keeping it off in the long term: "The moment you go public about your proclamation of health, you're holding yourself accountable," explains Dr. Oz. "Friends will be inspired by your achievements."

Watch your waist: "Waist size predicts the amount of fat inside the intestines; it should be no more than half your height. It's the most dangerous type of fat for your body. [Too much] can put pressure on the kidneys, which can then raise your blood pressure and can also poison the liver, leading to higher cholesterol levels and diabetes,"  Dr. Oz says.

His shopping list


Add these to your shopping list for a health boost:
  
Broccoli: The ultimate green superfood cleanses the liver and helps fight off cancer.
   
100 percent whole grain bread: Who says you have to give up carbs? This is a great way to get in fiber, which makes you feel full and reduces the risk of colon cancer.  
   
Milk: The perfect way to get your daily calcium dose -- unless you are lactose intolerant. Choose 2 percent -- it tastes the same as full-fat and also has less sugar.
   
Nuts: Almonds, walnuts and cashews are full of omega-3s and encourage smart snacking.
   
Green tea: It's full of antioxidants and contains low levels of caffeine, so it won't make you feel hyperactive.  
   
Quinoa: The super grain is rich in fiber and protein. It also happens to be gluten-free.
   
Fruits and vegetables: Eat unlimited amounts, as they contain a multitude of vitamins and minerals only found in natural foods.

Not on his list


The five foods to never load into your grocery cart if you're trying to lose weight:

Simple sugars or carbohydrates: Cakes, ice cream, white bread ... all empty calories. As these simple sugars are rapidly absorbed into the blood stream, they cause a spike in your blood sugar levels, giving you a short-term energy. This then triggers an insulin reaction, leaving you feeling tired and hungry.

Ingredients you can't pronounce: Does "thiamine mononitrate" or "partially hydrogenated soybean oil" sound good? If you can't pronounce the first five ingredients, put that food down.
Foods with deceptive labels, like "low in fat": They've had to make up for the lack of flavor somehow, and that somehow is heaps of sugar and salt.

Canned foods high in sodium: Many canned foods are so full of salt they can contain more than half of your daily recommended intake. Too much sodium in your diet can give you high blood pressure.
Fried foods: Frying food dramatically increases the fat content, as oil is absorbed into whatever it is you have cooked. Choosing the right oils, like olive or sunflower, will make frying a little healthier. ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143770--dr-oz-s-tips-to-transform-your-health Tue, 22 May 2012 16:50:53 -0400 ROMINA MCGUINNESS, METRO WORLD NEWS LONDON http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143770--dr-oz-s-tips-to-transform-your-health <![CDATA[Should your kid take vitamins?]]>
Fill in the gaps
Check labels for nutrients most likely to be missing from your kid's diet, such as vitamin D, calcium, iron, folate and zinc. Most multis contain little calcium, so if your child doesn't consume much dairy or fortified food, consider a separate calcium supplement.

Do D diligence
Look for at least 400 IUs of vitamin D3 (not D2 or simply D). Vitamin D3, which may also be listed as cholecalciferol or calciol, is thought to be better absorbed than other kinds.

Avoid mercury
If the multi contains omega-3s from fish, look for a statement that the product has been certified free of heavy metals such as mercury and PCBs.

Parents brings moms and dads smart, fresh advice to help you raise healthy, happy kids. Check us out at Parents.com. ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143677--should-your-kid-take-vitamins Mon, 21 May 2012 17:10:11 -0400 RACHEL MORRIS FOR PARENTS.COM http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143677--should-your-kid-take-vitamins <![CDATA[Is Facebook responsible for your divorce?]]>
Back in the day, people were only tempted to snoop through their significant others' emails and text messages. Today, Facebook is just as big of a factor.

According to a survey by Divorce Online, a UK-based legal services firm, more than a third of divorce filings contained the word 'Facebook' last year.

Another report by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers claims that more than 80% of U.S. divorce attorneys say they've seen the number of cases involving social media increase.

Divorce attorney Gary Traystman told the WSJ's SmartMoney.com blog that he sees Facebook issues breaking up marriages "all the time."

Experts say that nowadays with Facebook it is easier to start extra-marital affairs as it only takes a few clicks to reconnect with an old flame.  

"The difference with Facebook is it feels safe, innocent and private. People put an enormous amount of incriminating stuff out there voluntarily," Randy Kessler, an Atlanta-based lawyer said to SmartMoney.com.

Facebook has become so influential that lawyers say it plays a major role in determining alimony and child custody, as everything from posts, to photos and status updates have been used in divorce court.

So, people, if you're going to cheat, don't make it obvious by posting about it on Facebook. You're only asking to be caught. ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143667--is-facebook-responsible-for-your-divorce Mon, 21 May 2012 15:51:54 -0400 MARY ANN GEORGANTOPOULOS, NEW YORK http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143667--is-facebook-responsible-for-your-divorce <![CDATA[Bobby Vaughn: Georgia man becomes third recent victim of flesh-eating bacteria]]> Lana Kuykendall and Georgia grad student Aimee Copeland remain in the hospital after a series of surgeries, the rare flesh-eating bacteria known as necrotizing fasciitis has stuck for the third time in recent weeks.

The latest victim is Bobby Vaughn, a landscaper from Cartersville, Georgia. Despite the media frenzy surrounding the rare condition recently, Vaughn said never suspected he had contracted necrotizing fasciitis when he first noticed his symptoms.

"I just started feeling very sick," Vaughn, 33, told WXIA in Atlanta. "I was throwing up and had a backache. I just thought it was a little infection."

When the swelling began, Vaughn went to the hospital where antibiotics failed to treat him. He eventually underwent five surgeries that removed two pounds of tissue, but is now on the road to recovery.

He is at the same Augusta, Georgia hospital as Aimee Copeland who is still in critical condition after losing a leg, her other foot, and both hands as a result of contracting necrotizing fasciitis after a zip-lining accident. Lana Kuykendall, who gave birth to twins three weeks ago, is also still battling the bacteria after seven surgeries.

There is no sure way to prevent NF, but there are ways to reduce your risk:

The single biggest preventative measure is keeping the skin intact!

Next is cleanliness. Always wash even the smallest opening in the skin and apply an antibiotic ointment. Buy tubes of antibiotic ointment and keep one in your car, your desk, your exercise bag, and at home.

Take care with your children, impressing upon them the importance of cleanliness.
  ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/national/article/1143665--bobby-vaughn-georgia-man-becomes-third-recent-victim-of-flesh-eating-bacteria Mon, 21 May 2012 15:26:00 -0400 CASSANDRA GARRISON, NEW YORK http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/national/article/1143665--bobby-vaughn-georgia-man-becomes-third-recent-victim-of-flesh-eating-bacteria <![CDATA[How to overcome your need to fit in]]> The question: I feel like I'm never myself in social situations. It is almost like I'm a chameleon and I just try to blend in with everyone else. I'm not sure exactly why I'm like this. Do you have any insight into this and tips?

My guess is that you get anxious in social situations because you fear how people might respond. Perhaps you're afraid of rejection or judgment and you adapt by trying to be like others. Though it may make sense on one level, you're missing out on being you, while others miss out on seeing who you truly are. Follow this exercise taken from my book, "BE FEARLESS: Change Your Life in 28 Days."

1. Before you can be yourself you must know who you are: for example, what you stand for and what makes you tick. Know where you come from and where you're going. How would you describe yourself if someone asked? Be able to give such a description with ease and confidence. Make a list of your convictions, beliefs, passions, values and strengths.

2. Understand the role that hiding behind a mask plays in your life. Are you shy, anxious or unsure? Do you feel inadequate? Or perhaps you are afraid to shine or dislike attention. If so, seek help to address any underlying issues.

3. Practice expressing yourself by writing out your thoughts and feelings, including how you feel about yourself, situations you might experience on a daily basis and people you might encounter during the day. Learn to express yourself clearly.

4. Don't care so much about how others perceive you. The more you do, the more you are trying to fulfill their expectations and not your own.   

5. Do away with social comparisons. They only lead to resentment and move you away from being who you truly are.

6. Finally, practice opening up to people you trust by starting a conversation, talking about your day and how you feel. Be honest and forthright when expressing yourself.

- Jonathan Alpert is a licensed psychotherapist. His new book, "BE FEARLESS: Change Your Life
in 28 Days," is available at major booksellers and Amazon. Follow him online at www.jonathanalpert.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/jonathanalpert) and on Twitter @jonathanalpert.  

Metro does not endorse the opinions of the author, or any opinions expressed on its pages. ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143561--how-to-overcome-your-need-to-fit-in Sun, 20 May 2012 16:37:03 -0400 NEW YORK http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143561--how-to-overcome-your-need-to-fit-in <![CDATA[How to quit making excuses so you can take charge of your life]]>
"People make excuses like, 'I don't have an iron will' or 'It's not in my DNA,' says Vaden, the author of "Take the Stairs: 7 Steps to Achieving True Success."

Self-discipline isn't the problem. "Procrastination is the problem. Self-discipline is the remedy," he says. "It's really not that difficult -- but there are no shortcuts."

Shortcut thinking is what gets people into trouble in the first place, which was the thinking behind Vaden's book title.

"Do we take the stairs, or the elevator? Easy, short-term choices lead to difficult long-term solutions," he says. "Problems that are procrastinated only amplify. A good example is a health problem. If you ignore it, it compounds until you're so out of shape it seems hopeless. It's the same with relationships: Any conflict that's ignored builds until everything explodes."

His three types of procrastination
   
Classic: constantly delaying what we should be doing
Creative avoidance: filling the day with menial work and avoiding the important things
Priority dilution: allowing distractions and interruptions to take priority over important tasks

Get it done

To strengthen your self-discipline muscle, Vaden suggests arming yourself with the following:

Relentless determination:  "Every single day, put two things on your to-do list and do them. Until you accomplish those two things, everything is a distraction."
 
Inspiration: "People become disengaged because they are uninspired. It's not a lack of work ethic; it's a lack of vision. If you have a vision of what you want, it's context for making a short-term sacrifice." ]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143554--how-to-quit-making-excuses-so-you-can-take-charge-of-your-life Sun, 20 May 2012 15:48:02 -0400 LINDA LABAN, BOSTON http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143554--how-to-quit-making-excuses-so-you-can-take-charge-of-your-life <![CDATA[A Study Has Found: Researcher who backed homosexual 'cure' apologizes to gay community]]>
Dr. Robert Spitzer, once praised for his role in eliminating homosexuality from the manual as a mental disorder, later went on to study and advocate reparative therapy as a "cure" for homosexuality in the 1990s. His work was widely attacked and criticized. Now at age 80, Spitzer is offering an apology, according to The New York Times.

Spitzer was prompted to make amends with the gay community following an interview with a gay journalist who told the aging doctor that he had been a patient of reparative therapy at a young age and it evoked thoughts of suicide.

The doctor drafted a letter, which has been posted online. In it, he wrote, "I believe I owe the gay community an apology for my study making unproven claims of the efficacy of reparative therapy."

He went on to discredit his own research by revealing that he never had the credible evidence to say reparative therapy was successful.

"I offered several (unconvincing) reasons why it was reasonable to assume that the subject’s reports of change were credible and not self-deception or outright lying. But the simple fact is that there was no way to determine if the subject’s accounts of change were valid," Spitzer wrote.

We guess an apology is better late than never, right?

More adventures in psuedoscience:


  • Depressed people often don't have the urge to get out and do much, but they will chat online, even more than people who aren't depressed.
  • Have a sweet tooth? It could make you an idiot, science says.
  • In turtle news, the species have come along way as scientists have discovered they were once as large as a small car.

]]> http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143514--a-study-has-found-researcher-who-backed-homosexual-cure-apologizes-to-gay-community Fri, 18 May 2012 14:09:51 -0400 CASSANDRA GARRISON, CASSANDRA GARRISON http://www.metro.us/philadelphia/life/article/1143514--a-study-has-found-researcher-who-backed-homosexual-cure-apologizes-to-gay-community