Dating Naked Recap: Episode 3

In the first 2 episodes of Dating Naked, we’ve had a couple who acted like an old married couple, and a woman, who might have had sex with two of her three dates, but probably didn’t. What craziness will Dating Naked have for us tonight? Let’s meet this week’s daters…. Dianne Age 28, from New York Was in relationship for 5 years “I’m hoping to meet my true love on this island” If alcohol or sunburn are your true loves, you have a chance m’lady. Keegan Age 26, from Pennsylvania but lives in New Jersey. Was also in a 5-year … Continue reading →

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5 Reasons to Be Optimistic About Alzheimer's Research

Scientists are making exciting headway in the search for a treatment (and even a cure) for Alzheimer's disease.



Earlier this month I joined some of the world's preeminent physicians and neuroscientists in Copenhagen, Denmark, for the Alzheimer's Association's International Conference (AAIC). The six-day gathering is the largest of its kind and featured more than 100 sessions on a diverse range of Alzheimer's topics.



Those sessions represent an incredible amount of new material and research to digest, so I've narrowed down the highlights for those of you who are interested in tracking the latest in Alzheimer's research and drug development:



1. More and more evidence is emerging that modifying lifestyle factors can prevent or delay the onset of dementia from Alzheimer's disease.



Investigators presented high-quality evidence demonstrating that exercise, a healthy diet, moderate alcohol consumption, education and effective management of hypertension, high cholesterol and diabetes can prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's and other dementias. In fact, the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease is actually decreasing in developed nations, where individuals are already deploying many of these lifestyle interventions.



2. Two promising immune therapies ("vaccines") may slow cognitive decline and the course of the disease.



While Genentech's phase-three clinical trial of an anti-amyloid antibody therapy for Alzheimer's disease, crenezumab, failed because it did not meet its primary endpoints, an additional analysis suggested it did slow cognitive decline (by over 30 percent) in early-stage Alzheimer's patients. Coupled with results from Lilly's antibody therapy trial in 2012, which also showed a decrease in cognitive decline in early-stage patients, the research provides some indication that clearing amyloid at the earliest stages of the disease may benefit a subset of patients. We'll need further research evaluating larger populations to confirm these findings, some of which is already underway.



3. We can now see Alzheimer's tangles with brain-imaging tools.



Many physicians are currently utilizing FDA-approved brain-imaging tests to detect amyloid plaques in the brains of Alzheimer's patients, but these plaques can be present in individuals who never develop symptoms of the disease. New imaging agents target the tangles (clumps of tau) that are the tombstones of dying neurons and are likely to be a better surrogate for tracking Alzheimer's progression and determining the efficacy of any given drug. Researchers at the AAIC also noted that some of these imaging tools may work for related diseases that also have tangles, such as frontotemporal dementia, and could be used to assess tau pathology in the brain after a traumatic head injury.



4. Treatments that target systemic inflammation offer promise to Alzheimer's patients.



Inflammation increases with aging, and systemic inflammation is increasingly recognized as a risk factor and a driver of Alzheimer's disease. An analysis of data from a previous clinical trial presented at the AAIC showed that patients with markers of high inflammation in their blood responded more positively to a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) treatment naproxen (AleveTM), while patients with low levels of inflammation were worsened by the treatment. Another study using the anti-inflammatory arthritis drug Etanercept (Enbrel), in a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind phase-two trial, did not meet its endpoints but showed hints of stabilizing cognitive decline in a small subset population.



5. A number of new drugs to treat the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease are in development.



Lundbeck's drug, a 5-HT6 receptor antagonist, was shown to have an added effect on cognitive function when combined with a currently approved acetylcholinesterase inhibitor donepezil. A large, global phase-three study is underway to further evaluate the drug's prospects. Unfortunately, in related news from AAIC, research on an alpha-7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor partial agonist drug from Forum Pharmaceuticals revealed that the drug was not significantly more effective than existing symptomatic treatments for Alzheimer's.



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American Ebola Patient Coming To U.S.

(Recasts, adds details on patient being transferred to Atlanta)



By Julie Steenhuysen and Colleen Jenkins



CHICAGO/WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., July 31 (Reuters) - A U.S. aid worker who was infected with the deadly Ebola virus while working in West Africa is coming back to the United States to be treated in a high-security ward at Emory University Hospital in Atlanta, hospital officials said on Thursday.



The aid worker, whose name has not been released, will be moved in the next several days to a special isolation unit at Emory. The unit was set up in collaboration with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It is one of only four in the United States.



CDC spokeswoman Barbara Reynolds said her agency is working with the U.S. State Department to facilitate the transfer.



Reynolds said the CDC is not aware of any Ebola patient ever being treated in the United States, but five people in the past decade have entered the United States with either Lassa Fever or Marburg Fever, close cousins of Ebola, and there were no instances of the virus being transferred to others.



News of the transfer follows reports of the declining health of two infected U.S. aid workers, Dr. Kent Brantly and missionary Nancy Writebol, who contracted Ebola while working in Liberia on behalf of North Carolina-based Christian relief groups Samaritan's Purse and SIM.



Earlier on Thursday, White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the State Department was working with the CDC on medical evacuations of infected American humanitarian aid workers, but he did not name them.



The outbreak in West Africa is the worst in history, having killed more than 700 people since February. On Thursday, the CDC issued a travel advisory urging people to avoid all non-essential travel to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, the epicenter of the outbreak.



Brantly and Writebol "were in stable but grave" condition as of early Thursday morning, the relief organizations said on Thursday. A spokeswoman for the groups could not confirm whether the patient being transferred to Emory was one of their aid workers.



CDC Director Dr. Thomas Frieden said in a conference call there is no vaccine or effective treatment for Ebola, and transferring gravely ill patients has the potential to do more harm than good.



In its final stages, Ebola causes external and internal bleeding, vomiting and diarrhea. About 60 percent of people infected in the current outbreak are dying from the illness.



Writebol, 59, received an experimental drug that doctors hope will improve her health, SIM said. Brantly, 33, received a unit of blood from a 14-year-old boy who survived Ebola with the help of Brantly's medical care, said Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan's Purse.



Frieden could not comment on the specifics of either treatment, but said, "We have reviewed the evidence of the treatments out there and don't find any treatment that has proven effectiveness against Ebola." (Reporting by Colleen Jenkins and Julie Steenhuysen; Editing by Will Dunham and Steve Orlofsky)





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4 Ways To Effectively Fix A Toxic Frienship

SPECIAL FROM Next Avenue





By Linda Melone



Hanging out with friends does a person good. But if you're a woman and your female friends make you feel bad, the positive benefits of the friendship can be diminished. In fact, bad friends can be harmful to your health.



That's according to a new study. An analysis of data from 1,502 healthy adults over age 50 found that negative social interactions were linked to a 38 percent increase in developing high blood pressure for women. The multiyear research from Carnegie Mellon University found that women between 51 and 64 were more affected than older women. Surprisingly, this same effect was not seen in men.



Researchers were not completely surprised by the results. "Women are more affected and pay more attention to the quality of their relationships than men," says Rodlescia Sneed, a Ph.D. candidate in psychology involved in the study. "Women's relationships are more about sharing; men tend to have less intimacy."



Prior studies done with arguing couples show increases in blood pressure in the short term, but this study found negative relationships could also have long-term physical effects, Sneed says.



Having Friends Should Be Fun



When you share a deeper level of intimacy, conflict exacts a far greater toll, says Irene S. Levine, professor of psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine, producer of http://ift.tt/14bj8xm and a Next Avenue contributor. "It’s hard to let go of the person who knows all your secrets," notes Levine.



And while no relationship is ever perfect, friendships are voluntary relationships that add to the pleasure and enjoyment of our lives, says Levine. "If a friendship is consistently draining and there is no way to resolve the conflict or mismatch, it’s time to move on to more satisfying relationships," she adds.



"Healthy relationships at 50, or any age, should include mutual caring and respect, responsibility and good communication," says Tina B. Tessina, a psychotherapist and author of "The Ten Smartest Decisions a Woman Can Make After Forty."



Signs of a toxic relationship include: being demanding, turning every discussion into an argument, threatening the end of the friendship, using tears, rage and/or badgering and gossiping about you behind your back.



How To Fix A Friendship



Handling toxic relationships isn't easy and takes a little know-how, says Tessina. She has four suggestions:



1. Focus on the positive. First, tell your friend about the things you like that she does. She'll then be more likely to hear when you say you don't like something, says Tessina.



2. Use silence. “If you don't like what she's doing or saying, don't respond. She'll get the message without a word,” Tessina says.



3. Set boundaries and limits. If your friend is habitually late, for example, let her know when the timing is important (you don't want to miss the first five minutes of a movie) and when time is not an issue. In cases where she needs to be on time, tell her if she's not ready by X time you'll leave without her.



"It's amazing how well that works," says Tessina. "Although, don't be too strict about it if she's late only on occasion or has a good reason."



4. Try a time out. Become distant and polite when she behaves badly. No joking around or interacting, says Tessina.



"Eventually, she may ask you what's wrong, and at that point you have an opportunity to tell her what the problem behavior is and why you don't like it. Learning to put obnoxious friends in time outs right at the beginning of unpleasant behavior can make it unnecessary to use tougher tactics at all," adds Tessina.



The Green-Eyed Monster



Jealousy often rears its ugly head in a friendship and is particularly toxic. "Most jealousy arises when someone feels insecure or threatened — that someone else (like you) will get the attention she wants," says Tessina.



People who react with jealousy are often in a lot of emotional pain about their own lives. "Be as understanding as you can and listen to your friend's feelings, but don't let her struggles ruin your good feelings about yourself," says Tessina. Publicly thanking her for the nice things she's done and giving her special time with you alone may help.



Finally, don't be afraid to talk to friends about what friendship means to you. Is it acceptable to cancel a date with a girlfriend (or her with you) because you get a better offer from a man? Because of family illness or problems? How much loyalty do you expect in the friendship, and what does that mean?



If you can't work on the problem, at least limit the time you spend with people who make you feel bad, says Sneed. "Avoid taking on other peoples' problems, which women tend to do," she notes.



Next Avenue contributor Linda Melone is a California-based freelance writer specializing in health, fitness and wellness for women over 50.



Read more from Next Avenue:

Two new reverse mortgage rules for couples

What to do about loss of libido

How to heal a rift with your adult child



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What It's Like When You Weigh 380 Pounds and Order a Salad

"Really? Is that all you want to eat?"



That is what the cashier at Panera Bread asked me a few years ago. I was in line, ordering lunch. I was around 380 pounds at the time. I made a promise to myself to lose weight. I'd already lost 40 pounds at the time. Although I was no longer 400 pounds, I still was huge.



I ordered a salad. It was only 410 calories. The people behind me giggled when I placed my order. Maybe they were laughing about something else. I always heard laughter when I went places. I believe a lot of it was because of me.



When I ordered the salad the cashier questioned me. She was not rude or sassy. She was not being sarcastic. She was a teenage girl who really wanted to know if that is all I wanted.



Truth is, I wanted to eat more. I always wanted to eat more. People laugh at me when I tell them that I am a food addict. They tell me that is not a real addiction. Heroin, now that is a real addiction. Alcohol, now that is a real addiction. Food? Come on. I was just lazy. I just put forth no effort into getting healthy.



When I started to eat, I could not stop. There were days when I would eat over 20,000 calories. I never got sick. I never was full. I ate to a point where I was numb. I could not move. I would eat anything. I have dug in the trash to get food. I have eaten food that was not fully cooked. I have eaten So. Much. Food.



There were so many nights at 2 a.m. that I would sit in my car and eat. I would go from fast food restaurant to fast food restaurant and order food. Then I would sit in a dark parking lot and eat. I would get sad when the food was almost gone.



There was never enough food for me.



All I cared about is food. I never saw how much my weight and eating habits hurt my wife. She would never call me fat or tell me I needed to lose weight or she would leave. She would just try to encourage me. She would offer to walk with me or cook for me. She wanted to help her husband. Yet I did not want help.



At 420 pounds I could barely walk. I could not have sex. I could not wipe my ass in the bathroom. Everything in life was taken away from me. I would still eat.



I ate until I finally opened my eyes.



I saw how much it hurt my wife. I saw how much it hurt myself. I did not have many options. I had to lose weight.



Losing weight is not easy but neither was being 420 pounds. Counting calories is not easy but neither is hurting the people I love. Taking brisk walks is not easy but neither is wanting to die every day because you feel worthless.



So when the cashier asked me if I wanted more to eat, I knew what was in my heart...



"No, a salad is fine, thank you."



I lost over 200 pounds and I have kept most off for over six years. I still struggle every single day. Every day I would rather have more than just a salad.



I also do not want to be over 400 pounds ever again.



I refuse to let my addiction ruin my life.



Originally appeared on The Good Men Project .



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What Defines You?

Languages and cultural idioms oftentimes teach powerful lessons. For example, Yiddish, a Jewish-spoken dialect that is primarily a blend of Hebrew and German, offers users a few different ways through which to inquire about another's well-being.



My maternal grandfather, a centenarian and Holocaust survivor who grew up in pre-WWII Romania, told me that it was common practice for people in his community to respond to the question "What do you do?" with a simple "Torah u'mitzvos." ("I am fulfilling God's Torah and commandments.") Regardless of their occupations, these European Jews professed their faith and faithfulness by stating their deeper objectives as religious servants.



One of the most common questions you will hear when making acquaintance is, "So, what do you do?" For the longest time, such questions were responded to with a particular focus on one's profession. "I'm a doctor." "I'm in sales." However, it appears that the focus that we use to frame and define our actions and even ourselves may be changing. And my proof is from Twitter.



While professional social media services such as LinkedIn still retain a certain stodginess (which, for its purposes, is a good thing), Twitter seems to have bridged the gap between personal and professional. Many professionals (me included) use Twitter to share professional, uplifting and informative content. But they do so in a way that keeps in touch with the deeply personal side of their profiles and selves.



Consider the following Twitter bios from my network:

• "Family-oriented, with a passion for people and service. Focused on maximizing human potential."


• 
  
  
  


• "Lifestyle Architect and Motivational Speaker. I help people turn their dreams into a reality."


• 
  
  
  


• "Principal / Leadership Consultant. Love God, Wife & Kids!"


• 
  
  
  


• "I'm the coach that will take you to the gym, not just send you there!"


• 
  
  
  


• "LOVE office processes & effective leadership... non-profit supporter; coffee & chocolate addict"

To these men and women (and many, many more), life is more than about doing a job and getting paid. It's about making a difference and following your passions. It's about connecting deeply to what you believe in, and expressing your values to others.



Of course, many of the same professionals may use more restrained descriptors on the CVs or LinkedIn profiles. But that doesn't detract from how they view the true purpose of their work.



The next time that someone asks you, "So, what do you do?" feel free to share your position as you have always done. Then go ahead and add a few descriptors, things that you are passionate about and proud of. Things like:

• Leader of a great team


• 
  


• Sharing stories of inspiration and success


• 
  


• Delivering goods to others


• 
  


• Facilitating communication

A story is told (in many similar variations) of a man who came across three bricklayers busy at work.



He asked the first bricklayer, "What are you doing?" "I'm laying bricks," came the reply.



He then asked the second bricklayer the same question. "I'm putting up a wall," he said.



The passerby then asked the question one more time, this time to the third bricklayer. The response: "I'm building a cathedral."



What you do, in real terms, may be no different from the person seated in the next cubicle or the guy that you meet at the trade show. But what you do as in how you do it, as well as why, is uniquely your choosing.



Work, and life, is about much more than punching a clock and cashing a check. Choose to "eat to live" rather than "live to eat" and you will start to see just how much more fulfilling life can be. And then what you do will no longer be a discussion about your professional practice but rather a description of your very essence and the values that you hold dear.



Naphtali Hoff (@impactfulcoach) served as an educator and school administrator for over 15 years before becoming an executive coach and consultant. Read his blog at http://ift.tt/1aFBsFp.



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Views From Down Under: Puppy Love

We recently adopted a puppy, a joyful, bouncing, and playful, eat your shoes, nip your heels puppy. There is just something so delightful about having a puppy constantly at your feet, looking up at you with those big brown eyes, or in our case one brown eye and one blue! He brings a certain air of "here and now" into your life.



The one thing that really struck me was how quickly we all fell in love with this little fella. The reason for his adoption was as a birthday present for my husband who claims to have never wanted pets -- three cats and one dog later! And of course he too fell in love with Ziggy at first sight.



As I write this Ziggy is asleep at my feet. I am his primary carer and I am the one picking up the poo, cleaning up little puddles and I am the one who gets to be the center of his attention, the one he follows from room to room, house to garden. I am the one teaching him, "No Ziggy, sit, drop, come, good boy" and best of all I am the one who gets to give and receive unconditional love and cuddles all day long.



Puppy of course has completely changed the dynamics of the household. My eldest son says he now has an excuse to come home on weekends -- thanks very much. Shoes, bags and valuables once left lying on the floor now seem to be mysteriously put away. Neighbors are dropping in for a bit of puppy love, my husband wants a daily update on his achievements with photo and I can no longer just be spontaneous, because puppy can't be left alone.



Puppy and the cats aren't quite there yet. The building of rapport and trust is just like that of humans, just maybe without the hissing and barking. Ziggy seems to respect the fact that the cats were here first, so he will lay low and keep his distance; however, a puppy can only take so much before he is jumping with joy and scaring the living daylights out of the cats.







Watching their interaction is very similar to how some humans behave, my cat just observes this new phenomenon from a safe distance; she seems to have more fear than the other two. The male cat is twice puppy's size and is disinterested yet alert, and the little tortoise shell female cat has been very accepting.



Fear, disinterest and acceptance all rather human behaviors and all ones we have used in the workplace, in our own lives and observed others do. And as a therapist I will be the one who will help them all to open their cat hearts to eventually fall in love with puppy.







There is no joy or happiness quite like that of puppy love.



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Understanding the Implications of Consumer Empowerment in Health Care

The days of the passive patient and omnipotent Marcus Welby-like physician are long gone. Since the 1990s, consumer empowerment in health care has been increasing, most notably with the advent of direct-to-consumer advertising for prescription medicines. Then, the rise of digital media allowed consumers to search symptoms and create communities around common disease experiences. More recently, the ability to shop for health insurance through health care exchanges and obtain treatment at drug store clinics has led to a new age of consumer empowerment.



We've gone from a B-to-B model to a B-to-C model in health care. This shift in power to consumers has many implications when it comes to how we make decisions about our health care. Here are six ways that a behavioral lens can help us understand the implications of empowering consumers in health care:



1. Heuristics



Heuristics are very important. These mental shortcuts or "rules of thumb" allow us to make decisions efficiently. However, these judgments are subject to non-rational (or biased) influences in the marketplace. For example, a retail promotion like a drug store coupon can affect the price on which patients "anchor" their judgments about the appropriate cost of health care. And a retail clinic can affect the appeal of non-healthy alternatives with their location, like in the candy aisle. While this may not have been a big deal before, it is an important consideration in a B2C retail environment.



2. Social Perceptions



Research has shown that product efficacy can be shaped by social perceptions around cues like brand names and white lab coats. Both create expectations that can lead to greater confidence in the health care outcome. Similarly, the recent ban by CVS on selling tobacco products also serves as a cue. By banning tobacco, it creates a greater perception of legitimacy as a health care provider. These expectations may be conducive to better health care outcomes, not unlike placebo effects. My research (1) shows that, as a result of these expectancies, brand names can both increase and decrease product efficacy. If we have different expectations for the same health care products at a CVS vs. a doctor's office, this could have real implications for our well-being.



3. Digital Media



The rise of digital media and the availability of health care information also impacts how health care decisions are made. By conducting online research, learning about others' experiences (consumer-to-consumer advice sites), and asking doctors questions online, consumers may feel more empowered prior to actually making a choice. But this consumer empowerment may come at a price. As we know, there are lots of factors that sway online opinions: biased reviews, outlier narratives (2), and persuasive marketing tactics.





4. Risk Perception



As retailers like CVS and Walgreens move into the provider arena, there will hopefully be easier and less expensive access to care, but this it is not necessarily a substitute for a doctor's visit. Consumers need to understand when it's appropriate to visit the clinic (for a wellness exam, low-level tests, flu shots, etc.), and when a doctor's appointment is the better choice. This requires identifying the biases at play when we make risk assessments. When you make those biases salient, you are better able to avoid them. Then, you can make a better decision about your health.



5. Regret Aversion


Regret aversion is another implication of this shift in the health care model from B2B to B2C. Studies have shown that when there is a difficult health care decision, people cope better when a doctor makes that decision on their behalf. As patients become more empowered (requesting brand name medications or choosing minute clinics over physicians), they also take on more responsibility for their health outcomes. This may affect decisions as patients seek to avoid regret. To the extent that retailers create customer experiences that are consistent with optimal health care -- like focusing on preventative health care with flu shots and hypertension testing -- it makes them important partners in achieving health.



6. Variety



Studies show that we have a non-rational bias toward wanting variety. However, research has also found that consumers become overwhelmed and tend to fall back on default choices. Consider your last trip to the cereal or toothpaste aisle in the supermarket: It's just not possible to effectively process all of that information. This is particularly important in health care, as most consumers don't have nearly the same level of expertise as their doctors (3). This also is relevant when it comes to choosing health insurance. The way that alternatives are presented has huge implications for insurance choices.



So, will the rise of B2C health care be a gain or a loss for patients? Despite our susceptibility to non-rational decision-making, the net impact may be positive. One key to neutralizing biases is to become aware of them. As long as we can recognize our biases to avoid making suboptimal decisions, consumer empowerment can be a positive change.



Renée Richardson Gosline is the Zenon Zannetos Assistant Professor of Marketing at MIT Sloan School of Management.



References:



1) Gosline, R., S. Banker, J. Lee (2014), " The Status Paradox: How High-Status Products Impair Cognitive Performance," Working Paper. (This is my working paper on brand effects on efficacy, with Sachin Banker and Jeffrey Lee.



2) My current research on outlier narratives in social media, with Glen Urban and Jeffrey Lee.



3) Williamson, O. E. (1975). Markets and hierarchies. New York, 26-30.



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Why De-Stressing in Front of the TV Could Backfire

By Anna Maltby, SELF



If you're like me, the first place you want to go after a tough day at work is the couch. (Unless it's a really tough day, in which case that place would be the bar.) But it turns out, using media like TV and video games could actually be kind of a terrible way to deal with stress.



In a new study in the Journal of Communication, researchers asked 471 participants to report how they'd felt after work the previous day and what media they'd used. They found that people who were really stressed and tired at the end of the day and watched TV or other media to unwind actually reported feeling guilty about it -- they felt like they should be doing something more productive. So in turn, instead of feeling relaxed and de-stressed, they felt just plain crappy.



(That said, the study was based on self-report -- it's possible that the participants only felt guilty when they had to actually admit how much TV they'd watched!)



Do you feel kind of regretful about your post-work TV watching? We say, take care of one or two looming household to-dos (e.g. laundry, taking out the trash) before your bum hits the couch, then watch guilt-free. The study authors also noted previous research that indicated media that provides a "mastery experience" -- video games where you can beat a level or win; watching TV or movies that are thought-provoking or informative -- may be more restorative.



More from SELF :



Sneaky Stomach Slimmers

20 Superfoods For Weight Loss

Satisfying Snacks Under 200 Calories

5 Simple Steps to Cellulite-Free Skin

13 Hot Celebrity Summer Hairstyles To Try

6 Moves To Resize Your Butt and Thighs



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10 Percent of You Will Drink Yourselves to Death, But 99 Percent of You Probably Don't Know It

About a month ago, the Centers for Disease control told Americans that, in no uncertain terms, one in 10 of us will die as a result of excessive alcohol consumption. One in 10. Yes, you read that right. And yes, it's a big number. These are working-age adults we're talking about too, most of whom are not alcoholics. One out of 10 adults sadly and frequently cut down in the primes of their lives. To the media's credit, the publication of this study made headlines (well, at least page four or five headlines) for a day or two. After that however, coverage declined on a sharper trajectory than ticket sales for a botched sequel and, one week out, the story that Al gore might have titled A Buzz Kill of a Truth was left showing on virtually zero screens.



Death and disease are bummers -- I get it. And it's summertime after all -- who wants to talk about premature mortality and preventable illness with the rubbery smell of beach balls in the air? I mean, does anyone really want to discuss how that keg of beer next to Uncle Jerry might as well be the Reaper's own roulette wheel, innocently propped in a tub between the horseshoe pit and a buffet of mayonnaise "salads"? Seriously now, who's going to be up for a quick convo about the eye-popping link between adult beverages and the culling of our population? No thanks, but could you pass the mustard? I like to get all my condiments on the hot dog before the first bite.



If only the explanation was that simple for why this story isn't getting continued traction, why it didn't have legs, it would be an easy situation to remedy. Yes, if talking about a widespread health crisis that also has whopping economic consequences is just too tonally inconsistent with our national priorities to garner sustained interest during barbecue season, I'd have a quick fix for the situation indeed: Hey, CDC, bump that press release back a few months and let's take it again, from the top. The country will totally get behind this issue if you can just wait until the flip-flops are shelved for the year.



Unfortunately though, a quick scan of what is dominating our news headlines this summer will tell you that no, we Americans are not averse to heavy doses of serious news while vacationing. Whether it's the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, Russia and the Ukraine, abducted Nigerian school girls, missing/downed Malaysian Airlines flights, immigration debacles in Texas or the Ebola virus, our news tickers are not allergic to the hard stuff. In fact, just the opposite. So why, then, haven't entire segments of newscasts, or veritable blocks of cable news programming been devoted to this story like they have those others? Why aren't the reams of paper or chunks of digital bandwidth reserved for Op-Eds being gobbled up by reactions, insight and advice about this humdinger of a downer, when it seems every flavor and stripe of pundit has got something to say about Gaza, Putin or the dangers of air travel? (*Preemptive disclaimer: I'm not minimizing the importance of those issues, but I am questioning why an issue that directly impacts the lifespan of one in ten Americans is unable to grab and hold our collective attention.)



If you're waiting for me to tell you what it is that's muffling what should otherwise be an ear busting wakeup call, I don't have a clear answer. Maybe it's just that improving the nation's physical health is not a big priority for most Americans, or that we don't seem to care much for our own personal wellbeing either, as evidenced by our choices. Or maybe it's something more diabolical, like the strong influence of the alcohol lobby, whose political contributions recently reached an all-time high, and whose increased advertising dollars have never had them them more snugly aligned with media and entertainment interests than they are now. Or maybe it's because in 2014, 64% of Americans drink, and reporting negative stories about things people like to do won't generate many clicks, sell many papers or snag many viewers. Perhaps it's the unfortunate collision of all these factors, and more, which has resulted in a distressingly flaccid arousal of interest in the forecast of our own liquid obituaries. Obituaries which, by the way, will frequently never reveal that the person died from drinking too much.



The CDC report identifies many types of death attributable to excessive alcohol consumption. Heart disease, cancer and liver disease are among the more slow-burning results of too much booze; violence, accidental falls, car crashes and alcohol poisoning among the more immediate. And you'll note, only one of these leaves behind the type of unambiguous postmortem indictment of the perpetrator that keeps no secrets: alcohol poisoning. As to the rest? Countless grieving families will either never know the killer's true identity, or they'll choose to bury it with their loved one.



Two weeks ago -- roughly two weeks after the CDC study made its perfunctory blip on our national radar -- I was giving a talk to an audience of several hundred attorneys in Los Angeles. Being germane to the subject I was discussing that day, I decided to ask for a quick show of hands about who had heard of this study -- who had heard that one in 10 American deaths are attributable to excessive alcohol consumption. Now, I wasn't exactly expecting a full and hearty crop of palms and digits to suddenly overtake the air, but I also wasn't expecting what I got. Zero, not one. Not one highly educated, presumably well-informed professional in the room knew what I was talking about.



Shameful, but I don't fault the audience. After all, if a story breaks and there's nobody there to cover it, did it ever really become a story? Don't believe me? Just ask Donald Sterling, LeBron James or Kim Kardashian. Oh, wait. Never mind.



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Not All Nurses Are Created Equal

Most nurses are great! But I've decided that there are two kinds of nurses -- those who are just punching a time clock and getting a paycheck, and those who are nursing from the heart -- helping improve not just your mood, but your health, as well. What's the difference?





Heart-Centered Nurses:



They give you a warm smile and encouraging words. I know, it seems like a small thing. But a smile goes a long way when you're in an unfamiliar setting like the operating room or the Emergency Department. I can remember one surgical nurse who could see I was on edge as soon as I was rolled into the operating room. He smiled big at me, grabbed my hand and said, "There is no need to worry here, our job is to worry for you." I instantly felt more at ease.



They get to know your family. A nurse who is able to connect to not just you but also your family is a treasure. Some of the best nursing staff I have met remembered the names of my family members and got to know them during their shift. This developed a trust and connection between us that seemed to carry us through the bad times in the hospital.



They use touch. When your body is ailing, human touch from caring hands at just the right time can do wonders. A pat on the back or a hand to hold when you're scared can really change your life when you're sick. After open-heart surgery, a very special nurse came in and rubbed my back as I lay in bed weeping after I first saw my surgery site, a blood-red incision down the middle of my chest.



They have your back. Maybe it was part of her job. I'll never really know, but one nurse I had so thoroughly responded to a drastic change in my condition that she saved my life. It involved her in getting very messy and even crying with me as my status declined. Three doctors stood in the room at the same time with us. None of them made a move toward me. They stood watching the monitors while she bailed me out. Later as I re-told the story I realized that she was the hero. I will never forget her.



They have a sense of humor. Wonder if you have a heart-centered nurse in your room? If he or she has a twinkle in the eye, a good story or joke to tell and still does the job like a pro, you do! Most great nurses know that a light-hearted but proficient approach to their care can ease a patient's fears and possibly even speed their recovery. One particular ER nurse I met had to keep long night hours with me over the holidays while we waited for a specialist to show up. When I asked him how he and the other staff managed the intensity of working late in a trauma center, he didn't miss a beat when he said, "Oh, we drink a lot after work!" My whole family erupted in laughter at his quick wit, and we even speculated about having him over for Christmas dinner.



They follow you home. Okay, they don't really follow you home, but you don't cease to exist as a patient or as a person when you leave their floor. Heart-centered nurses check up on you. Once when I was in an out-of-state hospital, my favorite nurse checked up on me as I was moved to a new floor and even called me at home when I was dismissed just to make sure my husband and I were still doing OK. Bravo!



Clock-Punchers:



They offer little or no comfort. Hard to believe, but some nurses keep a stony face even when their patient is obviously suffering. One time I had a nurse who was irritated and angry with me because I was in pain. I delayed pushing the call button after major surgery because of her shaming demeanor. Ultimately I was not able to get up and around as quickly and my dismissal to go home was delayed.



They complain about the organization they work for. If your nurse has nothing good to say about the doctor or hospital he works for -- beware! This individual should probably not be handling your care. Their negative mindset (even if it's justified) could translate into a bad experience for you. Some health care staff take their problems with the institution out on the patients.



They travel from location to location. Be on guard with traveling nurses. Some health care systems hire temp "traveling nurses" that float to multiple hospitals in different cities. The arrangement can offer great personal opportunities for the nurses -- but not necessarily for the patients. I've found that these nurses, perhaps by the nature of their job, are more detached from their patients.



They float from floor to floor. Many hospitals use staff called "float nurses" to cover extra shifts on various floors. While these employees are often very nice, they're oriented toward more general nursing and not fully trained for the specialty of each department. Like the traveling nurses, they won't likely be back your way anytime soon and may not give you the tender and expert care of someone who works on that floor all the time.



They talk too much. While I love a nurse who encourages me with words and smiles, some just plain talk too much. If your nurse wears you out with a barrage of talking and personal stories, that is the wrong nurse for you. If a nurse shares her personal problems with you, the scales might tip, and she will end up becoming your patient! Be on alert for needy nurses and avoid them at all costs. The plain fact is that too much information can wear you out when you're already exhausted from being sick.



Like I said, most nurses do a fabulous job. But even very good nurses can have a bad day. So, if your nurse is doing a pretty good job, just let it be. If he is taking care of business but not particularly warm and friendly, he is probably just stressed and behind on his tasks. But some are downright incompetent or mean. Once, a nurse didn't believe me when I said that my IV was throbbing with pain. She refused to change it, and I developed red streaks on my arm below the IV and the beginning of an infection. The night nurse who replaced her listened to me and got me the help I needed.



If you need help and don't think your particular nurse is right for you, here's what to do:



Ask to speak to the charge nurse with your concerns. Likely, this will take care of the problem. The charge nurse is the dedicated nurse for the day who oversees any and all concerns on that floor. If she doesn't help you, ask for the nurse manager and explain what you're experiencing. The nurse manager is everyone's boss. She may be able to help. If you still experiencing a sourpuss nurse, call patient affairs and ask that the nurse be re-assigned to someone else. Remember that a rising tide raises all ships, so if you do have a good or even great nurse -- tell her so! Sharing your positive experience will likely cause it to multiply.



This article originally appeared on reimagine.me a new online magazine for those who have been touched by cancer, and an education resource that teaches a powerful set of skills to start feeling better immediately.



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The tobacco fight is far from over

"The USA remains one of the world's largest and most profitable cigarette markets," proclaimed a recent press release from Imperial Tobacco, one of the world's biggest tobacco companies.



Unfortunately, this statement is correct. Each year, about 14 billion packs of cigarettes are consumed in this country. This translates into about 1,300 Americans deaths daily from tobacco use. For each of these deaths, another 30 people suffer from tobacco-related illnesses. At this rate, roughly two children in every third grade American classroom today will die prematurely from smoking-related causes. That is 5.6 million of our children.



This pointless loss of life must stop. In the five years of the Obama administration, our country has truly reinvigorated its tobacco control efforts. In 2010, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) unveiled the first-ever national strategic plan for tobacco control, using scientific data and extensive real-world evidence to outline concrete actions - from clean air policies and higher tobacco taxes to educational media campaigns and tobacco cessation interventions - to help combat the tobacco epidemic at the national, community and individual levels. We have made significant progress toward our objectives.



In 2009, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) gained the authority to regulate the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of tobacco products through the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. At the local level, we have encouraged states and communities to join the fight and backed it up with more than $200 million in support to promote comprehensive tobacco control, including the expansion of tobacco quitlines.



Recognizing that 99 percent of people who smoke start using tobacco before the age of 26, HHS partnered with the American College Health Association, the University of Michigan, the Association of Schools of Public Health and Legacy to promote the Tobacco-Free College Campus Initiative, a movement advocating the voluntary adoption of tobacco-free policies at institutions of higher learning. To date, close to 1,400 university and college campuses have gone tobacco- or smoke-free.



Multimedia campaigns such as the FDA's "The Real Cost" or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's "Tips from Former Smokers" have educated youth on the health consequences and addictive nature of tobacco use and motivated more than 1.6 million smokers to quit. To complement these efforts, the Affordable Care Act gives more people affordable access to effective tools for quitting by covering screening and cessation interventions without co-pays.



The fight is far from over. According to the Federal Trade Commission, tobacco companies spend a staggering $8.8 billion a year in the U.S. - roughly $1 million per hour - in an attempt to market their deadly products to the American public. Increasingly, tobacco companies are targeting some of our most vulnerable populations - the poor, the homeless, the incarcerated, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people, as well as people with mental illness and/or substance use disorders. Cigarettes today are more addictive and more deadly than ever, causing asthma, diabetes and various types of cancer, along with other smoking-caused diseases.



Thankfully, we have numerous allies in our fight against tobacco, from nonprofit advocacy organizations to private sector partners like CVS, which recently announced plans to stop selling tobacco products, as well as the rapidly expanding tobacco- and smoke-free campus movement.



As I conclude more than five years of service as the Assistant Secretary for Health, it is my fervent hope that we can someday relegate the tobacco epidemic to the history books. Let us stop this suffering once and for all and give our kids a fighting chance for a healthy future.



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Tombstone That Dad Designed For Son Who Had Disabilities Captures Boy's Tenacious Spirit

When Ernest and Anneke Robison’s son died, they wanted his final resting place to represent what his trying yet inspiring life embodied -- hope.



Matthew developed a number of disabilities when he was born in 1988 due to a lack of oxygen. He was blind, paralyzed from the neck down and spoke only a few words, according to the family’s foundation.



But when the Utah boy passed away 11 years later, his parents were grateful for the happiness their son brought to their lives, which why Ernest designed a particularly moving tombstone to honor him.



It is a statue of Matthew climbing out of his wheelchair and reaching for the sky.







One of the lessons Matthew imparted upon his parents was just how challenging it can be for people with disabilities to live as contributing members of society. It’s not for a lack of motivation, rather a lack of critical equipment.



They decided to do something about it.



In 1993, the Robisons established Ability Found, a nonprofit that gives people with disabilities the medial and rehabilitation equipment they can’t afford but need in order to do something as simple as run an errand or play outside, according to the nonprofit’s website.



The organization helps people with a range of conditions, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, stroke, cancer and spinal cord injuries.

Post by Ability Found.

In 2000, with their organization well underway, Ernest decided to honor his son in another manner -- by adding the now-well-recognized statue to his son’s tombstone which is located in the Salt Lake City Cemetery.



"Instead of sadness, the statue makes our son Matthew's grave a place of happiness," Ernest told Enjoy Utah, a blog about sites and activities in Utah. "Many others have found that true also."



h/t Reddit Uplifting News



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This Gene Could Tell You Who Is At Risk For Suicide

A new study could be the key to creating a blood test that can screen people for suicide risk. Such a test, experts say, could improve treatment in hospitals, clinics or even help military leaders assess which active-duty members and veterans are most at risk of suicide.



The military is battling a suicide problem; at least 22 veterans commit suicide every day, according to a 2014 study conducted by the Department of Veteran Affairs, while male vets under 30 are three times more likely to commit suicide than their age group in the general population.



"What we envision, potentially, is using this test in psychiatric emergency rooms. For example, it could dictate closeness of monitoring and treatment options, and drive potentially more fast acting treatment in someone who is really high risk," said lead author Zachary Kaminsky, Ph.D. of Johns Hopkins Medicine in a phone interview with The Huffington Post. "In the military, if you were able to identify vulnerable individuals [with a blood test], you may, for example, ask them to turn in firearms when they come back from active duty, or limit access to lethal means."



The new research reveals a genetic mutation that may be able to predict suicide risk with a minimum of 80 percent accuracy. The study, published July 30 on the website of The American Journal of Psychiatry, found that alterations to the gene SKA2 -- which helps regulate the brain's response to stress hormones -- was more common in people who had committed suicide.



Currently suicidality can only be assessed clinically: People at risk of attempting suicide can exhibit warning signs like talking or writing about a desire to commit suicide or trying to access firearms or pills. Other risk factors for suicide include a previous suicide attempt, a family history of attempted or completed suicide and various mental disorders.



But often, medical professionals don't have access to that kind of information, which is why the need for a blood test is so urgent, said Dr. Alexander Niculescu, III, an associate professor of psychiatry and medical neuroscience at the Indiana University School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study.



"People don't always tell others when they are suicidal, especially if they do not want to be hospitalized," said Niculescu.



In the first part of his study, Kaminsky examined the brain tissue of different groups of people who had died from suicide. He found that in some groups, lower levels of SKA2 were associated with people who had committed suicide. In others, a mutation that changed the way the SKA2 gene worked was also associated with people who had killed themselves.



Both findings are significant, because if the SKA2 gene isn't functioning properly, the body isn't able to suppress the release of cortisol, a stress hormone, throughout the brain.



Kaminsky then confirmed the results with blood samples from three different, ongoing studies. He designed a test to see if he could predict which of the participants had had either suicidal thoughts or attempts in the past. The test was able to predict participants' history of suicide attempts or suicidal thoughts with at least 80 percent accuracy.



Among those with the most severe risk of suicide, Kaminsky was able to predict attempts or suicidal thoughts with 90 percent accuracy. Among the youngest participants, Kaminsky was able to predict past suicidal attempts with 96 percent accuracy.



"We have found a gene that we think could be really important for consistently identifying a range of behaviors from suicidal thoughts to attempts to completions," Kaminsky said in a press release. "We need to study this in a larger sample but we believe that we might be able to monitor the blood to identify those at risk of suicide."



The study discloses that Kaminsky, along with co-author Holly Wilcox, Ph.D. holds a patent to "evaluate risk of suicidal behavior" using the SKA2 gene. Another researcher on the study, Dr. Jennifer Payne, received legal consulting fees from Pfizer, AstraZeneca, and Johnson and Johnson, as well as research support from Corcept Therapeutics.



Niculescu has also been on the hunt to find biomarkers linked with suicide risk, and he called Kaminsky's study a "great" corroboration of what Niculescu and other research groups have discovered in the field. Such corroboration across different research departments, said Niculescu, is key to eventually developing a blood test for suicide risk.



"I am glad to see that their top finding, SKA2, was shown in their study to interact with our top finding from last year, SAT1," wrote Niculescu in an email to HuffPost. "We have taken a look at SKA2 in our datasets, and see that indeed it is decreased in expression in the blood of suicide victims, consistent with what Dr. Kaminsky and colleagues are reporting."



"I think that in the future, like in other areas of medicine, a combination of clinical data and blood tests will ensure sensitivity and specificity in predicting who is at risk, and avoiding this preventable tragedy that is suicide," said Niculescu.



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Vitaminwater Goes Back To Old Recipe After Grossing Everyone Out

NEW YORK (AP) — Coca-Cola is reversing course after fans of Vitaminwater complained about the drink's new sweetener.

The Atlanta-based company promised Thursday the drink would go back to its previous taste after fans flooded Vitaminwater's Facebook page with negative comments. The reversal comes just a few months after Coca-Cola had changed the sweetener in the drink to a mix of sugar and stevia, a low-calorie sweetener known for its metallic aftertaste.

Vitaminwater will revert to its older recipe, shown on the left.

"Our fans haven't had the greatest things to say about it," said a statement posted on Vitaminwater's website.

The statement said the Vitaminwater that people "loved" would start appearing on shelves this fall and be available nationwide by winter. Previously, Coca-Cola sweetened Vitaminwater with a mix of sugar and crystalline fructose. The change didn't alter the calorie count, which remained at 120 calories per bottle.

In explaining the change without providing specific details, Coca-Cola had previously said it was "always innovating and evolving" its products. The move came after sales volume for Vitaminwater declined 18 percent in 2013, according to Beverage Digest, an industry tracker.

Despite its lack of popularity in some circles, Coca-Cola Co. still sees potential for stevia. The company has introduced a reduced-calorie version of its namesake cola using the sweetener in Argentina and plans to eventually roll out a version in the U.S.

And Coca-Cola still uses stevia in Vitaminwater Zero, a version for the drink that has no calories.

Here's a look back at what Vitaminwater’s fans said about the brand's switch to artificial sweetener.

Post by Chelsey Slenders.

Post by Stephanie Landy.

Post by Andrew Lamming.

Post by Dotchi Latham.

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On the Days I Struggle the Most With My Little Ones

There are days when everyone needs and wants to be held and there isn't a second I can find to myself. One of the children in the group is either unhappy, throwing a tantrum, crying or shrieking, and I think, Please go play. Mommy needs a break. Just two minutes to myself. I can't hold you right now. My arms are about to break.



I know I will want each moment back that I took for granted -- and be begging for the opportunity to chase one of my children down, to have them let me hold them at all.



The incessant one mores -- when I'm asked to color one more picture, read one more book or play one more game, after the previous hours of devoting every last breath of energy left in my body -- find me answering at times with a slouch and a sigh.



Yet, I know there will come a time when I'd give anything to be able to sit down and not only do these one more time, but a thousand more times.








There are mornings, afternoons and evenings when I feel like a slave in my own kitchen. When it feels like it's more of a war zone. I don't get to sit down, as someone always needs another refill, a second helping -- or naturally, there is a mess that needs immediate attention.



And yes, one day, I will look around my kitchen and wish for it to be filled with little people who need me to wait on them hand and foot... all too soon, it will be empty, quiet and lifeless.







There are moments I feel like I can't change one more diaper, help one more time on the potty, wipe one more messy mouth or clean up one more disaster. As soon as I get one of these tasks accomplished, the next is already awaiting me.



But I know that ultimately, my need to be needed is far greater than anything else. I will not only miss this, but yearn for it one day.



There are nights when the babies just won't go down for bed... or for that matter, stay asleep. The times they prolong the inevitable at tuck ins and ask for one more kiss, one more hug, one more drink of water or have just one more thing to tell you, but... for the fifteenth time.



There will come a time I would give anything to have made sure I took each one of those extra hugs and kisses and realize that I'm pacing the halls with an emptiness that can't be replaced.



The hundreds of times I'm asked daily, Mommy look! Mommy just watch me! Mommy.... Mommy? Come here! Mommy can you help me with this? There are times I think I could crumble and often, at my breaking point, I wonder, How is it possible for one human being to meet all of these tiny people's needs all at once, every single day, all day and all night long? I feel so defeated at times simply because there aren't five of me to go around.



One day, I will be praying to have those requests and sweet demands back.







There are never-ending pleas where I'm asked to watch the same show or movie over and over or listen to the same songs again and again. At times, my head aches and spins from it, and I'm certain it will burst if it sees or hears something one more time. I realize at times my much needed social, adult vices are no longer met; they're simply a thing of the past.



But yes, at some point, I will laugh to myself and want it back.



There are ever-too-early awakenings when I'd give anything to have my kids sleep in and not have each day begin at 65 mph by 5:30 a.m.. Most days, when I'm trying to get my eyes to open and remind my legs to put themselves one in front of the other, I'm not sure which direction I'm heading or what needs done first. I'm just doing my head count to make sure everyone is accounted for and made it through another night.



But this, too, will be an exhausting time that I will look back on and smile and think, They were my reason to carry on and pull myself out of bed every day. I will find a point when I need to have these mornings again.



There are daily games where I have someone playing peek-a-boo during my two-minute shower or have thumping feet and squeals running through our halls to the point it sounds like someone is being seriously hurt and our house will surely come crashing down.



One day, the peace and silence will be deafening. I will miss this.








There is running from one event and appointment to the next. The constant in and out of the car seats to keep up with our schedule. And while we're traveling, the unremitting battles in the backseat that are sometimes enough to make it impossible to even attempt to drive safely. All so often I think to myself that I must be one of the most courageous people on this earth to put these tiny people in the car and take all of them out in public alone.



One day, I will turn around and find complete emptiness behind me, with no one asking or needing me to take them anywhere or pick them up. I surely will want it all back.








The daily cleaning the toothpaste out of the sink, switching the shoes that are on the wrong feet, fixing the shirts that are misbuttoned, keeping up with the never ending loads of laundry, tripping over and picking up the sea of toys that lay scattered through the house or once again scrubbing the crayon that has found its way onto our wall.



Yes, all of this, every single last thing, I will want it all back.



That's the crazy thing about motherhood -- the most tiring and sometimes most dreadful duties are actually where we can find the biggest blessings hidden.



The days of Help, Mommy....Mommy, please....Just one more! I need to at times beg myself to embrace this, all of this... the struggles, the exhaustion, the wearing of the 50 hats to just survive one day with my little ones because one day, this will all begin to slow down and eventually come to a complete stop. There is no pause button. There is no rewind button. And unfortunately, there is no do-over button.



In our moments of exhaustion and despair wishing, Oh when they're old enough for this. We just have to push it out a little longer to make it through this stage.

There will come a time I will be sick thinking that I could have wished any amount of time away and would walk to the ends of the earth to be back here; right here, right now.



I'm given one shot with my children. They are given one childhood with me. The amazing, yet scary part of all of this, I'm the author of this part of their lives. I determine how their chapters are being written out. Every day, I will go down in flames trying to give them one hell of a story to reread and look back on one day and think, "I remember being happy. When I think of my childhood, I simply remember happiness."



And if we're really lucky enough, they will know in their hearts that their mother, well she was a huge contributor to that happiness.



As I have my failed attempts and times I only wish I could take back, I simply must try to learn from my mistakes, hoping by God that it bettered me as a parent, move on and try to make the next chapter a little better than the last one was.



Thank God every day we're given a brand new page to write on. Make today a good one.






Photographs above taken by Ashley Kostok Photography



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Why Social Media Should Take the Back Seat When It Comes to Health

In the pursuit of thinness, there always seems to be some new fad or weight loss movement that young women subscribe to. Years ago, it was all about protruding hip and collar bones made popular by the waify-thin runway models. Then came thinspiration, where girls kept a collection of photos of extremely thin bodies as motivation to lose more weight as they glorified the thigh gap and bikini bridge. Girls were harshly restricting their food intake to achieve a desired super thin look, and many of them had developed full-blown eating disorders. More recently, there has been another phenomenon known as fitspiration, which lies the obsession with physical fitness.



It could be considered a good thing that women have a new found focus of hitting the gym. However, fitspiration has also turned into an obsession. Working out and getting into better physical shape is great, but sometimes these ladies are participating only for the purpose of maintaining a certain body type. It has been said that fitspiration is really just thinspiration in disguise. What happened to trying to be healthier for the sake of being healthier? These days, it's all about striving to look more attractive. Appearance seems to be in the forefront of concern, and health is taking a back seat.



The power of social media plays a large role in the body image of today's young women. Tumblr is a popular source for sharing photos of thin women wearing swimsuits. Pinterest is known for it's outstanding number of users that have made boards for fitspirational photos and quotes. Most women that use any social media platform are highly likely to be bombarded with photos being shared to them of women looking a certain way that only fits a very narrow ideal of what our society views as attractive for women, and many of them are blindly buying into it.



When it comes to dieting, of course it's good to want to eat healthier and it's okay to want to look and feel good too, but your body requires a certain level of nutrition that the no-carb diet and the Weight Watchers program doesn't provide. Besides, those fad diets only set you up for failure because the weight loss is only temporary unless you plan to stay on that diet for life. Another thing to keep in mind is that weight is determined primarily by genetics and secondarily by environmental factors. Chances are good that you will take after your relatives in weight and body shape. This is hard for some people to accept, and for many of them, just eating well and being active won't necessarily get them the results they want, so the disordered eating patterns and a vicious cycle begins. This is not only harmful to the body, but mental and emotional health starts to suffer as well.



Ladies (and gentlemen), when are we going to stop tormenting our bodies? When are we going to stop being slaves to this societal expectation of what we "should" look like? And finally, when are we going to really start respecting our bodies and care about our health? As the saying goes, there's no time like the present. If we prioritize our health over our appearance today, we will be so much better off in the long run. The decision is only yours to make.



Ashley writes for Unwritten. Studying journalism at Ball State University, you can follow her on Twitter @ashleybpariseau.



If you're struggling with an eating disorder, call the National Eating Disorder Association hotline at 1-800-931-2237.



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Talking to Each Other: The Next Hot Thing

Photo: I.Rimanoczy




In a recent meeting my colleague Barri Litt, who teaches accounting and audit at Huizenga School of Business and Entrepreneurship, commented about a sleepover party she participated in, invited by a friend who hosted a group of 11-year-old girls. When bedtime arrived, they asked the girls to put down their iPhones, iPads or the like that each of them were holding and fiddling with.



"What do you mean, will we actually talk to each other?" one of the girls asked. "Yes," my friend replied. "That is exactly what we had in mind." The girls looked surprised and intrigued, as the adults brought a set of cards with trigger questions. "If you were an animal, what animal would you be?" The girls were excited and an animated conversation started that lasted until almost 2 a.m.



Needless to say, the next day they reported to their parents how amazing that sleepover party had been! So different. The parents looked a bit suspicious and with disbelief: "Did they really put their devices away?" "Did my daughter agree to that?"



We have become so used to spending time and attention on what comes up on the screens of our devices, that we actually develop a "relationship" with our devices. We used to wake up thinking of the person we're in love with, and that often was also the last thing on our mind before falling asleep. Nowadays, the first thought when waking up is to check our phone for messages.



What is the relationship we have and what is the one we would like to have with the devices? What are we missing out while we look at the screen?



As students of my Sustainability Mindset class at Fordham University were reflecting on what they valued about the course experience, one person said:

I loved that we didn't sit as in other classes, at the tables, but that we sat in a circle during class, and that I had a chance to listen to the thoughts of my colleagues. In all these years, I never really talked much to anyone, and sitting in class I always just saw their neck. We run in and out of classes, rush from work to school and from there home. Having time to talk, that is not something common at school. I was amazed, surprised, and enjoyed so much discovering the diversity and richness of experience of my colleagues.

Well, yes, may be talking to each other is the next hot thing.



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The Best Way To Work Your Biceps, According To Science

By Rachel Grumman Bender for YouBeauty.com



If you wish that you had stronger, more sculpted biceps -- and really, who doesn't? -- but you're not seeing results from your regular strength training routine, science just came to the rescue: The American Council on Exercise (ACE) commissioned a study to find out which biceps exercise is head and shoulders above the rest.



After testing seven different biceps-toning moves -- from the classic barbell curl to the preacher curl -- on men and women between 18 and 24 years old, the researchers found that the concentration curl was the big winner, eliciting significantly higher muscle activation than any other exercise tested.



"The reason that this exercise is best for targeting the biceps is because it takes other muscles that may usually help with the bicep action out of the equation," explains ACE expert and exercise physiologist Jacque Ratliff. "Because the biceps muscle's connective tissue crosses both the shoulder and elbow joints, the anterior deltoid and brachioradialis muscles are activated when doing other biceps exercises. With the concentration curl, however, the movement of the shoulder joint is limited, which focuses the work within the biceps muscle itself."



How To Perform A Concentration Curl

While sitting, lean forward and place your upper arm against your inner thigh, making sure there is plenty of clearance for your arm and a weight to curl up and down. Starting with the elbow extended, curl the dumbbell up until your elbow is fully flexed.



Perform three to six sets of six to 12 repetitions with 30 to 90 seconds of rest between sets.



More from YouBeauty.com:

5 Killer Squats for Toned Thighs

The Single Best Exercise for Abs, Says Science

This 5-Minute Activity Will Help You Live Longer



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I Learned a Lot From Being Three Months Behind on ALL My Bills

Recently I was challenged by a commenter to share a story on my "happy blog" of a time when I was so behind on things for several months and didn't know what I was going to do. This person was in a very negative space and assumed I wouldn't have a story like this since I'm so happy all the time. Usually I don't engage in those comments, but this time I felt compelled to do exactly that... because this is a part of my journey and has absolutely shaped who I am today.



One summer while living in Hawaii, I found myself three months behind on every major bill. Student loans, mortgage for my house (which I was renting at the time), car payment, credit cards, home owners association, and electric. I was also a month or two behind on my phone and Internet. The only thing I wasn't behind on was my rent, because I figured it made more sense to ensure I didn't get evicted. And in case you're wondering, three months is when Hawaiian Electric will shut off your power after no payments. Yeah.



This was one of the most stressful times in my life.



Living in one of the most expensive places, trying to build a business with my ex-boyfriend (who also had to pay bills from our shared revenue), having clients pay late or not at all, no regular influx of new work, and still completely lost in my quarter-life crisis.



Getting through each month had been a juggling act for some time, but eventually, I just fell behind and couldn't catch up. There were times in those three months where I literally had to choose between gas or groceries, usually choosing a little of both... but making sure to get groceries first since the hold placed by gas stations could overdraw me on its own.



There were also points where I was so broke I actually owed the bank nearly $1,000 in overdrawn funds.



I remember conversations with my friends at the time when they wanted to go out for dinner or other fun activities. "I can't, I'm broke," I would say. "Haha, me too! Let's go to the movies..." was always their reply, not understanding I was actually without money in that moment.



Many, many tears were shed during those three months, and honestly, in the months before and following. It was with some help from my mom, an influx of new work and past due payments, and a lot of hustle that allowed me to pull through that time. I paid my student loans and car payment late for an entire year following those three months because I could never quite get back ahead.







Here's what I learned from this time:



1) It's really not the end of the world.



I remember the very first time I overdrew my bank account when I was in college by $20. I was so upset and nervous, feeling like my whole world was crashing in. I also felt the same way the first time I made a late credit card payment. I probably spent thousands of dollars on overdraft fees in the year in question. Thousands. While my credit dipped, it wasn't the end of the world and I actually learned it's better to overdraw your bank account than to pay a credit card late. I basically learned to be strategically broke!



Here's the truth: I could very well have lost my house and my car, but I didn't. Even if I had, it really wouldn't have been the end of the world. My credit would have sucked, for awhile. I would have felt pretty crappy, for awhile. I probably would have had to move back into my parent's house, for awhile. But then life would have gone on and I absolutely would have picked up the pieces. I'm not saying stop paying your bills because it's no big deal, just relieve the pressure a bit by knowing it's not the end of the world. Stuff can be replaced, credit can be rebuilt, and we're wired for survival.



2) It's possible to feel abundant when you have nothing.


One of my friends and coaches had given me an exercise to try around abundance several months before I fell behind, which I refer to as the "$100 bill practice." Simply put, you keep a $100 bill in your wallet at all times and mentally spend it. Any time you're out and about, you think to yourself, "I could buy that! I could sign up for that program! I could see that movie and get a bucket of popcorn!" It trains you to approach life from a place of abundance and not scarcity. While going through this tumultuous time, I stuck with the practice, always thinking, if it comes down to it, I can pay something with this $100. Should I have paid something with it, probably... but maintaining the practice helped me stay in a place of possibility. I could get through this.



Since this hard time, I've had months that have been overwhelmingly challenging financially, one of which was actually last fall, and I'll share more about that experience soon. Despite not having enough money at times, I always feel abundant and I credit it entirely to this practice.



3) This type of experience can change you for the good.



So long as you release the bad limiting beliefs and fears you pick up as well. I've worked hard to remove a lot of money blocks and limiting beliefs from those times. I've worked hard to restore the belief that I can generate as much money as I need and desire. But the habits I picked up weren't all bad... for one, I'm much more conscious about when and how I invest my money. I work hard to live within my means, am aggressively tackling my debt, and learned to be a super saver shopper. I also fell in love with thrifting. For awhile, all I could do was buy second hand, but now it's something I do for fun in addition to treating myself to new items. I'm not as wasteful as I was before, I appreciate the money I do have, even when it's not a lot, and I have this unwavering sense of faith and trust. Trust that even if things do get that bad again, I'm capable of getting myself through it, because it's not the end of the world and I've done it before.



4) There's nothing more powerful than positive thinking.



When I replied to the commenter that inspired this post, I mentioned that I'd be happy to share my story, but they probably weren't going to like it because it came down to mindset for me. While I got stressed and cried and felt utterly exhausted, I always stayed positive. I would break down, take a deep breath, focus on the fact that I hadn't lost anything yet, and worked to trust that everything would work out. I truly believe that if I hadn't had this practice in place, I wouldn't have made it through. Things would have gotten worse, I would've lost my car or my house, and I would be scarred for life from this season.



5) We all have different tolerance levels for risk.



And debt. Mine is higher than most, yet if I could do it over again, I would have kept my bridge job for far longer than I did. I made it happen and I made it work, but it didn't have to be as hard as I chose to make it. You have to be honest about your level of tolerance for risk and debt and act accordingly. There's no right answer. I'm comfortable with debt because I've always known being broke and not making enough money to pay it off was never going to be my life long mode. Back to the last point, I've always believed in my ability to be successful and make things happen, and that's carried me through and beyond this rough patch.



So tell me...



What have you learned, or what are you learning, from the most difficult experience of your life? What are the lessons and the gifts? How can you find the positive and use this experience to change you for the better?



P.S. My life changing, signature program Foundations for Unshakable Joy starts on Monday, August 11th! This transformational program is the exact foundational process that took me from a stressed and depressed mess, to happy, fulfilled and living a life built around my passions and purpose. It has everything you need, and I'll be there every step of the way guiding you, supporting you, coaching you and holding your hand as you step into your truth, uncover your passions, and begin to create alignment in your life and career. My promise to you: You'll experience more joy, passion, zest for life and clarity than you've ever experienced before, in just 8 weeks. Click here to learn more.



Stephenie Zamora is the founder of http://ift.tt/1cVdbLU, a full-service, life-purpose development, design and branding boutique and author of Awesome Life Tips book. Through her Mastery program, she merges the worlds of personal development and branding to help men and women build passion-based lives and businesses they love. Click here to access her free Foundations for Unshakable Joy video training series and learn the unexpected trick to transforming your life with one single question!



Connect with Stephenie on Facebook and Twitter!



For more by Stephenie Zamora, click here.



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The Perfect Way To Keep A Sexy Bod And Still Enjoy Your Vacation

So many of us focus our energy on getting to the gym in preparation for that beach bikini moment when we let the sarong fall and bare our abs, two piece and a sun hat. All of that work ethic goes out the door when we find ourselves overeating, drinking and indulging in rich local fare and tourist restaurant attractions.



When you’re on vacation there are a few things that will help you keep fit and diminish the stress on your joints: low impact exercise. Just because an exercise is low impact doesn’t mean it won’t torch the calories you’re putting on. Low impact activities are good for the whole family, so if you’ve traveled with your children and don’t have childcare, bring them along for the exercise.



Here are four of my favorite ways to blast the fat and get toned, no matter where you go on vacation:



Get your Walk on!







This is the original workout offering so many advantages. Most hotel spas will offer a walking activity where you explore the local region. Walking minimizes the stress on your bones and muscles. If you keep a fast pace and cover some serious distance you will get the most out of this activity. Want to burn more? Explore the hilly areas of the region.



Walking accessory of choice: Fitness Tracker – Fitbit flex wireless activity and sleep wristband- tracks your daily activities and sleep quality.



Put a Spin on It!







Cycling can provide an intense cardio workout that is easy on the joints and simple for anyone to do. Most hotels have a stationery bike in the gym, and spas will offer a spinning class option. The cycling motion is easy on the knees. To boost the burn, increase your incline and increase your speed in intervals. This is great for anyone at any fitness level -- it doubles as a cardio workout as well as a strength training routine. Inclines will strengthen and tone the thighs and lift the bikini butt.



Inhale, Exhale, Repeat!







Yoga is an ancient form of mind and body exercise that offers countless health benefits including peace of mind, stress reduction and physical flexibility. The focused breathing techniques and postures can be gentle on the body and the postures can be modified for your fitness level.



Want to boost the burn? Yoga can burn serious calories as your flexibility and strength improve. Poses like warrior, chaturanga and downward dog held for extended periods can rev up your metabolism while increasing your heart rate. Yoga is suitable for any age or physical condition and you can do it anywhere, even in your hotel room or on the beach with the kids. Many hotel spas will offer a group yoga class.



Jump to It!







We’re always warning our kids to stop jumping on the bed at home and in hotels, but there might be something to their rambunctious activity that we can learn from. Jumping is generally not advisable in low impact workouts, but if you add a trampoline to the picture, it’s a whole different story. The benefits are twofold –- you get the cardio intensity of a high impact movement but it’s gentle on the body. The trampoline absorbs the impact of your jumps so it’s not hard on the ankles or knees. Not only is it fun, you will be smiling just like the kids while jumping up and down.



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