TresSugar

Do You Eat When You're Not Hungry?

Susi May — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 03:30:27 PST

When it comes to weight loss, we talk a lot about portion control as a means of conserving calories. But sometimes you need to size up your appetite too. Before your pick up that heaping tablespoon of almond butter, ask yourself if you're really hungry.
Nibbling out of boredom is a subtle diet sabotage and can pack unconscious calories into your week. We develop habits around food too. Like always ordering popcorn at the movie theater, even though you just went out to dinner. I call it eating by association. Now, I am not suggesting you wait until your stomach is growling to have a bite to eat, but listen to your body and measure your hunger. I found myself making toast this afternoon as a means of avoiding an email I needed to write. I wasn't hungry, just procrastinating.

What Do You Wish You Could Do - Right This Second?

TresSugar — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 04:00:01 PDT

Technological distractions might leave us with less time to daydream, but that doesn't keep women from trying. In a survey that determined two-thirds of British women are completely bored with their lives, a very open-ended question spurred lots of fantasies. When asked, "what do you wish you could do," women provided these top-10 responses. Check them out below.

Go to an airport and get the next available flight to anywhere
Emigrate
Tell people what they really think
Hand in their notice without another job to go to
Have a dramatic hair cut

To see the rest,

Put the house up for sale and buy a new one
Try something new in the bedroom
Go back to school
Book in for a boob job
Sing in public

Now's your chance to daydream in the comments: what do you wish you could do?

Source: Flickr User One-Fat-Man

7 Ways to Fight Off Boredom

TresSugar — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 08:00:24 PST

British researchers say the more bored you are, the more likely you are to die early. Bored people more likely face depression, heart disease, and unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking, or drug use.

Regardless of the health effects if you're bored, you're probably boring. And no one wants to be boring. Here are seven ways to avoid such a fate!

Try a new recipe. Make this classic spaghetti and meatball dish so you have it perfected for your next dinner party.
Go to the library. It's silly, but every time I go to the library I have the same thought - "Wait, I can take all these books home for free?!" Go wander the stacks and choose the tome that will help you fight boredom for days to come.
Try out new makeup tricks. Want to sport a new smoldering makeup look without looking sloppy? Practice it first when you're just hanging around the house.
Work on a second language. Since French class always gave me anxiety, I prefer low-key ways to freshen up my skills, like watching a foreign film or listening to my favorite French songs while reading along with the translated lyrics.
Wanderlust. Whether you actually have some travel on the calendar or only wish you did, look up photos, restaurants, or other info about the place you plan to go next. This is what I like to call travel porn.
Go through your closet. When nothing's on TV, I pump up my music and start filling a bag with clothes to give to Goodwill. If I can't remember the last time I wore it, it probably should be donated. If you're feeling ambitious, feel free to color coordinate what's left.
Clean up your cell phone. Remove all the numbers of failed romantic prospects and definitely delete anyone whose face you cannot remember.

If you need more ideas, check out our list of low-tech ways to unwind. How do you fight killer boredom?

Source: Flickr User adreson

Health Headlines: Stuttering, Binge Eating, and Death by Boredom

FitSugar — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:00:14 PST

Unlocking a Medical Mystery: Stuttering - CNN
Experts believe we have been stuttering as a species for as long as we have been talking - there is even an Egyption hieroglyph for stuttering. The speech disorder appears to be caused by a genetic mutation that interrupts a cell's ability to process waste material. Previous studies pointed toward a genetic component, but now there are three specific mutations pegged for further research.

Binge Eating Officially Defined as a Mental Disorder - NPR
The American Psychiatric Association released a draft of the latest version of its diagnostic manual and a new addition appears on its pages; binge eating is now classified as an eating disorder. The APA believes there is now enough evidence to label binge eating as a mental disorder, and it joins anorexia and bulimia in the eating disorders group.

To learn if boredom can kill you,

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Chronic Boredom May Bring an Early Death - Cleveland Leader
According to a survey of 7,500 British civil servants, boredom is linked with an early death. Survey participants who answered that they were bored at work in the previous month were two and half times more likely to die of heart problems than their co-workers who found work interesting. No, boredom won't kill you, but it can lead to unhealthy behaviors like drinking, smoking, and using drugs.

This or That: Boring or Arrogant?

DearSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 16:00:00 PDT

Your friend begs you to come on a double date as her wingman with a guy she’s crushing on. You hesitantly agree, seeing as how you know nothing about the friend her date is bringing. When they meet you guys at the restaurant, you’re pleasantly surprised - the friend is a total looker - but then he speaks. Would it be worse if the guys is . . .

This: A total bore - his voice just drones on relentlessly? He’s nice as can be, but you’ve never been so bored talking to someone.

Or . . .

That: Completely arrogant and overly opinionated? You spend the entire night arguing with him about politics and relationships.

Source

Fit Tip: Beat Boredom with New Routes

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 03:30:00 PDT

Here we are not yet into Summer and many of us are already getting bored with our workout routines. Feeling bored after doing something more than once or twice is totally normal. Why do you think I use a different cardio machine every time I go to the gym? Doing the same cardio over and over again would bore me to tears. The same thing goes for my outdoor workouts too.

If you're starting to feel bored in your outdoor workouts then try something as simple as changing up the route you take. Whether you're on bike or on foot, a new route may provide enough variety to keep you motivated for a few weeks. When you get bored with your new route, time to switch it up again! There is no rule that says you have to do the same thing everyday, so don't.

Source

Do Tell: Do You Use Social Networking Sites to Keep Track of Exes?

DearSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 14:00:00 PDT

I’m going to come clean: Sometimes when I’m bored, I look up my exes on Facebook and MySpace just to lurk around their pages and see what’s new. It’s not one of my best habits, but what can I say, I’m imperfect - and a tad bit nosy. I never make contact with them, and I have no interest in ever seeing them again, but I guess I just like to stay in the know. I may be biased, but I consider this kind of curiosity totally innocent. Do you agree? Ladies, do tell, do you ever check out social networking sites to keep track of your exes?

Source

This or That: Lackluster Romance or Long-Term Singlehood?

DearSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 09:00:00 PDT

After getting out of string of very passionate, but brief relationships, you end up enjoying your time being single. But after a while, you start to get bored and kind of lonely. You know you’re still young, but while all of your friends are off getting engaged, you suddenly have a vision of yourself as a crazy cat lady in 30 years. Would it be worse if . . .

This: You end up single late in life - but not forever? You definitely get to know yourself better than you ever thought possible, but there are some tough years.

Or…

That: You start dating a new guy, who’s very sweet, but you just don’t feel passionate with him? He's a nice guy so you decide to make it work, but the chemistry never shows up.

Which is worse?

You Asked: My Relationship Has Hit a Lull

DearSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:00:00 PDT

Dear Sugar,

My boyfriend and I have been together for two and a half years. Recently I have been feeling like our relationship is boring and there's no excitement left. I was talking to a co-worker about this and she said that after you hit the two-year mark in a relationship things just start going downhill. She also said something about it being a result of chemicals or hormones in the brain. Is this true? And if so, what can I do to get my relationship back to being fun again? I don't want to break-up.

-Bored Betty

To see Dear Sugar's answer

Dear Bored Betty,

It sounds like you really like this guy and what your co-worker said is hogwash. Sure hormones affect our moods, but they won't make a relationship boring unless you're the one who's not putting forth any effort to make it more fun.

Relationships are as wonderful and exciting as you make them. When you first start dating someone, things are so new that you don't have time to be bored. Then after you get to know someone, you put forth less effort, stop trying to impress them (since you've already won their heart), and you get back to living your day-to-day life. So you've got to do some things to bring the spice and fire back.

One of the best things you can do is talk to your boyfriend about how you feel, and see if he's feeling the same way. Together you can figure out ways to make your relationship have more passion. Maybe you need to go on more dates, or designate one night a week to be Date Night so you always have something to look forward to. Maybe life in the bedroom could use some re-vamping. You also have to make an effort to do special things like give each other massages, or leave love notes for each other. You can't just expect things to automatically be fabulous and outstanding all the time, you've got to be the one to make it happen.

Source

Keep the Magic Alive With Date Night

DearSugar — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 11:00:00 PDT

When you've been with the same person for a while, things are taken to a whole other level. Things can go from spicy and exhilarating to comfy and uneventful. Guys are probably fine with no longer having to go out of their way to impress you, but women get sad that things aren't as special anymore.

If you're feeling like things are boring or dull, you've got to try harder to make your relationship exciting again. It's time to introduce "Date Night." Both of you can agree on one night a week where you go out to dinner or order in, rent a movie, go to a show, play a board game, take a bath together, go for a long walk, make love for hours - or whatever you guys want to do.

The only rule is that you both have to commit to devoting this one day to one another, no making excuses. "Date Night" is a great way to guarantee some special time together and it gives you something to look forward to each week!

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