Health & Fitness Blog for Men

Hall of Shame: Diner Disasters

2009-10-13T14:52:00.000-04:00

Here's another heaping helping of the foods you hate to love. Welcome to the Hall of Shame!

Take Me Out to the Hall Game...
I've never had one, but our local minor league baseball park sells something called a Krispy Kreme Burger. It is a burger with cheese & bacon sandwiched between a Krispy Kreme glazed donut. Aficionados of this "heart attack on a bun" rave about it & will exclaim with dismay if you "ruin" it by trying to put traditional condiments such as ketchup or mustard on it. CBS had even done a news story on it. They said it clocks it at around 1,000 calories with over 10g of sugar. However, I have a hard time believing it's only 1,000 calories. Happy artery clogging & Go Grizzlies! -- Sandwich Slugger

Bad Dog!
I went to a Philiadelphia-Style Deli in Wilimington, NC recently. They have a "John's Island Hot Dog" on the menu. It's an all beef hot dog with peanut butter, mayo and raw onions. I was feeling brave and I tried it. Now I recreate it at home at least once a month! -- Joanna

Oodles of Noodles of Shame
You take a pack of chicken-flavored oriental noodles (minus the flavor pack, of course) and put them in the pot and let them boil to the right consistency. While that is happening, gather 2 eggs, diced onions, cheese and sliced turkey. Cook the eggs, cheese, onions and meat together, then when the noodles are done, add the seasoning packet plus the egg mixture to the noodles, mix together and serve! Yum! I started cooking this when I was pregnant with my second daughter, and 6 years later, it is still one of my favorite snacks. -- Tracy

Family Food Fight
My parents each have their entry into the Hall: My dad is from Mississippi and I can only think this originates from there. He would take a banana, slather it with crunchy peanut butter, and top that with dollops of mayonnaise! I used to ask him why he bothered with the banana and he said it made the snack "healthy"! My mom's food of shame was so bad, she used to literally close the blinds in the house before she indulged - she would buy a can of sweetened condensed milk, pop hole in the top with a church-key opener, and drink the entire thing! She should feel guilty!
--Adrianne

A Tortured Soul
I love canned baked beans mixed with mayonnaise and finely chopped red onions. Really, really good! I bet it would be amazing with the crack weenies. My mouth is watering from watching you make AND EAT them. It’s not fair for you to make something so appealing, when I’m not supposed to go near any one of the ingredients! Although I might write down the recipe in case I ever feel the need to medicate with food. Which happens surprisingly often.

I think I’ll rewind to the tuna on a donut and see if I can turn my stomach for a few hours.
Thanks,
Joan

Northern Exposure
The Granny that ate raw hamburger is not alone -- steak tartar in some circles -- but in addition to salt and peppering, a piece of thinly sliced onion tops it off! To this day, even with what I know about red meat (cooked or raw), I still sneak a few bites after I unload groceries and "re-package" a family-size container of fresh ground chuck! My Dad used to even feed bits of raw hamburger to our pet goldfish "Cannibal." Must be an up north Chicago thing… :O)
-- Monster of the Midway

The Pie's the Limit
No wonder I was up to 150 pounds in college, when I ate snacks like this:

A packaged frozen pie crust, only slightly heated (just enough to get rid of the freezer taste), smeared with whipped sweet butter, then folded over like a sandwich. And yes, on occasion I ate more than one at a time. It obviously wasn't about hunger. Just to think of it today literally makes me gag. -- Student Body Treasurer

Do you have a strange or disgusting dish you're not ashamed to share? Come clean by posting it below and we could use it in an upcoming article.

Hall of Shame: Sugar Shock, Doughnut Disasters

2009-10-04T10:43:00.000-04:00

The Hall of Shame honors the worst of our guilty pleasures -- unhealthy food. Here are this edition's freaky foods:

Crazy for cocoa and Crisco mixture
My favorite mess was a concoction I used to make because we only had dry cocoa powder in the house and I wasn't old enough to cook, so had to find another way to use it. I would take a cup of dry powder milk, a cup of sugar and about a 1/2 cup of cocoa, mix it with some Crisco and then add milk until it was the texture of cake icing. This was my solution to a chocolate craving. But thinking back on it, it was really gritty from the sugar, and the Crisco didn't help it any.
--June Moore

Tremendous exhibition of gluttony
When my daughter lived in Wilmington, NC, she had a girlfriend whose husband ate one dozen doughnuts at one time. He would go to Krispy Kreme when the hot sign was on, buy one dozen doughnuts, stack them on top of one another, and then squish them down to an eatable size -- one large "doughnut" made out of 12 hot ones. Ugh!
--Sherrill Norman

Homemade cookies were GRRRREAT!
When I was in college, I used to mix up chocolate-chip cookie dough from scratch, crunch up half a box of Frosted Flakes and add it to the dough. I would bake it just until the top was crispy brown and the inside was gooey and wet. My roommate would eat it with a spoon. Mmm. Her friend from class tried it once and said it tasted like fingernail pie (because of the frosted flakes), but we LOVED it! Talk about the Freshman 15!
--R. Turner

Never tried sister's sandwich
My sister used to eat a sandwich made of peanut butter, bologna and banana with barbecue sauce on white bread. I never got the nerve to try it myself. But she seemed to enjoy them very much.
--Carol

Peanut butter and syrup sandwiches
I don't think my food is gross at all but my family cringes each time I fix it. When I was growing up, Mother would mix butter and syrup or peanut butter and syrup in a bowl and we would eat it on light bread. As I have gotten older, I still enjoy the treat of peanut butter (about 1 cup) and syrup (about 1/2 cup and has to be Daddy Buck's cane syrup), but I skip the bread and sit down instead with just a spoon and the creamy mixture. I think pineapple and mayonnaise sandwiches are delicious also but the peanut butter with syrup is my all-time favorite comfort food!
--Tammy

'Wouldn't dare serve that now'
When I was in college, my favorite cafeteria meal was chili with a side sandwich of peanut butter. The peanut butter had to be piled on fresh white bread and then dipped into the chili! Back then, I walked it off going up and down hills to classes. I wouldn't dare serve that now!
--Nancy M.

Grandma loved mayonnaise
When I was a kid, my grandmother used to take us to the beach a lot. She would make all of the lunches for me and my cousins. She would take peanut butter, spread it on white bread and put mayo on top. I actually used to like it but, the thought of ever eating it today makes me want to vomit. Oh yeah, she would put mayo on our hot dogs, too, which I never ate, yuck!
--Shiren F.

A popular treat -- bread and sugar
Probably a lot of people remember this delightful treat. It was my favorite as a kid -- bread and sugar. Just take a nice, soft, chewy piece of white bread, preferably from the middle of the loaf, spread with a thick layer of butter and sprinkle with a generous portion of white sugar. Fold it in half and eat. We were in cavity heaven!
--Marilyn Ware

Makes you want to dance
An avid dancer's mix of protein and sugar -- cottage cheese mixed with plain M&M's. YUMMY! Of course, that was 15 years ago.
--Felicity Schmerfeld

A bad habit died young
I love reading this column! I must say, I've been tempted to try bacon with peanut butter. Even the King himself, Elvis Presley was said to indulge in huge sandwiches with these two ingredients together. (This makes me think of his unfortunate demise.) When I was little, I'd open a box of brown sugar or powdered sugar, whichever one was handy, grab a spoon, and go to town while watching television. I'm so glad that was a bad eating habit that died young, instead of me!
--Gina

Do you have a strange food to share? Post it below and share in the shame.

Find Time for Fitness: Exercise for Everyone

2009-10-01T14:52:00.000-04:00

By Mike Stefano
eDiets Contributor

A busy lifestyle can make finding the time to exercise a nightmare. Most adults who work out also have a little thing called a job, which can add up to big-time exhaustion.

This puts time on short supply, and unfortunately one of the first things to bite the dust is your fitness program.

What time of day do you exercise?

We surveyed 500 fitness buffs and this is what we discovered: About 28 percent of you exercise any time you can, a dead heat with those who prefer an evening workout.

But what's the most popular time to exercise?

Morning got more than 200 votes out of 500 exercisers polled (44 percent). The least favorite time to train the body was during the afternoon hours (at only 10 percent).

Survey Results:
I prefer to exercise...

Mornings -- 44 percent

Afternoons -- 10 percent

Evenings -- 28 percent

Any time -- 28 percent

The Body's Natural Rhythm
Throughout the day there is also a natural ebb and flow of energy that we all experience. We adapt to our daily schedules of sleep, work, and rest, and actually become stronger during periods of the day when our bodies instinctively anticipate greater amounts of work (based on previous behavior).

In other words, if you work out every day at 6 p.m., your body will get the most from a workout that takes place at 6 p.m. Because you've grown accustomed to exercise in the evening, you won't be as energetic and strong during a workout that takes place in the early morning hours. For you, a morning workout will not be quite as effective. Fortunately, any differences will be minor, and a workout that takes place during the evening hours is still far better than no workout at all.

Practicality Rules
So should you rearrange your life around exercise just to ensure an evening workout, or a workout that happens at the same time every day? Researchers are apt to answer with a very adamant, "No!" Ultimately, finding enough time (and energy) to exercise, no matter what the time of day, is what's important.

Ideally, stick to your scheduled program, but here are five ways to get around a hectic day.

1. Shrink to Fit
Cut workouts in half and squeeze in a 15- or 20-minute session instead of your normal workout. These "short but sweet" workouts can produce dramatic results.

2. Start Your Day 30 Minutes Earlier
Set the alarm clock for 30 minutes earlier and workout before your day starts. Eventually your body will adjust to the earlier wake up call.

3. Split lunch
Split your lunch hour in two, and devote half an hour to exercise before you eat. This will also curb your appetite and make it easier to cut lunchtime calories.

4. Rock-A-Bye, Baby
When the little one goes down for a nap, squeeze in 10 or 15 minutes. Whether you're a work-at-home mom or dad, take every opportunity you get to squeeze in some exercise. Repeat throughout the day to add up to 20 or 30 minutes.

5. Double Up
Create combination workouts that you can perform 3 or 4 times weekly. For example, combine 10 minutes of strength with 20 minutes of cardio training for three or four, 30-minute weekly workouts.

Don't allow strict rules on what time of day is best for exercise to dictate your workout schedule. You may wind up exercising less. Be flexible in your scheduling, and do what you can, when you can, to get the most from any exercise program!

Want more great ways to get fit? Join eDiets and get a fitness plan customized for you, as well as as a diet plan for your needs and unlimited support. You can lose the weight!

To learn more about Mike Stefano and his fat burning, body sculpting workouts, go to www.firefightersworkout.com.

Summer Snackdown: Craving Control

2009-06-17T09:58:00.007-04:00

By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer

Snacking is an essential element of healthy eating. Not only can properly timed snacks or mini-meals keep your metabolism stoked and your energy levels up all day, but they can also prevent the ravenous hunger that leads to overeating.

Making snacking a part of weight loss is as simple as adding two or three snacks to your normal 3-squares-a-day. Spreading your calories out over the day keeps your metabolism actively burning calories, which will lead to greater weight loss and easier weight management.

You will snack -- so make sure you do it right.

"The key to snacking is balancing out protein, carbohydrates and good fats (don't forget fiber) to help keep blood sugar levels stable and satisfy your hunger," says eDiets Director of Nutrition Services Pamela Ofstein.

Depending on your activity level, you're probably going to want to keep snacks between 100-200 calories and -- if you have a particularly large snack -- compensate with a slightly smaller meal.

Remember: You're not simply adding snacks to your meals. Stay in your weight-loss calorie range, but spread the calories over five or six meals throughout the day.

Since I've done numerous articles on healthy snacking, I've decided this list will be specifically for things I've been craving this summer.

Something Salty and Crunchy
I tend to crave the crunch! And with slogans like, "Once you pop, you can't stop" and "Betcha can’t eat just one," the captains of the snack industry know this. If a single serving contains around 150 calories, and you crack open a bag and down several servings, chips can become huge calorie bombs.

I often opt for pretzels, which tend to have less fat and fewer calories. Snyder's sent me their new Sourdough Specials, which are delicious and have 110 calories and 3 grams of protein per 1-ounce serving.

Another snack classic for anyone who loves Mexican food is chips and salsa. In college, we would sit down with a bag of chips and a jar of salsa, devouring them both in a matter of minutes. Ah, memories.

Guiltless Gourmet sent me samples of their All Natural Tortilla Chips, which have 120 calories, 3 grams of protein and 2 grams of fiber per 1-0unce serving (about 18 chips). Pair that with a couple tablespoons of salsa (10-20 calories), and you've got a south of the border snack that hits the spot.

Plus, the folks at Guiltless Gourmet are giving away a trip Las Vegas, the guiltiest place on earth. They are really covering the bases on my favorite college memories!

A Lil' Somethin' Sweet
Who doesn't want a little sugar every now and then? Cereal is one of my favorite snacks, but I've long since graduated from the cartoon cereals of my youth. However, I haven't had to completely give up the flavor.

Kashi GOLEAN Crunch: Honey Almond Flax is my new favorite cereal. It tastes like the cereal that I used to eat growing up with the cartoon frog on it -- anyone remember when they were called Sugar Smacks?

But of course, my grown-up replacement is packed with 9 grams of protein, 8 grams of fiber and heart-healthy Omega-3s. With milk, it comes in at about 240 calories, so you can eat it at breakfast or eat a little less for a snack. Now, that's something we can all dig.

OK, so the last snack was a little higher in calories, but I'm going to make up for it with this one: Yoplait Fiber One's new 50-calorie yogurt. It's tasty, low in calories and high in fiber (5 grams). They didn't send me any samples, but they did hook it up with a coupon that you can print here.

Finally, it wouldn't be a "Summer Snackdown" without something to cool off with. Instead of breaking out a carton of ice cream, which can quickly turn into a single serving, I like Edy's Strawberry Fruit Bars. They're only 80 calories with 1 gram of fiber and real strawberry chunks! While it's not the healthiest snack, for ice cream you could do much worse.

Enjoy the rest of your summer and keep on snackin'!

You can eat great and still lose weight! Join eDiets for more tips to make slimming down simple.

Hall of Shame: Kool-Aid Pickles

2009-05-12T12:43:00.003-04:00

We've got another egregious edition of the Worst Food's Hall of Shame that will turn stomachs and torture the taste buds. Let the gross begin!

Afterschool Snack Attack
When I was about 5, I would come home from school and ask my mum for a snack -- but it wasn't an ordinary snack. I would have a bowl of hot baked beans with 5 or 6 large marshmallows placed on top, then it would be thrown into the microwave for a few minutes and the marshmallows would be all gooey. It was great. -- Marshmallow Mama

Cafe Mochacheeseo
A favorite of my family and my grandmother -- who passed away 4 years ago at the young age of 109 -- is sharp cheese in our coffee. This was usually a treat for Sunday breakfasts. We call it cheese coffee. Try it, it's great. Make sure your coffee is hot and cut your sharp cheese into chunks, you just want the chunks to melt a little, not entirely. -- Bad Barista

Totally UnKool
Have any of you heard of Kool-Aid Pickles? They are dill pickles soaked in Kool Aid. It is a popular snack in the south. Here's a picture. -- Anonymous

Pregnancy Recipe
This is what I ate when I was pregnant:
1/2 cup peanut butter (Jiff is best, but anykind will do.)
1/2 cup liverwerst
1/2 small onion chopped fine
1/2 tsp worchestershire sauce
spread on crackers or on wheat toast
-- belinda

Fright at the Movies
Before I got married this was my all time favorite movie watching snack: Popcorn (the real kind -- kettle-popped or air-popped) buttered and salted, with Sugar Babies and pink lemonade. You have sweet, salty, and tart. You have crunchy and chewy. It's the best. -- De-lish

Shaking Things Up
As a child I loved to dip my french fry in my chocolate shake. Then, as I got older, I craved this taste, so I started crumpling plain potato chips into chocolate ice cream. I love that sweet and salty taste together. -- Lori

When I was a kid, I dipped my french fries in my chocolate shake! Now, in my 30s, I never thought I'd see potatoes and chocolate again until I recently discovered chocolate covered potato chips at a local candy store. (I don't buy them...honest!) -- Chocolate Chipper

Once You Pop...
You haven’t tasted anything until you try this taste combination. This salty, creamy, crunchy delight was my favorite treat. You simply dip salty Pringles in any brand of butterscotch pudding that comes in little cans for sack lunches. Oh! I do miss it. I hope you like it, too! -- Loretta H.

Greasy Spooners
My boyfriend makes his signature breakfast that is worthy of the Hall of Shame. He takes a half package of bacon and fries it up all at once, saving the grease. After the bacon is cooked and the pan is nice and greasy, he adds in scrambled eggs and chunks of bread to cook and soak up all of the bacon fat! He loves it, but I can only stomach about half of a helping before the grease gets to me! Lucky for him he gets lots of exercise, so the weekly breakfast has not added on a pound! -- Katherine

Do you have a strange or disgusting dish you're not ashamed to share? Come clean by posting it below and we could use it in an upcoming article.

Hall of Shame: Gross Grinders

2009-04-29T16:24:00.004-04:00

The easiest way to combine things that don't belong together is by putting them between two pieces of bread. It keeps the unlikely food fellows from going their own ways -- and may obscure the obscene contents just enough to get them into your mouth. Enjoy this week's shameful sandwiches!

PB & May...O?
As kids growing up, one of our favorite sandwiches was peanut butter and mayonnaise (on white store-bought bread, of course), with a big dill pickle sliced up on top, and a big piece of cheddar cheese on top of that. Forgot to mention that before applying the thick peanut butter to the bread, we slathered it with thick real butter first!! This was considered a "healthy lunch" meant to power us through the day. -- Anonymous

Fast Food & Furious
There is a small little hole-in-the-wall place called Arthur's Paradise Diner in Lowell, MA - they are famous for their "Boot Mill" breakfast sandwich (which puts the egg Mc'Muffin to shame!). They take a grilled bulkie roll and layer: fried egg, cheese, home fries, then your choice of bacon, sausage or ham (OR ALL THREE!!!). The best part is that although the sandwich is big, the price isnt ($4.00)! -- Andrea

Big Yack
Once I added sardines, extra mayonnaise, buffalo sauce, fried fun size snickers and put a few French fries inside a McDonalds Big Mac. Hard to eat, but delicious. -- The Mad Stacker

More Uses for Bacon!
I love peanut butter and bacon sandwiches. I can't eat bread so now I eat peanut butter and pork rinds. Not as good as bacon but it suffices. -- Name Withheld

When I was little, my mom used to make me peanut butter and bacon sandwiches. Start with a white bread pita pocket, slather in loads of hydrogenated peanut butter, and slip in a few slices of bacon. Talk about a fat-fest! -- Jenni

We like sandwiches. Peanut butter, pickle and mayonnaise is our favorite. We used the bread and butter pickles for ours...my mom also likes avocado sandwiches with mayo and sugar. and when I was pregnant, I liked hamburger dill pickle slices dipped in ketchup. yum. -- JMM

Wonder Fed
Back in high school I used to make a sandwich with good old Wonder Bread, extra fresh, slather on a inch thick of cheese salad spread (made with real cheese, pimentoes, mayo) and dunk it Heinz ketchup (no other brand would do!) with every bite!

I also made left over french fry sandwiches, you have to use to thick cut home made fries, reheat them in the microwave 'til they sizzle, slather butter on two slices of Wonder Bread, layer the heated fries as thick as you can, add salt, smoosh the bread together and enjoy!
-- Anonymous (to protect the not so innocent)

Fake Steak?
A buddy of mine liked to eat what he liked to call "steak sandwiches"; peanut butter and mayo! I don't know about anyone else, but that ain't quite steak to me! -- Kevin B.

Parental Guidance Digested
Me and my mom love eating peanut butter and pickled jalapenos on toast..haha! It tastes really good. My mom recommends bacon or cream cheese with it but i think it's weird enough on its own... lol. -- Kait

I (Heart) New Yuck
Another strange but delicious combo is a real new york plain bagel, untoasted with a thick smear of cream cheese, layer on doritos, smash and eat. Yum! But I also put ketchup and onions on my mac and cheese so clearly I am weird. -- 5th Avenue Bellyache

Do you have a strange or disgusting dish you're not ashamed to share? Come clean by posting it below and we could use it in an upcoming article.

Sizzling Sex in 30 Days

2009-02-05T11:58:00.010-05:00

By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer

We lived in a hyper-sexualized society where "sex sells" seems to be the mantra. If you watch TV, go to the movies, pick up a magazine or hit the Internet, you're bombarded with sexual images and messages. It would seem that people everywhere are constantly having hot sex.

Aren't you?

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The reality, of course, is that sex often takes a back seat to work and family responsibilities. After a long day of work, carting your kids around and cooking dinner, it's easy to trade your intimate time for another 20 minutes of sleep.

"Life has gotten very complicated, particularly for women," says Roz Van Meter, AASECT certified sex therapist and author of Sizzling Sex in 30 Days. "After you finish your various roles during the day as wife, mother and employee, by the time you get to the bedroom you're exhausted."

Often, we let work or family obligations take priority over love, leaving little time to be intimate, which can lead down a slippery slope toward losing that love connection.

"You have to make the time. Just like finding the time to exercise, you have to find the time for love," Van Meter says. "You have to nurture your relationship like a plant. Pay attention -- the whole book is about paying attention to each other and yourself."

Sex can be a source of great joy or great frustration in a relationship, depending on how you communicate with each other. You have to respect the fact that you and your partner may have different libidos and may need to compromise, says Van Meter. You need to be able to talk about what you want and what you like.

To help you bring the sizzle back to your sex life, Van Meter gives a few of the tips from her book, which she explains started as a tip booklet for her clients and turned into "an owner's manual for people looking for sexual fulfillment."

Don't take sex so seriously. People get so focused on the act of sex that they miss the connection -- the closeness, fun and playfulness. Sex should be fun, not a chore on your to-do list.

Rediscover each other as sexy grownups. Before you were parents, you were lovers. Make time to be intimate; be open with each other and explore like teenagers -- kissing, touching and caressing like you're in high school.

Use your five senses for seduction. You can use food as an aphrodisiac, music to set the mood, candles for erotic aromas and sexy lingerie for visuals to bring the most pleasure to your physical touching. Be creative and stimulate all your senses for the most satisfaction.

What's your fantasy? Does your lover know about it? Whether it's role play or hot candle wax, share it with your partner -- even if you never plan to physically act on it. Van Meter recommends framing the question this way: "I've always wanted to try (insert sexy desire), are you willing to try (erotic fantasy)?"

Communicate. Talk about what you want and what bothers you. Use "I" statements for things that bother you instead of "You" statements that point the blame. Saying, "You never do your share of the chores," will make your partner defensive. Whereas saying, "I would really like more help around the house because I can't do it all alone," can lead to a more open dialog.

Foreplay begins right after breakfast. Don't wait until you get into the bedroom to start wooing your lover. Send sexy emails or text messages; make a phone call to tell your lover you're thinking about how sexy they are and get them rushing home much faster than a message that says, "Please pick up milk." Let your lover know you are thinking about them.

Whether you were a close couple before and want to get it back, are losing your connection or are in the early stages of your relationship, Van Meter emphasizes making each encounter about the quality of the experience and not the quantity.

"Slow down and take the time to enjoy your love," she says.

For more information, visit Sizzling Sex in 30 Days.

Do you have a sex, love or relationship question? Email it here to be answered in an upcoming article by Roz Van Meter.

Difference Between Men & Women: All In Your Head

2009-02-05T11:42:00.003-05:00

By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer

A true story of miscommunication between a friend of mine on the phone with his date while on the way to pick her up for their first outing (the names have been omitted to protect the innocent):

Man: So how do I get there?
Woman: Take Commercial toward the mall and turn right at the Taco Bell. Keep driving until you see Wal-mart and take that left.
Man: So, it's north of Commercial?
Woman: Um, I'm not sure. Just go right when you see the Taco bell across from the shoe store. Then left when you see the Wal-mart.
Man: So I'll be heading east?
Woman: Yes, I think, just take a left at the Wal-Mart and you'll see a gas station.
Man: On the west side of the street?

(This continues for another five or six minutes, both people not understanding why the other can't comprehend the simplicity of these directions. Frustration ensues. He showed up 30 minutes late and the date was doomed from the get-go.)

What's the communication problem? Whose fault is it? Why can't he understand how to recognize simple landmarks? Why doesn't she explain things with cardinal directions so he can understand?

The answer is simple, yet, entirely complex. Men and women are different. Their brains are wired differently, and for different tasks. There have been numerous scientific studies concerning the differences in the brain make up of men and women. But how do they differ?

To answer these questions, we look to the largest professional organization studying this "gray matter," the Society for Neuroscience. They report that evolution is the key to understanding these differences. The two sexes had specific roles to ensure survival of the species: Men hunted; women cared for children and gathered food close to home. Certain brain areas developed to facilitate these activities.

Professor David Geary from the University of Missouri, a top researcher in the field of gender differences, agrees:

"In evolutionary terms, developing superior navigation skills may have enabled men to become better suited to the role of hunter, while the development by females of a preference for landmarks may have enabled them to fulfill the task of gathering food closer to home."

While they may be able to do the same tasks, men and women may have distinctly different ways of doing them. In one study from the University of Alberta, researchers report that men and women actually use different parts of the brain to accomplish some of the same tasks.

Geary also contends that the advantage of women concerning verbal skills also makes evolutionary sense. "While men have the bodily strength to compete with other men, women use language to gain social advantage, such as by argumentation and persuasion."

Does one little Y chromosome really make that much difference?

Yes, of course. Gender differences dictate our lives, and are apparent from only a few months after birth, when social influences are still relatively inconsequential. In their fascinating and divisive book Brain Sex, Anne Moir and David Jessel offer explanations for these very early differences in children:

These discernible, measurable differences in behavior have been imprinted long before external influences have had a chance to get to work. They reflect a basic difference in the newborn brain, which we already know about -- the superior male efficiency in spatial ability, the greater female skill in speech.

But before you swear off the opposite sex, consider the Society for Neuroscience's disclaimer about the differences in the sexes: "Variation between men and women tends to be smaller than deviations within each sex, but very large differences between the groups do exist."

So, yes, men and women are different, but women and women are different, and men and men are different.

We're all different. We just have to learn to play to our strengths and improve on our weaknesses. Essentially, we're all working toward the same things.

Can't we all just get along?

Hangover Cures: Erase the Ouch

2008-12-29T10:08:00.004-05:00

By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer

More than 50 hangover products have flooded the market over the past few years, ranging from day-after cures to prevention pills. There are also numerous folk remedies from hair of the dog to voodoo -- but what works?

To save your liver the abuse it would take to try them all, here's a list of the good (prevention), the bad (don't work) and the just plain ridiculous (No, I will not eat pickled herring!).

An Ounce of Prevention...
"The best way to contend with a hangover is not to get one, by practicing abstinence or moderation," according to Dr. David L. Katz, director of the Prevention Research Center at Yale University School of Medicine.

Thanks doc, but that plan -- as foolproof as it seems -- won't work for those who have already tied one on. Try a few of these tips to make the next morning less miserable.

Choose wisely. Hangovers are caused by ruthless chemicals called congeners that occur naturally in fermented alcohol, dehydration and malnutrition (you tinkled away a lot of important nutrients). The general rule is that the darker the drink the more hangover inducing congeners (because of the filtering process involved), according to a study by The British Medical Journal.

So try to avoid red wine, bourbon, scotch, rum and brandy; and opt for lighter drinks like white wine, vodka and gin. Also remember: The cheaper the potion, the more potent the poison. Red wine contains a unique hangover-inducing poison all its own called tyramine. Just avoid cheap red wine altogether and go top shelf, you'll thank yourself tomorrow.

Alternating alcohol. This is an easy way to help limit consumption and prevent dehydration. Simply alternate between alcoholic and nonalcoholic drinks (preferably water or juice). Don't want to be a wet blanket? Don't tell anyone. If you're drinking a clear drink -- which is a good idea -- just refill the glass with water when your cocktail is complete. You'll save money and protect your melon.

Food for thought. You should eat before you go out, snack during your drinking and grab some greasy Chinese food on the way home. Pizza is also a fine choice since cheese is a good source of amino acids. Food doesn't absorb alcohol, but it does increase metabolism, activates alcohol absorption and increases the speed with which the body processes alcohol. Another good trick is to pound as much water or Gatorade as possible before you pass out.

If I survive this, I'll never drink again -- I swear. You already had too much fun, so it's too late for prevention. Now you just wish someone would put you out of your misery. Does any of this sound familiar?

Your eyes open, but you're still not awake. Everything seems blurry, you struggle to recognize your surroundings, and the room's still spinning from last night. Someone needs to turn this carousel off. Your mouth tastes like you licked an ashtray and washed it down with rubbing alcohol. Then, it hits you: the mother-of-all-headaches; it feels like elephants are slam-dancing on your cerebellum. You, have a hangover. Now what?

Powerful pills? Not exactly -- though there's a truckload of over the counter hangover preventions and cures -- according to a report in the British Medical Journal, "No compelling evidence exists to suggest that any complementary or conventional intervention is effective for treating or preventing alcohol hangover."

With any type of hangover pill (or powder), the buyer should beware because the claims made by the manufacturers aren't scrutinized by the Food and Drug Administration. Additionally, these products are made for "light to moderate" drinkers so it won't do any good for a boozehound to take four chaser pills while slamming 16 shots of tequila.

Hangoverreview.com reports that most of these "meds" are some combination of vitamins, minerals, herbs and organics. "There are no over the counter drugs that prevent or cure a hangover," according to the site. Most of these aren't much more effective than a multivitamin. If you want to learn more, visit www.hangoverreview.com, where they give a detailed breakdown of 52 "hangover healing" products and rate Sob'r-K HangoverStopper as the best.

While drugs such as ibuprofen can alleviate a headache, be careful because studies show that mixing an acetaminophen (Tylenol, Excedrin, etc.) pain reliever with alcohol can be hazardous to the liver. Wait until the morning to take any type of pain reliever and stay away from acetaminophen products if you've been drinking.

Eat, drink and be lazy. There are an immeasurable number of morning-after meals that some people swear by, such as: a cheeseburger and milkshake, a big greasy breakfast with all the fixings, a peanut butter, honey and banana sandwich on white bread, beans and rice, a sour herring with a beer chaser, a fried egg sandwich, and, of course, the hair of the dog that bit you. If you can handle food, then you should eat to replenish the nutrients you lost the night before.

Many drinkers believe in having a cocktail to cure your hangover, with the most popular being the Bloody Mary. There are a million variations (with hot sauce, Worcestshire, a raw egg, the list goes on and on), but the constants are alcohol and a V8-type mixer. The reason it's so popular is because it replenishes nutrients through the tomato juice and postpones the hangover with liquor (read: delays the inevitable, not cures).

If you're not up for drinking in the morning -- or whatever time you managed to crawl out of bed -- drink sports drinks, fruit juices or soda (the bubbles make your belly feel better). All of these will help to rehydrate, and the fructose helps burn up the alcohol left in your body. Water is also acceptable, but lacks sugar.

Dr. Guy Ratcliffe, medical director of the Medical Council on Alcohol, admits that time is the only 100-percent effective healer for hangovers. Time, rest and relaxation. But if you don't have the time for the resting and relaxing, you might want to try one of these crazy cures from around the world:

The French recommend a nice randy round of sex, followed by heavy water consumption and a good nap to cure the ramifications of overindulging on wine and cheese.

Apparently, Russians like heavily salted cucumber juice or black bread soaked in water, and also recommend eating pickled gherkins or tomatoes and drinking some of the juice to quell the vodka blues.

A Haitian girl I once dated believed the best rummy's remedy is to stick 13 black-headed pins in the cork of the bottle that gave you the hangover. (Consequently, I didn't believe her, but when we broke up I had a headache for two weeks, got a case of the gout and my hamster died -- it was weird.)

Some associates in Amsterdam swear by a more herbal method to alleviate the drunkard's doldrums -- a nice, big doobie. They say that pot settles their stomach, eases their headache and makes reruns of Alf hilarious. That's just what they tell me anyway.

Drink responsibly, practice prevention and if you're using these hangover cures on a daily basis, it may be time to try the Intervention hangover prevention plan.

In the immortal words of George Jean Nathan, "I only drink to make other people seem interesting."

Cheers!

Do you have an interesting hangover cure that works? Post it below and let us know.

Simple Diet Tweaks: Double Weight Loss!

2008-12-24T10:26:00.003-05:00

Double Your Weight Loss

There are so many small changes you can make to lose weight, but there's one tweak that can actually double your weight-loss efforts. You don't have to wake up at 5 a.m. or give up cheese to do it, but you will have to take accountability for what you eat.
How to double weight loss... >>

Go back to the beginning >>

Drink and Lose ♦ Snack Yourself Skinny ♦ The Carbs to Keep
♦ Portion Distortion ♦ Double Your Weight Loss

Simple Diet Tweaks: The Right Portions

2008-12-24T10:24:00.005-05:00

Portion Distortion

One of the major problems of weight loss is understanding portion size. You can eat all the right foods, but if you eat them in over-sized portions, you'll still be consuming too many calories to lose weight.
Get examples of proper portions... >>

See Next Tweak >>

Drink and Lose ♦ Snack Yourself Skinny
♦ The Carbs to Keep ♦ Portion Distortion ♦ Double Your Weight Loss

Simple Diet Tweaks: Carbs to Keep

2008-12-24T10:20:00.006-05:00

Eat These Carbs

Face it: Carbohydrates are confusing. There are simple carbs, complex carbs, good carbs, bad carbs, refined, unrefined, plus, something called net carbs -- whatever that means. Eating the correct carbohydrates will not only help keep you full, but will provide you vital nutrients and help you achieve weight loss goals.
Find out which carbs to keep... >>

See Next Tweak >>

Drink and Lose ♦ Snack Yourself Skinny
♦ The Carbs to Keep ♦ Portion Distortion ♦ Double Your Weight Loss

Simple Diet Tweaks: Snack Skinny

2008-12-24T10:18:00.007-05:00

Snack Yourself Skinny

You will get hungry between meals, but what you snack on can mean all the difference between losing weight or simply adding empty calories to your daily diet. If you can make better choices when you snack, you can make losing weight a snap.
Get the secrets to slimmer snacking... >>

See Next Tweak >>

Drink and Lose ♦ Snack Yourself Skinny ♦ The Carbs to Keep ♦ Portion Distortion ♦ Double Your Weight Loss

Hall of Shame: Hershey and Hotdogs

2008-12-04T10:58:00.005-05:00

Shame has never tasted so delicious. Enjoy this eddition of foods we used to eat. (Wink.)

During my college days, living on a waitress salary and being on a very tight budget, my refrigerator was almost completely bare. Payday was not until the following day and I was hungry. That evening's dinner consisted of black olives sliced and mixed into Cool Whip. Every now and then I threaten my two teenagers with this concoction if they are not pleased with what I'm serving.
Karen T.

An old family recipe I enjoy every once in awhile: an Italian bread sandwich loaded with cold spaghetti with meat sauce, pickles, mayo and crispy fried bacon.
RastaGrl44

I think I may have everyone beat for the battle of the ultimate ice cream sundae. I'm an employee at Sarris Candies out of Canonsburgh, Pa. Our ultimate sundae consists of a HUGE bowl filled with your choice of seven heaping scoops of your choice of ice cream, followed by seven generous spoonfuls of milk chocolate, hot fudge, gooey caramel, peanut butter, butterscotch, marshmallow and dark chocolate. A banana and a generous serving of mixed nuts are added to the mix, followed by our homemade whipped cream, jimmies, cookie stix and a cherry (or three) to top it off! Some have successfully conquered it, however most ask for a lid.
Whitney F.

I personally have enjoyed some interesting combinations. I'm currently dieting, though, so alas, I can't have any of these. Most of them I've eaten since childhood. 1) A plate-full of rice covered in grandma's gravy, sweet peas and ketchup. Add a few buttered dinner rolls on the side. 2) Cornbread topped with black-eyed peas, corn and mayonnaise. Gotta get my veggies! 3) I don't like to spend a lot of time on breakfast, so I combine it all in one bowl: two packages of instant grits made using milk instead of water, a couple eggs sunny-side up, chopped up and stirred in, mix in some Frosted Flakes, and top with pancake syrup... Yum!! 4) Pizza with any of the following toppings: peanut butter, chocolate syrup or graham crackers. Never got around to trying ice cream on it though!
David H.

One of my co-workers is into the Atkins plan, however he thinks Dr. Atkins was a wimp when it came to eating food high in saturated fat. When ordering in a restaurant, my friend would order pork chops topped with two fried eggs, a side order of butter and a side order of mayonnaise. He would then spread the butter and mayonnaise on the pork chops and eggs. What made things worse was when I would order several side dishes of steamed vegetables he would look at me very strangely and ask, "Are you going to eat that?" as if this was damaging to my body.
Hector R.

I was making a BLT (bacon, lettuce, tomato) for myself when my neighbor stopped by to say hello. She asked if she could make her some bacon, too. I thought she would also like a sandwich. Instead, she went into the pantry and pulled out a bag of chips and into the fridge and got the American cheese. After her bacon was cooked (five pieces) she wrapped up each piece of bacon with two slices of American cheese then she'd top it with a handful of chips each time she took a bite! I was like, "Are you kidding me? You're really gonna eat that?" Can ya say, "Grease City"? Eww...
Tara K.

A certain Mexican restaurant where I was once employed had a dessert called "chocolate chimichanga." It's a Hershey's bar, wrapped in a flour tortilla and deep fried. Then it is topped with three huge scoops of vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, caramel, whipped cream and cherries. Now THAT is pure decadence!
Richgorm1

A friend of mine used to eat pancakes topped with peanut butter, a fried egg on top and another pancake, about three layers high and then sprinkled the top with powdered sugar and lots of syrup.
Margaret

By far the worst mixture regarding foodstuffs was enjoyed by a colleague of mine. He mixes vanilla ice cream and tinned sardines and eats the resulting gray sludge with relish. Truly disgusting.
Grant L.

My girlfriend Daphne loved to eat chocolate. On more than one occasion, while at 7-Eleven, she took a hot dog in a bun, put mustard and sauerkraut on it and then melted a Hershey chocolate bar on top. She swears up and down that it tastes really good. One has to wonder... Yuck!
Tracy

I was at a friend's house and she got out a bag of chocolate chip cookies to munch on. No problem there, except when she took out a can of cheese spread and started squirting it on the cookies and then eating them one after the other! I don't think the Cookie Monster would touch that!
Lexy

While visiting a friend in Houston, she took me to a restaurant called Cafe Adobe. There we had an avocado stuffed with meat and cheese, then deep fried! Another time my sister-in-law served a triple-layer carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. I was enjoying it until I saw the nutrition information which read 96 (no that's not a typo) grams of fat per serving!
Name Withheld

In my hometown we have a potato chip factory. And believe me, they are the best! So my favorite snack over the years has been to stick a chunk of sharp Colby cheese in my mouth, stuff as many potato chips in as I can and take a swig of milk. Chew it all at the same time. MMMMM! And repeat until I run out of chips or cheese or make myself sick. Unfortunately, I'm 42 and still give in to this craving every now and then. But it's very few and far in between now.
Cristal

My husband's favorite sandwich is peanut butter-jelly-catsup-onion-mayonnaise. How about that one? It would make anybody sick to just think about it.
Nancy

I have a co-worker that was telling me about her family's favorite food. I was amazed! Her children love peanut butter and spaghetti (with the tomato sauce) sandwiches! I was told that is sometimes what the family has for dinner! The other food she loves is a pork & bean and grape jelly sandwiches on white bread.
Becky

I have two. 1) Our cafeteria makes a bread pudding that is extremely tasty! I have indulged on various occasions... that is, until I asked for the recipe. Instead of using bread they use the day-old donuts and pastries! Then you add butter, half & half, sugar and spice! 2) A local hot dog stand serves this taste treat: Take a hot dog, wrap it in cheese slices, then wrap it in bacon, wrap it is dinner roll dough and deep-fry it.
Lisa H.

In Houston and Austin, Texas there is an "open-all-night" New York-style deli whose cheesecake shake is their specialty of the house. It's a milkshake made with whole milk and premium (read: ultra-high fat) ice cream in your choice of chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. But wait... there's more! As if that wasn't enough of a diet blaster, they blend a Texas-sized slice of New York-style cheesecake into the shake! This shake is quite appropriately advertised on TV as "a heart attack in a glass." It must have 4,000 calories and 200 fat grams! They say they've been in business since 1979. Well, this must be a relatively new menu item, or their clientele would have perished much too quickly to keep them in business for 22 years. God help us all if this chain ever goes nationwide.
Caroline G.

Don't know if you've heard this one before... My husband gets these subs at a deli near his office. They consist of thinly sliced steak, a mound of full-fat cheese, sauteed mushrooms, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise AND, get this, two fried eggs and bacon! All on an eight-inch sub bun, served with a mound of French fries. Thank goodness he only gets them a couple of times a year! Sharon

What's your craziest food concoction? Post it below -- we won't tell.

Hall of Shame: Peanut-Butter Freaks

2008-12-04T10:51:00.006-05:00

The Hall of Shame honors the worst of our guilty pleasures -- unhealthy food. Here are some of our favorites...

Learning to love liverwurst
Everyone in my family knows that my great aunt's favorite snack was a liverwurst and grape jelly sandwich on white bread. I never tried the combo, but I have learned to love liverwurst!
--Nicole

Marshmallow Madness
I am a peanut butter junkie. It would be hard for me to think of anything made with/from peanut butter that I don't like. My favorite sandwich when I was growing up (and yes, now as a mom!) is peanut butter and marshmallow creme. YUM!!
--Kathy

Why diet, when you can eat doughnuts?
I think that this deserves an entry into your Hall of Shame. I was appalled by this sign. The convenience store that I work at also has a Krispy Kreme case. Every once in a while, there is a promotion that has to do with coffee and doughnuts. When I got to work today and walked past the case, there was a sticker stuck to the window that read: Start your diet next month...Coffee and 2 donuts for 1.99. The sticker was put on the case by the company that I work for. I can't believe that they would encourage people to stop dieting just to sell a few more doughnuts.
--Shannon

Sister is strong to the finach, 'cause she eats her...
My sister, who is a peanut-butter freak and in awesome shape by the way, created a new sandwich she swears is fantastic -- two slices of whole-wheat bread with peanut butter, bananas, spinach and dipped in chocolate sauce. I guess she needed some way to add iron to her meal.
--Hanna

Cake batter gone wild
I love cake batter (of course, the eggs are mixed in). Grab a chocolate or yellow cake mix from the store, mix it up according to package directions and then, voila, eat to your heart's content. I must say it is very satisfying, and I can eat the whole thing.
--Melinda

Best ever peanut butter snack? We call it Batch: Mix equal amounts of peanut butter and margarine, then add maple syrup until the mixture is creamy. Spread on bread. Enjoy. Batch is the reason I no longer keep maple syrup in my house! My Mom was a bigger peanut butter person that I am, even eating it from the jar with a spoon, despite choking on it several times.
--Jimmie Jo H.

Not good for me or baby
During my first pregnancy, a few times I would make a batch of chocolate pudding. While it was still hot, I would pour it over heavily salted popcorn. Needless to say it wasn't a good treat for the baby, and I never did it again but I still dream about it.
--Maxine

Potato-chip sandwiches no longer an option
My cousin Sarah taught me how to make potato-chip sandwiches when I was a kid. Take fresh, soft white bread, pile on as many potato chips as you can, gently balance another piece of bread on top, then push straight down to crush the chips into the bread so you can pick up the sandwich and eat it. Nothing but salt and carbs, but the crunchy/soft contrast was delicious. I rarely have either white bread or potato chips in the house, so it's not something that ever really is an option any more.
--Kathie

Grandfather's twist on the Tastee Cake
When I was a kid, my grandfather would make me his favorite sandwich. A chocolate Tastee Cake cup cake, cut in half and filled with at least a quarter inch thick slice of creamery butter. You turn the icing in toward the butter; somehow it just doesn't taste the same. It still, to this day, tastes great and brings back comforting memories. Although today I talk about it rather than eat it.
--Elaine

Vinegar -- good for what ails ya'
As kids, my sister and I had strep throat ALOT. We wanted to eat potato chips, but with a sore throat we didn't dare. We also LOVED fair fries soaking with vinegar -- so much the bottom would fall out of the paper cup! Not sure who came up with the concoction but we still eat it today (some 20 years later). We add a small amount of vinegar to a glass of water (I prefer warm) and then add our chips to that. Then we finish the remainder of the "drink" once our chips are gone. We were able to eat the chips because they softened in the solution and the vinegar felt good on our sore throats!!
--Beth

What's gross to some ain't to others
OK, I don't understand. Bologna and whipped cream cheese isn't gross at all (it's the same as taking a laughing cow cheese and wrapping bologna around it), nor is PB & J with chips (I used to smush Doritos in my tuna sandwiches, but that's not that unheard of either). I thought I had a good one with peanut butter and butter sandwiches, but I guess not and even dipping my pizza in a tub of butter, but nope. Cream cheese and bologna beat me. Blah.
--Dan Gauron

Now that's dessert
I will admit that I ate this WAY too often once upon a time: I would take a strawberry shortcake cup and fill the center of it with Nutella. Then chopped up frozen strawberries with starberry syrup were piled on and topped with a HUGE mound of whipped cream and chocolate syrup. It's SO decadent!
--Jolie

What's the worst thing you ever ate? Post it below!

Hall of Shame: Childhood Food Follies

2008-11-11T15:18:00.004-05:00

We receive many entries for the Hall of Shame. And we have to tell you, many of you say you ate these things before you knew about proper nutrition. It's childhood, however, that serves as the main scapegoat for having eaten the concoctions you did. We're not saying we don't believe you, we're just saying: Some of you are lucky to be alive!

Glad You're Over It, Sonja
As a child, I went through several phases. Hot dogs was one of them. Hot dogs on pizza, in lasagne, in chili -- any dish could have hot dogs added to it. My other phase was sour cream. Sour cream on pizza, chili, mac and cheese, green bean casserole, cereal, cake, it didn't matter, sour cream would go on anything, sweet, sour, salty, etc...
--Sonja K.

Boredom Will Do It...
About 8 years ago I was visiting a friend of mine for the weekend and we got a bit bored and hungry. We scrounged around to find something different to eat and she came up with slimjims dipped generously in peanut butter. I thought it was gross but she swore it was the best thing ever. Until she got bad heartburn.

My fiance says that he used to eat bologna and fudge round sandwiches with mayonaise. He still swears it's good eating.

When I was about 12 or 13 and my parents went off to work leaving me home alone, I would whip up this sweet concoction: melted butter, fruitloops and lots of sugar. It was gross but good especially since my parents couldnt afford regular everyday snacks. --Samantha

Bologna Eater Comes Out of the Closet!
When I was a kid all I would eat was bologna. We would go out to eat at a restaurant and my parents would slap a piece of bologna and ketchup down in front of me. Later on, my mom turned me onto bologna and peanut butter sandwiches. I guess it sounds gross (that's what people tell me), but they are quite yummy. I still crave them sometimes, but I have to eat them in private.
--Angela S.

Um... Burp!
Growing up my siblings and I would eat what we called a "Big Wopper". It was a sandwich on white bread that consisted of iceburg lettuce, bologna, peanut butter and miracle whip. Yum! It was the perfect combination of salty, sweet, crunchy, tanginess!
--Mary M.

With Friends Like These...
My high school cafeteria served milkshakes that were the consistency of a frosty, but alot more chocolatey. I would crunch a bag of BBQ Fritos in mine and eat it with a spoon. Sounds gross but a great taste treat. A couple of years later I found out my best friend did the same thing.
--Jim W.

He Liked the Sticky Stuff
This will melt your fillings. When I was a kid my mom and dad and sisters would take cereal bowls, throw in a gob of peanut butter, pour Kayro syrup on it. (The stickiest sweetest syrup you could find anywhere) and mix it all up nice and creamy, yum! And if that wasn't enough to make the dentist cringe, sometimes I'd sprinkle powdered sugar on top! I sure can't do that anymore.
--John M.

Horrible High School Eats
My favorite food that grossed out my friends in high school, was a huge bowl of neopolitan ice cream, half a brick of sharp cheddar cheese (cut up) sweet pickles, all topped with chocolate syrup!! Haven't had it in years, but I think about it often. I think my parents are the worst, my mom ate peanut butter and ketchup sandwiches, and my dad ate peanut butter and spaghetti sandwiches. I cant even begin to tell you the stuff my dad made for us while mom was at work.
--Tracy R.

You Gotta Be Kidding
Got this one from my mother. When I was little I would take a cup of coffee or tea, then take American cheese slices and break it up in little pieces and put it in the coffee or tea. It sank to the bottom and I ate it with a spoon. At the same time I dunked crackers with butter in the coffee or tea. When finished I drank the coffee or tea which by then had a cheesy flavor.
--Lorraine D.

Ah, To Be a Kid Again
My 13-year old son craves this "sandwich", as he call it, for a snack often. He starts with soft white Italian bread slices and procedes to squirt a ton of Sweet Baby Ray's honey barbeque sauce on one slice. On top of that he piles as many Cool Ranch Doritos as he possibly can on the barbeque sauce. Then he squirts another ton of barbeque sauce on top of the chips and tops it off with another slice of bread. He uses his palm to smash it down and then picks it up and takes a superhuman bite from it. The crunch sound is deafening and the barbeque sauce always oozes all over, including his face. I always look on in disgust as the biggest smile crosses his face.
--Karen M.

Hungry? Us either. Want to read more Hall of Shame? Post your crazy food memory below to be featured in a future Hall of Shame.

Hall of Shame: Killer Food Concoctions

2008-11-11T14:27:00.003-05:00

The Hall of Shame honors the worst of our guilty pleasures -- unhealthy food. Here are this week's nominees:

Father-in-law had a nauseating treat
My father-in-law had the most disgusting treat, he would take white bread and drizzle warmed bacon grease over it and eat it with a fork. So nasty! He even started my husband eating it; I, of course, had to break him from this coronary on a plate. And now I actually have him eating healthier these days. So long to the bacon grease sandwich!
--Cynthia Edwards

Burger Kings offers a Whopper of a sandwich
I used to work at Burger King, and I found that there are worse foods than triple Whoppers. One guy ordered a Triple Chicken Whopper (that's three tendercrisps) with three slices of cheese, extra mayo, bacon and BBQ sauce. I was disgusted! I know that sandwich had to be more than 1,500 calories! I don't know if this man had a death wish, but I hope he made it out of the parking lot without going into cardiac arrest.
--Jasmine J.

Family cookies packed with fat
My mom would make Hungarian cookies for the Christmas holidays. The recipe calls for lard, cream cheese, nuts and about a dozen eggs. Could this be why no one in our family has a gallbladder?
--Karin

Scrambled eggs with tuna
I open a can of tuna, drain off the water. Then I saute it in a skillet with margarine. Add three eggs and scramble. After that I put this on a plate then add barbecue sauce. You can add onions and cheese for a different taste treat.
--Michael S.

Poor eating habits have consequences
I've got one for you! You've heard of biscuits and gravy? My aunt and cousin had a different twist on that yummy concoction: biscuits and CHOCOLATE gravy! I tried it once when I was a kid and I'll admit it was pretty tasty. It tastes a lot like chocolate pudding but the consistency is more like gravy than pudding. I ladled a little over my biscuit, and I guess that's not too bad if it's not something you eat often, but my aunt and cousin took this to the next level. You'll never believe this...on the table they had a large tub of soft margarine that they would spoon into, then take that CHUNK of margarine, drop it into a bowl of chocolate "gravy" and then eat the chunk of chocolate covered margarine! I don't think that was a once-in-a-while thing either. And of course I can't tell this story without mentioning that my cousin has had lap-band surgery and I lost my aunt to a heart attack last summer. And she was too young to leave us.
--Barbara L.

Mmmmm -- jowl bacon
This "treat" should be in the hall of shame: In the summer, we cook fresh green beans with a slab of jowl bacon for seasoning (the really fatty kind, cut up in chunks). Who cares about the beans? After the beans were done, I'd slip out the bacon and eat all of that blubbery stuff. Nasty! I get ill now just thinking about it!
--BK

Bird skin is the best
I have my own fatty addiction. I like the skin of chicken, turkey, Cornish hen, duck and any other poultry better than the meat. In fact at times I will go to the grocery store and pick up a warm whole rotisserie chicken. Although when I bring it back, I pull all the skin off, add a layer of salt, and eat the whole thing... and, oh yeah, maybe a few bites of chicken meat as well. If I go to a restaurant and get a roasted chicken meal, then I save all the skin to the side, and eat the best for last!
--BW

Grandfather's bacon-and-butter sandwiches
One of grandfather's specialties was French fries made in an electric frying pan with a block of butter and a few strips of bacon to taste. He would then put the greasy medley between two slices of white bread with even more butter!
--Jennifer R.

When in Canada...
While in Ottawa for the Winterlude in February, I was tempted to try the "poutine" that the Canadians seem to love. This is a pile of French fries, covered with melted cheese curd and some type of gravy. I settled for my other favorite, a "beaver tail," which is a piece of thin, deep-fried dough with maple syrup and chocolate syrup drizzled on top.
--Karen P.

Mother's creamed corn on bread
I just read the Hall of Shame and had to write. When my siblings and I were growing up, my mother used to feed us creamed corn on bread. We always used white store-bought bread, slathered in margarine, and we poured warm, canned creamed corn over the top, then salt and pepper to taste. It was delicious. My brother and I often say we would like to eat it again, but our spouses say that they will kick us out if we do. Oh, the memories! Thanks for the great column!
--Joan

Do you have a dish that will shock the taste buds and stop the heart? Post it below and let us know.

Hall of Shame: Family Food

2008-11-11T13:58:00.004-05:00

You can't choose your family, or what they eat, but you can choose to expose their horrendous eating habits. Without further ado, more of the worst...

The Man Likes His BBQ Sauce
My dad loves bbq sauce so much that he eats it on everything and I do mean everything. A couple of his concoctions really gross me out. For instance, occasionally, he enjoys mixing bbq sauce into his cottage cheese. One time, however, he ate something that was even worse than that. We had recently received some tomatoes from my grandma's garden and my dad was eating them at supper one night. He decided to try putting bbq on sauce on them and as if that wasn't bad enough, he mixed it with ranch dressing, slathered it over the tomatoes, and then added pepper. He claimed it was the best way he had ever eaten tomatoes, but I refused to try it. I think I would have probably thrown up.
--Kendra R.

Any Flavor Will Do
While at University I discover the joy of eating french fries dipped in ice cream. I would take the fry dip it into the ice cream (any flavour) and chew on it. I still do this and my daughter also love it. This started as part of my weight gaining plan and now I don't seem to be able/or want to kick the habit.
--Bertha S.

The Stress Makes Her Do It
I've read the Hall of Shame articles and I was surprised to know that many people out there have bad habits. I'm not the only one! What can I say about my personal tasty bad food? When I have stress, I just go to the supermarket and buy around 8 or 9 potato chips of various kinds and flavors. I add lemon and hot sauce to each of them and eat them all one after the other. Then I eat Snickers or Bounty or Galaxy -- anything that is sweet!
--Barbarah S.

Don't Give In, Lisa!
I love the Hall of Shame column! My sister and I decided last weekend to have a "bad foods fest" -- we are normally super healthy eaters, but we do get cravings for highly processed foods from time to time...and last weekend was one of those. I have read over and over in the column about the "wonder bread and potato chip sandwich" -- which my sister and I had never heard of, especially growing up in a household that never once saw a package of Wonderbread (our mom abhorred junk and processed foods). So we decided to try it. However, we couldn't remember what the "worst" combination was, so we tried our own -- wonder bread, with a thick layer of pre-made cream cheese frosting (the extra fluffy stuff) with a small bag of chips smushed into it. It was, to our absolute surprise, delicious. We may have to try it again with different frosting and chip combinations...when we succumb to "bad foods" again. Another delicious combination was one that we just discovered at a friend's BBQ -- a dill pickle wrapped up in a slice of dried beef with cream cheese. Salty, crunchy and creamy. Even better with a bread-and-butter pickle for the sweet part too.
--Lisa F.

Cafeteria Food is a Bit Healthier, Actually...
As a college student, finding quick meals on a budget is essential, so my roommate and I made up these fabulously disgusting concoctions as snacks and occasional meals. The first one we called "dinner." We took a bowl of Jell-O brand chocolate pudding, Marshmallow Fluff, a little bit of milk and a small dollop of peanut butter. We ate it with a spoon and called it pudding soup. And for dessert, we eat Oreos (double stuffed!) dipped in vanilla frosting and peanut butter. Fattening, we know, but sure beats cafeteria food!
--Anonymous

We Could Do an Entire Column on Pregnancy Foods
When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I would have some of my old high school cravings. My breakfast was a Snickers bar and a can of Coca-Cola. But the weird part is that I would pour salted sunflower seeds in the can of Coke and enjoy them together. It gets worse: They were in the shells! My redemption is that with my second daughter (three years later), I ate fresh fruits and turkey, and smoothies: EVERY DAY! Along with hot dogs and ice cream, together.
--Quinn A.

Peanut Butter Butter
After reading about peanut butter & butter sandwiches, I had to make my contribution: what I call "high-cal toast." I toast two slices of regular white bread, then spread each slice with a layer of peanut butter and enough butter to leave little puddles on top of the peanut butter. Yum! I usually do this once a week, and end up sharing a little bit with one of my cats. (And the cat is 12 years old and weighs 17 pounds!)
--April

Not Very Harmonious
When I was a kid. The only thing I would eat in the morning was an egg sandwich. But I added my own special twist. I would put mustard and jelly on mine, no one else would look at it, but, to me it was out of this world. I still try this to this day and you know it does not taste as good as when I was younger.

Also, I don't know if any have tried this or not but when I got married the only way my husband's family ate an egg sandwich or French toast was to put ketchup on them. I have seen people do egg sandwiches like this but no one I know of eats French toast with ketchup on it. I was traveling with my small son on a train and we went into this restaurant and he ordered French toast and I had to request ketchup be bought to the table The waitress stayed to see what the ketchup was used for. When he put it on his French toast she rolled her eyes and said in all of her years as a waitress she had never seen anyone eat ranch toast that way. To this day my children and yes me eat French toast (and egg sandwiches) with ketchup on them.

Does your family have a deep, dark food secret? Share it below and let those skeletons out of your pantry.

Hall of Shame: Scary Sandwiches

2008-10-29T17:01:00.002-04:00

The Hall of Shame honors the worst of our guilty pleasures -- unhealthy food. Here are this week's nominees:

A complicated, multi-stacked mess
A disgusting meal/snack that my husband had invented is called the Perfect Popcorn Pocket Sandwich. It is: one bag of Heavily Buttered Microwave popcorn (pref. Orville Redenbacher's Movie Theater Butter Popcorn with pour over butter); one pack Cinnamon Graham Crackers (approximately eight); a half bag of marshmallows; an immeasurable amount of Hershey's Chocolate Syrup; an immeasurable amount of Chunky Peanut Butter; and held together with Reddi-Wip. Four graham crackers are glued together with peanut butter, marshmallows and Reddi-Wip, topped with popcorn (butter over half a bag of popcorn), lots of chocolate syrup and a scoop of peanut butter -- to be topped with four graham crackers. Add remaining ingredients to the top of the crackers. Must be rinsed down with a diet soda though!!!!
--CLT

The worst of all -- school lunches
Here are some sample meals that would make anyone's waistline bulge. Beef fingers, (strips of beef battered and deep fried) instant mashed potatoes with gravy, a large biscuit, green beans, and a fudge bar. Another one is chili-cheese dog, seasoned fries (chili and cheese optional on these), pears in heavy syrup and a brownie. Where did I get these? Not from a local restaurant but instead from the menu at my child's school. Is it any wonder that we have a childhood obesity problem? We really need to be watching what our children eat as well as how much activity they are doing each day.
--Emily S.

PB & mayo on multigrain bread
My roommate makes peanut butter and mayonnaise sandwiches. He makes them on 12-grain bread "so they're healthy." He thinks adding iceburg lettuce makes it better, too. Not as bad as an old boyfriend who used to make bologna, salami, cheddar and pickle sandwiches on white bread with Ranch dressing, topped with a layer of microwaved tater tots.
--Rebecca

Sister a whiz with the microwave
When my sister and I were little, she made up this concoction to satisfy all of her cravings. She mixed a handful of chocolate chips, cereal (nothing fruity), threw in some marshmallows and a few spoonfuls of peanut butter into a bowl. After nuking it until the mallows grew as big as they could, she mixed it all up and began snacking. This looked disgusting to me, but I tried it and years later I am still making this when I can't quite satisfy my hunger or cravings.
--Mariel M.

Dad taught us what was acceptable
My dad told me when he was growing up in the Netherlands, he used to make a treat by getting two slices of bread, spreading some lard on it, then adding a chocolate bar. This is the same dad who taught me and my sister that toasted bread with butter and chocolate sprinkles was an acceptable breakfast food. Occasionally, peanut butter would replace the butter resulting in a Reese's peanut-butter cup-like sandwich.
--Allan Oerlemans

You've got your chocolate in my sandwich
When I feel like making a bad sandwich, I take two pieces of white bread and toast them. Right when they are done I slather peanut butter on both slices and strategically place a Hershey chocolate bar in the middle. It is great and filling. But likely not the best choice.
--Scott

These kids knew how to eat
My brother and sister had the worst after-school snack habits possible. My brother loved to cook up a pan of fried bologna. But my sister was much, much worse. She had a whole menu of bad choices... White bread slathered in syrup! A bowl of Dream Whip, eaten with a spoon! And the most horrifying of all, a bowl of butter and sugar (brown or white, take your pick) mixed together to creamy perfection!! I usually stuck to buttered popcorn after school, not a perfect snack, but I think I would have to say the healthiest of the lot. Where were my parents???
--Deborah

Cucumbers in a lemon brine
Squeeze five limes into a drinking glass, shake tons of salt into it (really, you need like 5 tablespoons to make it good), and swirl with cucumbers. Dip cucumbers and eat. When cucumbers are gone, drink remaining 'sour lemonade.' I would love to still eat/drink this but I think I might bloat to the size of my house. --M.

Do you have a Hall of Shame concotions to share? Post it below.

Low-Cost Love: Cheap Date Ideas

2008-10-08T11:44:00.005-04:00

By Geoffrey Anderson Jr.
Copy Editor

With the economy tanking and gas prices fluctuating wildly, I've had to change my spending habits drastically. I've stopped trying to get the best seats at concerts and sporting events (I'm OK with nosebleed), and I've turned my weekly dinners with friends into less frequent occasions. Unfortunately, those aren't the only things affected by this grim Wall Street situation: My dating life has also changed.

No, getting dates isn't the problem -- finding the money for dates is the dilemma. A dinner date can cost me more than $50, while a movie date can cost about $40 when you factor in the overpriced concessions. Drastic times call for drastic measures, so I've been forced to get a little more creative in terms of dating and stretching my paycheck. Luckily, there are ways to have fun without spending a lot -- or any -- money. Here are some inexpensive ideas I've tried out that'll get your partner to swoon (results may vary):

Cooking: If you've had to tighten your budget for eating out, opt for a meal at home. Not only will you be able to show off your culinary skills (or lack thereof), but you'll also get some major brownie points for the effort; there's no skill in ordering off a menu.

Get some recipes online (the eDiets Recipe Club has some great ones), get some ingredients and get cooking. Ultimately, it's cheaper than going to a restaurant and you have full control in setting the mood -- cheesy background music and all.

Movie Night: Instead of going to the theater, rent a movie and stay home. Granted, you won't see the latest flicks, but it's a good way to catch up on classics and semi-new releases. Aside from saving money, you can also save calories by buying air-popped popcorn; it's healthier than its microwavable (and more buttery) cousin. Plus, this is a prime opportunity for cuddling; there aren't any obstructive arm rests to stop you.

Wine Tastings: Depending on where you live, local restaurants and wineries may offer wine tastings. Many of them are either free or relatively inexpensive; $15 is the most expensive I've seen. You'll get to sample wines from all over the world and pair them up with appetizers (aka tapas). And we all know that a glass of red wine (or two) can do your heart some good. Call your favorite restaurant or visit www.localwineevents.com for more information.

What other inexpensive date ideas do you have? What has someone special done for you? Share your ideas below by leaving a comment.

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Sausage Fest: Heart-Healthy Vegetarian Recipes

2008-10-08T10:52:00.005-04:00

If you're trying to reduce your intake of saturated fat -- the kind that raises cholesterol and increases your risk of heart disease -- you probably bade farewell to sausage a long time ago.

After all, an astounding 2/3 of the saturated fat in the average American's diet comes from animal fat, and tasty "meat-free" sausages have been pretty hard to come by... until now.

If you resigned yourself to a gastronomic life devoid of some spicy flavor from your favorite wurst, there's a product that you should know about: Boca sausages. From the makers of Boca burgers come three varieties of meatless sausages (Italian, Smoked and Bratwurst).

They're all made from soy protein and contain 130 calories or less per link, 5 to 7 grams of fat, and zero to 1/2 gram of saturated fat... depending on the variety. That's a savings of up to 100 calories and 11 grams of fat when you compare the numbers with those of a traditional pork sausage.

If you're wondering how they taste, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the just-right blend of herbs and spices and the dead-on sausage texture. Give them a try in one of these speedy mini recipes:

Sausage and Pepper Stir-Fry: Cook Italian sausage according to package directions and slice. Spray a skillet with olive oil flavor cooking spray and cook sliced peppers and onions until tender; stir in sausage slices. Serve over rice.

Sausage Roll: Grill bratwurst according to package instructions; place on a light hot dog roll and top with brown mustard and sauerkraut.

Sausage Omelet: Cook smoked sausage according to package instructions. Spray a skillet with butter-flavor cooking spray and scramble 1/2 cup egg substitute, cooking until set. Season eggs with salt and pepper; serve alongside sausage.

Do you know of another great meat substitute? Let us know and comment below.

eDiets has a whole team of nutritionists and fitness experts ready to help you lose all the weight you hate. With more than 20 diets to choose from, you're sure to find your perfect match! Click here for a FREE diet profile.

Dating Deal Breakers

2008-10-08T10:35:00.005-04:00

By Geoffrey Anderson Jr.
Copy Editor

Having been recently dumped by my girlfriend, um, ex-girlfriend of two years, I've found myself back on the dating scene. Although I'm still a little bummed over the breakup, I'm not worried about finding "true love" (whatever that means): With billions of women on Earth, the odds are in my favor. But lately, my luck hasn't been too good.

In the past month, I've been on a number of first dates -- notice the emphasis on "first." I haven't really found anyone I'd like to see, at least not regularly. You might be thinking, "This guy must be pretty picky and full of himself." Not really. It’s just that there are certain habits -- or "deal breakers" -- that automatically kill any attraction.

My biggest deal breaker? When I'm on a dinner date and the other person treats our waiter or waitress like garbage, I call it quits. This happened several weeks ago when I took a girl out to a local Italian place. She was pretty, witty and sweet -- to me. But when our waiter came by and politely interrupted our conversation to ask for our orders, she gave him a look of utter disgust.

The rest of the evening, I had to deal with her complaining about the horrible service (He was great) -- plus her constant texting, which is another deal breaker for me. Needless to say, I never called her back.

I'm not the only one with deal breakers: A friend went out with a guy who wouldn't stop picking his nose on their date. Another friend told me about a girl who would ask her mom to put the family cat on the phone during dates; apparently, these human/cat phone conversations happened on a steady basis.

Perhaps I'm spoiled from my previous relationship, but I don't think there's anything wrong with "filtering" dates by using deal breakers. That's the usual motive behind a date: to see whether you'll get along or end up tearing each other's head off in frustration; having deal breakers just speeds up the process. Ultimately, I'm just hopeful that the next girl I date shows common courtesy -- and prefers to talk to humans.

Do you have any dating deal breakers? What's the weirdest or most annoying thing your date has done? Share your experiences below by leaving a comment!

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3 Fascinating Facts About the Penis

Hall of Shame: Crack Weenies

2008-09-30T09:48:00.004-04:00

In this installment of the Worst Foods Hall of Shame, we sample the best and the worst of reader submitted concoctions. Shawn McKee puts his stomach to the test with one disgusting dish and discovers a shameful new favorite that may be even more delicious than bacon candy.

Plus, he tackles a question that has puzzled scholars for ages: Does cheese make everything better?

And, as a special bonus, a special recipe for what one reader refers to as "crack weenies." No, these are not on your meal plan.

Get ready for the gross out.

Want more worst? Post your concoctions below to be included in an upcoming video.

3 Fascinating Facts About the Penis

2008-09-04T15:15:00.004-04:00

By Shawn McKee
Staff Writer

The mysteries of the male member continue to confuse most people and even perplex those of us that own this obtuse organ. To help everyone to better understand why the penis does what it does, here are three hard facts about a stiff subject.

Smoky the Bandit
If cancer, the smell and the rising cost of smoking aren't enough to dissuade some men from smoking cigarettes, then how about the fact that it can shrink a man's member?

Because the male erection is all about proper blood flow, and cigarettes calcify blood vessels, smoking can diminish blood circulation to the man's penis and ultimately shrink his manhood by as much as a centimeter. I will never smoke again.

Time Share
The standard male orgasm lasts a measly six seconds, while the average woman gets a whopping 23 seconds. So if pleasure is measured in seconds, it's only fair that men get a four-to-one orgasm ratio. Now we're talking about sexual equality that men will stand up for.

Brains Not Included
The body's ejaculation command comes from the spinal cord, so no brain use is necessary for that order, which explains the silly facial expressions at climax. However, finding someone to share that special moment with can take hours of persuasion, a fancy dinner and often times a decent amount of alcohol as well.

Do you have an interesting anatomy fact? Let us know and post it below.

7 High-Powered Protein Foods

2008-09-04T14:13:00.008-04:00

Proteins, which are made up of amino acids, are the building blocks for your body. Protein helps children grow and helps build and maintain muscle mass in adults. It's a known fact that if you want to build muscle or tone up, a substantial level of protein intake is of utmost importance, but how much protein do you need?

eDiets Chief Fitness Pro Raphael Calzadilla gives the following general recommendations:

For the sedentary: 0.4 grams of protein per pound of body weight (a 180-pound man needs 72 grams).

For the recreational exerciser: 0.5 - 0.75 grams.

For the athletes: 0.6 - 0.9 grams.

For serious muscle building: 1 - 1.25 grams.

There are many good sources for protein. But here are Raphael's top 7 sources (in no particular order) that will optimize your muscle gains.

1. Egg whites -- They may not be as tasty as the whole egg, but they are an efficient protein source.

"Egg whites are an excellent source of protein, because the protein is instantly absorbed by your body," says Raphael. "They also have no fat and no cholesterol."

2. Whole egg -- For years, fear of the cholesterol in egg yolk has made people shy away from this wonderful source of protein. But in moderation, you have nothing to worry about.

"Even though the yolk is high in cholesterol, it is also higher in protein than the egg whites. One of the best sources of protein is the yolk in the egg. A Harvard study, published in The Journal of the American Medical Association showed eating an egg a day did not raise the risk of heart disease.

3. Steak -- Beef... it's what's for dinner... and it's what's for muscles if you want more of them. And not just protein, but creatine and iron as well.

4. Chicken -- Prefer something a little leaner? Chicken is a mainstay in bodybuilder's diets. Lean cuts of chicken breast have 28 grams of protein, no carbs and only 2 grams of fat.

5. Tuna -- Have you ever seen those dedicated gym rats eating tuna right out of the can? It may seem a little crude, but tuna is a hit for muscle gain, and the convenience outweighs the "lack of decorum." Higher consumption of fish is associated with a reduced risk of some types of stroke among middle-aged women, according to an article in the January 17 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association.

6. Cottage cheese -- Guys, don't let your egos get in the way. This may be a staple of women's diets, but there's nothing wimpy about eating this high-protein food.

"Protein in cottage cheese is of extremely high quality and contains all of the essential amino acids (building blocks of protein) in the amounts proportional to the body's needs," says Raphael.

7. Salmon -- If you get sick of tuna but still want to get your protein from the sea, salmon is a great alternative. Postpone your appointment with St. Peter by consuming omega-3-rich fish such as salmon.

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Do you have a favorite high-protein snack? Comment below and let us know.