Danny Puff

By Marie Claire - Love + Sex

These telltale signs prove he's worthy of something more serious.By The Editors

He's a nice guy. Somewhere deep down you may hope that the brooding bad boy is going to suddenly change - perhaps order you a refill when you head to the bathroom instead of talking up the bartender. But really, he's just looking out for himself. A nice guy is just that: He cares about your feelings, is interested in spending time with you, and is courteous. All traits, that if this goes well, he'll pass onto his son.

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Being reliable isn't just something he saves for his bros. When he says he'll meet you at 7 p.m. he's there on time. And, after your third date when you left your keys in the cab, he came over to sit with you outside your apartment until the locksmith came.

He doesn't want to play games. He's not looking to just get laid, he's in this to find someone to date seriously. So, when you text him "I'm so tired today," he responds within minutes (not a day later) with a "Me too. Dinner later?"

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There's never a shortage of something new to talk about. It's only been four dates, but you already can't wait to tell him about your day and listen to him recount his.

You feel like you could introduce him to your friends tomorrow and they'd get along seamlessly. You don't have to worry if your friends will like him or make excuses for his behavior once they do.

RELATED: 8 Very Real Reasons He Broke Up with You

He remembers the things you tell him. On your first date you told him your favorite movie was Ever After but you somehow lost your copy when you moved apartments. On date five he brings you a new one.

You feel comfortable around him. You don't have pretend to be more or less of what you actually are. And while you're still shocked that he didn't make a run for it after seeing you in sweatpants, he actually seemed genuinely interested as you explained your sweatpants categorization: fancy, errands, sleep, clerning, and sick.

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By Pet360 - Pets


By Jessica Remitz | Pet360.com

Though we all like to keep our pups in tow whenever we can find a dog-friendly outdoor space to romp and play, but as the weather heats up, it may be best to leave certain breeds at home. We asked Dr. Louise Murray, vice president of the ASPCA Animal Hospital, to share the top breeds that are at risk for overheating in warm weather in addition to some tips for keeping your pup cool and safe in the summer months.

Although many of the breeds on this list are brachycephalic-or have short noses and wide, flat heads-it's important to take proper precautions for keeping any dog cool in warm weather and never (ever!) leaving them in a hot car for any period of time.

#1 - Pug

Playful, confident and friendly, Pugs are well loved for their charisma and charm. With a wrinkled face, short legs and compact body, the Pug's unique expression and physique is well known among dog fanciers and pet parents alike. Because of its small size, Pugs can happily adapt to both city and country living.

Brachycephalic breeds-or dogs with short noses, compact skulls and compressed upper respiratory systems-like the Pug are inefficient panters, which means that they're unable to cool themselves as effectively as other dog breeds. Because of this, brachycephalic breeds are more prone to overheating and require extra care in warm weather, particularly access to shade and plenty of water.

"Dogs can become dehydrated quickly, so give them plenty of water when it's hot outdoors," Murray said. "If they are panting heavily, bring them to a cooled-off area and give them water."

She also recommends providing pets with a shady place to escape if they're out in the sun or keeping them completely indoors when it's very hot.

#2 - Pekinese

An ancient toy breed that originated in China over 1,000 years ago, the Pekinese is a happy, loveable lapdog. Loyal and devoted to it's family, the Pekinese can also be wary of strangers. With a thick undercoat and long, dense overcoat, Pekinese require regular grooming, in addition to special care in warm weather.

If you anticipate spending a lot of time outdoors with you dog, it's important to check with your veterinarian to make sure they're healthy enough to participate in the plans you make, Murray said. "Every dog is different, so there's no set of guidelines that can apply to every one," she said.

#3 - Bulldog

Originally used for bull baiting, the Bulldog is now one of the most popular companion animals in America and is one of the most popular AKC breeds. A short yet powerful dog with a heavy build, trademark under bite and lots of loose skin, the Bulldog makes an adorable couch companion, albeit one that may be prone to snorting and drooling.

Learn more about Bulldogs.

While the Bulldog may require some prodding to go out for a walk, they might have some trouble breathing as they run or play because they are brachycephalic, Murray said, so take care not to over-exercise them.

"Dogs will not limit their own activity, so pay close attention to how your dog is acting as they play," she said.


#4 - Shih Tzu

Another ancient dog breed that was kept as a companion and lap dog by Chinese royalty, Shih Tzus remain popular family pets and companions. A playful breed that loves learning new things, Shih Tzus are generally good with children and other dogs. With a dense undercoat and long, straight outer coat, the Shih Tzu requires regular grooming and may snort and sneeze (in addition to overheat in warm weather) frequently because of its short muzzle.

You'll want to avoid spending too much time on the pavement with your dog in warm weather, as the ground can heat up quickly and can create blisters or burns on the pads of your dog's paws, Murray said.

#5 - Boston Terrier

One of the first breeds established in the United States, the Boston Terrier is a lively, intelligent breed with a gentle and easy going disposition. A compact breed with large ears and a wide smile, Boston Terriers generally require a minimal amount of exercise and grooming and, aside from their propensity to overheat in warm weather, tend to be easy keepers.

#6 - French Bulldog

This little lap-warmer was bread as a companion for French royalty beginning in the 19th century. With a small, compact body and large, rounded ears, French Bulldogs also have short muzzles and broad, flat faces. Sweet, affectionate and friendly, French Bulldogs get along well with everyone but tend to become attached to one person in particular. In addition to their high risk of over heating in warm weather, French Bulldogs also need to have the spaces between the wrinkles on their face and neck kept clean and dry to prevent skin infections.


#7 - Boxer

Used for fighting and bull baiting in the 18th century, Boxers have become popular family pets, police dogs and military dogs. Large and muscular with a square head, short nose and high-tucked abdomen, Boxers love to play and spend time with their people. Particularly affectionate with children, the Boxers can be protective of their families in the presence of other dogs and require lots of attention.

If dogs are allowed to be active during the hottest parts of the day, they are at risk for heatstroke, which can be fatal if not corrected quickly. If at all possible, Murray recommends limiting extended outdoor time to early afternoon or evening on hot days. If your dog must be out and about during the hottest hours of the day, provide them with plenty of water, access to shade and time to take breaks and catch their breath, she said.

#8 - Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Considered a fashionable lap dog for women in the 17th century, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel remains a popular and friendly companion. An easygoing breed that falls in love with everyone it meets, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is small bodied with a round head, short nose and fluffy drop eats. A breed that loves attention, its medium-length coat requires regular grooming. Although the breed can fare well in either the city or the country, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels-like the other breeds on this list-will need to have access to air conditioning or plenty of cool places when the temperature heats up.

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By Joseph Pisani, The Associated Press - The Canadian Press


NEW YORK, N.Y. - A picture is worth thousands of dollars for Limelight Extensions.

Phones start ringing at the Farmington Hills, Michigan, salon each time co-owner Miranda Jade Plater posts pictures on photo-sharing app Instagram. Would-be customers call to book appointments or ask questions about hair extensions she posts.

Colorful styles get the most attention. Palmer still gets calls about a photo of herself that she uploaded two months ago. In it, she's wearing long, black curly hair extensions with the ends dyed bright orange. That photo alone has generated about $10,000 in sales.

"Without Instagram I couldn't tell you where we would be right now," she says.

Instagram is an increasingly important part of small businesses' social media strategies. It's helping them drive sales, gain customers and develop their brand. The app is especially helpful to restaurants, bakeries, clothing stores, hair salons and other businesses that sell items that photograph well.

The app, which was founded in 2010 and was bought by social media company Facebook Inc. in 2012, reaches more than 200 million users worldwide. Owners say it's easy to use and like that they can automatically post their Instagram photos on their businesses' other social media accounts, including Facebook and Twitter.

PAYING FOR ATTENTION

To boost Limelight Extensions' followers, Palmer pays local models and reality show stars to promote the company on their accounts. Payment is either a percentage of sales, a flat rate or free hair. In return, they post photos of themselves wearing the extensions with a link back to Limelight Extensions' Instagram account. The company has more than 27,000 followers.

Yumbox is trying a similar strategy. The Doylestown, Pennsylvania-based company makes colorful lunch boxes with portioned sections meant to teach kids balanced eating. It recently paid a well-followed health food blogger to post a photo of a food-filled Yumbox. The post spiked traffic to its website and doubled its Instagram followers to nearly 5,000.

Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter allow small businesses to pay to promote their posts and gain followers. Instagram, which declined to comment for this story, doesn't do that yet. On its website, it says it is working on offering advertising to more of its users.

REACHING OUT TO CUSTOMERS

There are cheaper ways to build followers. Yumbox reposts customer photos. Devitt and co-owner Maia Neumann scour Instagram for photos others have posted using Yumbox as a hashtag. (A hashtag is a word or sentence that begins with the pound sign (#), such as #yumbox. Using a hashtag, which is clickable, makes it easier for users to find all the pictures about one topic.)

Devitt says reposting encourages more people to share photos of their own Yumbox, getting the boxes in front of even more eyes.

Women's clothing shop and online store UOI Boutique broadcasts its customers' Instagram photos on its website. When someone uploads a picture of a skirt or top or necklace on Instagram with the hashtag #uoionline, it automatically shows up on uoionline.com. The Sterling, Illinois, company also asks its 25 workers to take at least one photo with their smartphone during their shifts. The best are uploaded to UOI Boutique's Instagram account.

HASHTAG EVERYTHING

The right hashtag can attract customers from far away. Brooke Sacco, the owner of Behind The Moon, a shop that sells used and new kids clothing in Hammonton, New Jersey uploaded a photo of a pair of outfits with the hashtag of the clothing's brand name. A potential customer in Dallas was searching for that brand on Instagram and asked Sacco to send the $7 dress and romper to Texas. It was the first time Sacco had shipped clothing to customers since she opened the store in April.

She tries to post six photos a day, complete with hashtags.

"It's free advertising," Sacco says.

BUILDING A BRAND

But it's not just about posting pictures of products. Dyer and Jenkins, an online seller of men's clothing, reinforces that its jeans and T-shirts are made in America through Instagram. Owner Josey Orr posts three photos a day to the Los Angeles company's Instagram account and has a rule: 20 per cent of the photos are of Dyer and Jenkins clothing and 80 per cent are photos of weathered American flags, classic cars or West Coast highways. The account has more nearly 11,000 followers. (As a comparison, big clothing brands such as J. Crew has more than 500,000 followers and Urban Outfitters has nearly 1.5 million.)

"It's more about the brand and less about selling products," says Orr.

That's also true for Hawaiian hot sauce maker Adoboloco. "We use Instagram to show what we're doing in our lives and outside of the business," says owner Tim Parsons.

He posts photos from the Hawaiian farm where some of the chili peppers used in the sauces are grown. There are also lots of pictures of Maui's sandy beaches and french fries, eggs and other meals drenched with Adoboloco's hot sauce.

Why does Instagram resonate with potential customers? A photo can say more about a business than words. "People process photos faster," says Jesse Redniss, chief strategy officer at Spredfast, which works with brands to build their social media presence.

"Storytelling is paramount for a business to get people to care about who they are," says Redniss. "People are always entranced with a story. It's how people become interested in a brand."

PHOTOGRAPHIC MARKDOWN

Another way to spur sales is to offer discounts. A week before Mother's Day, Las Vegas bakery Peridot Sweets sent a photo of a white Mother's Day cake with a sugary peony flower on top to its nearly 1,800 Instagram followers. The caption offered the cake for $40 a $30 discount.

Owner Tiffany Jones says she sold seven of the cakes to people who saw the photo on Instagram. The photo also automatically posted to the company's Facebook page. She sold six more cakes to Facebook fans.

"It's visual," says Jones about Instagram. "It's perfect for what we do."

ONLINE:

Adoboloco's Instagram account: http://instagram.com/adoboloco

Behind The Moon: http://instagram.com/behindthemoonshop

Dyer And Jenkins: http://instagram.com/dyerandjenkins

Limelight Extensions: http://instagram.com/limelightextensions

Peridot Sweets: http://instagram.com/peridotsweets

UOI Boutique: http://instagram.com/uoionline

Yumbox: http://instagram.com/yumboxlunch

Follow Joseph Pisani at https://twitter.com/josephpisani

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By Alexei Oreskovic - Reuters


SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Google Inc's YouTube said on Tuesday that it plans to launch a paid streaming music service, amid criticism that its existing, free video website might block the music videos of labels that do not agree to its terms.

YouTube has partnered with "hundreds of major and independent" music labels for the new service, the company said in a statement, confirming long-running rumors that the world's most popular online video website will offer a paid music service.

The news comes as some music trade groups have criticized YouTube's plans to potentially block the content of certain labels from appearing on YouTube's free, ad-supported Website unless they sign deals to participate in the new, subscription streaming music service. The deals that YouTube is offering are on "highly unfavorable, and non-negotiable terms," according to a news release issued by the Worldwide Independent Music Industry Network last month.

YouTube declined to comment on the terms of the deals, but said in a statement that the new service would provide new revenue for the music industry.

"We re adding subscription-based features for music on YouTube with this in mind - to bring our music partners new revenue streams in addition to the hundreds of millions of dollars YouTube already generates for them each year," YouTube said in a statement.

YouTube has already signed deals for the paid service with 95 percent of the music labels that it previously had deals with for its existing, ad-supported music video webiste, a person familiar with the matter said. Blocking certain music labels' videos from appearing on YouTube's free website might be necessary in order to provide a consistent user experience for the paid service, the person said.

The YouTube service is expected to launch at the end of the summer and will allow users to listen to music without any ads, according to a person familiar with the situation. Among the other features expected are the ability to listen to music offline and the ability to listen to an artist's entire album instead of just individual songs, as is currently the case on YouTube, the person said.

Streaming music services such as Spotify and Pandora are becoming increasingly popular among consumers, as digital music downloads decline. Apple Inc announced plans to acquire streaming music service and premium headphone maker Beats for $3 billion last month.

Google launched the $9.99-per-month Play All Access subscription music service in 2013. The forthcoming YouTube paid music service could potentially work in coordination with the Play service so that consumers aren't forced to subscribe to two separate services, the person familiar with the situation said.

(Reporting by Alexei Oreskovic; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)

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By The Associated Press - The Canadian Press


JACKSON, Miss. - KFC Corp. says it's investigating allegations that a restaurant employee in Jackson, Mississippi, asked a 3-year-old to leave because her facial injuries disturbed other patrons. The company is also giving $30,000 toward Victoria Wilcher's medical bills, a spokesman said Sunday.

The allegation about KFC was made Thursday on "Victoria's Victories," a Facebook page following Victoria Wilcher's recovery from a pit bull attack in April. The administrator posted a photo showing Victoria smiling shyly in spite of her facial scars and cartoon-decorated eye patch, and wrote, "Does this look scary to you? Last week at KFC in Jackson MS this precious face was asked to leave because her face scared the other diners."

KFC posted an apology the next morning, requesting details.

"As soon as we were notified of this report on Friday, we immediately began an investigation, as this kind of hurtful and disrespectful action would not be tolerated by KFC," spokesman Rick Maynard wrote Sunday in an email to The Associated Press. "Regardless of the outcome of our investigation, we have apologized to Victoria's family and are committed to assisting them. The company is making a $30,000 donation to assist with her medical bills. The entire KFC family is behind Victoria."

Her grandmother Kelly Mullins said Victoria had just been to a doctor's when they stopped at the restaurant. She ordered mashed potatoes for Victoria because she thought the hungry child could swallow the soft food without chewing.

She says she was then approached by an employee. "They just told us, they said, 'We have to ask you to leave because her face is disrupting our customers,'" she told WAPT-TV (http://bit.ly/1p7ByYo).

Victoria wept all the way home and now is embarrassed by her appearance something that wasn't the case before, Mullins said.

"She won't even look in the mirror anymore," Mullins said. "When we go to a store, she doesn't even want to get out" of the car.

Victoria was attacked by pit bulls at her grandfather's home. The dogs broke her nose, both jaws, cheekbones and right eye socket; the right side of her face is paralyzed and she lost that eye, according to her Facebook site. Her bottom jaw was reconstructed but she needs a feeding tube and must grow more bone in her face before more surgery is possible, it states.

The page's administrator wrote Sunday that "Victoria's Victories" had gone from 250 people praying for Victoria to thousands.

The page had more than 32,500 "likes" on Sunday.

A message posted Friday evening by another Mississippi KFC franchisee, Dick West of West Quality Food Service in Laurel, offered "a big KFC picnic" for the child and her family.

West also wrote that he knows the Jackson restaurant owners "and they have never in the 50 years they have operated in Jackson allowed anyone coming into their restaurants to be treated with dis-respect."

In a message to the AP, he wrote, "I am sure KFC will make their finding public as soon as the facts are in. In the meantime, I offered to treat Victoria to a picnic because regardless of the outcome of the investigation, she has been thru more than any little girl should and I wanted to give her a special treat."

Online: https://www.facebook.com/victoriasvictories

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By Sandy Cohen, The Associated Press - The Canadian Press


LOS ANGELES, Calif. - In a summertime battle of sequels, a pair of kooky cops beat out flying dragons for the top spot at the box office.

The R-rated comedy "22 Jump Street" debuted in first place with $60 million, followed by "How to Train Your Dragon 2" which opened with $50 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday.

"To have two movies that opened to 50-plus, that's really good," said Chris Aronson, head of distribution for Fox, which boasts three films in the top 10. "To have a PG-rated, animated film open against a hard R comedy, you gotta love that."

It's rare for two films to open with such big numbers on the same weekend, said Paul Dergarabedian, senior analyst for box-office tracker Rentrak. Dergarabedian notes it has happened three times before: last year when "Monsters University" opened against "World War Z"; in 2012 when "Madagascar 3" opened against "Prometheus"; and in 2008 when "WALL-E" opened against "Wanted."

The original versions of "Dragon" and "Jump Street" were springtime releases, and their strong performances then led studios to offer sequels during the hot movie-going months of summer.

"When a studio has ultimate confidence in something, they will put it in that gladiator arena that is the summer season," Dergarabedian said. "A sequel in the summer is like graduating."

Sony's "Jump Street" stars Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill as bumbling undercover officers who pose as college students to bust a campus drug dealer. Hill also lends a voice to the animated "Dragon," the Fox feature that follows Hiccup and his winged dragon Toothless on an adventure where they discover hundreds of wild dragons and a mysterious dragon master.

Disney's "Maleficent" claimed third place in its third week of release. Warner Bros.' Tom Cruise action romp "Edge of Tomorrow" took the fourth spot, followed by last week's top film, Fox's teen tear-jerker "The Fault in Our Stars."

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theatres, according to Rentrak. Final domestic figures will be released on Monday.

1. "22 Jump Street," $60 million.

2. "How to Train Your Dragon 2," $50 million.

3. "Maleficent," $19 million.

4. "Edge of Tomorrow," $16.2 million.

5. "The Fault in Our Stars," $15.7 million.

6. "X-Men: Days of Future Past," $9.5 million.

7. "Godzilla," $3.2 million.

8. "A Million Ways to Die in the West," $3.1 million.

9. "Neighbours," $2.5 million.

10. "Chef," $2.3 million.

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by 21st Century Fox; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Follow AP Entertainment Writer Sandy Cohen at www.twitter.com/APSandy .

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By Details Magazine - Healthy Living

"This means even television programs depicting the suffering of other people..."
By: Ian Landau


Are others stressing you out? A study by researchers at Germany's Max Planck Institute for Cognitive and Brain Sciences in Leipzig and the Technische Universit t Dresden didn't specifically set out to test if watching tense shows such as 24 or Homeland turns us into quivering masses of stress Jello, but that seems to be the takeaway. More worrisome, perhaps, is that you can "catch" stress just bywatching people confront anxiety-provoking situations onscreen.

Researchers recruited 362 people for the experiment: Everyone was tested in pairs-one sacrificial lamb exposed to a "psychosocial stressor" and one observer. Some of the pairs consisted of intimate couples and some were made up of strangers. While there are an infinite number of sadistic ways to stress people out (toss them into the tiger pit at the Leipzig Zoo? Virtual reality battle with The Mountain from Game of Thrones?), the chosen psychosocial triggers in this case were "difficult mental arithmetic tasks" and a faux job interview. In case people found math and a job interviews relaxing, two people posing as behavior analysts also sat in the room with the subjects (performance anxiety, anyone?).

While one partner did either the math and the interview, the counterpart simply watched the session, either through a one-way mirror or via a video monitor.

Here's what researchers found:

• 95% of the people who did the math and job interview session experienced a rise in levels of the stress hormone cortisol, a physiological indicator that they were, indeed, stressed out.
• Watching through the one-way mirror led to elevated cortisol in 30% of observers.
• Viewing on the video monitor had a slightly less potent effect, with 26% getting vicariously stressed.
• 40% of observers were stressed out by watching their romantic partner endure stress.
• Watching a stranger struggle elicited a cortisol jolt in 10% of observers.
• Finally, researchers found that men and women observers were stressed in equal numbers, so you can't keep telling people that women are hard-wired to be more empathetic than men.

In many ways these results aren't really surprising. We've all yelled at a friend or loved one who was nervously pacing around, "Sit your ass down, you're stressing me out!" We know, intuitively, that being around stressed out people can be stressful, too. But to see it confirmed-"empathic stress" (i.e., "a full-blown physiological stress response that arises solely by observing a target undergo a stressful situation")-is alarming. The researchers were surprised too. "The fact that we could actually measure this empathic stress in the form of a significant hormone release was astonishing," said Veronika Engert, one of the study's lead authors.

Especially surprising was the fact that watching a stressful situation mediated by way of a screen can "contaminate" us with stress. Again, the researchers didn't test subjects as they watched TV shows, but that didn't stop Engert from speculating about how her team's research might apply to that scenario. "This means that even television programs depicting the suffering of other people can transmit that stress to viewers," she said. Let's all start by watching less news

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By Hilary Hagerman - Wide Screen

Chloe Grace Moretz is one of the fastest-rising stars in Hollywood – and she's only 17! The actress was in Toronto on Monday to promote her new film "If I Stay," and she documented her whirlwind day on Yahoo Popped's Instagram. Take a look at what Moretz did during her time in Toronto, and make sure to catch "If I Stay" in theatres on August 22.



Me and the future Madame president Hillary Clinton - @cmoretz #chloegracemoretz #ifistay #toronto


Watch the trailer for "If I Stay" below.

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By Oprah.com - At Home

You've finished dinner and your favorite show is starting soon. Here's how to get everything spotless and put away, so you can be on the couch in time for the opening credits.

By Lynn Andriani


Before you tackle the dishes, deal with the food itself and store the leftovers. That chicken-and-rice casserole has probably been sitting on the table for at least 15 minutes--and at room temperature, bacteria in food can double every 20 minutes. Once you've wrapped and refrigerated tomorrow's lunch, fill extra-greasy pans, or dishes with stuck-on food, with hot, soapy water and set them on the (turned-off) stove to soak. (We'll get back to them in a few minutes, once that soap has had a chance to work on the rice.)

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Clean Mama blogger, Becky Rapinchuk,who is author of The Organically Clean Home loads items in groups to make it easier for her 8-year-old daughter to unload the washer later (e.g., all drinking glasses go in the same row, all kids' plastic cups are together, all large dinner plates are near each other). If you used any utensils that separate from their handles, such as rubber spatulas, pull the pieces apart before loading, or dirty water may collect inside. And just before you turn the machine on, follow this advice from the experts at Mr. Appliance: Run the hot water in the kitchen sink so the cycle will begin with hot water.


The counter, table and stove are the obvious places, but Rapinchuk finds people often forget to hit the faucet or faucets of the sink, which can be some of the dirtiest places in the kitchen (not to mention the sink itself, which, as most of us know, can contain more bacteria than you'd find on the toilets of public bathrooms). Other easily overlooked germ hotspots: the refrigerator door handle, microwave buttons and stove dials.

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Before the buzzer rings, get back to those pots. Rapinchuk balls up a piece of aluminum foil that had been used to cover a dish earlier in the day and uses it as a scrubber, which avoids getting scrub bristles dirty (adding to your list of things to clean). This, she says, is especially effective on reheated leftovers since food that's been warmed twice tends to be harder to remove. Next, the floor. Experts vary in what they like to use, from Swiffers to hand vacuums to brooms, but they all say don't just go under the table and near the stove--sweep the baseboards, too, since crumbs tend to cluster in the little gap between the wall and wood. Finally, tie up the trash, take it out, replace the bag and--ahhh--hit the couch.

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By Health.com - Healthy Living


I have never been a smoker, but many of my clients are current or former smokers. And those who want to kick the habit are often afraid to do so because they're worried about gaining weight. In fact, some purposefully took up smoking as a way to lose weight, so they're convinced that quitting will result in packing on pounds.

A recent study published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice found that 53% of smokers gained weight during previous attempts to quit, with an average weight gain of 8 to 14 pounds within the first year. The researchers also found that those who were highly concerned about weight were less likely to seek out treatment to help them kick the habit.

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It's a major barrier, but you should know two things: first, you'd have to gain 100 or more pounds to offset the health benefits of quitting; and second, you can quit successfully without affecting your weight long-term. In fact, research out this year found that on average, quitters don't experience greater weight gain than never-smokers.

Feeling encouraged? I hope so, because quitting smoking is probably the most important thing you can do for your health, and the benefits are immediate. Just 12 hours after quitting, the carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal, within two weeks your circulation and lung function improve, and within one year, your risk of heart disease is slashed to half of what it was when you smoked.

To reap all of these rewards and maintain your weight, quit strategically, using the following five tricks.

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Go for volume without overdoing it on calories Smoking dulls taste buds and diminishes your sense of smell. When these rebound after quitting, you'll be tasting food in a whole new way, which can make it difficult to keep your portions petite. But, big portions don't necessarily lead to calorie overkill-if you choose wisely. For example, three and a half cups of oil-popped organic popcorn, about the size of three and a half tennis balls, provides about 140 calories, compared to 160 in just 11 wavy potato chips or 12 tortilla chips.


For high-volume lunch and dinner options, make two cups of field greens (30 calories) the foundation of a meal, dressed with a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar, topped with a serving of lean protein and a small scoop of quinoa. Or, re-proportion meals like a stir-fry or pasta, so most of what's on your plate is veggies. For example, sauté a quarter cup each of onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, and bell pepper in olive oil with garlic and herbs, toss with a half cup of brown rice pasta or quinoa, and top with a serving of lean protein (like a half cup of white beans, shrimp, or cubed chicken). You'll get a generously portioned meal (about 3 cups of food!) for well under 500 calories.

Reach for healthy finger foods One of the reasons people nibble more after quitting is to mimic the hand-to-mouth motion of smoking. But delivering a lot of calories every time you bring your hand to your mouth (like with candy, pretzels, or chips…) can definitely up the risk of weight gain. Instead, reach for water-rich low cal veggies, like cucumber slices (16 cals per cup), radishes (19 cals per cup), or grape tomatoes, broccoli florets, and celery sticks (all 30 cals per cup). Pair your veggies with a single-serve hummus, guacamole, or nut butter. You can find each in pre-portioned packages, which are a great idea if you think you might be tempted to keep dipping into a larger container. Other healthy options you can eat with your hands include popcorn, which I've already mentioned, as well as fresh fruit, like grapes, berries, and cherries. Citrus fruits that require peeling, like an orange or tangerine, will also keep your hands occupied and allow you to nibble a little bit at a time. Bonus: if you do slip, a study from Duke University found that eating more produce worsens the taste of cigarettes.

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Rely on natural appetite suppressants Smoking suppresses appetite, so quitting can cause a sudden hunger upswing. Fortunately, certain foods and habits can counter the effect. For example, "good" fats like nuts, seeds, olives, and avocado boost satiety and slow stomach emptying, to keep you fuller longer, and delay the return of hunger. To take advantage of this benefit, include some healthy fat at every meal. For example, whip coconut oil or nut butter into a smoothie, sauté or roast veggies in olive oil rather than using nonstick spray, add avocado to salads and omelets, add a dollop of guacamole to soup, and sprinkle sliced or chopped nuts onto stir-frys.

Rev up your metabolism naturally Smoking slightly boosts metabolism, so when you quit, maximizing your metabolic rate in healthy, natural ways is a smart strategy for preventing weight gain. Research-backed methods include drinking more water and unsweetened green tea (note: if you can't stand it unsweetened add a splash of 100% fruit juice), firing up meals with hot peppers (like fresh jalapenos or dried and ground cayenne or chili pepper), slightly increasing your protein portions, and seasoning meals with spices like ginger, black pepper, garlic, and organic citrus zest. Each of these strategies has also been shown to boost satiety, and flavoring meals with metabolic-boosters can keep your taste buds happy, while helping you avoid excess salt and sugar.

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Up your activity In addition to burning calories, exercise also helps curb cigarette cravings and relieve withdrawal symptoms. The trick is finding fun ways to move. A recent study found that when exercise feels like "work" we tend to compensate by seeking out rewards, like adding "I earned it" treats or eating more, which can cancel out the weight loss benefits of working out. To avoid this effect, choose activities that get your heart rate up, but don't feel like a chore or punishment. Take a dance class, plan a half day hike, or a long bike ride with a friend, try something you've never done but have always wanted to do, like rollerblading, indoor rock climbing, or stand-up paddle boarding, or join a volleyball or dodgeball league. Being active in enjoyable ways can help you connect to a whole new smoke-free you, and strengthen the chances that you'll leave smoking behind forever.

Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD, is Health's contributing nutrition editor. She is frequently seen on national TV and privately counsels clients in New York, Los Angeles, and long distance. Cynthia is currently the sports nutrition consultant to the New York Rangers NHL team and the Tampa Bay Rays MLB team, and is board certified as a specialist in sports dietetics. Her latest New York Times best seller is S.A.S.S! Yourself Slim: Conquer Cravings, Drop Pounds and Lose Inches.

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