When it comes to weight loss, what's more important: Diet or exercise? The answer is both -- exercise alone isn't enough to make you slim, but that doesn't mean you can live the life of a certified couch potato if you watch what you eat.

Most of us favor a balanced approach -- we eat well most of the time and try our best to get at least a few workouts in each week. But not everyone is alike -- some can stay slim without lifting a single dumbbell, and some can eat what they please because they burn it off with intense and frequent exercise. Yet others don't even pay a passing thought to diet or exercise -- they just can't be bothered with either. So I'm wondering, which are you?

Last week, I asked you if you preferred group exercise to solo workout sessions. Surprisingly,

• 56 percent said no -- you prefer to work out alone, without distraction.
• 24 percent said you like both -- some exercises are better alone, while some are best done with others.
• 12 said sometimes, depending on the activity.
• 8 percent always prefer a social workout -- exercising alone can be boring.

But whether you like workouts with others or not, just make sure you get out there and do something, like walking -- it's very effective for weight loss.

Obesity can cause major health problems, but if you're sitting at home alone on the weekends because you're afraid of social events full of calorific foods, think again. Seems lonelieness is actually worse for you than obesity. Loneliness increases your chances of heart attack, cancer, drug dependence and more.

Moral of the story? Don't give up your friends -- just learn how to navigate social situations in a healthy way. Here are some tips:

• Eat a large, healthy salad before you go out to cut down on any hunger-induced bad choices.
  
• Load your plate with fresh fruits and veggies, leaving just a teeny tiny space for anything else.
  
• Suggest outings that don't revolve around food -- such as a walking tour or a craft session.

Source

Like Rocky said to Adrian, some people think being shy is a disease. But that doesn't bother him! For some people though, being shy is a lot worse. In fact, some degrees of acute social embarrassment are considered "social phobia" that require medical attention.

That's a far cry from the schoolyard timidness shown by kids at a young age. One commenter conveyed exactly what it feels like: "Social Phobia has destroyed my life. ... Walking into a room full of people causes me to almost have a breakdown." When pictured like this, extreme shyness can seem like a mental health problem.

Symptoms can include chronically stressing over conversations: 'What should I say to this person? Did I say the right thing? What should I have said instead?' According to the article, this acute shy behavior is the most under-recognized mental health problem out there. But thankfully for those people there are treatment options. Medication is available, but therapy has been shown to help better in the long run. If you'd like to check out more, continue reading the article!

Source

This will undoubtedly cause a controversy among parents, but a new report suggests that kids who get spanked a lot end up more aggressive. Not only that, but the children are claimed to grow up with various sexual problems relating to their behavior.

First, the data: college students revealed how much they had been spanked as children, and then told researchers about their lifestyle at the present time. Twenty-five percent of those had urged sex without a condom -- these were the students who ranked highest on a scale of corporal punishment. Masochistic sex (or interest) was another common connection among 75 percent of these highly spanked individuals.

However there are some obvious holes in this study. For example, how do you accurately assess the history of these people who had to reach back and remember their upbringing? Like this article suggests, researchers cannot prove cause and effect. Not only that, but some people could exaggerate. Either way, this paper will probably rock the boat as many folks aren't going to appreciate being told they were raised improperly (or that they're doing it wrong).

Source

Recent studies out of Japan show that people who are sociable tend to be chubbier than those who are introverted and prone to worry. I don't know about you but I don't find this surprising at all. After all, so much of our socializing happens over food and I know that when I'm in the midst of a string of social events, my pants tend to be a bit tighter than normal.

But you know what? I love my friends, and I love being sociable, and if having a social life means carrying a few extra pounds, so be it -- I wouldn't have it the other way around. What about you?

That said, I think there are ways you can make your social life healthier. Filling up on salads at a large dinner is one way, and reducing the amount of alcohol you consume is another. You can also try to encourage you friends to do something active instead of heading to the neighbourhood pub for wings.

Source

FitSpirit explores the mind-body connection and the intangible benefits we gain from our efforts to stay physically fit.

Do you engage in "fat" talk? Many women do. It's the norm, actually, for women to regularly say negative things about their bodies. Research proves it.

A study from Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina -- home to great white water rafting, by the way -- reveals that "fat talk" is social currency for women. It goes something like this:

"I'm so fat."

"Oh, no, you look great, but my thighs are HUGE."

"YOUR thighs are huge? Look at MINE!"

And so on.

"Fat" talk is not all bad. It creates a solidarity among females. It allows them to open up. It's a way of sharing, disclosing, and receiving reassurance. But wouldn't it be great if we could bond as women without trashing our bodies in the process?

Let's try to minimize our own "fat" talk and see what happens. I predict we'll boost our moods and may even secure a better chance at making healthy choices, perhaps even trimming down.

A positive attitude can do wonders for mental health. So compliment yourself next time you're about to slip into "fat" talk. Surely, you've got a few redeeming qualities you can acknowledge. I know, it seems like bragging, but give a try. I'll go first. I won't tell you about my least favorite body part, although it's tempting. I'll only tell you this: I like my calf muscles. I consider them my best feature, in fact.

That wasn't so hard. Your turn.

Source

For any parent out there who has seen any of those To Catch a Predator shows about adults posing as teenagers online in order to make friends and more with unsuspecting kids, this news may be a bit unsettling. Apparently, teens contacted online by total strangers aren't overly concerned about the people attempting to chat with them, and don't question their motives.

According to the report, 44% of teenagers who have posted a profile or pictures of themselves online at social networking sites like facebook and myspace have been contacted by someone they don't know, compared with only 6% of those who do not have profiles. Furthermore, most of those kids aren't worried about why they're being contacted.

I know that when I was a teenager there was no way I would have been allowed to post any information about myself online, and I also think that I would have been freaked out if a total stranger stopped by to say hello. I suppose times do change though and now that these networking sites are the norm, kids are probably more used to making contacts with strangers online. Hopefully, they're being savy about it as well.

What do you parents out there think about your kids making 'friends' with strangers online?

Source

Pretty much everyone was bullied at some point in their childhood. Whether it was by the dominant kid in a social group who never let anyone else decide what games to play, or the traditional big kid on the playground who terrorized every other child, chances are you've had to deal with some form of bullying when you were little.

Many of us think that all gets left behind when we grow up into confident adults, but unfortunately that's not always the case. Have you ever been to one of your kids' sports matches and seen another parent blow up at a referee? Or perhaps you're a part of the PTA and one of the other parents consistently refuses to listen to your suggestions or ignores you altogether? Maybe you dread going to work every day because a gossipy co-worker tries to belittle you with the information he or she spreads to your fellow workers?

According to this, all of the above constitute adult bullying. Even as a grown-up there are people who will try to boost their own confidence by intimidating others and trying to cut them down. If you think you may be a victim of adult bullying, take a look at the piece for suggestions on how to deal with it. If you know someone at work or in your social circle who is being picked on, stand up for them. Much like when with kids, a bully will often back down if they know that no one else is willing to stand for it.

Source

Turkey Day is rapidly approaching -- the big day occurs on Monday for Canadians and next month in the US -- and one of the greatest pleasures of Thanksgiving is that it kicks off the beloved holiday eating season. It's easily the best and the worst time of year. The worst because it's almost impossible not to end up wearing elasticized waist pants rather than admit you've gained enough weight to go up a size, but the best because all of that food is so, so good.

Sadly, Thanksgiving hasn't been the same for me since I became a semi-veggie (the only type of meat I eat is fish making me a 'pescatarian'), and I'm sure other vegetarians and non-turkey-eaters feel the same. It can be tough navigating turkey dinner situations at the homes of non-vegetarian family and friends.

If you're not sure how to deal with being a vegetarian at Thanksgiving, take a look at this piece for ideas on how to comfortably navigate social situations where not eating meat may be an issue. It includes ideas on what to do if you've been invited out to a meat-eater's celebration, as well as how to handle it if you've got carnivore friends heading over to your place.

Source

Who out there has become a Facebook 'addict'? It's tough for many to not go overboard adding photos and searching out friends from high school and earlier. I think it's fun to see what everyone is up to and have the chance to send quick notes to say hello.

But quick notes don't equal a real, lasting friendship and the study reported on here discusses how those who use social networking sites and 'collect' dozens upon dozens of friends, will likely not be able to forge any true relationships with the friends they make on the site.

A real friend is someone who will be there for you physically and emotionally when you're in need. They'll make you laugh and keep you company when you're feeling lonely. The people you meet on Facebook you may never even see face-to-face, so if you're joining these kind of sites in the hopes of making new friends, it may be a better idea to join a local recreational sports team or hobby group.

Source

Your friends might be making you fat, according to recent reports. As Bethany pointed out, some friends might purposely undermine your healthy habits, but even the ones who wouldn't stoop so low might be bad for your waistline, according to this article.

How, you ask? Well, did you know that you eat 35% more when your with one friend than you would alone? And if you're dining with seven or more friends, on average, you'll eat 96% more? Those are some scary statistics. So if you're trying to lose weight, you might need to pare down your social calendar.

Do you have any tips for eating well and still having meals with friends?

Source

I recently covered a study with results which showed that obesity may be socially contagious. So I was interested to see that another study reported on here points to a virus as a possible reason why some people become obese. A bug called AD - 36 is supposedly to blame, as it causes the fat cells in those who catch it go grow larger and multiply faster, resulting in excessive weight gain. While it is unethical to give purposely give the virus to humans, the bug has caused nearly all animals infected with it to put on weight. In addition, in one study 30% of obese participants whose blood was tested showed antibodies to the pathogen.

Personally, I think there are a variety of reasons why someone may become very overweight. It could be a social thing for some, while for others it could be the result of emotional eating or simply a high junk food diet mixed with a sedentary lifestyle. I find the virus explanation a little hard to believe though, because it doesn't explain why obesity rates have skyrocketed over the past coupe of decades. What do you think? Is obesity the result of a virus, or perhaps a gene? Is it a social disease or is it completely lifestyle related?

Source

If you're trying to lose weight, you pretty much have to go live in under a rock to avoid all temptation. The problem is the food pushers -- that is, those people who are always trying to get you to eat. Grandmothers are notorious for this, but there are some other common culprits, like:

• Your drinking friends: they always want you to have one more margarita, and with your inhibitions down, you're bound to listen. Avoid these get-togethers or don't drink at all
  
• Your partner: if, like me, you have a significant other who could live on a diet of whipped cream and not get fat, you know how hard it is to stay on track when they're coming home with pizza and Chinese food. You can't avoid them, but you can ask them you respect your diet.
  
• The workplace: Work lunches are an easy place to over-do it. Have a snack of veggies beforehand
• Your kids: Pick healthy snacks for them, and try not to give in to the urge to share their food
• Family: You don't want to offend your in-laws by refusing dinner -- offer to bring a dish and make it a healthy one.

Want to know who the other 'food pushers are? Check out the full article from AOL.

Source

I think that this is one of the most interesting subjects I've come across in a while. The New England Journal of Medicine recently published this study that suggests people with obese friends are more likely (57% more likely, in fact) to become obese as well. The same can be said for those whose siblings and spouses gain a significant amount of weight, although the results are less significant (40% and 37% respectively).

Basically the research suggests that obesity is socially contagious. If your friend gains weight, you're more likely to as well as are, according to the study, your friends. So what gives? The researchers believe that it's all about ideas and what we all believe is acceptable as far as weight and health are concerned. If your pal becomes obese, your idea of what is considered a healthy body size will change, making you feel it's more acceptable to be heavier.

The good news is that apparently the same goes for losing weight. So if a buddy (or sibling or spouse) begins to eat healthy, exercise regularly and lose weight, you'll get the idea too and be influenced to life a healthier lifestyle as well.

Source

As I work from home today, Dr. Phil is bleating away in the background about husbands who sabotage their wives' weight loss efforts because they want them to stay chubby. I can't help but wonder -- are there actually people who intentionally hurt someone's health because of their own agenda? eDiet's says yes -- in a recent survey, they found that the majority of people who are trying to lose weight have friends who try and sabotage their efforts. Are these friends or foes?

I think the line needs to be drawn between those who intentionally undermine your healthy habits and those who do so without meaning to. According to eDiets, 95% of those polled admitted that their friends offered them something that was forbidden on their diet program. I don't call that sabotage -- I call that being generous.

Source