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- Divorced? How to help yourself through holidays
You've read the headlines "Suicide rate higher among the divorced" and "More depression during the holidays" suggesting that the holidays are a difficult time for the divorced. Maybe. But no one is immune to the stress of holiday shopping, gift wrapping, food preparation and 48 people in your house. Who wouldn't reach for a little eggnog? Why are the holidays a problem? There are at least three problems with the holidays that make this a difficult time for everyone:-- Expectations.People begin before November to plan for the Christmas holidays and to anticipate who will be where. A lot of planning, and often money, go into the anticipated celebration and "it better be perfect" (we think) since a lot of trouble has gone into the preparation.-- Exhaustion. - Keeping holiday cocktails healthy
Tall and slender. Bubbly and bright. Luscious and cool. Ah, the temptations of cocktail hour.From retro whiskey sours and Kir royals to trendy pomegranate martinis and green tea-infused vodkas, the clever concoctions created by bartenders can entice you long before the dinner menu hits the table. The hospitable greeting, “Would you like to start with a drink?” introduces the first challenge to diners.Here’s how to do the metabolic math on alcohol: The standard 1-ounce serving of 80-proof alcohol has 96 calories before you add any mixers. And whether you’re drinking a beer or a bellini, the higher the alcohol content, the higher the calories. For example, an ounce of 80-proof vodka (40 percent alcohol, the most common) is 64 calories, and an ounce of 100-proof vodka (50 percent alcohol) is 82 calories.And it’s really easy to overdo it with alcohol calories. Here’s why: 1 gram of alcohol has 7 calories. Compare that to 1 gram of fat, which has 9 calories. So even though you won’t find the number of grams of alcohol per ounce on a wine list, you get the idea that alcohol is a pretty concentrated source of calories.The restaurant’s bar often isn’t far from the kitchen these days, and modern mixologists are borrowing from popular culinary trends. Enter the pomegranate martini. Sure, pomegranate juice is super high in anti-oxidants, and research shows that the kind of nutrients it contains can be heart-healthy. But most studies looked at the effects of 8 ounces of pomegranate juice per day for 45 days, not eight drops in a martini on a Friday night. Same goes for green tea-infused vodkas or other concoctions including green tea in the recipe. There’s generally not enough to pack a health-promoting punch. It’s a cocktail, not a cure. - Finding the right hiking boot
Not all hiking boots are the same. And finding boots designed for a specific type of hiking can go a long way toward making the experience pleasurable.Here are some brief guidelines to the types of hiking boots available.• Trail shoes: Made for hiking in dry weather and on well-established paths. High-quality trail shoes are best suited for day-hikes and carrying a light day pack.• Trail hikers: Designed for sturdiness, trail hikers are good for tackling inclines and muddy paths. Higher-cut waterproof boots offer further support and protection from unexpected surprises on a trail, such as protruding limbs and rocks.• Mountaineering: With rugged wear and tear in mind, this type of strong boot provides solid ankle support when taking on difficult terrain — whether vertical or horizontal. - How to practice deep breathing
Deep breathing is a great way for many people to relax, therapists say.Here are some techniques to help you get started:• Get in position. Try sitting up straight, with your back well supported and your shoulders relaxed, or lying on a comfortable surface.• Position your hands. If you’re a beginner, place one hand on your chest and one on your stomach to help check if you are breathing correctly. Later, you may want to rest your hands on your knees.• Breathe in through your nose. Take a deep breath, aiming to fill up your stomach like a balloon. Your chest should expand only slightly. Breathe out through your mouth. Pause for a few seconds before gradually letting your stomach deflate. Some people like to count to five or 10 as they exhale. - Health care complaints aired
AARP member survey shows need for personal health advocates, group saysSome of South Carolina’s older residents are concerned about the medical care they get in hospitals, according to a new survey issued by AARP.In the survey of S.C. AARP members, one in eight says they or their family members have experienced physical or emotional problems resulting from the care they received in S.C. hospitals in the past three years.Sixty-five percent of South Carolina members surveyed said they or a family member had been in a South Carolina hospital over that period.Three in 10 complained doctors and nurses did not spend enough time with the patient, and 20 percent said hospital staffers failed to take care of personal needs quickly. - How Barack and Michelle Obama keep fit
Many women recoil at the thought of baring their arms in sleeveless dresses or blouses, but not Michelle Obama — half of the fabulously fit new first couple.Both President-elect Barack Obama and the future first lady have exercise routines that would put most people to shame. Michelle Obama used to join a friend for 4:30 a.m. workouts, and Barack Obama usually starts his day in the gym.Michelle Obama has hosted “The View,” been interviewed on “60 Minutes,” graced the cover of Newsweek and hit the campaign trail, all with her buff arms bared.“One of the things I always talk about is got to exercise,” the 44-year-old mother of two told an overwhelmingly female crowd at a campaign event last year in Chicago.That’s sure to continue when the Obamas and their girls — 10-year-old Malia and 7-year-old Sasha — move into the White House, which has plenty of places for them to stay active. - The great outdoors gift: a personality test
Gifts are important — and it’s not just the gift itself but how someone gives it.‘Tis the season for gifts galore — and there’s a lot more than a holiday token wrapped up with those ribbons and bows.What a significant other chooses to give you can be illuminating. But what if the signs aren’t clear? Never fear.With a little interpretation and this handy guide, the next present will be nothing short of a plate-glass window to his or her soul.AVALANCHE BEACON - Raleigh boy may have died during choking game'
RALEIGH -- It's called a game, but Kris Marceno's apparent attempt to get high by choking himself ended up deadly.The Enloe High School sophomore, 15, died at his home on Nov. 2 from accidental asphyxiation, his family said.His death has schools, churches and communities talking about the choking game.In the choking game, some children and young teens choke themselves or each other to experience the euphoric high that precedes blacking out, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The CDC has identified at least 82 choking game fatalities nationwide between 1995 and 2007. Three N.C. youths are believed to have died from the practice 2000 through 2007, according to state medical examiner records. - Don't let the holidays ruin your diet
Thanksgiving is coming up, and we’re anticipating pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and lots of gravy. Also Christmas cookies and fudge and fancy cocktails and big gift tins of popcorn in three flavors.And New Year’s champagne toasts and midnight suppers.But we’re not looking forward to what the scales say on Jan. 1.Here’s a quick refresher course on limiting the damage that you know the holidays can wreak on your healthy diet.Many of the suggestions are from Linda Nye, a registered dietitian at Via Christi Hope, a health-care outreach program. - Monday is World Aids Day
EVENTSPalmetto AIDS Life Support ServicesHIV Testing• South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control offers free testing at various sites around the state. Call DHEC’s S.C. AIDS/STD hot line at (800) 322-2437 or visit