LifeScript Women's Lifestyle

7 Refreshing Summer Cocktails

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In the summertime, livin’ is easy. Your cocktails should be too. These 7 drink recipes showcase the best of the season and will cool you down on a hot day. Plus, is happy hour making you fat? Take our quiz to find out...

Summer Fruit Punch
Your favorite stone fruit stars in this sparkling punch.

Serves: 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes

Ingredients
2 cups diced stone fruit (apricots, plums, peaches, nectarines)
2 cups apricot juice
2 cups sparkling wine
1 cup seltzer

Preparation
1. Combine diced fruit, apricot juice, sparkling wine and seltzer.

2. Divide among four ice-filled glasses.

Non-alcoholic version: Substitute sparkling cider for the wine.

Enjoy!

Nutrition Facts
Per cocktail:
203 calories
1 g fat (0 g sat, 0 g mono)
0 mg cholesterol
29 g carbohydrate
2 g protein
2 g fiber
5 mg sodium
324 mg potassium

Nutrition Bonus: vitamin A (50% Daily Value), vitamin C (30% DV)

My Husband Ignores My Kids!

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

By Venus Nicolino, Ph.D., Lifescript Relationship Expert

Dear Dr. V,
Five years ago, I married a wonderful man. He didn't mind that I had three children, ages 4 through 6. Soon after, we had two children of our own. He fell in love with his own kids and withdrew from my other three. My children feel left out, and he’s only happy when they’re not around.

I’ve told my husband how I feel. I don't think he'll ever change his attitude toward my older children. I really want to make this family work. Please tell me what I can do.

- Sandra J.

Dear Sandra,
It must be hard for you to be caught between your husband, your two youngest children and the children from your previous relationship.

The apparent shift in your husband’s feelings toward your three older children could have more to do with a change in his perceptions than what’s actually in his heart. I’m sure you recall the incredible rush of emotions that comes with becoming a parent.

The two youngest are your husband's first experience with his biological offspring, which is a unique bond.

For that reason, the feeling he has for your children may be different from his biological children. Not better or worse, just different.

Still, he may feel insecure, perhaps even frustrated with himself or the situation. These feelings could be at the root of his behavior.

Perhaps if he thought of the older children as the siblings of his own children rather than kids from your previous marriage, his view of the family might shift in a more positive direction.

10 Things Your OB-GYN May Not Tell You

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

By Linda Burke-Galloway, MD, MS, FACOG
When you’re pregnant, your ob-gyn may be the most important person in your life. But how can you pick the best doctor for you and the baby? Read on for the 10 questions expectant women should ask, but rarely do. Plus, get the answers to three reader questions, and take our pregnancy quiz...

Some of the most important issues that could affect your pregnancy are ones you may never ask about. Your doctor is the key to most of them.

After all, you’re on a magical 40-week journey with someone responsible for your baby's safe arrival. Although you don't expect your ob-gyn to walk on water, you do want to choose one who has your best interests at heart.

Beyond the basics – Is your doctor board-certified? Does she or he accept your medical insurance? – here are 10 questions to ask when choosing an obstetrician:

1. How many patients are scheduled for appointments during a routine day?
This is a loaded question and the answer may affect your quality of care and the waiting time for appointments.

The more patients scheduled per day, the less likely your doctor will have time to address all your prenatal needs. It’s a red flag if he or she has more than 30 patients scheduled in one day or the office staff is reluctant to discuss the schedule.

A physician with too many patients suggests potential financial difficulties in the practice or an unusual emphasis on making money.

2. Is the practice dedicated to obstetrics or are other services offered?
In a growing trend, doctors are adding services, such as "medical spas," weight-loss services, retail vitamins and even liposuction. This might enhance his or her bank account but not your prenatal care.

The fewer distractions your doctor has, the more time he or she can devote to managing your pregnancy properly.

'Dancing With the Stars' Cheryl Burke on Her Weight-Loss Secret

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

By Mari Cartel, Special to Lifescript
“Dancing With the Stars” pro Cheryl Burke didn’t win the mirror ball this season, but she’s not holding grudges. A two-time show champ, Burke battled back this season from stinging criticism about her weight. In this Lifescript exclusive, she talks about her slim-down secrets, dealing with fame and her Season 8 partner, Gilles Marini…

Burke is used to tough competition. But nothing could have prepared the 25-year-old for getting slammed when she put on weight.

Even after shedding the pounds, she and Marini were squeezed out of the DWTS championship by gymnast Shawn Johnson and Mark Ballas.

In this exclusive interview, the DWTS star praises her partner, but has tough words for Hollywood’s fat-watchers.

What did you think about all those “fat” comments last season?
It was hurtful. I’m not overweight. I’m not fat. I'm not what those people called me.

I had gained an extra five pounds to be exact. I’m just healthy and normal, and I think a lot of people can relate to me.

Of course I went home and I was upset about it. How can you not be? But it just made me a stronger person.

Why do you think everyone focused on your weight?
I think the media really causes it all. There is a stereotypical “right” way of looking in Hollywood that is just skin and bones, and that’s not beautiful.

Oprah's Health Claims: Good or Bad?

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

By Winnie Yu, Special to Lifescript
She’s America’s best girlfriend, offering warmth and straight talk with every show. But should you listen to Oprah Winfrey’s medical advice? We asked leading experts for their take on Oprah’s recent Rx for good health…

When Oprah speaks, people listen. We read the books she touts, heed her guidance on self-improvement and manage our money as she suggests. Even the advice from her guests carries her stamp of approval.

However, following health advice from the "Oprah Winfrey Show" is another matter – one that’s come under increasing scrutiny. Some call it celebrity medicine and worry about its possibly unhealthy influence.

“Celebrities have tremendous impact on consumer choices and beliefs,” says Marie Savard, M.D., author of Ask Dr. Marie: Straight Talk and Reassuring Answers to Your Most Private Questions (Globe Pequot Press) and a medical contributor to ABC News.

“We want to believe them because they’re really successful. But they’re often doing more harm than good,” she says. Not only is some information unscientific and potentially harmful, but those “neat little sound bites don’t take into account the individual’s personal medical history or the family history.”

Of course, Oprah offers legitimate advice too – create a calming routine before bedtime, know your cholesterol levels, get your vitamin D levels checked – that may be overshadowed by the more sensational stories.

Oprah’s staff declined to discuss specifics or how producers research health shows. But in a statement, Winfrey said:

“My show presents a variety of topics that reflect the human experience … I’ve been saying for years that people are responsible for their actions and their own well-being.

“I believe my viewers understand the medical information presented on the show is just that – information – not an endorsement or prescription. Rather, my intention is for our viewers to take the information and engage in a dialogue with their medical practitioners about what may be right for them.”

A Waist-Watcher's Guide To Frozen Meals

Sun, 05 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

By Jennifer Gruenemay, Special to Lifescript
Who has time to cook, measure portions and count each calorie? Frozen meals can help whittle your waistline. Which 10 brands offer the best bang for your buck… and your “bottom” line? Read on to find out. Plus, can you decode an ingredients list? Test your knowledge…

Heat-and-eat frozen entrées could be your ticket to a smaller pants size.

Research backs it up: A 2004 University of Illinois study found that women who ate portion-controlled entrées lost more weight and body fat over eight weeks than those who followed a self-selected diet identical in protein, fat, carbs and calories. Why? The latter group underestimated portions and calorie intake.

“Frozen entrées keep you from going overboard,” says Joy Bauer, a registered dietitian and author of the bestselling Joy’s LIFE Diet (Collins Living, 2008). “They’re especially great for individuals who don’t have a lot of time or hate cooking.”

Jill Weisenberger, Lifescript’s nutrition expert and a registered dietitian at Hampton Roads Center for Clinical Research in Norfolk, Va., agrees. “They remind you what a portion looks like, there are no leftovers to pick at and you can have them readily available at work and at home,” she says.

But not all frozen meals will help you lose weight, and supermarket freezer cases are stocked with hundreds of options.

Which should you choose? To make it easier, we evaluated 10 brands and some favorite dishes to find the best of the bunch.

Pasta
When you crave noodle-y comfort food, frozen pasta options abound at supermarkets. Which offer the best value and nutrition? Here’s what we found:

1. Marie Callender’s
Grilled Chicken Alfredo Bake
$3.99 for 13 ounces (31¢ per ounce)
Cart-worthy? Don’t touch it.

Since 1948, Marie Callender’s has been serving up meals in her namesake restaurants. Today, many of her specialties are available in grocery stores.