According to a recently published study revealing the secrets* to looking younger, I'm hosed.
Bad news: Sun, smoking, alcohol and stress can add years to your face
Good news: Additional weight fills in and softens wrinkles
As a stressed out, cocktail imbibing, ex-smoker with a strong proclivity toward sunny beaches and/or hammocks, I'm not poised well. Once again, there goes my modeling career. However, as luck would have it, I can somewhat offset the effects of aging simply by continuing to overeat. Yay!
Bring on the cupcakes!
*Are any of these illuminating research findings really a surprise?
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Showing posts with label research. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Thursday, September 24, 2009
I'm Still Reaching for the Stars
Thanks to my happy-go-lucky, 6' tall brother for more uplifting news!
A recent study published in the journal Economics and Human Biology indicates that tall people live better lives and are happier, on average, than their height-challenged counterparts -- which, for women, means those of us who are 5'4" or shorter (i.e., me).
Whoa doggie. Looks like I've inherited the disadvantaged, les miserables, shortie gene. Shocking. This may explain why I'm always searching for that elusive state of being called "happiness." It's right around the next corner, for sure, apparently killing time with my taller friends.
According to a related article on Bloomberg, "the findings support a hypothesis put forth in 2008 that tall people are more likely than shorter people to have reached their full cognitive potential." The research concludes that the findings are almost entirely explained by the positive association between height and both income and education.
Did I defy the odds with my super impressive graduate degree and highfalutin salary? Without them, would I be down-and-out, devoid of laughter and utterly despondent? Darn it all. If I were just a bit taller, perhaps I wouldn't have to think so hard on a routine basis and, instead, I could fill my days with glee.
Is it any wonder that Gary Larson picked the shortest guy in the class for the cartoon below?
To think this was published >20 years before the research confirmation. Ah well. Does this mean they have to lower the glass ceiling even further for me?
A recent study published in the journal Economics and Human Biology indicates that tall people live better lives and are happier, on average, than their height-challenged counterparts -- which, for women, means those of us who are 5'4" or shorter (i.e., me).
Whoa doggie. Looks like I've inherited the disadvantaged, les miserables, shortie gene. Shocking. This may explain why I'm always searching for that elusive state of being called "happiness." It's right around the next corner, for sure, apparently killing time with my taller friends.
According to a related article on Bloomberg, "the findings support a hypothesis put forth in 2008 that tall people are more likely than shorter people to have reached their full cognitive potential." The research concludes that the findings are almost entirely explained by the positive association between height and both income and education.
Did I defy the odds with my super impressive graduate degree and highfalutin salary? Without them, would I be down-and-out, devoid of laughter and utterly despondent? Darn it all. If I were just a bit taller, perhaps I wouldn't have to think so hard on a routine basis and, instead, I could fill my days with glee.
Is it any wonder that Gary Larson picked the shortest guy in the class for the cartoon below?
To think this was published >20 years before the research confirmation. Ah well. Does this mean they have to lower the glass ceiling even further for me?
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Chasing After the Wind
Last night, Son #1 was positioning his army men and tanks all over the family room floor and breathlessly chattering nonstop about squadrons, reconnaissance teams and surveillance missions. He even had a few men stationed on the mantle that I noticed as we headed off to bed. Snipers, he informed me.
In the midst of all of this, he noticed the book that I blogged about yesterday.
Son #1: Mama, you don't need to read a book about play. Just get down on the floor with me and think strategically.
Once again, trumped by a nine year old.
Why is this topic of happiness so interesting to me? Simply because I'm a chronic malcontent?
According to recently published research that my loving brother shared with me: I am not alone. Women's happiness has declined over the past 35 years both absolutely and relative to men. In other words, men may have been the primary beneficiaries of the women's movement! Go figure.
To make matters worse, it's all women. Married and single. Career women and homemakers. Childless women, women with families and single parents. All educational groups. All ages. All races (where known). It's universal: women are less satisfied with their family's financial situation, have become increasingly dissatisfied with the amount of available free time, feel decreased social cohesion, and are facing increased anxiety and neuroticism.
Why? Possibly because even though women have greater professional opportunities, we still carry the emotional burden for our families on top of it all. Or because we have so many outlets outside the home, we cannot be happy across all facets of our lives. Maybe our expectations grew and our lives are not measuring up.
Sound familiar? All I know is that I'm on a personal mission to end the misery and I don't think the antidote is found anywhere but within myself. And if I find in myself a desire that this world cannot satiate, I can only conclude that I was made for another world.
In the midst of all of this, he noticed the book that I blogged about yesterday.
Son #1: Mama, you don't need to read a book about play. Just get down on the floor with me and think strategically.
Once again, trumped by a nine year old.
Why is this topic of happiness so interesting to me? Simply because I'm a chronic malcontent?
According to recently published research that my loving brother shared with me: I am not alone. Women's happiness has declined over the past 35 years both absolutely and relative to men. In other words, men may have been the primary beneficiaries of the women's movement! Go figure.
To make matters worse, it's all women. Married and single. Career women and homemakers. Childless women, women with families and single parents. All educational groups. All ages. All races (where known). It's universal: women are less satisfied with their family's financial situation, have become increasingly dissatisfied with the amount of available free time, feel decreased social cohesion, and are facing increased anxiety and neuroticism.
Why? Possibly because even though women have greater professional opportunities, we still carry the emotional burden for our families on top of it all. Or because we have so many outlets outside the home, we cannot be happy across all facets of our lives. Maybe our expectations grew and our lives are not measuring up.
Sound familiar? All I know is that I'm on a personal mission to end the misery and I don't think the antidote is found anywhere but within myself. And if I find in myself a desire that this world cannot satiate, I can only conclude that I was made for another world.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Rockenschpeel
According to research published last September by Uri Gneezy and Jason Shafrin from the University of California, San Diego, married individuals weigh more on average than non-married individuals. Why? Possibly because "exiting the dating market decreases one’s incentive to maintain their (sic) appearance and thus leads to an increase in body weight."
In other words, now that no man is ever going to look at me again (including my husband!), I may as well gorge myself on submarine sandwiches and Cheetos.
I bring this up only because I have to don a swimsuit in public tomorrow. And even though I'm not hitting the beach to impress others, I still have to see myself and, trust me, it ain't pretty.
The research also suggests that the hubby and I should threaten one another with divorce every so often given that "a higher probability that the relationship will terminate will compel individuals to maintain their appearance and body weight." Maybe we've become too complacent.
Yet, in all weighty matters such as these, I defer to Wilma.
In other words, now that no man is ever going to look at me again (including my husband!), I may as well gorge myself on submarine sandwiches and Cheetos.
I bring this up only because I have to don a swimsuit in public tomorrow. And even though I'm not hitting the beach to impress others, I still have to see myself and, trust me, it ain't pretty.
The research also suggests that the hubby and I should threaten one another with divorce every so often given that "a higher probability that the relationship will terminate will compel individuals to maintain their appearance and body weight." Maybe we've become too complacent.
Yet, in all weighty matters such as these, I defer to Wilma.
Friday, January 23, 2009
More Good News
My brother sent a CNN article to me yesterday which states that "a new study in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that healthy seniors who consume light to moderate amounts of alcohol reduce their odds of developing physical disabilities or dying in the next five years by 23 percent, compared with either heavy drinkers or those who abstain."
Now that is good news--especially for him because in the study, "seniors" referred to men and women over age 50. Oh the humanity!
What's more: Light to moderate drinkers were defined as those who consumed fewer than 15 drinks a week and fewer than five per day (fewer than four daily for women).
That's considered light? More good news for me!
Now that is good news--especially for him because in the study, "seniors" referred to men and women over age 50. Oh the humanity!
What's more: Light to moderate drinkers were defined as those who consumed fewer than 15 drinks a week and fewer than five per day (fewer than four daily for women).
That's considered light? More good news for me!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)