community

Pregnancy

5 New Motherhood Myths Debunked!

We're excited to bring you a new post from mother and actress Tori Spelling and her ediTORIal by Tori Spelling blog.

We're excited to bring you a new post from mother and actress Tori Spelling and her ediTORIal by Tori Spelling blog. This week, Tori debunks five new mommy myths.

As a momista-of-four, there were still things that surprised me about each pregnancy and each new babe. There’s just so much to learn as a new mom. Even if you were one of those moms who read What to Expect When You’re Expecting cover to cover three times, chances are that you still fed into a few misconceptions and old wives' tales. So today I’m debunking a few of the biggest myths that new mamas encounter. Check them out and let me know which ones you used to believe . . .

Related: Tori's mother of the year award

Myth No. 1: You can predict the sex of the baby (without your doctor).
Each time that I was preggers, I had people tell me that if I was carrying low the baby was going to be a boy and that if I was carrying high it was a girl. Well, according to WhatToExpect.com, the height of your bump has nothing to do with the baby’s gender. Dying to find out the baby’s sex? It’s called an ultrasound! Otherwise, just sit tight and enjoy the guessing game. There are so few surprises in life.

Myth No. 2: You can determine the sex of the baby with sexual positions.
Lots of new mamas believe that not only can they predict their baby’s sex, but that they can take certain steps during conception to determine it. Well, I hate to break it to you, ladies, but according to Parents.com, the missionary position is not going to guarantee a girl and doggy style is not going to make your little one a boy. But I can promise you one thing — boy or girl, this little one is still going to be the light of your life.

Keep reading for three more myths and why they're nothing more than myths.

healthy living

5 Biggest Mistakes People Make With Food and Exercise

Curious if your foodie habits are hindering your workout results?

Curious if your foodie habits are hindering your workout results? Our friends at Health share five common missteps and how you can make healthy changes.


By Cynthia Sass, MPH, RD

Whether you earn your living working up a sweat, or squeeze in workouts when you can, it's easy to fall prey to eating errors that unintentionally hold you back from getting the most out of your workouts. Here are five common missteps I see, and how to correct them to reap the rewards of your hard work.

Eating too little fat
Despite my recommendations to include good fats at every meal, like avocado, nuts, seeds, and coconut oil, some of my clients remain fat phobic, and will scale back, fearing that fat is "fattening." But the truth is, getting enough fat is a smart strategy for both sports nutrition and weight control, because fat: delays stomach emptying, so you feel fuller longer; increases satiety, to shut off hunger hormones; boosts antioxidant absorption, which in emerging research is related to leanness; and ups metabolic rate, to help you burn more calories. In fact, fat is one of the most vital nutrients in your diet, because it's a structural part of your cells, which means you can't heal a cell or construct a new one without enough fat to perform these important jobs. Cutting back too much can result in fatigue, chronic hunger, or a lack of satiety, irritability, depression, a weaker immune system, and an increased injury risk. So even if you're trying to reduce your body fat percentage, don't be afraid to add almond butter to a smoothie, top your salad with avocado, and sauté your veggies in extra virgin olive oil. Filling the fat gap can be the key to finally seeing results.

Health.com: Are You Making These Dieting Mistakes?

Using a sports drink when you really don't need one
If you sweat heavily, work out for more than 90 minutes, or exercise in hot, humid conditions, reaching for a sports drink rather than plain water is a smart way to keep hydrated, stay fueled, and replace the electrolytes lost in sweat. But if you're exercising for less than an hour and a half, in a climate-controlled gym, plain water should be fine. The carbs in sports drinks are designed to keep you going when you can't stop to eat, but if your muscles don't need the fuel, just one 20 ounce bottle means consuming a surplus 35 grams of sugar, the amount in about 20 gummy bears. And while unsweetened coconut water is a little lower, an 11-ounce jug still contains 15 grams of potentially unneeded carbs.

Keep reading for more three more mistakes.

digital culture

Cool Capture: A London Eye's View

Everything about this shot by Instagram user undertheyellow is striking.

Everything about this shot by Instagram user undertheyellow is striking. The composition, the geometry of the spokes, the bubbly pods of the London Eye, and the leaves peeking out of the corner are just a few of the visual elements that make this photograph so interesting.

Have you been testing out your photography skills and snapped a shot you want to share? Submit your pics to our Cool Capture group or to Instagram with the #coolcapture hashtag, and your pic might be featured on the POPSUGAR Tech homepage. And don't forget to follow @popsugartech on Instagram!

Street Style

Look of the Day: Stars and Dots Forever

This is how to pull off Summer layering right.

This is how to pull off Summer layering right. Community member Beans66 infused her casual look with retro style, thanks to a polka-dot chambray shirt layered under a faded green-and-white striped cardigan. A pair of white jeans kept the mood of her layered ensemble light and summery, while her mint-green bag and nude shoes tied her outfit together with added style and polish.

Congrats, Beans66!

Everyone else, submit your looks, and we just might feature you on POPSUGAR Fashion!

savory sights

Savory Sight: Pico de Gallo Shrimp Cocktail

Who needs a piñata when you can treat yourself to this colorful pico de gallo shrimp cocktail, courtesy of eatspinrunrepeat?

Who needs a piñata when you can treat yourself to this colorful pico de gallo shrimp cocktail, courtesy of eatspinrunrepeat?

Pico de gallo shrimp cocktails are a perfect appetizer for Spring and Summer. I've put a Mexican twist on the traditional shrimp cocktail.

For more — and the recipe — visit her blog, and then be sure to share your food photos via Savory Sights on POPSUGAR Social or by starting your own blog. If you're on Instagram, then chime in on the conversation with the hashtag #savorysight.

consumerism

19 Lottery Winners Who Blew It All

Although it seems like winning the lottery would solve your problems, this isn't always the case.

Although it seems like winning the lottery would solve your problems, this isn't always the case. In fact, for a lot of previous winners, they ended up right back where they started from, or worse! Our partner site Business Insider has collected lottery horror stories about winners who didn't really win in the end:

As America salivates over the $590 million Powerball prize won by a Floridian, we're reminded that winning the lottery will not solve all problems.

In fact many people's lives became notably worse after they got super rich, and they managed to lose it all in no time.

RELATED: This Man Is A Shining Example Of What To Do If You Win The Lottery

  • The Griffiths bought their dream home then life fell apart
  • Before they won a $2.76 million lottery jackpot, Lara and Robert Griffith hardly ever argued. They bought a million-dollar house and a Porsche.

    But 18 months ago, six years after their win, Robert drove away in the Porsche after Lara confronted him over emails suggesting he was interested in another woman. Their 14-year marriage was over, a freak fire gutted their house, and every penny of their fortune was gone.

  • Tirabassi is back in the working class after winning $10 million nine years ago
  • In 2004, Sharon Tirabassi, a single mother who had been on welfare, cashed a check from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. for $10,569,00.10 (Canadian). She subsequently spent her winnings on a "big house, fancy cars, designer clothes, lavish parties, exotic trips, handouts to family, loans to friends" and in less than a decade she's back riding the bus, working part-time, and living in a rented house. Luckily Tirabassi put some of her windfall in trusts for her six children, who can claim the money when they turn 26.

Read on for more.

community

"He Wanted More, and Now I Miss My Best Friend"

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our community.

This question is from a Group Therapy post in our community. Add your advice in the comments!

Well, this is going to be long. I had a bad breakup two years ago. A month after that, I went out to celebrate a friend's birthday and ended up meeting a couple of her friends. I started to hang out with them more often and we became really close. One of them is the perfect guy, a musician and has a band, super funny and awesome, let's call him M. We started to hang out even more often, we saw each other at least three times a week. Nothing ever happened. I suspected that he liked me but I was undecided, while I thought he was awesome and great, I never came to really fully feel attracted to him.

Then, one day we were at a concert and he introduces me to a very close friend of his, let's call him L. This guy is also a musician, super funny and good looking, my type of guy. We became friends and hung out a couple of times. He made a couple of moves, but nothing too strong. At this point in my life I'm very happy to be alone, and my goal is to meet as many people as I can, because I was kind of in a cave during my seven-year-old relationship, I just hung out with my BF and my life centered around him. So if I meet new interesting people, I hang out with them. 

Then comes M and tells me he has feelings for me. I honestly thought I did, too, but in that moment, I didn't. So I ended up telling him the truth, I am very happy alone and on my own. We decided everything was going to be the same way, nothing changes. So we continued to hang out/text as much. I thought he was going to do something to convince me, but he didn't. He just backed off. 

Anyways, our friends in common talked to me. They told me that I should slow down and give M some distance. I talked to him and he told me he didn't need any. But then, a week after that we started to talk and he told me he needed the space, but not in the same way he always talks to me, calm and nice, but in a kind of rude (for him) way. He told me that this was clearly not going to work, and that he didn't have time for me right now, and that I could go and do anything I wanted like a free woman that I am. So I decided to give him the space. Last night I bumped into him and we greeted each other normally. Meanwhile, L keeps making moves and I don't understand that, being so close to M, and knowing about M's feelings for me. 

The thing is, I love M as a friend, I care about him. I seriously miss him right now, but I know I can't promise him anything. I feel like such an idiot for turning down such a good guy for my fears. I got out pretty damaged of my last relationship. I wonder if I can do anything to like him, I would do it. I wonder if attraction is so important? Or does that fade away? I don't know what to do. I want things to be normal again.

Have a dilemma of your own? Post it anonymously in Group Therapy for advice.

Vegan

Hit the Grill With These Vegan-Friendly Burgers

There's nothing better than some grilled goodness for Memorial Day weekend.

There's nothing better than some grilled goodness for Memorial Day weekend. If you've taken on a vegan or vegetarian diet and you're tired of those prepackaged burgers, you're in luck. There's something to tempt vegans regardless of their preferences, from white bean to black bean to portobello — no one-size-fits-all here! Click through to get inspired for your start-of-Summer backyard BBQ bliss or a weeknight supper.

Weight Loss

Weight Fluctuations: What's Normal and What's Not

Stop hating the scale and beating yourself up!

Stop hating the scale and beating yourself up! Stave off potentially permanent weight gain with these expert tips from Shape Magazine!

Although you know a number is just a number, it's hard not to worry when you see the scale jump a pound or two overnight or‚ worse, during the same day. But take a deep breath: most weight fluctuations are normal.

Since most of us can't eat enough in a day or two to actually gain five or 10 pounds, if you notice a dramatic increase on the scale, chances are it's due to water, says Anita Petruzzelli, MD, doctor for BodyLogicMD.

"Eating, drinking, urinating, having a bowel movement, and exercise can all impact your body's water composition and therefore weight," she says. For example, high-carb and high-salt foods can cause water retention and a boost in poundage, while exercise can lead to temporary water and weight loss.

So don't get too excited‚ or freaked‚ if you weigh yourself after a meal or workout. "Weight gain due to water fluctuation should normalize in a day or two when you resume exercising and eating a healthy diet that's low in salt, refined carbs, and simple sugars," Petruzzelli says.

However, if those extra pounds keep showing up on the scale after you've returned to your regular routine for about a week, it may be time to make some adjustments to your lifestyle. Five is the magic number, according to Joseph Colella, MD, a bariatric surgeon at Magee Women's Hospital at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Most people can recover five pounds rather quickly with minor tweaks to their calorie intake and physical activity.

And if the scale shows a seven-pound jump for longer than a day or two, more aggressive measures may be called for, such as eliminating alcohol. "Alcohol stimulates your appetite and wrecks your self-control regarding the amount of food that you consume," Colella explains.

Learn the best way to weigh yourself after the break!

digital culture

Cool Capture: City Soaring

Talk about great timing.

Talk about great timing. Birds meet buildings in a whole different way in this photo that Instagram user lfsphotos submitted with the tag #coolcapture.

Have you been testing out your photography skills and snapped a shot you want to share? Submit your pics to our Cool Capture group or to Instagram with the #coolcapture hashtag, and your pic might be featured on the POPSUGAR Tech homepage. And don't forget to follow @popsugartech on Instagram!