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The Social Animal: Picking Up Bad Habits? Blame Your Husband (Seriously, Science Says You Can)

The Social Animal: Picking Up Bad Habits? Blame Your Husband (Seriously, Science Says You Can)

To commemorate “Back to Fitness” week here at Blisstree, I’ve spent the last seven days holed up in my basement scrutinizing my vast database of women’s health- and wellness-related microfilm and microfiche, with white rice and Berry Rain Gatorade for sustenance and my trusty team of hooded acolytes as my lone source of contact with the outside world. In other words, I spent the week the same way I always do. “The Social Animal” never stops working for you, dear reader; no sacrifice is too large, including my own health and wellness. More »

The Social Animal: Chubby Hubbies Make For Wedded Bliss

The Social Animal: Chubby Hubbies Make For Wedded Bliss

Anyone who’s ever seen TV shows like The King of Queens and According to Jim knows that when a fat guy is married to a hot, thin chick, the union is an inevitably happy one, filled with zany pratfalls, mildly witty banter, and, ultimately, massively profitable syndication. Well, now there’s scientific proof. A new study published in this month’s issue of the journal Social Psychological and Personality Science reveals that, “consistent with predictions derived from interdependence theory, normative resource theories, and evolutionary perspectives”—i.e., by watching Kevin James movies—“husbands were more satisfied initially and wives were more satisfied over time (when) wives had lower (Body Mass Indexes) than their husbands.” This doesn’t bode well for me and my six-pack. More »

The Social Animal: 1 In 5 Restaurants Underreports Their Menu’s Calorie Count

The Social Animal: 1 In 5 Restaurants Underreports Their Menu's Calorie Count

Looking for another reason to hate the Olive Garden? No? Here’s one anyway: it was one of the primary culprits in a new study claiming that nearly a fifth of American restaurants underreport the calorie counts of their dishes by at least 100 calories. (Other big-name offenders included Boston Market, Outback Steakhouse, and, I’m sorry to report, Chipotle.) More »

The Social Animal: Why You Don’t Want To Marry An Alpha Male

The Social Animal: Why You Don't Want To Marry An Alpha Male

I received three bags of hate mail after last week’s column and its intimation that women may, in fact, be worse drivers than men. (Yes, in my imagination my fan mail still arrives via the post office, in big canvas sacks. (And yes, in my imagination I receive fan mail.)) You might think, then, that I’d stay away from potentially incendiary gender-difference topics this week. You, of course, would be wrong. Probably because you’re a woman. Kidding! No, you’d be wrong because I don’t shy away from anything here at “The Social Animal.” More »

Planet Earth as Therapy: Even Unemployment Is Better Than Being Attacked By a Walrus

Planet Earth as Therapy: Even Unemployment Is Better Than Being Attacked By a Walrus

Some keep the Sabbath going to Church,
I keep it staying at Home –
With a bobolink for a Chorister,
And an Orchard, for a Dome.
-Emily Dickinson

When I got laid off last year, I picked up some new habits and hobbies. Some (crosswords, cooking, community service) were welcome additions—they were a long time coming, really—and things I’ll continue to pursue at some level of involvement even after I find a new job. Other, less salubrious ones (online poker, online dating, online… nevermind)—not so much. Still others (Tuesday night bar trivia, Wednesday night dates, every-night Jeopardy!) just seem decadent for a gainfully-employable 32-year-old.

Yet none of the above activities would surprise the people who know me well. The anomaly was something I did alone late at night, naked in bed with just my laptop as company. That’s right—I started watching nature documentaries. More »