A common misnomer is that perspiration causes BO, but in fact the combination of bacteria and perspiration is what causes it. Scientifically speaking, here’s what happens:  the bacteria on your skin feeds on the oil secretions from sweat glands, called apocrine glands.  Then the bacteria’s excrement causes yucky body odor. If you’re going to work out, take a shower first.  Then you can sweat with little or no embarrassment, as sweat itself has little or no odor.

The degree of odor from one person to the next depends on our unique chemistry.  Asian men and women have very few apocrine glands, therefore they rarely have BO. Another variable is your sex.  Men have larger sweat glands, activated by the male hormones-thus they typically have more body odor than women. Overweight people can have more B.O. because the excess weight makes them sweat more.

To counteract BO, bathe morning and night, more if it’s hot outside, or according to your level of activity.  Use soap or deodorant soap and water. Wear clean clothes as odors linger in fabrics. Use deodorant or anti-prespirent. If allergic to these try a “crystal” type product available at health food stores. Avoid use of perfumes or colognes to counter BO.  Try to stay away from the following foods: onions, garlic, curry, chili, cumin, fish, beer, cheese.  Take notice of other foods that may also interact with your chemistry causing body odor.  Keep yourself smelling clean, for you never know when you may be passed over for a job, or a date, due to this easily remedied hygiene issue.

2.     Try not to get back in the game.  Worrying that you have to “get out there” creates apprehension.   More likely you’ll meet someone going about your regular routines than going someplace to “hook up”, be it a bar, singles club, cruse ship or the like.

Photo: Truckandbarter.com

3.     Do something about staying healthy , that you didn’t do while married.  Like going shopping all day and letting the house be a mess.  Or calling in sick to work and taking off to your favorite resort get-away on a whim.  These things rejuvenate you-you’ll feel glad to be alive, free and single.  The happier you are alone, the more likely a nifty guy or gal will notice you.

4.     This one is first on many people’s lists:  Get In Shape.  Here it’s fourth;  Hollywood standards can place undue emphasis on the perfect body–most of us will never look like movie stars.  So placing this first is a set up for frustration.  If it’s just to attract someone you may give up your workout or diet when you don’t get results right away.  A fit body is absolutely healthy,  but do it for yourself. Commit to exercise and healthy eating because it protects you from depression, heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and other maladies.  You’ll feel better when you look better, and enjoy a huge increase in energy.

5.     Wherever you go, be nice to people.  Here is an interesting post on  ten keys to kindness and consideration, It goes a long way toward making a good impression.  It only works, however if you’re sincere, not just showering consideration on pretty people.  Lend a hand wherever possible:  whether the hostess needs help with decorations or the old church lady needs someone to bring cookies.

Activity 1: Join a Divorcee Group

Nowadays there are tons of options out there for people like yourself who may need support during this time. Try joining a support group for divorcees to channel whatever anger or bitterness you may be feeling into a healthier forum.

Activity 2: Take up a Physically Aggressive Sport

Some may think this is bad advice, but slamming a ball into a wall or demolishing a punching bag may be exactly the type of healthy activity you should engage in after a divorce. So relieve some stress and get in shape by playing a vicious game of racquetball or taking a class in cardio kickboxing.

Activity 3: Explore Health Oriented Vacations Such as Eco-Tours

Eco-tours are a healthy and non hedonistic way to do something healthy for your body but yet still have a good time. Many eco-tours offer a wide range of activities from canoeing, to snorkeling, to exploring hidden trails in the rainforest of your choice. Eco-tours can be a healthy distraction from reality.

Activity 4: Find a Creative Outlet

From a gourmet cooking class to learning to paint with acrylics, put your energy into a creative outlet that will allow you to tunnel your energy into something that can relax you and help you to relieve some stress accumulated by the daily grind of attempting to get over a divorce.

Activity 5: Start a Team Sports Group

It’s interesting how many women start divorce groups where they spend time bashing their exes and drinking away their misery. Instead of falling into that pattern, try getting a group of divorcees together to form a softball team. It’ll be a great stress reliever and good for the body.

Activity 6: Get Involved in a Community Service Project

A healthy activitiy that will distract you from thoughts of your own situation is volunteering to help others. Try working in a soup kitchen or helping to create a community garden in an underserved neighborhood.  You may even end up finding someone else that you find very special and want to get to know more.  When the relationship progresses to sexual one, be prepared and have your Viagra  ready.

Activity 7: Sing in a Choir or Take Up an Instrument

Another healthy activity for the mind is singing or playing an instrument. Letting your voice be heard or letting your fingers make beautiful music is timeless skill that eases away emotional pain.

Activity 8: Adopt or Foster an Animal

For all you animal lovers, a healthy way to heal a broken heart may be to direct your love elsewhere. There are literally millions of animals out there, just waiting for your attention. It’s easy to find a pet and give it a good home.

Activity 9: Establish Fitness Goals

Perhaps you’ve wanted to run a marathon for twenty years now, but never got around to doing it. Well, you have no excuses now. Training for something like a marathon, especially if it’s for a charity, will keep you inspired and your reality in perspective.  Getting healthy and losing weight go hand in hand.  Xenical can be prescribed to help with weight loss as well.

Activity 10: Learn a New Language

To officially say adios to your significant other try learning to say it in a new language. It’ll be a welcoming distraction and may even bring some unexpected closure.

My Doctor basically told me I have to change what I eat. It does not matter if I have to learn how to cook, or just change what I bring home to eat as long as I am eating healthy. If I don’t make some changes now my Doctor is going to put me on a restrictive diet in the next 6th months. He gave me a list of things that I need to change to eat healthy.
• To eat healthy I need to cut back on the fast food.
• Try not eating in the car or on the go. A good way to eat healthy is to have sit-down meals, on a plate.
• Don’t eat and watch TV at the same time.
• Don’t eat anything out of its packaging. It is easier to control portions if I see what I am eating.
• Reduce impulse eating. Take one portion of food out of the package and put away the package. If I have to make an effort to get more food I am less likely to eat it than if it is right there in front of me.
• Healthy eating involves eating at least 5 small meals in the day. No more skipping meals and then eating one huge one.
• Healthy eating also means cutting back on salty and fatty foods. Go with grilled and BBQ foods. Take the grilled chicken sandwich over the hamburger. No more cream sauces. Go with light dressings.
• Drink more water and milk. Cut back or stop drinking pop. Not even diet pop. Only drink between 2 to 5 caffeinated beverages, like coffee a day.
• Healthy eating is about making sure I am actually eating balanced meals.
• Follow the recommended food guide pyramid.
o I need to eat at least 7 or 8 portions of vegetables or fruits every day. It is a good thing ½ a cup of juice counts as single portion.
o I am going to have to add 2 portions of cheese or milk products to my meals. That means a cup of milk or 50 g piece of cheese twice a day. Though I can have ¾ cup of yogurt or cottage cheese.
o I have to cut back to only 6 or 7 portions of grain products. Every slice of bread or ½ cup of pasta or rice is a portion. This is where I have to cut back the most.
o I have to also cut back on the meat I eat. I should only eat 2 meat or meat alternatives each day. So if I have two eggs for breakfast I can only have about 2 ½ oz of meat during the day.

• Breathing exercises can help you relax, and de-stress.

• An excellent way to handle stress is to do things you find fun or relaxing.
o Play games
o Put together a puzzle
o Do word games
o Do some gardening
o Go fishing
o Fly a kite
o Listening to music
o Go out with friends
o Have sex (with or without Levitra)
o Do things that make you laugh
o Pamper yourself. Do things like aromatherapy, massages and other de-stress treatments.

• Exercise is a good way to reduce stress.
o Yoga is a good way to be healthy and decrease stress.
o Walking can also be relaxing

• Eating a balanced diet can also reduce stress.

• Drink green tea, drink more water, reduce caffeine and alcohol consumption

• Good time management can help decrease stress or stressful situations. Do not procrastinate. Having to play catch up all the time will actually increase stress or make a stressful situation worse.

• Write about what you are going through. This is considered journaling. It is a technique used to let you get things off your chest and deal with them in your own way. Through writing about it. No one ever needs to see your journal so you can actually express how you really feel. It is a good way to deal with stress on paper instead of taking your stress out on those around you or yourself.

• There are some other methods that can be used to deal with stress.
o Guided imagery – this involves using the imagination and mental images to promote relaxation. It has also been called visualization. It can be done on your own or with the guidance of a professional. If you have never done this before it is a good idea to first try with a professionals help. Than once you have the hang of it do it on your own.
o Biofeedback – This is a technique of training yourself to relax or to improve your health by using signals from your body. This should be done with the help of a professional until you develop the skill to do this on your own.
o Progressive Muscle Relaxation – This involves tensing and relaxing muscles or muscle groups in a given order or systematic manner. This results in the whole body being relaxed.
o Autogenics is a relaxation technique to decrease stress developed by psychiatrist Johannes Schultz. It has been successful used since 1932. It is like a mix of yoga, meditation and visualization.