Optimism Protects Teens From Depression, Health Risks

Parents are always telling kids they need to be optimistic, but there hasn't been much evidence that optimism really does them any good. Looking on the bright side may even hurt teenagers, say some experts, because it can make them downplay the risks posed by smoking and drug abuse. That's in stark contrast to older adults, who are generally healthier and happier the more optimistic they are.

But researchers in Australia say that optimism may help protect teenagers against depression. That news, reported in the journal Pediatrics, could matter to many teens, since 10 to 15 percent of adolescents have symptoms of depression at any given time. Depression is a huge risk factor for suicide and increases the risk of substance abuse, trouble in school and relationships, and physical illness.

The researchers followed 5,634 Australian 12- and 13-year-olds for 18 months, asking them about their psychological state, substance abuse, and antisocial behavior. The more optimistic the students were, the less likely they were to become depressed. But there was just a modest effect on other common teen problems. For instance, optimistic teenagers were only slightly less likely to be involved in criminal activity or heavy substance abuse.

How to Restart Your Workout Routine After a Break

Nothing says January like resolving to head back to the gym. But whether you merely paused your fitness regimen for the holidays or you're committing to regular exercise for the first time in months, it can be tough to get back on track.

Don't start spending in the name of fitness, though. Buying fancy fitness gadgets or joining an expensive gym isn't your ticket to a fitter body—at least not initially. A successful fitness program starts with your mind, not your wallet, according to wellness coach Rania Batayneh, who works with clients in San Francisco and Portland. Use these seven tricks to get your head in the game, fast.

Work Out Now, Weigh Less in Middle Age

Everybody knows the importance of exercise in keeping weight down. What's more surprising is that physical activity in the present may prevent weight gain many years into the future, according to a study out today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Researchers who followed 3,554 people over two decades found that men who stayed highly active gained six pounds less on average after 20 years than their low-activity counterparts did. For women, the difference was a whopping 13 pounds. Waistlines were trimmer for both sexes in the high-activity groups as well. Those studied began as 18- to 30-year-olds. Their 38- to 50-year-old selves showed that consistent commitment to physical activity may mean fewer pounds tacked on during the years notoriously threatened by jiggly bellies.

[Want to Get in Shape? Take the Obama Challenge]

Highly active, moreover, doesn't necessarily mean marathoning or pumping iron for an hour. While the study used a complex formula that assigned scores according to how long, how often, and how intense the participants' activities were, highly active was equivalent to spending roughly 2½ hours a week getting your heart pumping, like in a sport, brisk walking, or even gardening, says Arlene Hankinson, lead author of the study and an instructor in the department of preventative medicine atNorthwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago.

Yet only about 12 percent of the men and women studied fell into this elite group. The reason, says Hankinson, is consistency. "It's not that it's hard to achieve high levels of activity," she says. "It's that it's difficult to maintain them over time." You can't have an on-again, off-again relationship with exercise. You have to commit.

That's unlikely to happen unless you enjoy yourself. "Pick activities that provide continual motivation for you," says Hankinson, whether it's step aerobics, karate, dance, or racewalking through the park. Just make sure it gets your heart rate up. (Get your target heart rate from this table  from the American Heart Association.) "Whatever activity you do, the whole point is that you're doing something that you are going to maintain over a lifetime," says Hankinson. "I don't want to ever give the impression that it's only certain types, because that just limits how people incorporate activity in their daily lives."

 [6 Ways to Motivate Yourself up off the Couch]

Wellness coaching, boot-camp, and functional fitness are in, Pilates and stability balls are out

Fitness is always in, but the hunt for a magic way to achieve a healthy heart or a taut butt or abs with the most gain and the least pain never ends. As it does annually, the American College of Sports Medicine has surveyed more than 2,000 fitness professionals in Asia, Europe, Australia, Africa, and North and South America to identify health and fitness trends for the coming year. Here's a look at what's on top for 2011—and a few former hot picks that are cooling off.

DFW WEATHER: Worst Case Scenario

The worst case scenario for planners of Super Bowl XLV is unfolding in North Texas this morning. Rain, turning to sleet, turning to snow is falling across the area shutting down virtually every school district and temporarily closing DFW Airport to all inbound and outbound flights for about an hour this morning. As of 8:15am DFW re-opened one runway and is working to get others open.

Bill Lively, President and CEO of the North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee, said this morning this type of weather is what they planned for, and he doesn't expect any major changes to the Super Bowl calendar. He also said most people attending the game are flying in later in the week where cold weather but not precipitation is forecast.

Steelers Arrive for Super Bowl XLV

Ben Roethlisberger, Flozell Adams and the rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport just before noon.

The Steelers, who are staying in Fort Worth, were the first team to arrive Monday. The chartered flights arrived at a maintenance hanger at DFW Airport.

Some of the players used camera phones and camcorders to record their arrival. The players boarded buses and headed directly to the Omni Fort Worth Hotel, escorted by several police officers.

The Packers arrived at the same hanger later Monday. They also immediately boarded their buses and headed to the Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas.

DFW Airport: Closed Due To Storm

There are still plenty of people trying to get around even though there were reports of storms. You may have gotten stuck at an airport if you have been trying to get to a location from Dallas Fort worth. There are hundreds of people that are going to be spending a lot of time at the airport. The DFW airport is closed because of the storm.
The DFW airport spokesman David Magana reported that one of the runways reopened after the temporary closure and the crews have been working to clear the ice away from the other runways. I would rather that everyone would be safe rather than sorry so I say take your time at clearing the ice away. There were actually hundreds of incoming flights that were canceled because of the weather. DFW airport is actually the eighth largest airport in the world.