5 ways to start having more fun

Meal prep tricks to make cooking easier [View this email online]( [NPR Health]( February 4, 2023 by [Carmel Wroth]( This week, we just wanted to have a little fun -- check out ideas from experts and NPR readers about how to [get in touch with your playful side.]( Plus, we explore the debates about the [new weight-loss drugs]( and get inspired to cook more, with tips from an [Instagram-famous meal-prepper.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Fun is good for you. Here’s how to have more of it]( Carolyn Klein Lagattuta If you google “What comes to mind when you think of the word 'fun?'” you might come across [this Reddit thread]( from six years ago. Not surprisingly, a fair number of the replies have something to do with sex or alcohol. But the most common image among 93 commenters was a bouncy castle or a trampoline. One commenter simply wrote “the past.” Fun is a concept too many people give up on after childhood has ended. As adults we’re often encouraged to focus on “happiness” -- a more general overall sense of wellbeing. But psychologist and author Mike Rucker says striving for happiness can be a trap, making you constantly ask yourself what’s going right and what’s going wrong. In contrast, fun is achievable. "Fun is something you can do, Rucker writes in his book, The Fun Habit. “All it requires is intentionality." And we could all use a little more fun: A survey from October showed 76% of adults in the U.S. say stress from politics, race relations, violence and inflation has hurt their health. Some of you already get it. NPR audience members wrote in last year [about what thrills them]( from building robots, to thrift shopping, to flying trapeze. But the rest of us (I’m raising my hand) could use a little help. We asked Rucker and Power of Fun author Catherine Price for [five tips to help you put down your phone, and focus on fun.]( PLUS: [How to make working out fun,]( according to behavioral scientists --------------------------------------------------------------- Newsletter continues after sponsor message --------------------------------------------------------------- [Try these meal prep tips from ‘fit men’ who cook]( Compassionate Eye Foundation/Ste/Getty Images If you’re like me, a major obstacle to cooking your own meals is the prep. You know, peeling onions (they make me cry!), stripping parsley off the stems, chopping up ginger into thin slices for a stir fry. When you’re hungry and tired at the end of the day, you can find your fingers busying themselves with ordering takeout instead of cooking. But restaurant food tends to be heavier on sugar and fat than home-cooked meals, not to mention pricier. The solution might be “meal-prepping”, the concept of assembling ingredients or cooking food ahead of time so it’ll be ready later, when willpower has weakened. Kevin Curry started meal-prepping when he noticed he was getting out of shape, feeling sluggish and his doctor warned him of rising blood pressure. He now runs [FitMenCook,]( an online community and blog where he educates would-be meal-preppers. Curry spoke with NPR’s Life Kit and shared some of his personal secrets, including designating Wednesdays and Sundays as meal-prep days. Imagine you only have to cook those two nights to have fresh homemade food every day? Learn more from Curry about [how to plan ahead to make cooking for yourself easier.]( And don’t miss his [mesmerizing cooking videos on Instagram.]( PLUS: [What to eat to boost your mood]( [The new weight-loss drugs might not be affordable for those who need them most]( Katherine Streeter for NPR If you rolled your eyes reading about complaints of "Ozempic face” – a sudden, unpleasantly gaunt appearance of the face after rapid weight-loss – you would not be alone. For the well-off, this seems to be the most frequently discussed downside of the new, shockingly effective class of weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic sweeping the market. But the drugs were never intended for cosmetic weight loss. Ozempic is approved for people with diabetes, and Wegovy is for those with obesity who also have weight-related conditions that put them at risk of heart disease. That's millions of Americans – and many of them lower income. The drugs work – and can make a difference in people’s health. Unfortunately at a cost of about $1,400 a month — out-of-pocket when insurance doesn't cover it — many people can't afford to stay on them for the long term. And when they stop taking them, most people gain back most of the weight within a year, a study found. Here’s what experts are saying about the [pros, cons and growing equity concerns of the new class of weight-loss drugs](. PLUS: Why most doctors [don't know much about how treat obesity]( Before you go Illustration by Malaka Gharib/NPR; Photograph by Becky Harlan/NPR - This winter’s [COVID surge is fading fast]( - After his own cancer diagnosis, [a neurosurgeon sees life and death in a new way]( - QUIZ: How much do you know about [what causes a pandemic?]( - Nope, it's not too cold to exercise. [Here's what to wear in any weather]( We hope you enjoyed these stories. Find more of [NPR's health journalism]( on Shots and follow us on Twitter at [@NPRHealth](. All best, Carmel Wroth --------------------------------------------------------------- Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to find your local station stream. [Listen Live]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Twitter]( What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: [shots@npr.org](mailto:shots@npr.org?subject=Newsletter%20Feedback) Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! [They can sign up here.]( Looking for more great content? [Check out all of our newsletter offerings]( — including Goats & Soda, Daily News, Best of NPR and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Health emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 [Unsubscribe]( | [Privacy Policy]( [NPR logo]