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Taylor Livingstone BMHS PrideTime Reporter Whether you are a musician, athlete, or worker, everyone has their own temptations. Mine is definitely cake, not the healthiest, right? Well, maybe it doesn't have to be as unhealthy as we think. One important factor of health that people must understand is that portion control is key. Too much of any one food can potentially be negative to your diet. Mug cakes are the best food to satisfy your temptation without the guilt. They are quick to make, the perfect amount for one person, obviously delicious, and requires almost no clean up.
I used a basic cake batter recipe for each cake, however, feel free to substitute ingredients for healthier options. Try cocao powder instead of cocoa powder (not a typing error, they may look the same spelling wise but they’re 2 different things). Cocao powder provides more than 40 times the antioxidants of blueberries and more calcium than cow's milk, while keeping the delicious chocolate taste. Another substitute you can utilize is switching out flour for ground flax-seed. So, here are my top three flavors, hope you guys try them out and enjoy them as much as I do!
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Aija Andrews Pridetime Reporter  Click on the image to learn more 1. Sleep Sleeping helps you with anger and anxiety, it is also good for your health. Sleep deprivation makes it harder to control your angry impulses—and you are more likely to do something you regret when you get angry (Psychology today). Shaniya Mesilien ('18), says, "Sleeping relaxes you and calms you down. It also helps with forgetting everything at the moment and taking your mind off of the situation."  Click on the image to learn more 2. Exercise Exercise is good for relieving stress as well as anger. Physical activity can help reduce the stress that can cause you to become angry (Mayo Clinic). Angelica De Los Santos (‘18), says, “When you exercise, endorphins get released and it gets you in a better mood. I know that helps me a lot.”  Click on the image to learn more 3. Taking deep breaths Taking deep breaths when being angry allows you to focus and gather up all of your thoughts. It can help you from doing something you will regret. When you are angry, you become physiologically aroused (your heart rate increases, your muscles tense up, etc.). Respond by taking long, slow, deep breaths, using the diaphragm rather than the just the chest (Psychology today). Bryanna Perez ('19), says, "Taking deep breaths help me think before I proceed to my actions. It saves me from getting into a lot of trouble."  Click on the image to learn more 4. Cooling down
Cooling down while being angry is healthy for your mind and body. Being tensed up can cause stress. Once you know how to recognize the warning signs that your temper is rising and anticipate your triggers, you can act quickly to deal with your anger before it spins out of control. There are many techniques that can help you cool down and keep your anger in check (Help Guide). Christina Surace (‘21) says, “Cooling down makes you focus on something else. It can make you slow/calm down.” BY: Rebecca Lubin Pridetime Reporter During midterm exams, students stress levels go through the roof. Between balancing school, social life, eating, sleeping, and work, finding time to study can get hectic causing anxiety, panic, and stress. Here are 4 ways to overcome stress during the midterms or any other exam. 1. Relaxing Relaxation techniques are a great way to help with stress management, it's a process that decreases the effects of stress on your mind and body. Some benefits of relaxation include boosting confidence to handle problems, reducing anger and frustration, slowing heart rate, and reducing the activity of stress hormones (Mayo clinic). Emotional stress that stays for weeks or months can weaken the immune system and cause high blood pressure, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and even heart disease. Relaxation techniques involve refocusing your attention on something calming and increasing awareness of your body (ULifeline). According to the mayo clinic staff, students should try autogenic relaxation. Autogenic means something that comes from within you. In this relaxation technique, you use both visual imagery and body awareness to reduce stress. You repeat words or suggestions in your mind that may help you relax and reduce muscle tension, for example, imagine a peaceful setting. Focus on controlled relaxed breathing, slowing your heart rate, and/or feeling different physical sensations such as relaxing each arm or leg one by one.  2. Read a book There’s a saying that goes, “reading is like dreaming with your eyes open.” Simply by opening up a book, you allow yourself to be invited into a literary world that distracts you from your daily stressors. Reading can relax your body by lowering your heart rate and easing the tension in your muscles. A 2009 study at the University of Sussex found that reading can reduce stress by up to 68%. “The best strategy is to set hopes low, I set a goal to read for 15 minutes a day. I find a place I enjoy reading, a nook and often I find myself reading longer than 15 minutes but I'm more lucky to sit down and read,” says Eric Carroll an English teacher at Brien McMahon High School. Before you start reading remember that the book doesn’t have to be on any bestseller list. Reading only helps reduce your stress level so if you pick something you enjoy that won’t upset you, take notes afterward on how you’re feeling. Find a book, magazine, or newspaper that catches your interest, find a nice, quiet place where you won’t get interrupted, and set aside 15-20 minutes and enjoy!  3. Laugh Having a good laugh can reduce stress whether you’re guffawing at a sitcom on tv or quietly giggling at a newspaper cartoon. Laughter is a great form of stress relief and that’s no joke (Mayo clinic). Some short-term effects of laughing are that it: activates and relieve your stress response. A rollicking laugh fires up and then cools down your stress response, it can increase your heart rate and blood pressure. Laughter soothes tension and can also stimulate circulation and aid muscle relaxation, both of which can help reduce some of the physical symptoms of stress. Some long-term effects from laughing are: improving your mood. Many people experience depression but due to chronic illnesses, laughter can help lessen your depression and anxiety and help you feel happier. So go ahead and give it a try, turn that frown upside down, and have a laugh! Once you’ve done that think about how you’re feeling. Are your muscles a little less tense? Do you feel more relaxed? That's the natural wonder of laughing at work.  4. Listen to calming music Listening to music can have a tremendously relaxing effect on our minds and bodies, especially slow quiet classical music. This type of music can have a beneficial effect on our physiological functions, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lowering your blood pressure, and decreasing the levels of stress hormones (Psychcentral). Musical preference varies widely between individuals, so only you can decide what you like and what is suitable for each mood. Even if you don’t usually listen to classical music it may be worth giving it a try when selecting the most calming music. Scientific studies have attempted to measure the potential benefits of music and found that listening to music on headphones reduces stress and anxiety in hospital patients before and after surgery. Music can relieve depression and increase self-esteem ratings in elderly people. Music therapy significantly reduces emotional distress and boosts the quality of life among adult cancer patients. Music can reduce burnout and improve mood among nursing students. Singing or shouting along can also be a great way to release tension. Calming music before bedtime promotes peace and relaxation and helps to induce sleep.  Josefa Herrera BMHS Pridetime Reporter.  By any measure, 2017 was a remarkable year in the state of Connecticut. During the year there were different types of crimes and actions, here are some news that had a big impact in the state: 5 Miriam Martinez-Lemus, a Stamford mother after two days her stay deportation was denied in November 20th, was notified that she received a stay of deportation order, the Office of the Governor claimed. Martinez avoided immediate orders of returning to her native country, Guatemala. “Today, reason and compassion prevailed and I applaud this decision by ICE to allow her to remain in the United States with her family, where she has lived for several decades.’’ Said Governor Dannel Malloy in a statement on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement decision. Governor Malloy was impressed by ICE decision of letting the mother remain in the country while he also added: “I am glad that we could work with federal and local officials and advocates to achieve this outcome.Rather than focusing on people living peacefully within our borders, our attention should be on those who do harm to others. I want to acknowledge those at ICE who listened to our pleas for compassion who understand that families should not be torn apart, vulnerable children who are U.S. citizens should not be put at risk, and that law abiding, hardworking and decent people should receive the benefit of the doubt in matters like these.”  Stamford Police Dept. cars 4 On December 1st, Gennaro Siviglia, 72, Longtime Stamford man got impacted by a vehicle while he was crossing the street, he suffered serious head injuries caused from the impact. Due those injuries, Gennaro passed away late on Tuesday 2nd, The driver of the car that hit Siviglia, stayed at the scene and cooperated at all times. This was the sixth fatality from vehicle crashes in 2017.  Mugshot of accused Victor Pergee 3 On the night of December 27th, Victor Pergee, 34, was put behind bars. Police reported accused of hitting his pregnant girlfriend. The also police reported Pergee was having a verbal fight with the “live-in caregiver” staying at his girlfriends home on Smith Drive, Hamden, CT. The victim reported that he had beaten her a number of times; knocking her to the floor and ripping her hair out. Officers said he continued to beat and choke her on and for approximately an hour. After Police responded to a residency call to 911 at about 9:30 a.m. on In December 28th. She suffered injuries in arm and stomach and was immediately taken to Yale-New Haven hospital for the proper treatment. According to Capt. Ronald Smith, Pergee is facing first-degree assault charges, among other charges, and is being held on $100,000.  Guilty of 3 sexual assult, Monte Phillip White. 2 On October 29, 2017, The police were called to Lawrence and Memorial Hospital in New London, CT to meet with a woman who said she had been raped in her apartment located on Hawthorne Drive. The victim confirmed Monte Phillip White, 34, threatened to shoot her and he sexually assaulted her while her roommate was sleeping in a different room of the apartment. The victim told the police she was sleeping when the suspect crawled into her bed and woke her up. “The victim reported that the suspect entered her home and threatened her with a firearm and sexually assaulted her,” said New London Police Chief Peter Reichard. On November 29th, exactly a month later, another woman went to the hospital with the same statement, the same things happened to her in her Nautilus Drive Apartment. The victim said that she woke up and saw a man standing in her bedroom, pointing a gun at her and he proceeded to get in her bed. She said that White started to tell her he had seen her around and asked her personal questions. She sexually assaulted twice during the attack. The victim’s 1 year old child was in the home at the time of the assault and before White ran away from the apartment of the second victim, he told her that "next time he saw her, she would know because he would give her a ‘long hard look,’ The Police department of New London identified White through physical and DNA evidence. “This type of predator is a dangerous person in the community and the men you see standing right here their goal is to remove people like this from the streets and make the streets safe for everybody,” said Chief Reichard. White told police he broke into the apartment complex where the second assault occurred “looking for a man that owed his friend money.” He changed his story and claimed he had sex with the victim for money after seeing an ad she posted online. The now guilty suspect told the victims he used to sell cocaine and more things about himself. White was charged with 3 counts sexual assault first degree, and 1 count of risk of injury to a minor and a held on a $750,000 bond for the New London charges.  Stamford Fire Dept. arriving to the scene, source: www.stamfordadvocate.com 1 On November 22nd, 2017. Kadeem Mitchell, from Stamford, was speeding on Washington Boulevard when he lost control of his 2006 BMW car. Mitchell and the passenger, Dante Smith, 19, were removed from the vehicle with the help of Stamford fire and rescue officers, using hydraulic tools and then transported to Stamford hospital. Donte Smith died from injuries causes when they crashed into a tree.
Following the release of Mitchell from the hospital, and almost a month of investigation of the case, Stamford police took him into custody and was charged with second-degree manslaughter. Kadeem Mitchell was processed and released after paying a $5,000 bond and surrendering his passport. He was due in court on December 29, 2017. Ahjunae Williams BMHS Pridetime Reporter  Mistletoe is one of the highlights of Norwalk’s junior class. When sport rivals Brien Mcmahon and Norwalk High School’s junior classes get to together and enjoy a night of dancing, eating, and enjoying themselves. Here are some tips and tricks for next years Mistletoe:
1. BRING AN EXTRA PAIR OF SHOES OR SOCKS: For the girls, it will be cold and you will be wearing heels (for most) so bring some slippers you can throw on for dancing and walk! 2. PLAN BEFOREHAND: Don’t plan what you will wear, your hair, or your makeup days before, plan a month or 2 ahead. 3. EAT: You might not like what they serve on the night so eat before or go out after! 4. BRING MONEY: After the event, many people choose to go out to eat or go out to bring a few dollars 5. CARRY A CLUTCH: For the girls, bring a small handbag. Carry the essentials: Small makeup items, money, and your charger! 6. WEAR A WHITE BEATER: For the boys, wear a white tee under your dress shirt. It helps when you sweat from dancing, you won’t get sweat stains 7. GET A HAIRCUT: Guys, you want to look clean and nice get a trim or shape up a day or two before MToe will be stressful when finding a date, getting your hair done, even when you get there. Just enjoy your night and have some fun! Natalie Zullo BMHS Pridetime Reporter  With the start of the new year, now is the perfect time to start your fitness journey and work towards a healthier body. An online study conducted by Harris Interactive found that 73% of people who make fitness resolutions for the new year fail to reach their final goals. Setting appropriate goals, eating properly and working out effectively are the keys to sticking with your fitness goals and seeing results.
Set reasonable goals. Jessy Rodriguez, Edge Platinum Member, says “getting fit is a process, it takes time. Don’t lose motivation because you won’t see results quickly, but you definitely will see them”. Working out is all about building and learning, set goals that are a challenge for you but that you know you are able to achieve. Diet is important. People often get confused about this part of getting fit. When people are trying to lose weight or body fat they often try to cut down their food intake. Food is actually the most important part of a healthy body, eating before and after your workout is crucial for success. Carly Pinto, Edge Red Member and Brien McMahon graduate, told PrideTime, “If what your working towards is a healthier body, you cannot starve your body of the calories and nutrients that it needs, especially when you’re active 5/7 days a week”. Eating before your workout gives your body the energy you need to you need to workout and eating after restores your body with nutrients that regrow muscle proteins. Slower digesting carbs are the most effective to eat before your workout and help to burn more fat. Most importantly don’t kill yourself working out. Using a weight that's too heavy or going too hard can lead to bad form and injury. Just like your goals should progress, your workouts should progress. Starting off with 10-15 minutes of cardio will warm up your muscles and help build stamina. It is important to incorporate rest days into your workout schedule to allow your muscles to grow and repair fiber. If you like working out and want to do so every day, be sure that you’re not working out the same muscles. Make sure your staying committed, pushing yourself and always making time for your workout. Zariah Petway BMHS PrideTime Reporter Finally! Midterms have come to a close. For the past two weeks, our days have been filled with scan-trons, awkward fishbowl discussions, drinking coffee, and nights of endless studying. In your classes, it is clear that not all students handle midterm exams the same way. Here were the four different kinds of people during midterms:  1. The Procrastinator There is always that one person who waits until the last minute to study and try to accomplish everything the night before. The Procrastinator will be texting in your Honors Biology group-chat at midnight asking about the study guide and posting Snapchats about how they are going to fail. It feels like nowadays more and more students are being The Procrastinator because of their busy schedules and having a lot of homework to do. However, being The Procrastinator is not only depriving yourself of sleep, but also even stress inducing than not studying at all. It’s important to create a schedule ahead of time to prevent all-nighters and last minute freak-outs so it will save yourself and others from having a rough midterms.  2. Studied Too Much But Still Freaks Out This is that kid who stays up all night to study but still knows they are going to do fine on the test. They have been reviewing since the middle of Christmas break, and by doing so they freak everyone else out by constantly talking about how much they still need to do in order to prepare for tests that are still weeks ahead. Despite them knowing deep down that they are fully prepared, they don’t think anything is ever enough. To avoid from being this kid, just relax and listen to your friend’s reassurance that you’ll be just fine. 3. The One Who Doesn’t Even Know It's Midterms This is the student that doesn’t realize midterms are happening until the day they start. However, they don’t seem fazed at all. They easily go through their exams and just want to go home and sleep and hope for the best. Whether or not they do well, their care-free attitude might be something that other students need (sometimes!).   4. Blessed with No Midterms
Everyone is jealous of this kid. For all eight periods, they only have 2 classes to take midterms for. They might have projects or essays to write, but they are still privileged with the fact they don’t have to take any exams. They come in late and leave early almost every day, and snapchat themselves eating at PRD’s with everyone secretly hating them. It is rare to be this person, because we all know that teachers love to give tests. If you are this person, take advantage of it and catch up on your sleep! Taylor Livingstone BMHS PrideTime Reporter |
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