WHAT YOUR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS SAY ABOUT YOU

Do you remember what promises you made to yourself on New Year's day? Maybe you didn't know what to choose and just gave up. Experts say choosing the resolutions that are right for you can energize the coming year with important self improvement plans. Answer the questions and the analysis of your response could let you discover the key to a coming year that's filled with positive change:

What's your biggest worry?

1. The condition of my health.
2. Not spending enough time with loved ones.
3. Paying the bills every month.
4. Not making the most out of life.

What reality show would you like to try?

1. The Biggest Loser
2. Wife Swap
3. Deal or No Deal
4. Survivor

When was the happiest time in your life?

1. When I could eat anything without gaining weight.
2. When I went on vacations with my family.
3. When I didn't have to pay rent.
4. When homework was my biggest problem.

What one thing would improve your quality of life?

1. Having the body of a swimsuit model.
2. A job that's less stressful.
3. A job that pays more.
4. A busy social life.

Which of your pals do you envy the most?

1. The one's who's thin and fit.
2. The one who works from home.
3. The one with the biggest bank account.
4. The one who travels quite often.

What do you love most about the holidays?

1. Eating all the delicious food.
2. Being with my extended family.
3. Receiving lots of gifts.
4. Participating in the family traditions.

What do you feel guilty about?

1. Eating too many sweets.
2. Working too much overtime.
3. Pulling out my credit card too often.
4. Being too easily bored.

If you had $1,000, what would you do with it?

1. Make an appointment for liposuction.
2. Take my family on a trip.
3. Either invest it or put it in savings.
4. Blow it on an extravagant gift just for me.

Analysis
Mostly "a" - You have a negative self image because you are carrying some extra pounds. Stop wasting time knocking yourself and start a new diet and exercise regimen. Slimming down will improve both your spirits and your health.

Mostly "b" - Yes, your career is important, but if all those extra hours at work are keeping you from family and friends, you're losing out. Balance your life by shortening your work hours a tad so you can spend more time with loved ones.

Mostly "c" - Money ran through your fingers like water last year, so you need to develop a practical budget and stick to it. Having a savings account with enough money to carry you for three months is also a smart move. It'll ease your anxiety.

Mostly "d" - Your life is so predictable you feel like you're sleepwalking through your days. Take the plunge and try something unique and new this year a fascinating hobby or even a new job. You're sure to be rejuvenated by shaking things up.

6 GROSSEST AND DIRTIEST PLACES IN YOUR HOME

Even if your home smells of bleach and passes the white-glove test, reading the next few paragraphs may inspire you to jump into a giant vat of antibacterial gel. That’s because no matter how clean you think you are, germs are everywhere. EVERYWHERE! In the washing machine, buried in the mattress, lurking on the salt and pepper shakers. Dr. Charles Gerba, a microbiologist at the University of Arizona’s Department of Soil, Water and Environmental Science, and the co-author of The Germ Freak’s Guide to Outwitting Colds and Flu: Guerilla Tactics to Keep Yourself Healthy at Home, at Work and in the World, shares the 6 germiest places in the home (in no specific order):

• Washing Machines – Ninety-five percent of Americans use cold-water washes at an average wash cycle of around 12 minutes when they do their laundry. Short washes in cold water might remove some germs from clothing, but many germs remain hidden in the machine to contaminate the next unwitting batch of clothes or linens. If you’re a cold-water washer, switch sides and wash most loads in hot water. For undergarments, use bleach to ensure cleanliness.

• Carpets and Rugs – Carpets in most homes are 4,000 times dirtier than toilet seats. Think about it: you walk around outside through dirt, mud and grass; on concrete and through spills, water puddles and other liquids, and those are only a few examples. You track soil and germs from your shoes onto carpets and rugs all the time. You can protect against this proactively by taking your shoes off when you walk inside. Expensive vacuums with UV-light technology are also good options for keeping carpets clean.

• Salt and Pepper Shakers – Really, how often do you wash your salt and pepper shakers? According to a University of Virginia study that tested places sick people touched in the home over an 18-hour period, salt and pepper shakers returned stunning results, securing a spot as one of the most highly concentrated areas for lingering viruses. Send salt and pepper shakers through the wash after meals or wipe their surfaces with disinfecting wipes to avoid spreading more germs.

• Kitchen Sink – With more than 500,000 bacteria per square inch in the drain alone, your kitchen sink is dirtier than most bathrooms. Raw fruits and vegetables and other food items carry salmonella, E. coli, campylobacter and other pathogenic bacteria. Once you’ve prepared your food, make sure to clean all surfaces on and around the sink with an antibacterial cleanser.

• Beds – Whether we’re sleeping, eating or having sex, what we do in our beds is our own business – or is it? Germs are in the know, too, and the bed is one of their favorite places to congregate. Water-repellent mattress and pillow covers can help block out bacteria. Washing sheets (with hot water, remember) once a week can go a long way in making sure you’re not sharing your bedroom with millions of uninvited guests.

• Refrigerator – Anywhere there’s food, there’s bound to be bacteria. Raw fruits and vegetables come with bacteria, which can live in every corner of your refrigerator. To combat these nasty germs, try to wipe the fridge down once a week, and deep clean once a month. Toss out spoiled food whenever you come across it.