If you are only joking around with your friends on the soccer field, meaningless jokes are an effective way to go. Keep it informal and light. On the opposite end of the trash-talk spectrum, if you are engaged in a competitive sporting event against people you don’t know, you may need to focus more on serious boasts and downplay the humor.  For a meaningless joke, tell a friend that they’re like a bundle of firewood, “because they’re always getting burned.”  For a more serious boast, say, “Should I give you my autograph now, or later?” Whether you’re competing online or in person, you need to “read the room” and determine if trash talking is an appropriate tactic. If the other players seem to be focused on projecting respect and sportsmanship, your trash talk may be seen as rude. The same rule applies in online forums—if other participants enjoy trash talk or are already engaging in it, go ahead and join in. If the crowd is more conservative and prefers a quieter atmosphere, you should avoid bothering competitors with your trash talking. Some sports, such as boxing and wrestling, are aggressive, in-your-face competitions. These environments encourage trash talk, as it increases the entertainment for spectators and allows the fighters to get under one another’s skin. Other sports, like tennis or baseball, are seen are more “gentlemanly,” and discourage trash talk.  Even online, some competitive games are more appropriate forums for trash talking. (Call of Duty and similar games are infamous examples.) Until you’re familiar with the gaming community, avoid stepping in with aggressive trash talk. Also if you’re playing a light-hearted video game with family, avoid trash talk. For example, if you’re playing Wii Sports with a young nephew or your grandmother, do not trash talk.

Summary: Identify the situation. Read the crowd. Know the sporting environment.


You might not think of yourself as a skilled talker, but a little advance preparation goes a long way to change that. Keep in mind that the first conversation you have with someone shouldn't explore deep issues of faith, politic stances, or lifelong dreams, unless they're clearly interested. It's just a quick way to get a conversation flowing. Here are some examples of ways you can prepare, depending on your age and the kind of people you spend time with:  Listen to popular music and think about your opinions on it. If you don't like it, find a band you do like and write down how it's similar to more well-known music, and why you like it more. Watch movies currently in theaters, or currently running television shows. Read news sites or the newspaper daily to catch up on current events or local news. Come up with two or three interesting stories from your life, to tell when the conversation stops. This is a great way to show that you're a cool and interesting person.  If you're passionate about a hobby, talk about it. People are often most interesting when talking about something they love. Humor is a great tool to use, if used properly. Try to tease yourself or make funny observations about the situation you're in. Teasing the woman or people around you should be kept to a minimum, and should always be light-hearted, not mean. The "brooding guy in a corner" look isn't nearly as cool or attractive as it seems. Walk up to people and say hi, and make an effort to listen to the conversation and respond to it. The more people are directly interacting with you, the more you'll be noticed by other people in the surroundings. Don't think of this as "picking a target." Talking to men can work fine, as long as they don't try to overshadow you or dominate the conversation. When you're looking for someone to approach, scan their faces, not their shoes or the sky – and definitely not anywhere else on their anatomy. Once you make eye contact with someone, smile and say hello. Keep looking at the other person's eyes during the conversation. Once you're in conversation with a girl, tilt your head and shoulders forward slightly. This is a cue that you're engaged in the conversation, and interested in continuing it. . A small compliment is a much better first step than a long speech about how long you've been crushing on her or how she stunned you as soon as you laid eyes on her. It's tough to come up with a compliment that doesn't sound generic or forced, but with some practice you'll get the smiles and blushes that show you're on the right track.  If you know something about her work or something she did, compliment that instead of her appearance. Try to make beauty-related compliments unique to her, and focus on something she controls, such as her hairstyle or clothing choices. A straightforward remark works better than a cheesy pick up line or catcall. "You seemed so warm and friendly that I wanted to come over and introduce myself" won't win any prizes, but it will start more conversations than "Heyyyy sexy."

Summary: Have conversation starters ready. Prepare stories about yourself. Join conversations. Make eye contact and smile. Lean forward slightly while talking. Compliment her


Most people won't pull out a set of measuring cups or a food scale at a nice restaurant.  To keep you on track with portion sizes, have a guide on hand like this one from WebMD  Keep a copy of this guide in your wallet or purse.  Pull it out once your meal arrives and compare what you're served with and the appropriate portion size listed. Divide your plate by the "correct portion" size and "leftovers."  Ask to box the leftovers immediately so they're no longer a temptation. Do a little research before you head out to eat.  Knowing what options are available prior to ordering helps you stay away from temptations and stick to your smaller portion size.  Check out the menu and nutrition information online if available.  Choose 1-2 items that seem good and will fit into your small portion. Call ahead and see if they're able to half or smaller portions.  It can help you prepare for whether you will need to take home leftovers. Learning to leave a little bit of leftovers on your plate is a good habit to get into.  You can almost guarantee that restaurant portions are much larger than recommended.  Plan on having leftovers.  When you eat out, ask the waiter to box a quarter—or even half—of your meal before you get it. You'll have the perfect leftover portion for the next day. Ask your server if they have half or petite portions if it's difficult for you to leave items on your plate. Split an entrée with a friend or family member.  This is another good option if you have a hard time not finishing the whole portion.  If you split it, it's automatically portion controlled! This is a great way to manage portions.  Starters are usually smaller (and cheaper!) than entrées.  There's also a low risk of finishing "more than you should" which can happen with larger entrée sized meals.  Try tapas too!  Some restaurants serve tapas which are very small portions of dishes.  You can order 1-2 small tapas and overall still maintain a small portion size.  It's great for those who like to try a variety of dishes. If you don't order an appetizer, try order a child's size portion.  Again, these are much smaller than an adult entrée and make portion control a lot easier.  Beware of "kid foods" - sometimes portions are smaller but the choices might not be very healthy.
Summary: Print or buy a portion size guide. Choose your meal before you go. Leave food on your plate. Order an appetizer for your main course.