INPUT ARTICLE: Article: When a guy first meets you, he might start off flirtatiously to gauge your interest. But if you quickly set him straight, you’ll have better luck transitioning to a platonic friendship. If he tries to pull any suave moves, laugh it off but then tell him that you’re genuinely not interested in forming a romantic attachment.  Keep your tone assertive but friendly, and introduce a little humor to diffuse any tension.  Try something like this to let him down gently while showing that you’re a friend: “Freddy, I’m flattered, really, but you know I’m not into you like that. You might have better luck trying that line on the hottie across the room, though.” Don’t be worried about making him disappointed or jealous; if you’re really going to establish a platonic friendship, he’ll have no problems with this. But if you sense any kind of tension, your friendship might not be as balanced as you think. Whether you’re already taken, not looking for love, or simply not romantically attracted to your guy friend, make sure he knows it.  Once your friendship starts to take off, talk about your significant other or your relationship status early on to show that you’re not interested in him as anything more than a friend. If you have a significant other or a crush, drop this person’s name so your guy friend knows where your affections lie.  Bring up your significant other when you’re texting back and forth about shared interests: “You love the Cubs too? My boyfriend Shane got us tickets to a game next month!” If you’re not looking to date anyone, try placing blame on a third party to warn your guy friend not to push the subject: “Ugh, my mom won’t stop bugging me about getting a boyfriend. How many times do I have to tell her that I’m not interested in dating anyone right now?!” Alternatively, be more direct about how satisfied you are with your single life: “It’s so great to feel like I have everything I need for once. I’m really excited about my new job, I’ve never been in better shape, I have amazing friends like you… I used to be so stressed about dating but I’m happy to say it’s really not a priority right now.” The best way to let a guy know you want to be just friends is to say so outright. Especially if your friendship is starting to get close and intense, or if you’re both single, it might feel like you’re toeing the line between “just friends” and “something more.” Whether you’re talking or texting, clarify your intentions by saying how much you value your guy’s friendship. Or, to make it even more clear that a sexually charged relationship is out of the question, say that you like him like a brother.  While it’s helpful to bring this up early on in your friendship, be sure to reiterate it when you’re bringing up the topic of hanging out. Try using this approach to explain why you want to hang out: “Man, you’re like the brother I never had. But I can’t believe we haven’t seen each other since college started. Let’s do a ‘family reunion’ soon!” Compare your great friendship with the worst-case scenario: “I can’t tell you how many guys I’ve tried to be friends with but they’ve been all weird about it. I’m lucky to have such a good friend like you.”

SUMMARY: Decline any flirtatious approaches to establish the boundaries of your friendship. Make sure he’s aware of your relationship status and lack of romantic interest. Tell him that he’s a great friend or that he’s like a brother to you.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: After the blisters have healed, you can apply a 5% lidocaine patch to your skin to reduce nerve pain. The lidocaine patch provides effective pain relief without the risk of negative side effects These are available at most pharmacies and online. Stronger patches may be available through your doctor. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) are often prescribed in addition to other narcotic medications in order to boost pain relief. They are inexpensive and odds are you already have at least one in your bathroom cabinet. Examples of NSAIDs include acetaminophen, ibuprofen or indomethacin. These medications can be taken up to three times per day – just be sure to follow the label for instructions on the appropriate dosage for you. Corticosteroids are often prescribed for relatively healthy elderly people who present with moderate to severe nerve pain. The corticosteroids are often prescribed in addition to antiviral medications. Talk to your doctor about this option. Effective (that is, stronger) corticosteroids are available by prescription only. Narcotic analgesics are sometimes prescribed to treat severe nerve pain caused by shingles. However, narcotics only provide symptomatic relief – they do not treat the cause of the pain. In addition, narcotics are addictive substances which the patient can quickly become dependent on. Therefore their use must be carefully monitored by a physician. Sometimes tricyclic antidepressants are prescribed to treat specific types of nerve pain caused by shingles. Although their exact mechanism is unknown, they work by blocking pain receptors in the body. Antiepileptic drugs are widely used in pain clinics to treat neuropathic pain. There are many types of antiepileptic drugs, such as phenytoin, carbamazepine, lamotrigine and gabapentin,  any of which may be prescribed to treat nerve pain in shingles patients. For the above two steps, your doctor will know if these are viable treatments for you. In general, these two are reserved for more serious cases of nerve pain.

SUMMARY: Use a lidocaine patch. Take non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drugs to ease your pain. Try corticosteroids to relieve your nerve pain. Talk to your doctor about taking narcotic analgesics. Get a prescription for tricyclic antidepressants. Take anti-epileptic drugs to treat nerve pain.


INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Some people have difficulty running first thing in the morning on an empty stomach, and others thrive on 5 am runs. Find the time of day that works best for your body and gradually add distance and speed. Make a playlist that has varied music that can help you know when to speed up and when to jog. Interval training that transitions between fast sprints and recovery jogs helps to build speed over time. Mix a few of your favorite techno or hard rock songs in with some hip hop or country and create a pump-up mix that will get your legs moving in no time. If you've always listened to music while exercising, try ditching the iPod for awhile and see how that makes your body feel.  Some people can increase their running distance by not being restricted by the length or tempo of their playlist. Running without music allows you to focus on your breath and listen to the sound of your body working. Put on a running outfit that makes you feel energized and swift. While some people actually enjoy the heavy feel of a sweatshirt that makes them sweat it out, others prefer lightweight shorts and sweat-reducing material. Wear the clothing that you feel most comfortable in. Running shoes come in very specific fits that are tailored to the length and width of your foot and are made for specific types of running. You can injure your feet by wearing improper footwear, so make sure to get your feet fitted by a specialist.  Road running shoes should be worn on concrete and other hard, man-made surfaces. Trail running shoes should be worn for off-road running on dirt trails, sandy beaches, and rocky or muddy paths. Know if you have a high-arch, a normal arch, or a flat foot. The arch of your foot will determine how your foot moves as you run. If your foot hits the ground equally, choose a neutral shoe. If you over-pronate your foot by rolling inward too much, choose a shoe for stability or motion control. If you supinate your foot by rolling outward too much, choose a shoe with a lot of cushioning and flexibility.

SUMMARY:
Choose a time of day that you like to run. Create a music playlist. Alternately, try running without music. Wear comfortable clothing in layers. Choose the right shoes.