Check out Dr. Marcella Wilson as she completes the Wedding Dress Fitness Challenges for Redbook magazine.  She is featured in a 4-page fasion pictorial.  Check back on Friday because Dr. Wilson will post a behind the scenes video of the photo shoot.  Please visit Redbook magazine online for more information on the Wedding Dress Challenge.

Dr. Marcella Wilson is part of Redbook Magazine’s Wedding Dress Fitness Challenge. In the May 2012 Issue, she gives tips on how she stays motivated to lose weight. She says,

“I use my kids as fitness accessories! I found a mommy-and-me class that my 2-year-old twins love. Since there are two of them, I take my sister with me and we use the kids as weights. It’s a workout lifting those babies.”

Dr. Wilson will also be featured in Redbook’s June 2012 issue. So check back to view her before and after photos.  For more info, check out Redbook magazine’s online.

This has been in the works for a little while, but we can now report that Dr. Wilson is now a tech expert for eHow.com.  She will appear in instructional “how-to” videos beginning April 2012.  Over 100 million people visit eHow.com each month.  Their media studios also produce video content for high-profile brands like YouTube, USA Today and LiveStrong.com.  Dr. Wilson was tapped as an emerging media talent.  Throught this opportunity, Dr. Wilson can appear in on-camera interviews, write featured articles and blogs, and consult.  We look forward to seeing Dr. Wilson on eHow.com.  Congratulations!

One of my girlfriend’s celebrated her birthday in New York City. Me and a gaggle of friends, took the train to New York City to celebrate her birthday in style. On the train ride up and back, I noticed that most people had a nook, Kindle, iPad or laptop. Some were working furiously on their laptops but most were comfortably reading on their digital tablet or eReader.  Now, this is not a blog post about whether you should buy a Kindle or an iPad.  It’s about why you, as someone who wants to be an expert or appear more in the media, needs to have an eBook.

Reason #1 Why You Need an eBook – All experts have a book.
That train ride got me to thinking.  Previously, I had gone to workshop on how to be an expert in the media. The organizers were well-known casting directors for television and worked with many producers to find talent for television programs.   Upfront, she told us, the participants, that if you authored a book on a topic, that automatically makes you an expert.  Now, I gotta be honest. I left that workshop feeeling deflated. At the time I attended that workshop, I had recently finished my PhD. My dissertation was over 180 pages long and I worked the actual document – or shall I say book – for two years. The last thing I wanted to do was sit down and write another book.  I shelved that idea and went about other methods of getting into the media.

But let’s take a minuate and think about the process that I went through to get a Ph.D.  I worked with an advisor and conducted research on a specific topic. But in order to complete the requirements and graduate, I had to document my research and findings in my dissertation. I could have had the most cutting-edge, ground-breaking research ever conducted.  But if I don’t put pen to paper and write that dissertation, no one would ever know.  All that work and research I did wouldn’t matter unless I wrote that dissertation.   I could not finish unless I wrote a book on my research.

Now, you don’t have to write a dissertation to be an expert. But it helps if you can write a book on your expertise. Now I know what youre thinking. I didn’t go to school so I can’t be an expert. But you’re wrong. Everyone is an expert in something.  You don’t have to get fancy about your expertise. You are probably an expert in alot of areas but just don’t realize it. What are your hobbies? What topics do you like to read about? Do you follow a specific sport or sports team? You are probably an expert in those areas and didn’t even realize it. It helps if you enjoy the topic you are writing about because it’s not easy writing a book. So, it helps if you a least enjoy the topic.   The cool thing is anybody can write a book. Therefore, anyone can be an expert. 

Check back next Friday, when I’ll post the second reason why you need an eBook.

Are you interested in writing an eBook?  What are you an expert in?  What would your book be about?  If you like this blog post, feel free to share it and post a comment.  I’d love to hear from you.

I know we have all heard of peer pressure but I’m here to talk about another kind of pressure – social media peer pressure.  There have been studies of people having anxiety about not being able to check their social media accounts, their cell phones or computer.  But I want to talk about a different type of anxiety.  The anxiety about feeling forced to use social media in your daily life.

A few weeks I wrote a blog post about the latest social media hit, Pinterest.  Unless, you’ve been on the moon for the last month, you’ve probably heard about this cool site that allows users to pin images on virtual bulletin boards.  It is a simple but genius idea and it’s all the rage.  I did get an invitation to sign up and was about to do – but I didn’t.   Why?  I had a bit of panic.  Honestly, I didn’t want to keep up with another social media site.  I use Twitter, Facebook, Youtube and am signed up on a host of other social networking sites.  However, I don’t use them like I should.  But I feel guilty that I don’t use them frequently.  I find myself feeling like I have to use them.  My main problem is that using these various sites effectively takes time and energy.

I started to think about this.  Am I the only one who feels this way?  Probably not!  I attended a breakfast seminar a few months ago and one of the attendees wanted to know how to consolidate her use of apps, emails and other sites.  She felt overwhelmed keeping up with email, checking in with Facebook and the like.  Her comments struck a chord with everyone there.  There is no doubt that there are some awesome social networking sites out there.  However, you don’t have to use them all.  Here are some of my suggestions

1. Use only the sites you love.  Life is short and time is fleeting.  You don’t have to post daily on your Tumblr account because you feel you have to just because you have an account.  Only spend time on those social networking sites that you enjoy and want to spend time on.
2. Forget about what others think.  I especially fall prey to this one.   Because I am a tech expert, I feel it’s my job to be knowledgeable about all things tech.  However,  that doesn’t mean that I have to use and participate in everything I am knowledgeable about.  Sometimes people ask me if I use this or that and I say no.  I’m okay with that.  In technology, it’s impossible to know everything or have a working knowledge of all things.  So, if you don’t spend hours watching video on YouTube like your friends, don’t worry about it.  If you don’t want to get on Facebook to keep up with your family, don’t do it.  Only do what matters to you.
3. Use the social media sites that you choose, when you want to.  There is nobody looking over your shoulder saying, “You must use FourSquare daily”.   If you post on Twitter once a week, it’s okay.  There is no right or wrong here.

Do you feel pressured to use social media?  Do you have a social media site that you used all of the time but now you don’t?  Write a comment and let me know what you think. Also, if you like this post or found some value in it, please like this page and share it with your friends.

Welcome to the latest episode of Pop Tech where we discuss the intersection of pop culture and technology.

Topics in this week’s edition include:

Ashton Kutcher’s New Job as Steve Jobs
On April 1st, news leaked that “Two and a Half Men” staf Ashton Kutcher will be playing Steve Jobs in a new flick titled “Jobs”.  Many thought this was an April Fools joke but it was not.  Ashton will play Steve Jobs in an indie film based on the early years in his life.  The film will not be based on the authorized biography by Walter Issacson that came out last year.  Filming begins in May when Two and a Half Men wraps for the season.  I can’t wait to see it.  Can you?

Facebook Buys Instagram for a Billion Dollars
Yesterday, it was announced that Facebook has bought Instagram for one billion dollars.  If you are not familiar with the app, Instagram is a photo sharing service for your mobile phone.  To use the app, simply take a photo, apply a filter to it and share with your friends on Twitter, Tumblr or other social networking services.  Some Instagram users are not happy with the Facebook takeover.  They fear that Facebook will change it, shelve it or use it to get more privacy data from its users.  However Mark Zuckerburg states that Instagram won’t change and will be run independently. 

Do you use Instagram?  Will you go out and see Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs in “Jobs”?  If you like this post, please feel free to make a comment and share it with your friends.

Do I have tons of apps on my iPhone and iPad? Yes, I do! Once a day, I check out iTunes to see what’s new, what’s coming out, the top selling apps, the top free apps and all the latest news. I don’t know about you, but I LOVE me some apps.  And I don’t mind forking over some cash for a great app.  I really don’t.  If I know I’m gonna get some use out of it, I’m down with paying.  But sometimes, I do wish there was a way to turn in used apps and get back a fraction of what you paid for it.  Because sometimes you buy an app and it just wasn’t what you thought it would be or you don’t use it as much as you’d hoped.  Some apps I use occasionally and others I use for a specific purpose. For instance, I’ll use the WebMD app if I’m trying to figure out if one of my kids has a fever or walking pneumonia. I’ll check out my Lancome app to see the new lipstick and eye shadow colors they have for each season. But here are a few that I use everyday all day.

1. MyFitnessPal – As you know, I participated in Redbook Magazine’s Wedding Dress Fitness Challenge. One of the things we were required to do was record everything we ate. My uncle suggested I use this app to track my food and exercise. It was hard to get into at first but now I love it. When you first get the app, you enter your age, height, weight – stuff like that – and it determines the calorie intake for the day. As you eat, you simply enter the food and it deducts it from your daily calorie budget. You know the remaining calories you have to eat for the rest of the day. So, it’s cool. I really love that it has a barcode scanner. So, if I buy something to eat, I just scan the barcode and its automatically entered into my daily intake.
2. Us Weekly – Ok I am not proud of this one but I gotta be honest. I check it all the time to see what’s going on in the world of Tinseltown. And I don’t really care about who is dating who or who was seen with who. But I really love to see what the celebs are wearing on the red carpet, their hairstyles, what the decor looked like at the Oscar parties and what new movie is coming out this weekend – stuff like that. It’s like reading a new fashion magazine every single day. This is app is my one-stop shop for all that information.
3. The Weather Channel – It’s so much easier to check my app, then to turn on the television, and turn to a news or weather channel to see the temperatures for the day. I just open my app and bam – it’s all there. I can see the high and low temperatures of the day. I love being able to check the weather conditions for each hour. Because if rain is in the forcast, I can see the hour it’s most likely to happen and plan my trips around that so I can avoid it. You can also check weather-related news and see videos of the weather forcast. Who needs to turn on the television? It’s awesome.

What are your favorite apps? Why do you love them? Write a comment and let me know what you think. Also, if you like this post or found some value in it, please like this page and share it with your friends.

A previous study was done at the University of Maryland on a large group of students.  The students had to unplug from technology – no cell phones, no updating their Facebook profile – stuff like that.  The reasearchers found that the students had similar symptoms to those trying to get off drugs.  Now, I will be the first to admit that I don’t want to live life without my cell phone, iPad and the Internet.  But am I addicted…..

It’s becoming a problem
Well, maybe, maybe not.  But one thing is certain, we all can use technology a little less.  Personally, I am tired of seeing people walking down the street, bumping into other people because they’re texting and not paying attention to where they are going.  Or hearing cell phones go off during graduation and other important ceremonies.  Or how about that person that is walking, on the train or whatever and talking all loud on their phone headset.  But I’m not one to talk.  Everything I’m telling you to do in this blog post, I am also telling myself to do, too.

Practical TIPS for unplugging and creating balance:
T – Timeframe: Have a set timeframe that you are going to use email, checking social media accounts, etc. ( I suggest checking first thing in the morning and then in the evening). Don’t just use gadgets or the computer for hours on end. Have limits.
I – Integrity: Create a Computer Use Contract to determine how you will use technology and gadgets.  Have a witness sign it and stick to it.
P – Public Areas: Don’t use electronics during dinner time, while driving, walking, etc.  Use this time to engage with others and your surroundings.  If you have to use your gadgets while walking or driving, make sure you are stationary.
S – Supervise: Be accountable to someone – your partner, best friend or some other trusted person.

But I can hear what some of you are thinking.  When I am at work, I have to check my email and my job sends me texts.  What’s a working girl to do?  This is all true.  If you have a job, chances are you are using a computer or some type of technology there that you have to interact with.  Some jobs will give you a cell phone, iPad and other gadgets that you have to use for work.  So, how can you unplug when you’re livelihood depends on it?

Tips to use tech less while maintaining productivity
Tasks - Do work instead of checking your email, texting, etc. constantly
Turn it off – Silence your email alerts, phone, etc when you need to get work done
Touch it once - Read the email once, take action (answer back, delete or save), then move on
Time it – Allocate a specific amount of time to email, computer use, etc., then get back to what you were working on
Trash it - Delete emails, voice mails you don’t need
Talk Less, Type more – Email over talking on the phone, texting, etc.

Do you think you are addicted to technology?  Why or why not?  What types of things do you hate seeing people do with their tech gadgets?  Write a comment and let me know what you think.  Also, if you like this post or found some value in it, please like this page and share it with your friends.

Welcome to the latest episode of Pop Tech where we discuss the intersection of pop culture and technology.

Topics in this week’s edition include:

MTV’s “TEEN MOM 2″ STAR JANELLE EVAN’S CYBER STALKING CHARGES
Dr. Wilson discusses the troubled star and breaks down what cyberstalking is and why you shouldn’t do it.

TOP TRENDING TOPICS
Last week, topics like Treyvon Martin, the season premeire of “Mad Men” season and the game “Angry Birds Space” ruled.

If you like this post, please feel free to make a comment and share it with your friends.

Recently, there have been several articles in the press about jobs seekers getting asked to give their Facebook login and passwords for interviews.  We knew that employers were looking at potential employee’s social media accounts before they hired them, but the out-and-out asking for login information is a new trend.

WHY IS THIS HAPPENING?
I believe, it’s happening for many reasons, but here are the main two:

1. The job market is becoming more competitive and less and less jobs are now available.  As a result, employers are using more non-traditional methods to screen potential employees. 
2. A new trend is on the rise, people using social media to rant or vent about their workplace.   Businesses and companies don’t want their employers leaking valueable information online or ranting about their workplace practices.  So, they are taking extra measures upfront to make sure they hire people who they suspect won’t “go off” about them online.

WHAT TO DO IF THIS HAPPENS TO YOU:
What should you say or do if you get asked for your Facebook login information.  Well, that depends on if you agree with this practice or not and how bad you need a job.  Personally, I don’t agree with this practice and I think it is crossing the line.  I don’t even know if this practice is legal but here are some tips to help you come to the interview prepared.

Ask for the company’s social media policy.  Turn the tables back on them.  If the company has one, ask to see where that policy is stated.  When you go on a job interview, they give you benefit, leave and insurance information upfront.  Why not give the social media policy information as well?  If the company doesn’t have a social media policy, or this practice isn’t listed in the policy, you can refuse to give your login information. 

Counter them.  Ask your potential employer their reasoning behind this practice.  Most will say that they use it as a way to judge a potential employee’s character.  It’s a way to find out what kind of person you really are.  That’s a valid reason but give them other options to learn about your character.  Have a list of volunteer activities, recommendations, honors and awards that you have received handy. 

Before your interview, email the contact person about all the information that is needed and expected during the interview.   They are usually more than happy to tell you bring your resume, id cards and the like.  If they inform you that your Facebook logins are needed, you can ask questions why (see above).  They may drop it or tell you not to worry about it.  But if they stand firm, don’t go to the interview unless you’re willing to give your login.  If they don’t tell you to bring your login information and they ask for it during the interveiw, you can always say that you weren’t told that information was required for the interview.

Stand your ground.  Understand that if you refuse to give your login information, you may not get that job.  If you are okay with that, then stand your ground.  If not, then get everything controversial off your Facebook page before you go into that interview.  You should do this anyway because just like employers are checking credit reports of potential employees they screen your social media accounts without your knowledge.  So, if you on the hunt for a new job, it’s a good idea to sanitize it.

Would you give your Facebook login and password at a job interview?  Do you think this practice is valid?  Write a comment and let me know what you think.  Also, if you like this post or found some value in it, please like this page and share it with your friends.