Posted on: Friday, July 1, 2005

ADVICE DIVA
Prevent blush prior to flush

By Tara Solomon

Dear Advice Diva: I have been dating my boyfriend for almost five months. I think it is safe to say we are still in the honeymoon phase of our relationship. We spend lots of time together and have slumber parties six nights a week. For our five-month anniversary, he surprised me with a weekend trip to Disney World. I am so excited, but also a little nervous, as we haven't spent an entire weekend together. I am worried about the bathroom situation. How do I "take care of business" without him knowing?

—Miss Priss

Dear Miss Priss: The best way to avoid the tell-tale smell is to do your business in a public bathroom, where it's easy enough to blame the stench on any number of poopy-drawered infants. But tending to private matters in the midst of strangers is a bit gross and can be just as embarrassing.

Best to lock yourself in the hotel bathroom for your morning (and/or evening) Grooming Routine, which should include burning scented candles and playing Green Day at full volume. Run the shower, tub and sink, and stuff a rolled-up towel in the space under the door to muffle any errant sound (your reason, should he ask: to create a sauna effect, which is good for your skin). Not that we've tried any of this, of course.

Soon, we hope, you'll be comfortable enough with the boyfriend to just excuse yourself to the loo. But until then, groom away, Miss Priss.

Dear Advice Diva: I am on a diet and determined to lose 15 pounds this summer. I have a small problem though — I am in the "in-between" stages in my weight loss and fearful about buying clothes. This would be fine except that my best friend is getting married in one month and I need to buy a dress and an outfit for the rehearsal dinner. I don't want to wait until the last minute, but I am afraid that anything I buy will not fit by that time. Is there any rule of thumb I can follow, such as one size lost per week when dieting?

—Big Girl

Dear Big Girl: If you're losing one size per week, we want to hear about this diet! A more realistic goal would be a pound or two a week, max, through a diet that's lower in calories, fats and carbs, and higher in fiber, organic proteins and filtered or distilled water.

The Advice Diva recently lost some of her "baby fat" — 18 pounds to be exact, which took her down one dress size and two pant sizes. Although overworking was the catalyst for the weight loss, the pounds stayed off by following a healthy eating plan.

But that doesn't mean that the good clothes had to get bagged for Goodwill; they are getting altered to fit our new shapely physique, and we would suggest the same advice for you. Buy what you want that could be altered without difficulty. A week before the rehearsal dinner, get your ensembles to a tailor or seamstress.

Send questions to: The Advice Diva, Miami Herald, 1 Herald Plaza, 5th floor, Miami, FL 33132; or advicediva@herald.com.