How to Impress Former Classmates at a High School Reunion

Your 10th, 20th or 40th high school reunion is fast approaching. Quick! What do you do? Get to a gym, of course, and take a cold, hard look in the mirror. For in addition to that sparkling wit, losing ten pounds never hurt.

Many of us pack on pounds as the years roll by, especially if we're as much as say, 30 years post-high school age.

Therefore, the best thing you can do before your reunion is take a good look in the rear-view mirror - at home. If your muffin top is bigger than a handful, you've got work to do.

Another gauge: look up your BMI (Body Mass Index) online.

Remember, if you were the high school hunk and now you look like a chunk, better rethink the ice cream and cake you're stuffing in your face. Get thee to a gym!

If you're too fat, lose weight.

Talk to a dietitian, read articles, use common sense. The best plan is to reduce calories and exercise, losing about one to two pounds per week -- max. Don't feel bad if you only lose about five pounds per month. That means you'll probably keep it off!

A great tip: write everything down that you eat and drink. Make sure you get at least six glasses of water or equivalent in your system each day. Many dietitians and other experts advise eight glasses, but six is really enough.

Make sure you're well-groomed. This means using dental white strips, having a manicure and getting a haircut - perhaps. It varies. You may look great as-is.

Work on your people skills.

Have you adopted a negative attitude over time? This happens as years go by - or can happen. Life's disappointments have a way of adding up.

If this is the case for you, spend a day or a weekend alone and figure out why you've become so grumpy. Write down what you said you wanted in high school. Did you achieve it? If not, why not? Or have your goals changed over time. How so?

Once you decide why you're unhappy you'll quit making others unhappy. Guaranteed: if you start up a new hobby or book a trip to Rio before the reunion, your confidence and attitude will improve ten-fold.

Think benevolence.

Though the years have lined your face, chances are you've become a much better person. Perhaps you've given to charities or cared for an elderly parent. These are pluses! You are no longer that shallow (or supposedly shallow) individual some saw back in 1968. You've started an orphanage or donated a million dollars to a third-world nation. Whatever it is, be proud of what you've accomplished when you've given back.

Remember: have fun.

That was what high school was all about and that's what this reunion is about, too.

You'll have the time of your life - whether you've become fat or bald, divorced or depressed.

These are your old pals. And they will love you - just the way you are.