7 Tips to a Flat Stomach in 7 Days

There is no secret diet that helps achieve rock hard abdominal muscles, or “abs.” Sculpted abs a six pack will appear once you have shed excess abdominal fat and exercised your abs to become toned and tight.

 

Wrinkle Treatment Health and Care

What is Wrinkle:

Wrinkles are fine lines or creases in the skin surface because of which skin becomes loose, and sagging. skin that is especially noticeable on the face, neck, and hands. Wind, heat and chemicals and the natural effects of aging cause a certain amount of wrinkling in everyone, but it is much worse in people who spend a lot of time in the sun.

Wrinkles are an inevitable part of the natural aging process. As we become older our skin gets thinner, drier and less elastic. Our skin’s ability to protect itself from damage is also reduced as we age.

 Symptoms of Wrinkles:

1. Deeply formed lines.
2. Skin that is wrinkled may also have a tough, leathery appearance if the person has had a lot of exposure to the sun.
3. Fine, crinkling crosshatch marks.

 Wrinkle Causes:

Wrinkles are part of the natural aging process. However, environmental factors such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun and smoking can dry your skin and make wrinkles appear at a younger age.
Some major causes of wrinkles are follows:
* Pollution
* Rapid Weight Loss
* Poor Diet
* Sedentary Life
* Occupational Exposure
* Heredity
* Skin Pigmentation

 Home Remedies for Wrinkles:

1. Massage lemon juice all over your skin to help get rid of wrinkles. The juice works as a deep cleansing agent and astringent and may help keep the skin clean and taut.
2. Apply beaten egg whites on the wrinkled skin. Let it dry and then wash off.
3. cabbage juice should be massaged over the facial skin and left to dry. After the juice dries, rinse it off with warm water. Cabbage juice is believed to help tighten up facial muscles.
4. Applying coconut oil on the wrinkled skin is considered to be a good home remedy. However, make sure you apply it only before going to bed.
5. Another anti-aging treatment is the application of a face pack made up of rose water, honey and turmeric. Use this mixture to exfoliate the skin and remove dead skin and prevent wrinkles.
6. Take a little turmeric powder and add sugarcane juice to it. Form a paste and apply it on the wrinkles. Once dry, rinse it off the face.

7. Take a green seedless grape and cut it into half. Now, rub one of the halves on the wrinkled face. Leave it for 20 minutes, before rinsing off with warm water.
8. Mash a ripe papaya and apply the pulp to the face and neck. The essential vitamins found in papaya help keep the skin smooth and unlined.
9. In a bowl, mix 2 tbsp vodka, 1 tbsp fennel seeds and 2 tsp honey. Leave the mixture for three days. Thereafter, use it as a toner.
10. Apply pineapple juice all over the skin and leave it on for five minutes before washing off. This increases the level of Alpha-Hydroxy Acids (AHA) in the skin that are essential to fight the aging process.
11. Massage the wrinkled area with castor oil. This would be helpful in removing the wrinkles.
12. Regular facial massages with oils such as vitamin E oil, castor oil or coconut oil can help prevent dehydration of the skin. The strong strokes of a massage also help prevent permanent lines and drooping of the skin.
13. Clean the face. Remove make up to open the pores of skin. Remove oilyness by lime juice or cleansing milk.
14. Applying a good quality cream with a firm pressure with the fleshy tips of fingers. Do not apply pressure around eyes. Continue massage for 15 minutes.

Top 10 Ideas to Celebrate Your Anniversary

Although it seems by stereotype that men are notoriously forgetful of anniversaries and women seem very much the opposite, if you are a couple, an anniversary is indeed a milestone worth celebrating. You can take the opportunity to show your partner how much you love him/her, and more importantly, value him/her. Relationships are not something automatic. Even if you love each other very much, there still are some things you have to work on nurturing. It can be a task thinking up someway to make it special, more special than the routine dinner date. These top ten ideas may be of help.

01. A Nighttime picnic

This could be a romantic experience past comparison. You just have to find a suitable spot with a beautiful view. Pack the picnic basket full of special goodies like chocolates, wine, champagne, hot chocolate, cookies and other ‘romantic’ food. Let the locale handle the rest. 09 more after the break...

02. Cook them Dinner

Cooking a person dinner makes for superb brownie points. Set the atmosphere. Place lit candles on the table, and decorate the room with flowers, play romantic songs on the stereo, scatter rose petals. These set the mood and heighten anticipation.

03. Recreating Fond Memories

If you have a special day or time that you both remember, such as where you had your first date, or something relevant, you can try and reawaken fond memories by recreating the experiences. Take her or him to the place you met, concentrate on getting the details right, such as the music playing, the food you ate, the table you sat, the car you came in, all of that. Your partner will know how much thought you put in the matter.

04. Surprise getaways

Plan a surprise weekend getaway to somewhere nice, and do not let her or him know until the last minute. Make sure you respect any commitments she or he may have regarding work etc, and book every thing in advance. Take her on a seemingly ordinary long drive, which ends up at the airport, and surprise her with the trip to the romantic destination.

05. Romantic Scrapbooks or Photo Albums

Making Scrapbooks or collages is another way of recreating fond memories from your time together. Collect all the photos you may have of special and memorable occasions. You can spring it on her when you are done, or spend a quiet afternoon making it together. The cherished memories that will awaken will be the objective here.

06. A Visit to childhood neighborhood

Consider taking your partner to the neighborhood where they grew up. The old home, the school and other locations will flood in a multitude of precious memories that they can then share with you.

07. Surprise him or her at work

Show up where your partner works with a huge bouquet of flowers or over sized box filled with chocolates. Present it to her or him with everyone watching, and proclaim your love for him or her. Of course, this could backfire if he or she is easily embarrassed by public attention.

08. Deck your home up

Give your home a makeover as a surprise. Clean up stuff, make romantic additions like soft silk fabrics, scented candles, romantic music, rose petals everywhere. You can invite him or her to lie down and have a sensual massage.

09. Photo shoot

Find a good photographer, and go on a romantic photo shot as a couple. Some sensuality in the pictures wouldn’t be out of place here. It is also possible to opt for a photographer to follow you around discretely at a suitable park or some such location and click candid photos of both of you as a couple.

10. Love Coupons

Love coupons are a flirty and really fun way of saying things. Print a big batch or two, you can make them yourself or professionally. You can print whatever romantic gesture you want.

Can you REALLY get Stacy Keibler's body in 18 minutes? Speedy workout claims to burn fat fast - despite lacking in cardio activity

Stacy Keibler's ultra toned physique appears as though it's the result of lengthy workout sessions.
But the 32-year-old model and actress has claimed it takes just 18 minutes, four or five times per week, to achieve a body hot enough to capture the attention of George Clooney, her boyfriend.
Juliet Kaska, a U.S. celebrity fitness trainer who works with the blonde beauty, told Self magazine that
'you'll burn extra calories for up to 48 hours after' performing the fast-paced routine.

Fitness queen: Model and actress Stacy Keibler has revealed her 18-minute exercise regime (above) which combines 'strength, cardio and core exercises' that are performed several times a week

The former pro-wrestler, who starred on the second series of the U.S. version of Dancing With The Stars, follows various routines that combine 'strength, cardio and core exercises'.


The regime asks that three six-minute 'sexy sizzlers' are completed once a day 'without any breathers'.

Ballerina bound: Stand with feet together, arms down. Crouch low, keeping back flat and abs tight. Leap up, swinging arms out straight and across body to right and landing on right foot, left leg raised and bent behind you. Reverse move for two minutes

Svelte Reach: Anchor band at head height; hold ends together with both hands. Stand with left side parallel to anchor and feet hip-width apart. Extend arms overhead; lean to right until you feel muscles in left side engage. Return to start. Do 20 reps and switch

Belly Blaster: Anchor a band about three-feet off ground; lie face-up, grasping a handle in each hand. Bend knees over hips; extend arms upward. Crunch up, raising shoulders off ground; extend right leg while you lower arms to sides. Bring right knee back in as you raise arms back overhead. Do 20 reps

Bicycle Mega Burner: Lie face-up with hands behind head, elbows out, legs lifted, knees bent over hips. Extend right leg and twist upper body to left side (as shown), reaching right elbow toward left knee. Hold and do ten small pulses; repeat on opposite side for one set. Do five sets

T For Toned: Place center of band underneath right foot; hold opposite end in left hand. Extend right arm above head; slowly extend left leg behind you, dropping chest until you create a line from fingertips to toes. Extend left arm behind you; bend elbow and repeat; do 20 reps. Repeat on opposite side.

Star Power: With feet hip-width apart, squat down low on balls of feet, resting fingertips on ground in front of you (as shown). Spring up, extending legs and arms wide to create a five-point-star shape with hands, head and feet. Land with soft knees; return to start; repeat immediately. Continue for two minutes.

Crank Up Your Metabolism

For being the key to weight loss, your metabolism is incredibly simple. It’s just all of the chemical processes in your body added up. So the higher your metabolism, the more calories you burn. And while your metabolic rate is influenced by genetics, your workout can really rev it up big time.

Exercise can increase metabolism in three ways:
1. It burns calories during the workout session.
2. It burns additional calories directly following the workout session, which is known as the afterburn affect. This post-exercise metabolic boost can last 24-48 hours.
3. It increases calorie-burning lean muscle mass. One pound of muscle burns an extra 6-50 calories a day.
But when it comes to boosting your metabolism, not all exercise is created equal. Here, how you should prioritize your workouts to get your metabolism humming:
#1 Choice: Strength Training
Lifting weights will boost your metabolism in all three ways and should be your first priority if you really want to burn more fat more easily. Have you ever noticed that men can lose weight by cutting out their nightly ice cream while women have to count calories like crazy before the scale will even budge? That’s because men tend to have more metabolically active muscle than women. Complete a total-body strength-training program two to three days a week to build significant lean muscle mass and boost your metabolism, even if you’re cutting calories.
#2 Choice: Interval Training
This type of cardio workout, in which you push your exercise intensity for a short period of time and then recover, will burn calories during exercise as well as give you an afterburn effect. In one study comparing the effects of 15 weeks of interval training with  20 weeks of steady-state endurance training, researchers found that the participants who completed interval workouts lost nine times more fat than those who completed endurance workouts.
#3 Choice: Steady State Endurance Cardio and Aerobics
When you hit the pavement, you burn calories during the run, but you don’t get the benefit of an afterburn effect or of building  muscle. And be careful: If you overdo it, you could actually end up losing muscle, which can slow your metabolism. In one study published in the International Journal of Sports Medicine, participants completed six long runs in seven days, after which the average weight loss was 6.1%. However, 5% of their weight loss came from lean mass and only 1.1% came from body fat. Stick to a little running—about 30 minutes on the days following your strength-training sessions—to help recover from your workouts without burning through muscle.

7 Ways to Get Your Body Swimsuit-Ready, Starting Now

Tank tops, shorts, and swimsuits… oh my! It's May, which means you'll have to peel off your winter clothes soon. While only you know what you've been hiding underneath all those layers, you're not the only one who feels insecure this time of year.
Although you can safely lose only about 1 to 2 pounds of body fat a week, you can feel more confident by swimsuit season if you begin making changes today. Here are 7 attainable goals to set and stick to, starting now:

1. Get your sweat on with strength training! If you want to feel good in your bathing suit, this is non-negotiable: Fit your workout in, no excuses! Commit to a full-body strength-training program at least three times a week to burn calories during the workout, boost your metabolism's calorie-burning power for 24 to 48 hours after, and develop lean muscles that look and feel better than flab. Perform exercises that use more than one muscle group such as squats, pushups, rows, and lunges in a circuit to make your workouts most efficient. Tip: Try working out in the morning to get your metabolism revved up for the rest of the day.

2. Make your butt and belly your top priorities. Your glutes (butt muscles) are the biggest muscles in your body, so working them out is one of the best ways to burn calories--and prevent a saggy bikini-bottomed butt. (There's nothing worse!) Of course, everyone knows that the real key to looking great in a bathing suit is having a flat belly! Give both areas extra attention during workouts leading up to and during bikini season by performing this move right after warming up at the beginning of each workout, 2 to 3 times a week:

Bridge Marching: Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Lift your hips off the floor so your body forms a straight line from your shoulders to your knees, keeping your hips parallel to the ground. Maintaining that straight line, lift your right knee upward, so your foot comes up off the ground. Then, return it to the starting position and lift your left knee the same way. Continue alternating (as if you are marching in place), keeping your butt muscles contracted the entire time for a total of 10 on each leg.

3. Drink extra water. Skimping on water can reduce the effectiveness of your workouts because even mild dehydration can affect your performance and fat-burning potential. If you need another reason to drink up, swallow this: the best way to rid yourself of excess water weight is to flush your body with water. You should drink at least half your body weight in ounces each day (e.g., a 150-pound woman should drink 75 oz. or the equivalent of about four and a half 16.9 oz. bottled waters a day). Just don't skimp on the ice! Research has shown drinking ice-cold water causes your body to work harder (i.e., burn more calories) to maintain its ideal core temperature. So gulp down the cold stuff like it's your fat burning fuel--because it is!

4. Increase your daily intake of natural diuretics. These are foods that increase the speed at which fluids pass through your body to help you de-bloat. Natural diuretics include cucumbers, asparagus, lemon, green tea, and any foods with a higher concentration of magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, and/or caffeine. Tip: Try adding cucumber or lemon to water.

5. Cut back on processed, starchy carbohydrates such as breads, pastas, bagels, cookies, and crackers. Most of these foods are loaded with extra sodium and preservatives that can contribute to water retention and bloating. If the ingredients on a packaged item list more than a few ingredients--or anything you can't pronounce--don't eat it. Instead, opt for a serving of one of the many fresh fruits and veggies now in season, with lean protein to keep you satisfied.

6. Reduce your alcohol intake. If you're used to having a glass of wine or pint of beer every night, try cutting back to two or three nights a week. You'll reduce your total calorie intake and set yourself up for a better night's sleep to energize you for your workout the next day. Tip: When you do indulge, always sandwich your drink with a glass of water before and after to avoid alcohol's dehydrating effects.

7. Stand up taller and engage your core muscles. Think about tucking your hips underneath and tightening up your stomach as if you were going to be punched. Improving your posture will instantly make you look thinner--even if you haven't lost a pound yet!--and train your body to hold everything in once you're in a swimsuit. Every 15 minutes, set an alarm for a "posture check" to train your body: If you're standing, stand up straight and hold everything. If you're sitting, pull those shoulders back and engage your stomach muscles. 

Meet The Minister Who Gives Women Sexual Healing Massages

“Orgasm is not the goal of the session, yet they are not avoided either.”

Last week, writer Joan Price told the story of the orgasmic massage she got as a 66th birthday present. Now, her masseur Sunyata Satchitananda explains how he heals women's "sexual energy" with his massages.

What are your clients like? Do you notice any commonalities in the women who come to you?
Women of all ages, sexual identification, relationship status, and sexual activeness (inexperience or no experience with sex, celibate, coming out of celibacy and preparing for sexual activeness, in-between relationships, in relationship, ending relationship/marriage and not wanting another relationship) see me for sessions. The reasons women have sessions with me center on 1. healing from past sexual abuse and emotional trauma perpetrated by men (mostly) and 2. to have a guided experience of sexual empowerment with a safe, adept, spiritual man who will honor their boundaries, is not seeking sex or a relationship with them, and can meet them spiritually and energetically so they can experience their spiritual-sexual prowess and potential.

What does a typical session look like?
The form my sessions take contains a lot of talk, discussion and introspection, to "process" the judgments and meanings we all have regarding sex, intimacy and relationship. I also teach breath work and body movements that give the client more awareness and control over her sexual energy, enhancing her experience. Often, a sensual massage is part of the session. It consists of various Tantric techniques to activate, enliven, enhance and move sexual energy throughout the body and expands consciousness. Basically, the rushes of sexual energy and muscle/nervous system activation that clients of "regular" therapeutic massage feel but don't allow to "go any further" (because there's an agreement between practitioner and client to suppress these sensations) — I invite these, and work with the energy to accomplish the "clearing" and releasing of "energy knots" (wounds, judgments, meanings) that prevent fulfillment and enrichment and allow healing and integrating. The process involves active listening and feedback, and discussing what feelings, images, associations come up during the session and their referring places in the body (areas that are: numb, cold, painful, tight, sore).
Can you describe the massage you gave Joan? What was the goal?
Most people start with healing and repairing their vulnerability/innocence; then add awareness and education for areas they need more information about; and then move into experiencing their empowered sensuality step by step with a safe and adept guide by having erotic enrichment sessions. Joan's session was of this latter type. She had done a lot of her "inner work" prior to seeing me and it was clear to me from our discussions she was psychologically/emotionally ready for the experience of feeling her erotic nature and sensual prowess — facilitated by someone other than herself! It was also clear to me after our conversations that she felt confident, trusting and at-ease with me as the one facilitating her experience.
Joan's session included more than a sensual massage. I took some time to make sure we were clear about the [parameters] for the session: that we were not there to have sex or begin a romantic relationship and the nature of the session was therapeutic enrichment. What followed this was some time teaching Joan breathing techniques used to modulate energy and maintain presence and awareness in her body. After that I demonstrated and helped Joan with a body movement that facilitates sexual energy activation and availability. Following all of this I gave Joan, at her request, a sensual massage that is designed to ignite sexual energy and move it throughout the body, building, cresting, ebbing and flowing in an intuitive dance of energy that is sensually enlivening and often produces orgasmic energy releases. As I explained to Joan in our discussions: orgasm is not the goal of the session, yet they are not avoided either. The purpose of the massage is to strengthen sensual experience in the body and maintain present awareness under sensual activation, providing an opportunity for the client to feel erotic empowerment and sensual-psycho-physical integration.

What are the benefits to women of your massages?

My intention and purpose for the sessions I offer to women is to facilitate their healing and sensual/sexual empowerment. Usually a series of healing sessions will lead to a series of enrichment (empowerment) sessions. We build on what was discovered, released and integrated during healing and encourage reconnecting with her authentic expression of her sensual/sexual energy.
Sexual empowerment sessions help a woman to find her authentic sexual/sensual embodied connection, and feel what that means to her without judgment or modification by a man telling her how she "should" be or act to be appealing or desired. In these sessions I act as a guide that facilitates her discovery of what is "authentic" and "real" to her and to let go of any limiting, demeaning, shaming judgments that block her full experience and expression of her sexual/sensual self.
What are some things you have to be mindful of when offering erotic and/or sensual massages to female clients? Consent issues? Legal ones?
I'm very clear with prospective clients that I am not a surrogate, sex worker, "happy ending" masseur or "date experience." As an ordained minister, I offer spiritual counseling and hands-on-healing that facilitates personal growth, expanded awareness and knowledge, and spiritual evolution. I'm very careful to discuss thoroughly with prospective clients what is involved — and what is not — in the sessions I offer and to make sure we are in agreement about the intent and purpose of the sessions. During sessions there is frequent communication and opportunity for feedback; I check-in with the client to affirm her boundaries or directions, especially when going to sensitive areas. My intent is to serve the highest good of my client in this very sensitive, private and vulnerable area of life where there's not a lot of competent and sincere help available — and not break the law.

Top Ten Most Common Injuries Associated with Sports

Earlier we talked about how much you can earn if you are one of the best in sports. You can earn millions but that doesn’t come off for free. With sports, the prime association that comes to one’s mind is injuries. No matter what sport you think of, there will always be injuries, even golf, though it’s hard for me to believe that you can get injured while swinging; never happened to me. There have been cases where these injuries turn out to be fatal, but that’s the worst case scenario. This particular post discusses the most common injuries that are associated with different sports but there is no need to fret, even though these injuries are inevitable there always are ways to treat them. So this article does not in any way intend to demoralize you.

10. ACHILLES TENDINITIS

Achilles tendon is at the back of the ankle. If it is overused, it tends to inflame and that causes pain. This phenomenon is known as acute Achilles Tendinitis. If you leave this condition untreated, it will become worse and eventually make it impossible for you to run. This injury is experience by those who sportsman who frequently have to use their feet for running or jumping; so basically, almost all the sports.

9. CONCUSSION

A concussion occurs when you receive a blow to the head or if you hit your head on a hard surface. That blow basically injures the brain and it is absolutely not necessary for you to play a sport to receive a concussion. A concussion can cause disturbance in your vision, headache, amnesia, nausea, dizziness and loss of balance. Also if you are experiencing these symptoms frequently, that serves as an indication that you have a concussion. These injuries usually happen while playing hockey, football, boxing or even wrestling.

8. GROIN STRAIN

There is a muscle in the upper thigh that resembles a fan. That muscle usually pulls the legs together. A strain on that muscle is called a groin strain and it usually happens when you suddenly change directions while running or you keep doing that frequently, so if you play soccer, hockey, football or volleyball you can experience this injury.

7. SHIN SPLINTS

This is a condition where you experience pain on the inner side of the shin bone. That usually happens because the muscles that surround the shin bone tend to inflame. Shin splints are very common amongst people who do not exercise so if you have regular exercising routine chances are that you will not have a shin splint. Although, if you intensify your workout routine suddenly or run on a hard surface, you might experience this condition.

6. LOWER BACK PAIN

Lower back pain is not very common amongst athletes at least not when you are still young. This injury tends to hit older athletes and athletes who are into cycling, running or golfing etc. The most common reason for one having to go through lower back pains is improper stretching but you can easily avoid these pains if you warm up before you begin playing or even working out.

5. PULLED MUSCLE

A muscle is usually pulled when you do not exercise in a long time or if you do not warm up before you begin a particular sport. The most common of the pulled muscles include your hamstring and the calf muscle. A hamstring is a muscle situated behind your thighs and if you pull those it is difficult to even walk so forget about running. Rest assured that these are not the only muscles you can pull though. Depending on what sport you play you can even pull muscles in your arm (tennis or badminton).

4. TENNIS OR GOLF ELBOW

Of all the injuries related to sport, tennis (golf) elbow only account for 7%. If you repeatedly use the backhand shots in tennis, the tendon tends to degenerate and that causes pain on the outside of your elbow. The injury is mostly related to tennis which is why the name. The pain you experience is because the epicondyle swells. The best way to prevent this injury is to strengthen your forearm.

3. ANKLE SPRAIN

This injury is very common amongst basketball, volleyball, hockey, soccer and football players and there is nothing you can do to avoid it because any sport that involves heavy running or jumping will cause this injury. You can even twist your ankle while walking so running is a story on a whole different level. What you can possibly do to avoid this injury or better yet reduce it is performing exercises that strengthen your ankles.

2. SHOULDER INJURY

Shoulder injuries account for about 20% of all the sports injuries. A shoulder injury can include dislocations, sprains etc. These injuries are mostly observed amongst athletes who are into tennis, weightlifting, rugby, baseball and swimming. In order to prevent these injuries you should not let your shoulder muscles rest for very long periods of time. Symptoms to this injury include pain (obviously), but around your shoulder area, stiffness, and weakness etc. So if you experience these symptoms, you better get your shoulders checked because the pain itself will not let your rest.

1. RUNNER’S KNEE

Knee injuries account for a whopping 55% of all the sports injuries. So the injuries mentioned in the number 3, 2 and 1 spot account for almost 80 to 85% of all sport injuries. Mostly any pain around your knee region would be associated with the runner’s knee and as the name suggest you can guess that this injury is associated with any sport that basically involves the use of your knew. Again, this includes almost every sport you can think of. The only you can possibly reduce this injury is to perform regular work outs and make sure you warm up before playing or even running. If you are into running, try running on softer surfaces and please change your shoes regularly. Worn out shoes and insoles can also cause this injury.
So these were the top ten injuries that are most commonly associated with sports but let me tell you once more that this doesn’t under any circumstance mean that you should stop playing. Play hard, play fair.

Ten Awesome Food Items to Make You Happy

Are you a fan of eating? I know I am. Well, what if we told you about food that tends to make you happier? Wouldn’t that be awesome? There’s many times during a day that we go through bad mood and we usually eat when we are in a bad mood or are bored and mostly it’s junk food. Junk food tends to deteriorate one over a period of time so let’s put that aside for now. Here are ten different food items you can eat to make yourself happy even when you’re in the worst of your moods. The following list of foods can also help you when you’re bored so make sure you stock them really well in your homes.

10. SWISS CHARD

This vegetable is not very commonly used in fact I have never eaten it myself. The Swiss chard contains high levels of Magnesium. Magnesium is a nutrient that helps in increasing the energy levels of your body and that tends to freshen you up. Also, according to different studies, lower levels of Magnesium were associated with higher levels of depression.

9. BLUE POTATOES

Blue potatoes are not all the easy to find. Nonetheless, they contain powerful antioxidants called ‘anthocyanins’. These antioxidants help in preventing the inflammation in the human brain and they also help with the sharpening of your short-term memory. If you eat the peel, that contains iodine and iodine helps with thyroid gland.

8. MUSSELS

Mussels have very few calories and low levels of fat. They include protein, iodine, selenium, Vitamin B12 and Zinc. Iodine is a substance that helps to maintain the thyroid gland which in turn helps to keep your mood and weight quite balanced. Zinc and Selenium aid in the process and the Vitamin B12 will strengthen your brain cells which in turn will sharpen the brain. One thing to know is that you should always prefer farmed mussels rather than the wild ones. They’re always healthier.

7. DARK CHOCOLATE

Dark chocolate is one of the best things ever created and it has benefits that you cannot find in milk. Dark chocolate will improve the blood circulation to the brain which means a healthier brain. An improved circulation also means that your mood will lighten up and you will feel more energetic. If you go with a few ounces of dark chocolates every day you will be able to feel the impact.

6. GREEK YOGURT

One of the main benefits of eating Greek yogurt is its very high levels of Calcium. It actually has higher levels of Calcium than milk. Calcium, apart from strengthening the bones, helps the brain to release neurotransmitters that induce happiness in a person. Greek yogurt has more protein than the normal yogurt and proteins as you might already know, help in reducing weight. So, the people who are obese, attention please.

5. ASPARAGUS

I’ll be honest here and let you know that I hate Asparagus. But that does not mean that it is unhealthy. Asparagus contains very high levels of Folate and Tryptophan. Lower levels of these two substances tend to cause depression. Therefore a healthy diet of asparagus can definitely prevent that from happening. Also, Tryptophan is one of the main neurotransmitters that is used by the brain to stabilize your mood. You should know that turkey is also a very good source of Tryptophan. I love turkey so I get my share of Tryptophan from there.

4. HONEY

Honey is something that I find very delicious and nutritious and I’m sure you will agree with me. Honey is way better than the sugar we eat. What makes honey even better is the fact that it contains kaempferol and quercetin. Both of these substances help in preventing depression by reducing the inflammation in your brain. These substances are also responsible in keeping your brain healthy. Normal sugar makes your body store fat by disturbing the sugar level in your blood. Honey does not have this sort of effect and therefore would help at keeping your weight in check.

3. CHERRY TOMATOES

Every kind of tomato has something in them that goes by the name ‘lycopene’. This particular substance is very important for a healthy brain because it keeps the brain from swelling up and also protects it. Lycopene is essentially an oxidant. One thing you should understand is that anything that helps keep the brain healthy will generally tend to make you feel happier. Plus cherry tomatoes are bite-size so you can just keep a bowl full of them at the table and have one every now and then.

2. EGGS

I know most of you squinted at the thought of eating eggs but eggs fuel happier moods. They contain Zinc, Vitamin B, Omega-3, Iodine, Fatty Acids and essential proteins. They are a very good source of energy and the reason they’re had in breakfast is because they can keep you going for a longer time without feeling hungry. Also, for obese people, you should know that according to a study, people who ate more eggs in the morning tend to lose more weight than people who don’t eat eggs in the morning so you might want to try those.

1. COCONUT

Surprising as it might sound, coconuts do in fact make it to the very top of our list of happy foods. True enough, coconuts are usually found in desserts which are unhealthy but nonetheless, coconuts have medium-chain triglycerides. These are special fats that are very healthy for the brain and normally promote lighter moods. One thing you should know is that while coconuts themselves are healthy, coconut milk is not so try staying away from it.
There you go folks, this was our list of top ten foods that will aid in improving your mood. Rest assured that ice cream does not help in any way. Yeah it is sweet and they always show how people eat ice cream when they are upset but take it from us, it doesn’t help. Let us know in the comments what you think and what healthy foods make you feel happy.

25 Ways to Flatten Your Belly by Summer

A toned, flat tummy is a goal many of us strive to achieve in time for bathing suit season, but endless crunches and ditching all your favorite foods until July 4th isn't the right--or fun--way to do it. A sculpted core and trim tummy can be attained by incorporating small changes into your day, like holding in your abs while you walk and adding the right healthy fats to your diet. In our lean belly guide, you'll get diet and exercise tips that will help you eliminate hard-to-reach ab flab and reveal a sculpted, sexy midsection. Here, learn 25 ways to flatten your belly by summer.

Take Your Gossip Session On A Walk
Instead of catching up with friends over food and drinks, suggest a reunion on the move-you're likely to work out 104% harder if you have an exercise buddy. Suggest a weekly walk-and-talk session, form a friendly fitness club, or take advantage of gym specials together. You'll motivate everyone to get moving while you grow even closer.


Deflate Your Muffin Top With The Roll-Up
Hold a resistance band taut between hands and lie on the floor face up, with legs extended and arms overhead. Pull abs in, tuck your chin, lift arms toward the ceiling, and roll head, shoulders, and torso up and over your legs as far as you can. Keep heels firmly on the floor and reach hands towards your feet. Pause, then slowly roll back down. Do 5 to 8 reps with 30 minutes of cardio 5 to 6 times a week.

Make Time For Cardio
If you want to burn the most belly fat, a Duke University study confirms that aerobic exercise is the most effective in burning that deep, visceral belly fat. In fact, aerobic training burns 67% more calories than resistance training or a combination of the two, according to the study. 

Try Out Spidey Moves
Eliminate spillover spots with the Spiderman Climber: Get into plank position with arms and legs extended, hands beneath shoulders, and feet flexed. Keeping your abs tight, bend your left leg out to the side and bring the knee toward the left elbow. Pause, then return to start. Switch sides. Do 20 reps, alternating sides, with 30 minutes of cardio 5 to 6 times a week.


Fight Fat With Fiber
For every 10 grams of fiber you eat daily, your belly will carry almost 4% less fat. Thankfully, there are more enjoyable ways to increase your fiber than scarfing down a box of bran flakes: Two apples, ½ cup of pinto beans, one artichoke, or two cups of broccoli will all give you 10 grams of belly-flattening fiber.

Be Pushy At Restaurants
Saying, "I'll go last" when the waiter comes around could be adding bulk to your belly. A recent study showed that a normal-weight woman was more likely to mimic a thin woman's eating habits than an obese woman's. So when you're out for girl's night, order first. You'll keep yourself, and maybe even a friend or two, on track to a flatter tummy. 

Do the Windshield Wiper.
Lie face up with arms out to your sides, palms down, and legs bent at 90 degrees so feet are off the floor. Keep abs tight and slowly lower legs to the left as far as possible, keeping shoulders on the floor. Pause, then return to start. Repeat to the right. Do 20 reps, alternating sides. 

Clean Your House
One more reason to start your spring-cleaning: Vacuuming is a great ab workout. Tighten your abdominal muscles while you push back and forth for a tighter tummy while you clean.
Cut Back On The Pretzels
Too much salt will make you retain more fluid, which contributes to a puffy appearance and extra water weight.

Fry Fat With The Boat Move
Target your deepest ab muscles with The Boat: Lie face up on a mat with arms straight up over chest. Lift your upper body off the ground by rolling through the spine. At the same time, raise your legs so that you're balancing on your butt, knees bent and shins parallel to the ground. Slowly roll back down onto the mat, lowering legs. That's 1 rep. Do 5 reps per set, resting 30 to 60 seconds between sets.

How to Prevent Anything

Add This Green Fruit to Your Diet
Just half an avocado contains 10 grams of MUFAs (monounsaturated fatty acids), which halt blood sugar spikes that tell your body to store fat around your belly. Eat these in ¼ cup servings to ward off belly fat without overdoing it. 

Play Catch
Get into a crunch position-lie on your back, knees bent, feet flat on the floor, shoulders and head off the floor with your abs contracted. Then have someone throw an exercise ball (or basketball) to you-first to your left side so you have to twist and reach to catch it, and then to your right. Do this as many times as is comfortable, and try to increase the number each week.

Skip Your Daily Soda Habit
Where do you think all those bubbles from carbonated drinks end up? They gang up in your belly! Swap soda, diet soda, and seltzer for Sassy Water, a Flat Belly Diet staple beverage. Get the Sassy Water recipe here.
Get on the Wagon
That glass of wine with every meal may be part of the reason your jeans are too tight. Alcohol intake is known to raise cortisol levels, sending fat straight to your belly.

Paddle Off Your Belly Pooch
Kayaking is an exhilarating, ab-crunching workout. Constant paddling requires lots of twisting and tightness from your abs for long periods of time. For the best kayaking trips, visit kayaking.org 

Sprinkle These Seeds On Your Salad
Sunflower seeds are packed with tons of MUFAs and B vitamins, which play an important role in protecting against inflammation. Sprinkle two tablespoons on top of your salad and stir-fries.

Sculpt Your Core While You Walk
As you go about your day, imagine there's a magnet pulling your belly button back toward your spine. Practice the tuck until it becomes comfortable, and soon this easy ab-engaging move will become like second nature. 

Add Fresh Seafood to Your Plate
Salmon and other fatty fish are rich in the same omega-3 fatty acids as many belly- fat-busting foods. Try poaching your fish for a low-calorie way to enjoy this lean protein.

Guzzle More H20
Forget water weight: Drinking lots of water helps flush bloat that your body might be holding onto in the heat.

Stand Tall While Pumping Iron
Stand as much as possible when doing weight-lifting exercises. That way your abs will naturally help to balance and stabilize your body. To add an extra flat belly boost to your weight routine, concentrate on keeping your abs tight and maintaining good posture while you lift, but without holding your breath.

Sleep Away Your Belly Fat
Research from the University of Chicago shows that those who sleep 7 hours or more a night lose twice as much fat and are less hungry than those who get less than 7 hours of shut-eye. 

Tone Up with Tennis
A few sets of backhands and forehands in the cool fall weather, and you'll feel your abs getting tighter after just a few sets. You'll strengthen your obliques with every stroke.

Keep Peanut Butter On Your Diet
One serving of peanut butter has 2 g of fiber and 8 g of protein, on top of belly-busting MUFAs. Try this easy recipe to add a flat belly punch to dinner: Toss a half-cup of whole grain noodles with 3 ounces cooked shrimp, minced scallions, and 1/4 cup sliced red bell pepper. Dress with a mixture of 2 tablespoons peanut butter, 2 tablespoons warm water, and a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes. 

Punch Your Way to a Flat Stomach
Take your workout indoors with boxing. Aerobic kickboxing is more than just a great belly fat-burning, cardio workout. All those arm thrusts and high kicks firm abs, too. 

Sculpt While You Sit
While you're driving, sitting, or just waiting at the doctor's office, imagine there's gum or wet paint on the back of your chair so you have to hold yourself up instead of leaning back. Keep shoulder blades down and back, abdominals lifted, and picture yourself knitting your rib cage together and in.