Valentine’s Day Inspo

This is love, this is la la la-la love…<3

Need a little V-day inspo?

I’m your gurlllll.

We got chocolate x raspberries, a little table set-up,

Check out this Valentine’s inspiration, TSC-style:

Lil Pretty, Sparkly Be Mine Cookies

Ok, so it’s Valentine’s Day & Michael is totally ‘making’ me get off the computer.

Because I’m a serious addict.

& it’s kinda the day of love, so I gotta embrace it, right?

A quick cookie recipe I whipped up yesterday ( << so good, so easy) is below; hope you love/love/love!

A Lil Sexy Giveaway With Victoria&#8217;s Secret

Since February is definitely the month of la-la-love, The Skinny Confidential teamed up with Victoria’s Secret for another sexy, lil giveaway.

& boy-oh-boy, do we have some cute goodies for you guys.

Like what? Welp:

One Lady Luck will be gifted:

Mini DeLites: Valentine&#8217;s Style

Ok, so, Valentine’s Day recap:

Michael surprised me by taking me The Grand Hotel in Del Mar, CA.

I was so excited to just chill for a weekend away ( although I didn’t want to leave Pixy AKA ‘the most gorgeous girl in the world ).

Soooo.

Michael picked me up ( imagine me all excited & like, ready to go, all dressed up ).

Annnnnnnddddd he opens the door with sweet flowers & then after wishing me a happy V-day, he utters the three words I totally don’t want to hear:

“Babe, I’m sick.”

FML.

Like, I couldn’t deal.

UGHHHHH.

Here’s why I couldn’t deal: when Michael’s sick it’s like the world is slowly ending & we’re out of food and water with nowhere to go.

Oh, BTW, sick

Why Being A &#8216;Larry Lazy&#8217; Sucks

Oh, lazzzzzy days.

We’ve all experienced them.

Sometimes being lazy is fun.

But it’s totally, not at all fun when you’re Larry Lazy 24/7.

& FYI: I’m not just talking being lazy when it comes to fitness.

I’m talking about becoming lazy with your diet, relationship, friendship, work, & life in general. I’m also talking about being lazy when it comes to working on YOURSELF.

I know, life can be hard. A real balancing act.

But lazy never got anyone anywhere. Plus it’s not good for you, your ass, or your honey.

Let me get all vulnerable here for a sec: there’s definitely been days where laying bed sounded way better than getting off my ass to return e-mails, work towards my list of goals, workout, etc. If I sat here & told you guys I’m never lazy, I’d be lying my ass off. Even in a relationship it’s easy to get lazy ( << friendships too! ).

I’ve been trying to manage my lazy days.

Lately I’ve kept them reserved for Sundays ( read more on that here )— for me, it helps to keep a healthy momentum going throughout the week & then relax on Sunday.

Ultimately, it’s important to do whatever works for you…but if you notice yourself feeling lazy everyday, every week, every second— practice a lil self discipline.

I saw this quote on Insta the other day: “you have as many hours in a day as Beyonce.”

Yup.

If you don’t like something get off your ass & change it!

Happy hump day <3,

X L

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The Music That Helps You Enjoy Your Food More

You should be all ears for this news

You know that savoring your food helps you appreciate it more, but the latest research suggests that the music you're listening to while you eat may also influence your ability to enjoy it, according to a recent study from the journal Appetite.

For the study, researchers gave participants either chocolate or red peppers to eat and had them listen to four different types of music—jazz, hip-hop, classical, and rock—during four different sessions. Then, researchers had participants rate how much they liked their food. The milk chocolate represented "emotional food," i.e., food people tend to reach for when they need a pick-me-up, and the peppers represented "non-emotional food." So, what happened? The music didn't have a significant impact on the taste of the peppers, but get this: People who ate the chocolates reported liking them more when they were listening to jazz (they liked them the least when they were listening to hip-hop).

Why the jazz/hip-hop difference? The study authors suggest that it may all come down to mindfulness. See, jazz tends to be pretty soothing and peaceful and can put you in a reflective mood. Hip-hop, on the other hand, tends to be more aggressive, so you're more likely to feel on-edge when you put it on. This difference influences your eating habits because when you're reflective and content, you tend to be more mindful than when you're feeling more aggressive—which means you're more likely to appreciate your food and savor the flavor of each bite.

And while the study didn't measure how much of each food the people ate, previous research suggests that when you take the time to really enjoy your food, you end up eating less of it overall. So the moral of the story? If you're going to listen to music during dinner, make sure it's jazz. It could help you slim down, and even if it doesn't, it's still great dinner music!

MORE: Can Eating Chocolate Help You Lose Weight?

 

3 Ultra-Effective Exercise Machines You&#039;re Not Using, But Should Be

Don't let these babies go unnoticed

It’s easy to get into a gym routine and just bust in, do your thing, and leave. We all do it. (Especially in this nasty cold weather: have you SEEN the 10 stages of running when it's freezing outside? Yeah.) But in case you haven’t noticed, the gym is filllled with cool machines—and chances are, you haven’t tried all of them out yet. Translation? One of them could be your new gym BFF and you simply haven’t given it to the time of day it deserves. So we asked Greg Justice, an exercise physiologist at AYC Health & Fitness in Kansas City, for the top three machines he notices that people don’t use enough—but really, really should. Try at least one of them next time you go! 

The Stair Climber
Yeah, yeah, it may or may not elicit Jane Fonda flashbacks. But even though you practically never see anyone on the thing, it’s a winner and it deserves to make a comeback. You burn more calories using the stair climber than walking on the treadmill at the same pace, explains Justice, because you’re involving more muscles, like your hamstrings and your glutes.

The Rowing Machine
Like the stair climber, this machine tends to just sit in most fitness centers, gathering dust—but it’s another overlooked gym gem! That’s because it works so many muscles groups at one time—your quads, hamstrings, glutes, back, shoulders, and core—which is really unusual for most cardio equipment. To maximize your calorie torch, check out these tips for how to burn more calories while rowing.

Suspension Trainers, like the TRX
Those are those things that look like belts that hang down from a pole and you swing in them…you follow? Justice says that they’re underused, probably because they look so innocent—people think, “It’s just a belt; how much can it really help?” A lot. The cool thing about them is that you control the resistance just by adjusting your body position. And also, they enable you to get a fast, effective, total-body workout in a short amount of time. Win! Check out this intense TRX Total Body Workout to get an idea for how to use them.

One caveat, of course: Be careful not to go trying every machine at the gym, though—some really do do more harm than good, like these 10 exercise machines to avoid. 

Is Porn Addiction Really a Thing?

New research debunks a pretty common misconception

While some view porn as a healthy extension of your sex life, others consider it a vice that’s right up there with smoking or gambling. But like other vices, can it really get you hooked? According to a new paper in the journal Current Sexual Health Reports, there is no strong scientific research that porn addiction exists.

First, let’s agree that people have some heated opinions when it comes to X-rated clips. Some love turning it on and reaping the solo and relationship benefits of watching porn, while others get hung up on the wildly unrealistic expectations it can put on your sex life (like these 13 things that are only ever true in porn). The more mainstream porn becomes, the more we hear about addiction treatment centers and alleged negative consequences (see: the movie Don Jon). Our society’s obsession with porn is definitely growing, but our research on actual porn addiction may not be keeping up.    

MORE: The Hidden Perk of Watching Porn

The Problem With Addiction
“The idea of addiction has become so overused as a society to describe any overused behavior that someone else has decided is a problem,” says lead study author David Ley, Ph.D., clinical psychologist in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Case in point: our constant references to how “addicted” we are to chocolate, yoga, or our cell phones. But when you look at excessive porn use through the lens of drug or alcohol addiction, it doesn’t exactly fit.  

For instance, no research suggests that people experience a withdrawal effect when they stop watching porn, says Ley. And while some argue that people can develop a tolerance for porn, Ley says that evolving tastes in porn are more likely due to normal sexual development. Basically, what turns you on now might not be what turns you on 10 years from now. Plus, research shows that people tend to view the same kind of porn rather than searching for increasingly elicit clips over time, says Ley.

Most notably, porn addiction was rejected from the DSM-5 (the authoritative guide for defining, diagnosing, and treating mental health illnesses), based on the fact that there’s insufficient research to back it up. But what makes excessive porn use any different from another problem habit, like gambling use disorder (which was included in the DSM-5)? “There is no evidence that gambling is healthy, but there is tons of evidence that sex and masturbation are,” says Ley. After all, you probably wouldn’t consider a daily runner to have an addiction (and let’s be honest, there are a ton of healthy reasons to have more orgasms).

MORE: When 59 Percent of Women Watch Porn

What’s in a Label
So what’s the problem with using the term porn addiction? Ley says it’s more than a matter of semantics. Labeling porn as something you can be addicted to puts it in a negative light, downplays the positive benefits, and ignores the fact that it could be a coping mechanism for a deeper problem (like erectile dysfunction or depression), says Ley. The researchers aren’t denying that there could be some negative consequences of spending the better part of a random Tuesday watching porn, but they’re arguing that labeling this as porn addiction doesn’t mesh with the research and isn’t helping anyone.

The other problem: There are a ton of porn addiction treatment centers popping up around the country charging money for treatment that isn’t actually proven to work, says Ley. So what about the people who truly feel they’re addicted to porn? According to a recent study looking at self-identified porn addicts, it wasn’t the frequency of use that predicted whether or not they felt they were addicted—it was actually their level of religiosity (Surprised? Here are 11 other things you didn’t know about porn). “Other research supports that this is often an internal conflict with ones own sexual or moral values,” says Ley. Essentially, it may be that our society’s obsessions with porn and addiction are really causing this so-called porn addiction.

MORE: 3 Surprising Facts About Porn Shoots

3 Signs You Should Be Single—For Now

Julianne Hough swore off dating for a year—and just missed the mark. What you can learn from her experiment

We’ve all made the emotional “I’m swearing off dating!” announcement after a particularly bad night, but is it actually a good idea to take a break from relationships? In the March 2014 issue of SELF, Julianne Hough says she made a pact to stay single for a year after her breakup with Ryan Seacrest last March, and well, she almost made it. The Rock of Ages star is now reportedly dating hockey player Brooks Laich, according to Us Weekly, but hey, it was close enough.    

Apparently, Hough’s strict hiatus isn’t exactly a rule that she (or you) needed to follow through on anyway. One of the best ways to heal post-breakup is to define your solo time by goals or emotional milestones, not time limits, says relationship expert and therapist Rachel A. Sussman, L.C.S.W., author of The Breakup Bible. So a better plan would be something like “I’m not going to date until I get my confidence back” or “I’m not going to date until I’m totally over my ex.” We all heal at different rates, so there’s no use trying to hold out for some arbitrary day on the calendar.

Sometimes, though, a dating hiatus actually is necessary; the question is when. Sussman shares her thoughts on when taking a break from dating is definitely a do:

If you had a messy breakup or divorce
Long-term relationships lead to lingering feelings, and there’s no use trying to meet someone new when you’re still stuck in the past. “I definitely feel after a major break-up or divorce, you should take a hiatus from dating,” says Sussman. That being said, there isn’t a set period of time to aim for here. She sees a lot of people who take six months or a year to themselves, but even they aren’t always 100 percent ready. “If you’re doing a lot better, you can get out there and date again because sometimes what you need to get over that hump is the excitement of meeting someone new or falling in love with someone else,” says Sussman. “But you need to be about 80 percent healed before you put yourself out there.” So if you’ve still got strong feelings for your ex—of the puppy love, crushing betrayal, or rage variety—then you probably need to put the brakes on your love life while you work things out solo. And try these 6 ways to get over a breakup the healthy way.

MORE: What Guys Really Do to Get Over a Breakup

If you’re having a hard time emotionally
When you’re going through a rough period—whether it be depression, a substance abuse problem, or a body image hang-up—you might want to focus on yourself rather than a new relationship. “When you get out there and date, you always want to put your best foot forward and be your best possible self,” says Sussman. “When you’re in a really good place and you’ve got a lot of confidence, that’s when you'll attract a quality partner.” So if you’re going through a rough patch, check out of the dating scene for a while and tune into yourself. May we suggest some soothing yoga, calming foods, and a few Ryan Gosling flicks to help the pass the time?

MORE: 11 Tiny Life Changes That Will Bring You Major Bliss

If you’re having bad luck with dates
If every single date you’ve landed in the last few months has been a dud, you might be more motivated than ever to keep looking (seriously, it can only go up from here, right!?). But according to Sussman, this is a sign you need to slow down. You’ve probably heard the phrase that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results, and that principle applies to dating, says Sussman. “So if you have a period where you feel that you’re going on the worst dates, instead of continuing to do it, that’s a good time to say, ‘OK, I’m going to take a break.’” Don’t worry, it doesn’t have to be a long dry spell. Take the time to ask yourself a few questions—like why these dates aren’t working, if you’re meeting people the right way, or if you’re putting your best self out there. The goal is to assess the damage before you reach serial dater status and lose way too many weeknights to failed OkCupid dates.

MORE: Relationship FOMO: When You’re Afraid of Being Single 

5 Crazy-Good Cranberry Smoothies

Enjoy them while they’re still in season!

Haven’t thought about eating cranberries since you finished the last of your Thanksgiving leftovers? Big mistake. The tart berries are rich in vitamin C, fiber, and phytonutrients that fend off inflammation and reduce your risk of cancer. What’s more, they happen to make an excellent smoothie ingredient.

Check out the crave-worthy cranberry smoothie recipes we saw on Instagram this week:
 

Women’s Health cover star Heidi Klum isn’t the only one who’s eating up this smoothie, which is made with cranberries, strawberries, lime juice, low-fat cottage cheese, and skim milk. We can’t wait to try it, either!
 

Sweet fruits balance out the tartness of cranberries in this simple recipe, made from apple slices, strawberries, cranberries, and a couple scoops of nonfat plain Greek yogurt.
 

Don’t worry—this Chunky Monkey Cran smoothie only looks like a diet disaster. (Its ingredients are actually pretty healthy!) To try it, combine cranberry juice, unsweetened almond milk, banana, avocado, raw cacao, liquid stevia, and some ice cubes. Then top the smoothie off with banana, cacao nibs, and dried cranberries. Yum!
 

Looks like this pretty purple smoothie contains everything but the kitchen sink! Recreate it with spinach, celery, cucumber, raspberries, pineapple, lemon juice, orange juice, water, and cranberries.
 

Almond milk and sliced almonds give this vegan cranberry smoothie a nutty flavor, while bananas bulks up its consistency.

Are you a smoothie maven? Tag @WomensHealthMag in your #FigSmoothie photos, and we could feature your recipe on our site next week!

More from Women’s Health:
8 Amazing Cranberry Recipes
The Best Damn Cranberry Sauce Ever
10 Yummy Ways to Add More Protein To Your Smoothies

 

Trainer Confessions: 5 Goals You SHOULD Be Making (But Probably Aren’t)

We’re not saying that wanting to look amazing post-breakup is bad motivation, but there are a few other ambitions you should add to the list

One thing we fitness pros are always babbling on about is the importance of having goals. In fact, the first thing I ask prospective clients is what they want to achieve, so I can help ‘em get there. And while there’s no such thing as a bad goal, having more specific intentions can be even more powerful—especially when you can measure that progress along the way. Consider adding these five goals to your list: 

—Amy Roberts, NASM-CPT

Goal #1: Lower your body fat percentage
Clients often tell me they just want to lose 5 or 10 pounds to “lean out.” (Sound familiar?) But you’ve probably heard the old “muscle weighs more than fat” line. While that’s not technically true (a pound is a pound), it is true that a pound of muscle is denser and takes up less space than a pound of fat. So if your goal is to shed pounds, you really should be aiming to lose body fat and gain (or retain) muscle. Essentially, you’re hoping to shift your body composition and lower your body fat percentage. You can measure this in a number of ways: You can ask a trainer at your gym to test it using skinfold calipers, you can try a body-comp scale or monitor that uses bioimpedance (where you stand on or hold metal pads and a current determines your body composition), or you can go to a special lab for a more accurate (though pricier) air- or water-displacement test. Keep in mind that the first two options aren’t 100-percent accurate, but as long as the measurements are done under the same general conditions, you’ll be able to get a pretty good look at your progress.

Goal #2: Get stronger
I get that you don’t want to look like Joe Manganiello, but you shouldn’t be afraid to make strength one of your goals. In fact, unless you put some crazy concerted effort into it, the typical woman will never “bulk up.” (Newsflash: You CAN be strong and skinny!) What I like about strength as a goal is that it’s much more quantifiable than “toning up,” which is what women often say when they’re describing the desire to build muscle. Strength can be measured by the number of pushups you can do, the amount of weight you lift on the cable machine, or the increase in reps you can handle. It’s also noticeable in daily life: The ease with which you lug your groceries or lift your suitcase into the overhead bin. And if you want to check your progress in the mirror, find out how long it takes to see muscle definition.

Goal #3: Master a skill
Write down this goal if you’re one of those people who just doesn’t get particularly amped about running/lifting/sweating just for the sake of it. Hey, I hear ya. Sometimes you need a specific skill to hone in on. My gateway drug into fitness was a weekly adult gymnastics class that hooked me in. But if tumbling isn’t your thing (no way, really!?), just pick another sport or skill that you want to learn to excel in—like Pilates, lifting weights, or boxing. Already found your fitness muse but need an extra boost? Make specific achievement goals, such as targeting a number of chin-ups (can’t do a single one? Try our chin-up challenge to learn how in six weeks!) or conquering a forearm stand in yoga.

Goal #4: Make fitness a part of your routine
I meet people daily who want to shape up for a specific event—a wedding, a school reunion, bikini season... While I would never begrudge anyone wanting to look and feel her best for any reason, I try to encourage a more long-term approach. Sure, you’re motivated to work hard for the grand occasion, but do really you want to put in all that effort only to let it fall by the wayside later? Consider how you can keep those gym dates, favorite classes or regular runs in your schedule for the long haul. A lot of things can motivate you: finding a workout buddy, blocking off your calendar with hard-and-fast “fitness appointments,” and prioritizing personal training or those pricey-but-awesome indoor cycling classes in your budget. What’s important is that you find your mojo and hold onto it. But if you really need an end goal, just make a point to try something for a month or two (like our newest 6 weeks to bootcamp fit plan). By the time you’re finished, chances are you’ll be hooked.

Goal #5: Train for an event
There’s one exception where shaping up with a deadline can actually come in handy, and that’s training for a fitness event. Some of us are just more deadline-driven than others, and by giving yourself a specific point at which you’ll have to prove your stuff (beyond looking fit in the photos), you’ll be that much more motivated to keep up with your training. So sign up for a triathlon, a 5k, or an endurance event like an obstacle course. Then, train like hell. Who knows? After the rush of completing your first one, you may decide to make it a habit.

The Butt Workout That&#039;ll Lift, Tone, Tighten - and Turn Heads

Firm up your booty and tighten your abs with these ten targeted moves

Ready to work your booty? We've got ten moves that'll blast your buns (and work your abs while you're at it). Follow along with this workout—first do the four warmup moves, and then get down to the hard work with three killer supersets for a fabulous backside. 

Complete this workout 3 times a week on alternating days, and eventually, you'll have a butt so bootylicious, you'll be dying to show it off. (Although, may we recommend you read 8 Celebrity Butt Selfies—and What You Can Learn From Them before you get too snap-happy with the butt pics?)

All joking aside, this workout will torch calories and get you sweating. And you'll definitely feel it in your caboose tomorrow! Watch the video  for demonstrations on how to do each of the moves, and then read below for the instructions for the warmup and the workout. And good luck!

Most used player for workouts, articles, and cover models

The Warmup:
Do 5 to 10 reps of each move; 10 to 15 reps of the Sideways Band Shuffle
Do one or two sets total.

Here are your warmup moves:
The Single-Leg, Single-Arm Reach
Facedown Hip External Rotation
Single-Leg Hip Extension
Sideways Band Shuffle (you'll need a resistance band for this one)

The Workout:
We're going to take you through 3 supersets, which means pairs of exercise moves. Within each superset, do 10 to 12 reps of each move, without resting between moves. Once you've done all your reps for both moves in the superset, rest for 30 to 60 seconds.

Here are the workout supersets:
Superset 1: 
Stability-Ball Hip Extension Leg Curl (you'll need a stability ball for this one)
Dumbbell Bent-Knee Deadlift (you'll need two dumbbells for this one)

Superset 2: (Again, do 10 to 12 reps of each move, back-to-back, and rest for 30 to 60 seconds after)
Dumbbell Step Up (you'll need a step/bench, and some dumbbells)
Stability Ball Back Extension (you'll need a stability ball for this)

Superset 3: (Same story here: 10 to 12 reps of each move back-to-back, rest for 30 to 60 seconds after)
Elevated Reverse Lunge (you'll need a step/bench)
Dumbbell Straight-Leg Deadlift (you'll need two 5- to 8-lbs dumbbells)

And that's it! For more great workouts that tone, tighten, and lift your backside, check out our glorious collection of butt workouts. And for total-body toning workouts that you can do in real time, definitely visit our Shape Up Shortcuts portal—we're talking 5-minute workouts you can do WITH our fitness editor in real time. Get ready to sweat!
 

12 Things You Should Never Say to a Friend Who Just Got Dumped

No need to add insult to injury

When a friend gets their heart broken, BFF instincts kick in and you want to say anything to make them feel better. And while your intentions are probably in the right place, your words might not come off like you were hoping they would. Before you make your friend’s situation any worse than it already is, check out these 12 things you should never say to someone who’s newly single.

“You’re way more fun single, anyway.”

 

“I knew you two would break up eventually.”

 

“There are plenty of fish in the sea.”

 

“You should probably hook up with his friend to spite him.”

 

“I wish you would’ve broken up sooner.”

 

“They’ll beg you to take them back—you’ll see.”

 

“You were too good for them anyway.”

syddysb.tumblr.com

“You’ll love being single!”

 

“It could be worse.”

 

“Maybe you’ll get back together?”

 

“You’ll get over it in no time.”

 

“Remember all the good times you had together!”

 

Okay, okay - so these are all the things NOT to say to a friend who's heartbroken. But what exactly should you say? Start with "I'm sorry" and "How are you feeling? Are you okay?" Wine and ice cream helps, too. And if they're looking for advice about how to get over the loser, refer to this: 6 Healthy Ways to Get Over a Breakup. And hugs go a long way, too!

photos via Giphy.com unless otherwise noted

Look Good, Do Good: Cute Inspirational Tee

This T-shirt, which honors the late freestyle skier Sarah Burke, has a super-motivating message

Sometimes we shop to make ourselves feel good, but what if a little retail therapy could actually DO some good? We’re thrilled to highlight cool finds that are sustainably made or whose proceeds go to a great cause.

Do-Gooder: Activyst

Today is a very exciting day: The women’s ski halfpipe event took place at the Winter Olympics for the first time in the history of the Games.

But today is also bittersweet. Sarah Burke—a Canadian pioneer of the sport who campaigned for its addition to the Olympics and who, after its inclusion was announced in 2011, became a gold-medal favorite—won’t be there. In January 2012, she passed away from injuries sustained during a training run.

Activyst is teaming up with the Sarah Burke Foundation, a nonprofit created in honor of the skier, to sell this tee. It reads, “Dream without fear,” one of Sarah’s favorite sayings, and features her signature. The best part: $10 from the sale of every T-shirt goes to the Foundation to fund the Spirit of Sarah ski scholarship, which helps young girls train to become competitive skiers, just like Sarah.

Shop: Sarah Burke Tee, $32, activyst.com

More from Women’s Health:
The Little Red Dress You Need in Your Closet
Team USA Skier Mikaela Shiffrin’s Amazing Mantra
8 Life Lessons from a 3-Time Olympic Medalist

 

The Weird Thing That Makes You Less Likely to Break Up

And by weird, we really mean friggin’ awesome

All of those hours you're logging at work could help your relationship down the road: Couples with young children are more likely to stay together if the wife earns more than the husband, according to a new study published in the journal Sociology.

MORE: Do You Want to Be a Mom and Work Full Time?

For the study, researchers from the U.K. monitored 3,944 British couples with children (some married and some co-habitating). They looked at who was the primary breadwinner in each couple and noted how that corresponded with relationship changes as the children grew from 8 months to 7 years old.

The results? On the whole, it didn't matter who was the breadwinner in the relationship—there was no significant difference in breakup risk no matter who was bringing home the bacon. But when children were between the ages of 4 and 7 years old, married couples were 80 percent less likely to split if the woman had a larger salary. The stats were similar for cohabitating couples.

MORE: How Men Define "Having It All"

Study authors say further research is needed to fully understand how partners' wage differences affect couples, but they do point out that these findings help debase the myth that higher wages for women increase divorce risk. Somewhere in California, Sheryl Sandberg is smiling.

MORE: The Top Thing You Should Be Looking for in a Job

 

31 Ways to Have More Fun With Your Boobs Every Day

Your breasts called, and they gave us this itinerary

Let’s take a second to appreciate the wonder that is your chest. Seriously. Big or small or in between, your boobs are sexy, functional, and make you look pretty damn great in a bikini. So instead of just coexisting with your girls, why not get to know them a little better? We rounded up 31 fun, silly, and smart ways to have a blast with your boobs. We promise, you’ll be besties before you know it.

Dress them up.
The best lingerie can take your pair from cute to Christina Hendricks (OK, not really, but you get the point). Find the sexiest style for your shape and don it under everything from an LBD to your work clothes. Just think of it as a sexy secret between you and your girls.

Get them wet.
We’re not talking wet T-shirt contest—though that’s an option, too. Hot water brings your blood to the surface and raises your body temp, both of which make your skin super sensitive to the touch.

Lather them up.
Speaking of showers, here’s another reason to hop in right now: dry skin irritates your breasts (and makes them less fun to play with), so find a moisturizing body wash that will treat them right. Pick your favorite and slather it on.

Give ‘em new nicknames.
Kate Upton reportedly calls hers “The Ladies,” but you can do better than that.

Take them shopping.
When was the last time you hit the dressing room with just your breasts in mind? Yeah, that’s what we thought. Go try on a few a style that makes your décolletage look amazing.

Opt for air drying.
Instead of toweling off post-shower, let your girls drip dry for a change. You’ll save them from towel-related irritation, and feel a whole lot sexier getting ready.  (Bonus points if you’ve got a partner hanging around who’ll enjoy the freebie peep show!)

Bring the heat.
Another bonus to giving them free range in the morning? You can blast them with a little warm air while blow drying your hair. Seriously, you have to feel it to appreciate it.

Give them a boost.
OK, so you can’t actually make them bigger with exercise, but you can make them appear perkier. Try this bust-enhancing workout to tone the muscles that lie underneath.

MORE: All About Breast Health

Neglect the nipple—just for a minute.
Turns out, your nipples aren’t even the most sensitive part of your breasts; the area above your areola (between 10 and 2 o’clock) is actually much more mmm-inducing. Tease this spot for instant pleasure, especially when you’re getting ready to get busy.

...Or don’t.
Love your nipples? Then forget neglecting them and spoil them! Caress them, have your partner stimulate them, or dress them up in pasties just for fun.

Let them free.
Every once in a while (like that Sunday when your to-do list is just brunch and binge-watching Netflix) give yourself a free pass to skip the boulder holder. Just make sure your clothes keep everything under wraps.

Have a nipplegasm.
Yes—they exist (read all about ‘em here), and you could have one tonight. What are you waiting for?

Show them off.
Pull off a plunging neckline without having a wardrobe malfunction—we dare you. Here’s how.

Boost their confidence.
Worried about how your ta-tas compare? Take a peek at what lingerie models really look like without the magic of Photoshop. Gorgeous, yes—but also totally human. There, now don’t we all feel a little better? Your body is beautiful! Don’t hold yourself to truly impossible standards!

Take them out for sushi.
Lunch date, party of 3? Chowing down on that spicy salmon roll can help lower your breast cancer risk, since it’s loaded with healthy omega-3s.

Touch yourself.
Giving yourself a breast exam isn’t quite as exciting as regular fondling, but it’s just as important to pencil in. Check out our tips for a no-stress self-exam.

Look out for admirers.
Turns out both men and women spend more time looking at breasts than faces, according to recent research. See, everyone is always staring at your chest! 

Spritz them.
Dabbing your signature scent onto your chest will make it pretty much impossible for anyone not to catch a whiff when they come in close. And what’s sexier than that? Find the perfect perfume for you and share some with the girls. 

Play favorites.
If your set isn’t exactly the same size, that’s fine—in fact, it’s normal.  Grab a handful of each one, spot the differences, and announce the winner. (Bonus points for quirkiness!)

Love every little line.
As much as you want to curse your girls at any sign of stretch marks, here’s the thing: they’re largely caused by genetics. So try to stop fretting about them so much. If they’re really screwing up the bond with your boobs, try these tactics to prevent and erase stretch marks.

MORE: How Men Really Feel About Breast Implants

Make a date with moisturizer.
Experts say the best way to save the skin on your chest is by moisturizing—a lot! And hey, now you have an excuse to give yourself a sexy boob massage every morning. 

Work out together.
You wouldn’t neglect your workout buddy right? So why are you treating your girls like crap during a run? Find the best sports bra for your boobs so you’ll both enjoy your workout a little bit more.

Explore different sensations.
If some squeezing and caressing from your partner is all your girls have experienced, they are seriously deprived. Play around with new sensations—like hot and cold temperatures, feather-light strokes or even vibrations from a sex toy. You may find a new favorite way to touch your boobs.

Embrace their size.
Katy Perry revealed to Elle that she wasn’t always happy with her chest as a teen, but now she’s learned to appreciate them: “Little did I know that these things would come in handy,” she said. So whether you’re busty or barely-there, just own it. 

Check them out during sex.  
Turns out, your girls can actually increase in size when aroused (A-cups, rejoice!). Plus, your nipples can get a little darker in color due to increased blood flow. So don’t forget to sneak a peak next time you’re getting busy.

Let them roam overnight.
Throw on some silky sheets and ditch your top for the night if it’s warm enough. The amazing feel of the fabric on your skin will feel like luxury (and might even inspire some sexy dreams). 

Make sure they’re comfy.
If your boobs aren’t happy, you’re not happy, so make sure they’re not being pinched, poked, or prodded by the wrong lingerie. Learn how to find your perfect bra fit here.   

Do some solo fondling.
If you’re not the type to play with your girls during masturbation, you might want to start. Exploring what pressure and sensations you like means you’ll know exactly what to ask for with a partner.

Or fondle with a partner.
An unofficial poll tells us that pretty much every guy loves seeing you give yourself a hand in bed. And really, who knows how to handle them better than you?

Fake better cleavage.
Wishing you had a little more oomph up top? Dust a little bronzer on your cleavage, dipping between your breasts in a V shape. Oh hey, Sofia Vergara, is that you?

Go ahead…stare at them.
Do it when you’re getting out of the shower or when you catch a glimpse of yourself in a mirror. Just check yourself out! Because all boobs—big, small, altered, or aging—are beautiful.

MORE: 11 Weird Facts About Your Boobs

The 10 Stages of Going on a Diet

The good, the bad, and the very, very hangry

STAGE 1:
Your jeans feel a little tight. How did this happen?!

QuickMeme

 

STAGE 2:
That’s OK, though, because you will go on a diet and be healthier than ever. This diet is going to change your life!

 

STAGE 3:
You go to the grocery store and load up on healthy, filling foods.

 

STAGE 4:
It’s lunchtime, and the new diet is going great. You love salad!

 

STAGE 5:
But then, someone puts out donuts in the break room.

 

STAGE 6:
Somehow, you resist the temptation and snack on the celery sticks you brought from home instead…

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STAGE 7:
Against all odds, you make it through the workday. Time to cook a healthy dinner!

 

STAGE 8:
And then it hits you…you’ll have to watch Netflix without snacking.

 

STAGE 9:
The only thing getting you through House of Cards in one piece? Thinking about how if you skip the popcorn now, you can have some froyo tomorrow.

 

STAGE 10:
You make it through the day! You’ll have to start the whole thing over again tomorrow… But in the meantime, you cross your fingers that you’ll dream about food (because calories don’t count while you’re passed out!).

Buzzfeed

Need tips on how to stick to your new healthy eating plan? Check out these articles:

10 Mistakes That Lead to Overeating

8 Genius Ways to Use Veggies You Never Would Have Thought Of

How to Get Nutrition Info for Recipes That Don’t Come with It

3 Tips for How to Do a Part-Time Diet Right

11 Delicious, Healthy Snacks to Stash in Your Purse

Images via Giphy.com unless otherwise noted.

Is DIY Soda Really Healthier?

We tend to assume packaged foods are bad and ones we make ourselves are good—but does the rule extend to soda?

SodaStream has been getting a ton of buzz lately. The company even ran a Super Bowl commercial that featured Scarlett Johansson seductively sipping a glass of bubbly SodaStream from a straw. In the commercial, ScarJo says that SodaStream is “better for you” (she goes as far as to take a stab at Pepsi and Coke in the uncut version). It sounds good (especially while Scarlett’s saying it), but is the claim true?

“I saw that commercial and actually thought their claim about being 'better for you' was bizarre,” says Mike Roussell, Ph.D., a Men’s Health nutrition advisor. Yes, SodaStream certainly cuts down on the amount of cans and bottles people send to the dump, but it might not be your key to winning the war against sugar.

SodaStream's cola uses a mix of zero-calorie Splenda (sucralose) and sugar, allowing them to deliver only 8 grams of sugar per 8-ounce serving, compared to about 27 grams of sugar for a Coke. And if you break it down by calories per serving, SodaStream looks good with 35 calories versus nearly 100 calories for a Coke. 
So you’re consuming about two-thirds less sugar with SodaStream, compared to normal soda.

That’s great—unless you find it tough to stick to that small of a serving size. And many people do, says Roussell. “If you buy a 20-ounce Coke bottle, you will drink all 20 ounces,” he says. “If you make a liter of SodaStream cola, you're probably going to drink the whole liter.” 
While SodaSteam’s cola doesn’t contain high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and there is a line of "naturally sweetened" flavors with no sucralose, in the end you’re still drinking sugar water. “When we are looking at the health impact on your body, does it matter if you drink a beverage that contains sugar that’s 55 percent fructose, like HFCS, or 50 percent fructose—like table sugar?” says Roussell.

Still, this doesn’t make SodaStream pointless to own. “I have a SodaStream and love it,” says Roussell. “Having freshly carbonated water and adding a little fresh lemon juice is a great change of pace from regular water or tea.” He just doesn’t use it to make sugar-sweetened drinks with SodaStream’s various flavored syrups. If you like making your own fizzy beverages, then aim to keep consumption to one 8- to 12-ounce glass per day.  

If you want to find out the other hidden dangers residing in your foods and drinks, check out the truth about your sweeteners.

This article originally appeared on MensHealth.com.

 

More From Men’s Health:
7 Fat-Loss Foods That Make Your Life Easier
10 New Rules of Eating Lean 
8 Reasons You’re Still Hungry—Even Though You Just Ate 

4 Gluten-Free Ways to Get the Nutritional Benefits of Whole Grains

Because a new study shows that you almost certainly aren’t consuming enough right now

If statistics tell us anything, it’s that you probably don’t eat enough whole grains. After all, a new study published in Nutrition Research shows that 92 percent of U.S. adults don’t get enough of the good-for-you grains.

For the study, which was led by the University of Minnesota, researchers polled 9,042 Americans on the whole grains they had eaten in a single day. Turns out, only 8 percent of people got the recommended three servings. Meanwhile, the overwhelming majority of respondents didn’t even come close to meeting their needs—and a whopping 42 percent of adults didn’t eat any whole grains. That’s right. Zero, zilch, nada.

Of course, a lack of grains often isn’t the issue—after all, people have been overdoing it with refined grains for decades—but far too many people are skipping whole grains in a misguided attempt to eat healthier, says Rebecca Solomon, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., director of clinical nutrition at Beth Israel Medical Center. As buzz over gluten-free, low-carb, and Paleo diets grows, so does backlash against all grains—even whole ones.

MORE: 9 Things You Should Never Say to Someone Who Eats Gluten-Free

That’s a big problem, as the study found that consumption of whole grains is a major factor in how much fiber people get. Fiber, the indigestible part of the plant, helps stabilize blood-sugar levels and regulate digestion. It’s also been linked with a reduced risk of obesity and chronic diseases, says Solomon. In fact, previous studies have linked whole-grain intake to a reduced risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

MORE: The Best Kind of Fiber for Weight Loss

If you’ve started avoiding gluten in an attempt to be healthier, that doesn’t mean you have to go whole grain-free. Just check out these four less-than-obvious ways to get the nutritional benefits of whole grains.

Amaranth
Rich in calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium, it’s also the only grain documented to contain vitamin C, which helps support a healthy immune system.

Try this recipe: Baked Amaranth Pudding

Quinoa
While it’s technically a seed, quinoa has nutritional profile that fits it into the whole-grain category—and it’s packed with muscle-boosting, fat-burning protein.

Try this recipe: Quinoa Risotto with Carrots and Sugar Snaps

Brown Rice
Research suggests brown rice prevents weight gain, reduces cholesterol levels, and cuts the risk of type 2 diabetes. Plus, it’s one of the most easily digested grains around, making it great for sensitive stomachs.

Try this recipe: Brown Rice Pilaf with Apricots and Almonds

Buckwheat
Don’t let the name fool you. Buckwheat is actually related to rhubarb, so it’s technically not a grain at all, let alone a kind of wheat. However, its nutritional makeup earns it a spot in the whole-grains hall of fame. It’s the only grain (er, grain substitute) with high levels of rutin, an antioxidant that improves circulation and prevents LDL cholesterol from blocking blood vessels.

Try this recipe: Buckwheat Pancakes

MORE: Slimming Whole Grain Recipes

The State Where People Have the Longest Sex Sessions Is…

Plus, find out how long they typically go at it

In case you were wondering, people in New Mexico are having the longest sex sessions, according to the relationship app Spreadsheet.

MORE: 5 Apps That Make Your Relationship Stronger

See, Spreadsheet was created to help users monitor their performance in the bedroom—like their average thrusts per minute, the loudness of their moans, and of course, how long it takes for users to get busy with their partners. The company pored over the stats from about 10,000 of its users, then released state-by-state information on who loves slowies the most. See which states view love-making as a marathon, not a sprint:

1. New Mexico (7:01)
2. West Virginia (5:38)
3. Idaho (5:11)
4. South Carolina (4:48)
5. Missouri (4:22)

And the states with the shortest times are:

1. Alaska (1:21)
2. South Dakota (1:30)
3. Vermont (1:48)
4. Montana (2:03)
5. Georgia (2:07)

Of course, this isn’t a scientific analysis—clearly, nowhere near everyone uses this app. And what “sex” involves isn’t clearly defined (does oral during foreplay count, for example?). Still—it’s interesting stuff!

MORE: The Easiest Way to Have an Orgasm

 

poll by twiigs.com

 

MORE: 8 Ways to Make Sex More Fun

 

The Strange Thing Facebook Knows About Your Breakup

Hint: It’s more than just a status change

Your relationship status isn’t the only thing that changes online after a breakup. In the days after a split, your Facebook activity increases by 225 percent, according to new research from Facebook Data Science. Yikes—just one more reason to unplug post-heartbreak.

MORE: The 3 Best Ways to Get Over a Breakup

Researchers at Facebook looked at users who were recently dumped, or those who were listed as in a relationship for at least four weeks with someone who recently changed their status to “single.” (They made the assumption that these people were on the receiving end of the breakup since their ex changed their status first, but that may not have always been the case.) Then they tracked each person’s messages (sent and received), posts from others on their timeline, and comments from others on their own content. What they found was a pretty normal baseline leading up to the split, then a huge spike in activity the day of the breakup that gradually decreased over the next few days. But even when activity went back down, it was still slightly higher than the baseline before the breakup. Weird, right? 

MORE: What Guys Really Do to Get Over a Breakup

There are a few reasons why this might happen: friends and family showing their love, newly-single users logging on to seek support, and who knows, probably a few exes coming out of the woodwork “just to check in.” Whatever the reason, it’s kind of sweet (albeit a little weird) to see an outpouring of love measured by Facebook likes and comments. That said, many relationship experts argue that it’s best to unplug for a while post-breakup so you can avoid all the FOMO, not to mention the endless photos of your ex. If you’re currently going through a split, follow these six rules to get over a breakup the healthy way.

5 Breathing Exercises to Try Today

Boost your energy, find your focus, and rev your workouts with these breathing exercises you’ve never tried

Take a deep breath. Chances are your shoulders shrugged and your chest puffed out.

And chances are you don’t realize that’s not how you’re supposed to breathe. See, that belly breath your yoga instructor is always talking about has a place in more than your yoga practice. That’s actually how people are supposed to breathe all day every day, says clinical psychologist Belisa Vranich, Psy.D., creator of OXYGEN breathing class at WILLSPACE in NYC.

MORE: Exercise Tips: Keep Breathing

While that’s the way we are born breathing (seriously, go look at a baby’s belly go!), over time, a combination of stress, sitting, and worrying over how our stomachs causes us to force air upwards into our chest, where our lungs actually absorb relatively little oxygen—our bodies’ primary fuel. As a result, our bodies run on empty without us even knowing it. Our energy drains, our focus fades, and we feel downright frazzled, Vranich says.

MORE: Breathing Techniques: Less Anxiety and More Energy

Luckily, correcting the problem is pretty easy—and can double as an abs workout. Here, Vranich shares five breathing exercises that will help you do just that.

Intercostal Stretch
Sitting up straight, drape one arm over your head so that your bicep is covering your ear. Stretching to the opposite side so that your elbow points straight overhead, inhale as deeply as you can. Your side should rise toward the ceiling. Relax the stretch and exhale. Repeat on both sides.

Breathe-right benefits: Strengthens your intercostals, the muscles between your ribs that help them expand to both sides to accommodate huffing and puffing.

Alligator
Lie face down on the floor with your hands underneath your chin. As you inhale through your mouth, fill your belly with air to raise your torso off of the floor. Your lower back and butt should not tighten. Exhale to return your torso to the floor. Repeat

Breathe-right benefit: While teaching how to inhale into the abdominal cavity, it strengthens the diaphragm muscle.  

Exhale pulsations in a twist
Sit on the floor, bend your knees, and while pointing your knees to one side of your body, turn your shoulders and head to face the other so that you are seated in a reclining twist. Then, quickly blow a pulse of air out through your mouth as if you are blowing out candles. Repeat until you cannot exhale any more. Inhale and repeat.

Breathe-right benefit: Strengthens your deep abdominal muscles that help you expel all of the carbon dioxide from your system and make room for oxygen.

Drop and arch
Get on all fours with your back flat. Take a deep breath through your mouth and let your belly fall toward the floor. On the exhale, force the air out of your abdomen so it draws up and in toward your belly button. Repeat.

Breathe-right benefit: Helps to lower the breath to the middle of the body and combine the deep inhale and exhale.

Breathe and squeeze
While seated, inhale deeply through your mouth, filling your belly. Then, as you contract your lower abs to exhale, squeeze your Kegel muscles. Repeat.

Breathe-right benefit: Strengthens your abs, pelvic floor, and can ease lower back pain.

MORE: Improve Your Breathing Techniques

Would You Do a Juice Cleanse to Boost Your Libido?

Good news if your answer is yes—there’s now a cleanse for that

Plenty of people do juice cleanses to drop pounds (not the smartest idea—just check out how your body reacts to a fruit juice cleanse). But now, there’s a cleanse that promises to improve your sex life, too: Heartbeet Juicery has introduced a new cleanse designed to give your libido a jolt.

The program—which costs $65 a day—contains six different juices, which vary depending on whether you buy the female version or the male one. Both sexes get super greens, citrus spirulina, spicy lemonade, and almond masala juices. On top of that, women get carrot and maca juices, while men get beet and avocado.

“These his and her cleanses are designed to stimulate your brain and body, increasing blood flow to the all the right places and giving your libido a boost,” reads Heartbeet Juicery’s product description. “Ingredients like cayenne, carrots, and beet juice help to increase sensations and get the blood flowing, while the healthy fats and proteins in avocados, maca, and almond milk will help increase your stamina.”

The company doesn’t specify how many days you should do the cleanse for optimal results. But if you’d rather not shell out $65 (and subsist on a liquid diet for at least a day), then we recommend you stick with these seven foods that boost your libido.

poll by twiigs.com

MORE: Watch One Writer Hilariously Live-Tweet a Soup Cleanse 

Now You Can Buy Shoes and Accessories Designed by Sarah Jessica Parker

Find out more about the Sex and the City star’s new collection

If you’ve ever tried to channel your inner Carrie Bradshaw while standing in front of the closet, it’s about to get a whole lot easier: Parker’s highly anticipated collection, SJP, will launch exclusively in Nordstrom department stores around the country at midnight on Feb. 28.

The SJP line will feature more than 25 shoes and handbags, with prices starting at $195, according to TODAY.com, which got a sneak peek at the line.

Parker’s making appearances at select Nordstrom stores to promote the line, and she’s also written some guest posts on Nordstrom’s blog, The Thread, where she shared some of her inspiration for the line:

“I’m thrilled to share some insight on my partnership with George Malkemus. Even though we are from different backgrounds, different ages, and different genders, we both have this common point of reference: New York City, late ’70s, early ’80s. There was a very specific look from this era that is vivid in both our minds.”

Are you dying to check out the full SJP collection? Do you think you’ll buy anything from it? Let us know in the comments below!

More From Women’s Health:
6 Gorgeous Heels That’ll Turn Heads 
3 Ways to Wear a Chambray Shirt 
#StyleCrave: "Vintage" Leather Bag

The Simple (and Fun!) Way to Fight Cravings

The best excuse yet for your Flappy Bird addiction

Cravings are brutal. Luckily for smartphone gamers, though, playing Tetris can help you overcome cravings, according to a new study in the journal Appetite.

For the study, researchers at the Plymouth University’s Cognition Institute looked at more than 100 men between the ages of 18 and 30, including some who were battling their own cravings at the time. The researchers had half play Tetris, while the other half waited for a computer program to load. Among those who got their game on, cravings immediately dropped 24 percent.

MORE: 6 Ways to Stop Eating Mindlessly

No, it’s not too good to be true: The brain can only focus on so many things at once—so when you’re dwelling on ice cream or chips, focusing for a few minutes on a flurry of brightly colored shapes and a ticking clock pushes those cravings to the back of your mind, explain the researchers.

MORE: 7 Ways to Stop Craving Junk Food

That means that Tetris isn’t the only game that can take your cravings down a peg. Anything that’s highly visual, demanding, and, yes, fun (think: Candy Crush and Flappy Bird) can keep your mind off of bad-for-you foods. Plus, researchers note that since cravings are usually short-lived, by the time you finish your game, they could be completely gone.

MORE: Stop Cravings: Healthy Foods That Satisfy Salt and Sugar Cravings

InsideOut Wellness Hires Director of New Business to Serve New York and Connecticut

I’m proud to announce the hire of Jillann Cofrancesco as our Director of New Business Development. As the success of HCG 2.0 continues to grow and grow, I get repeated interested from dieters that have completed the diet with so much success that they’d like to share their HCG weight loss success with others as an HCG 2.0 affiliate retailer. The overwhelming amount of inquiries has become more than myself and staff can handle, so the hiring was an absolute necessity.

Jill brings a vast amount of sales experience from various corners of the health and wellness industry. She’s served as Director of Sales and Marketing at Benchmark Senior Living and Director of Sales and Marketing at Pearl Seas Cruises. In addition to Jill’s sales experience, she also holds certifications from the National Association of Sports Medicine, the National Association of Fitness Trainers and her DTR certification from the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Jill will be overseeing the implementation of the HCG 2.o affiliate program. She’ll also be handling the marketing and sales aspects of the program, in addition too educating our new affiliates on the HCG 2.0 diet protocol and the entire InsideOut Wellness opportunity. HCG diet franchise, hcg new york

I’m absolutely thrilled to have Jill on board. Not remotely did I expect to find a candidate as qualified as her, combining both the sales experience along with the education and experience in the health and fitness industry.

The InsideOut Wellness HCG 2.0 Affiliate Program

In its 70 year existence, the HCG diet has helped millions achieve rapid weight loss. However, in that time, the HCG diet has not once been updated to incorporate advanced research in low-carb/ketosis dieting, caloric ratios or even basic food chemistry. HCG 2.0 is a smarter way to lose and has revolutionized the traditional HCG diet to accommodate the average working adult. Now, you can help others reach their weight loss goals while supplementing your income as a personal Wellness and Weight Loss Coach. It’s like owning your own wellness franchise, without all of the fees. Learn more about the HCG 2.0 Affiliate Program here.

Jill is based out of New York and Connecticut. To contact her click here. 

Dr. Z’s HCG blog

Cancer Awareness Month – Pay it Forward

I was asked to relay a message from Jill, our new National Director of Business Development. As February is awareness month, Jill will be donating all of her Lia Sophia commissions to the Carcinoid Cancer Foundation. If you would like to purchase one for yourself or a loved one please go to my website and place carcinoid as host

www.liasophia.com/jillyjewely

Jill is new to the InsideOut Wellness Family. I’m absolutely thrilled to have Jill on board. Not remotely did I expect to find a candidate as qualified as her, combining both the sales experience along with the education and experience in the health and fitness industry.  To visit Jill’s landing page click here. hcg diet new york ny

Keywords: Lia Sophia Jewelry, Cancer, Cancer Awareness Month, InsideOut Wellness

 

HCG 2.0 and Dr. Z to be featured on Jenningswire.com Podcast

Jenningswire is a national podcast series and  blog created by Annie Jennings of Annie Jennings PR. It features a variety of topics ranging from health and wellness to finance. The podcast will air on Wednesday, February 12, at 1:45 EST.

Dr. Zach will be on air with Annie discussing his new book HCG 2.0 – A Modern Adaptation of the Traditional HCG Diet. He’ll be answering question relating the the history and physiology behind the traditional HCG diet and his new HCG diet protocol, HCG 2.0.

To login into the podcast visit www.jenninswire.com.

Four Common HCG Diet Questions Answered

This is an email I received from a patient with questions regarding his HCG 2.0 diet. These are questions that apply not only to HCG 2.0, but to the traditional HCG diet developed by Dr. Simeons’ as well. In fact, Hectors questions are the same questions that I had after first reading Dr. Simeons original manuscript, Pounds and Inches: A New Approach to Obesity and a primary motivator in writing the book.

I do have to apologize to Hector as I’m usually more timely with my response, but I seemed to get a little sidetracked this time. I did however reply (same day) with the abridged version of the email you see below. I hope Hector and the rest of you find the complete and unabridged answers beneficial…

HCG Diet Quesitons #1 - What kind of control do you have for this hormone HCG? Is it synthetic or is it from human origin?

This question can almost entirely be answered from HCG 2.0. See the Excerpt below from the chapter titled “Variations of HCG.”

Homeopathic HCG

Before discussing the drops, let’s briefly define homeopathy. This alternative medical system was developed in Germany at the end of the 18th century. It is based on the “law of minimal dose” — with the focus being that exposure alone to a particular compound provides the greatest effect. The Homeopathic HCG that you’ll find from an FDA approved manufacturer uses the intact HCG molecule, in combination with a magnification process, to increase its potency. You’ll find this on the label under drug facts. The Homeopathic HCG used in my practice is labeled (3X, 6X, 12X, 30X, 60X), which is an indication of its potency.  This may raise eyebrows, and I was skeptical at first too. In fact, it was only recently that I introduce the drops into my practice; prior to that I was working only with the prescription HCG.  I did so as a result of overwhelming patient demand. I had so many requests for the HCG drops because they’d had a friend or family member do so well with the product that they wanted to use it themselves. I spent months, wasting my breath, arguing with patients as to why the prescription hcg product was better before I finally broke down and did some investigating.  I soon found a FDA approved, homeopathic manufacturer that assured me his product would get equal, if not better results than the prescription HCG that I’d been using. I began recommending it as a more affordable alternative to the prescription HCG and was so impressed with the results that I now use it almost exclusively. It’s been my experience that there is little difference in weight loss when comparing the homeopathic drops to prescription HCG. This is echoed by Linda Prinster, author of The HCG Weight Loss Cure Guide, which is used by many MDs as the patient education piece to accompany the diet. Prinster says that with committed patients both prescription and homeopathic HCG products will yield weight loss of 20-30 lbs. in 30-40 diet days. I included a graph from her book that compares and contrasts the Homeopathic, the injections and the sublingual, or what she refers to as mixed HCG, because of the mixing agent used to facilitate absorption through the oral cavity.

There are some exceptions, usually when a patient gets closer to their goal weight, when the prescription product will be more effective. This usually occurs with patients that are struggling to lose that last 10 to 15 pounds. This pertains to dieters that have lost a considerable amount of weight and just can’t shake that last 10 to 15, rather than those men or woman who put on a few pounds over the winter and are trying to get back into swimsuit shape. The non-prescription drops will work fine for the latter, but that last 10-15 can be difficult to shake for many. The reason is because the closer you get to your goal weight, the stingier your body will be with releasing its fat reserves, especially if you’ve been overweight for a long time. This is when a more concentrated HCG, like that of the prescription product, may be more effective. The downside here is the expense involved. The prescription product is often 3 to 4 times the cost; the reason being that it is usually compounded at a boutique type pharmacy and individualized to each patient.

My only warning regarding the non-prescription HCG drops is that the quality can vary significantly. There are many internet retailers out there trying to make a quick buck on a hot industry. In December 2011, the US Federal Drug Association, and the Federal Trade Commission, issued warning letters to seven online retailers of homeopathic HCG drops. The letters warned that selling drugs unapproved by the FDA was illegal, in addition to making unsupported and exaggerated claims regarding HCG and its effects on weight loss. My advice here is to be careful with what you purchase via the Internet. I don’t feel that there’s any danger with purchasing a product online, but the quality could be suspect. If you’re purchasing online, at the very least make a phone call to find out if the retailer has a medical professional on staff. Also, stay away from any HCG retailer that offers a guarantee. Medical professionals don’t offer guarantees.

**You may have noticed the appearance of HCG on store shelves of supplement stores and even your local pharmacy. Most of the over-the-counter products are labeled  “hormone free.” Considering that HCG is in fact, a hormone, this is quite a paradox. Again, I don’t feel that there is anything dangerous about these products, but in the same breath I cannot recommend and HCG product if it is labeled hormone free.

Prescription HCG 

HCG Injections  - Injections were the method used by Dr. Simeons in his clinic. His dosages ranged from 125 IUs to 200 IUs. He warned that increasing dosages beyond those ranges could, in fact, be counter-productive, which may account for why the homeopathic version is equally as effective.  During the time Dr. Simeon was practicing, prior to bio-identical hormones therapy, the HCG hormone was harvested from the urine of pregnant women, usually in underdeveloped countries, which made for an unsterile product. Many have concluded that this is why the diet disappeared for nearly 50 years, as a result of a Foot and Mouth epidemic that broke out in the UK from unsterile HCG. I can’t say this with complete certainty, but I felt it worth mentioning. It seems logical that this could be the reason the diet lost popularity so quickly.  Now days, with the advances in bio-identical hormone therapy, HCG is compounded in a pharmacy and mixed with bacteriostatic water. Bio-identical Hormone therapy uses a protein from a yam or soy bean and alters it to become the exact replica of that which is produced in the human body, creating a safe and sterile product. As I said earlier, it’s typically made at compounding pharmacies that specialize in individualized medicine, but there are also brand name products such as Pregnyl and Organon. What you have to remember, is that a bio-identical hormone is the same regardless of where it’s compounded. The reason I say this is to help you find the most affordable product. It’s kind of like buying aspirin or ibuprofen; the molecular makeup is the same, regardless of the name brand, so save yourself a couple of bucks and buy generic.

Sublingual – As I stated above, when I began working with HCG, injections were the only available option. As the diet gained in popularity, pharmacies were quick to develop more patient-friendly HCG products that don’t involve syringes. The sublingual tablet w/B12 is the most common, but there are also trans-dermal creams, lozenges and nasal sprays. The sublingual tablet is now the product of choice. Given the widespread availability of alternatives to the injections, and the recent fungal meningitis outbreak at the New England Compounding Center; I no longer work with injections, as they are unnecessarily invasive, especially for home use. Some patients are of the belief that by injecting themselves with a needle, the procedure is more therapeutic, and thus will lead to greater weight loss, but this is not true. The sublingual tablets are equally as effective. If you’re still determined to do the injections, there are still plenty of practitioners prescribing them, but first see the advantages to the sublingual tablets below.

HCG Diet Quesiton #2 – Do you think eating only 500 calories per day will produce a significant amount of weight loss without the use of HCG? 

If you’ve read HCG 2.0, you’re aware the HCG is NOT what is responsible for your weight loss. The rapid weight loss you experience on the HCG diet is a derivative of you low calorie diet. See the excerpt from HCG 2.0 below…

Before we begin, it’s important to understand that nearly all of the research we have regarding HCG and its role in supporting weight loss is mostly clinical, meaning it is more subjective in nature and not tested in a controlled environment. Additionally, HCG is not a miracle pill that magically makes the unwanted pounds fall off, nor does such pill exist, despite what you might see or hear on TV and radio. HCG requires a restrictive diet.  In fact, HCG is not what causes you to lose weight at all. Your weight loss is a result of your decrease in caloric intake and a healthy metabolic process called Ketosis, which is defined and discussed in the pages to follow (page 15 if you’d like to quickly skip ahead). So what then does HCG do and why is it used to accompany this diet?

HCG, as theorized by Dr. Simeons and supported by a substantial collection of clinical research, provides two distinct actions to facilitate your weight loss while on the low calorie phase of the diet and one action following the diet to help you maintain your ideal weight. All three are listed below.

1. HCG targets your weight loss so that you maintain muscle mass while strictly losing from abnormal fat deposits.
2. HCG suppresses appetite by enhancing Ketosis, which is a process that converts our fat reserves to usable calories allowing us to sustain ourselves on our own stored fat. By summoning calories from stored fat, our body reacts as though it has just consumed a meal thus producing a feeling of satiety and fullness.
3. Following the low calorie phase – By acting on a gland in the brain called the hypothalamus, which is responsible for regulating metabolic activity, including hunger and satiety, HCG has the capacity to “reset” your metabolism allowing you to successfully maintain your weight loss.

HCG Diet Question #3 - How can someone function normally under such calorie restrictions (500 calorie protocol)?

This question is what inspired me to write HCG 2.0. The 500 calorie HCG protocol may be an adequate number of calories for a small woman, but for a large man, it’s not nearly enough, especially in regard to protein. This is why HCG 2.0 uses a BMR calculation to determine the amount of calories one can consume on their own individualized HCG 2.0 diet. See the Slideshare presentation below which illustrates this…

HCG Diet Question #4 – Is it unhealthy to lose so much weight so fast?

The answer here is a bit complicated. If you’re losing more muscle mass than you are losing fat then yes, it can be dangerous. However, with the assistance of the HCG combined with a proper loading phase as described in the book, No. HCG allows you to maintain muscle mass while strictly losing from unwanted fat. See the explanation below from HCG 2.0…

The first two days that you begin taking your HCG supplement, it’s necessary to overload on fatty foods. This may seem counter-productive, but it serves three purposes. First, the sudden fat overload causes your hypothalamus to spring into action by alerting the body to begin attacking fats, essentially jump starting the diet. Secondly, the excess fat provides an immediate calorie reserve to mediate your hunger during the early stages of the diet, allowing the HCG ample time to tap into your fat stores, which can take up to 5-7 days. Finally, as we discussed earlier regarding Set Point Theory, keep in mind that human physiology exists for our long term survival and any sudden decrease in calories can alarm the body into “starvation mode.” During starvation mode, your body actually becomes more efficient with its calories and more determined to store away fat, assuming that there is a scarcity in food supply.  This is why dieting is so difficult. Not only are we battling our own poor eating habits, but a physiological pre-disposition to retain fat. Loading on fats for two days causes your liver enzymes to spike which is theorized to prevent the body from entering this starvation mode. By the time your liver enzymes return to normal levels, the HCG has already tapped into your fat reserves and is providing you with supplemental calories thus bypassing starvation mode, which facilitates more rapid weight loss.

Additionally, with the increase in protein calories that you get in HCG 2.0, it makes exercise a viable option. I suggest that patients continue with the exercise routine they were on prior to starting the HCG diet protocol. If there were not exercising prior, I recommend a walking routine of about 30 min per day. Not only does this lower your optimal ketosis levels, allowing you to maintain ketosis throughout the length of the diet, but it also helps maintain muscle mass.

Dr. Z’s HCG blog

It’s a bit long-winded, but I hope this answers all  of Hector’s questions. If you have questions of your own, email them to me or post them to our FACEBOOK page here.