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8 Causes of Eye Twitching and How to Fix It

May 6, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Twitching eye muscles can be a persistent annoyance throughout the day. It can make it even harder to concentrate and also interfere with your vision. Eye twitching refers to uncontrollable eyelid spasms and has a variety of causes.

Eye spasms usually only last for a few minutes. However, eye twitching can persist up to days at a time in more severe cases. Fixing your eye twitch depends on the cause of the twitching. So here are the eight most common causes of eye twitching and how best to fix it.

8 Common Causes of Eye Twitching (and the fixes!)

1 – Stress

Stress is undoubtedly the most common cause of eye twitching. The extra adrenaline caused by the fight or flight response of being under prolonged stress primes your muscles to deal with a situation your body perceives as dangerous. This excess adrenaline can also prime the muscles in your eyelids, and with too much built up adrenaline will cause your eyelid muscles to spasm.

The best way to alleviate the eyelid spasm caused by stress is to find ways to destress and take some downtime during your day. Doing yoga exercises or socializing with friends and family can be a great way to help reduce stress and cure your eye twitching.

2 – Caffeine

Having too much caffeine can trigger eyelid spasms the same way that stress does. Caffeine acts as a stimulant to help jolt your body into action, providing a rush of adrenaline and other chemicals to keep you going. Too much caffeine can overstimulate the eye muscles, causing uncontrollable spasms and twitching.

The best way to alleviate spasming caused by caffeine is to cut back on it. Don’t drink as much coffee as you usually do and avoid sugary energy drinks or energy boosters. You can replace those high caffeine drinks with water and natural energy boosters like whole grains. That way, you’ll keep your body fueled and ready to go without overstimulating yourself with caffeine and then burning out, giving you more of a slow burn of energy throughout the day instead of a massive short term burst.

3 – Fatigue

Eye twitching can be caused by not having enough energy as well. This scenario can lead to your body struggling to keep your eyes open. Or, you might not have enough energy to keep your eyelid muscles in the open position.

Making sure you are getting enough rest is essential, but also having a consistent sleep schedule. Reducing muscle twitching isn’t the only reason you should try to get more sleep, though. Getting adequate rest can provide many overall health benefits as well.

4 – Eye Strain

Eye strain, specifically from screens and digital devices, can lead to muscle spasms and twitching of your eyelids. The digital light can overstimulate the brain and eyes, leading to a dull ache as well as your eyelids spasming to help cut down on the harsh light penetrating the eyes.

One of the best ways to cut back on this source of eye strain is to follow the 20/20/20 rule whenever you’re using a screen or phone for an extended time.

For every 20 minutes you spend looking at a screen, take about 20 seconds to focus on an object at a distance away (about 20 feet if possible). This habit helps give your eyes a break and cuts down on eye strain caused by staring at a screen for extended periods.

5 – Drinking Alcohol

Alcohol can cause a lot of muscle problems, including muscle weakness as well as spasms. These spasms can also include the muscles in your eyelids. The chemicals in alcohol can interfere with the neurological signals sent from the brain to the motor nerves in your muscles, causing the spasming and twitching.

If you are suffering from muscle spasms due to alcohol, cut back on how much you drink each day, limiting yourself one drink per night, or simply take a break from alcohol altogether.

6 – Dry Eyes

Dry eyes can be another frequent cause of twitching eyelid muscles, especially in people who are over 50. Other factors can make dry eyes more common, such as excessive use of computers, certain medications, the use of contacts, and the consumption of caffeine and alcohol.

Twitching from dry eyes is your body’s reaction to trying to rehydrate your eyes, as your eyelids help distribute moisture from your tear ducts across the surface of your eyes. You’ll almost feel a gritty texture under your eyelid as if you had something stuck in your eye if you are suffering from dry eyes.

If your twitching is, in fact, from dry eyes, you may want to consult your eye doctor. After an examination, your doctor will be able to either advise lifestyle changes to help reduce the frequency of your dry eyes or prescribe moisturizing drops to help hydrate your eyes.

Read about natural methods to relieve red, dry eyes.

7 – Nutritional Problems

Not getting enough essential vitamins and minerals such as magnesium can lead to eyelid spasms and other muscular problems. Try to stick to a reasonably balanced diet and eat more whole foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and avoid processed foods. Not only will this help with the twitching, but it will lead to an overall more healthy lifestyle too.

8 – Allergies

People who suffer from allergies can end up with a variety of symptoms, which ultimately lead to eyelid twitching. Allergens can irritate the eye, leading to dryness, swelling, and watery eyes.

Additionally, our first reaction is to usually rub at our eyes, causing histamines to be released into the eyelid tissues and resulting in spasming of the muscles.

Sometimes over the counter medicine can help reduce allergy symptoms, but these eye drops and allergy medications can also lead to dry eyes (see #6). Your eye doctor may be able to make recommendations of specific drugs or eye drops to use to help alleviate your allergy symptoms.

Most importantly, if you feel your eyes start to itch from allergies, don’t rub them. Instead, run them under water or apply a damp washcloth over your eyes to help hydrate them. This action will also clear any allergens that may have come in contact with your eyes.

When Eye Twitching Might Indicate a Looming Concern

While many of the common causes of eye spasms are relatively mundane and can resolve themselves on their own, sometimes eye twitching can be a sign of a more serious condition, especially if it lingers for days at a time.

Specific types of eye spasms can also be a sign of a more severe condition. If you have a sudden change in appearance and movement over half of your face, or if your eyelids spasm to the point where they clamp shut and can’t be opened, it may be a sign of a severe neurological condition such as blepharospasm or hemifacial spasm.

These kinds of spasms can also be a sign of other neurological disorders and are almost always accompanied by other symptoms associated with these disorders. Neurological conditions that have eye spasms as a symptom include:

Bell’s Palsy
Cervical Dystonia
Dystonia
Multiple Sclerosis
Oromandibular dystonia and facial dystonia
Parkinson’s Disease
Tourette’s Syndrome

You shouldn’t rush to see an eye doctor over every little eye twitch. If it persists for more than a day, though, you should see a doctor. You should also seek help if it’s accompanied by other symptoms like a loss of facial motor control, being unable to open your eyes, or numbness and tingling sensations.

If you sense something is seriously wrong or if the twitching feels like any of the common causes above is not causing it, seek medical attention.

Ophthalmologists explain why your eyes twitch.

Final Thoughts on Managing Eye Twitching

Eye twitching can be extremely annoying and distracting. But luckily, its causes are relatively mundane, and the twitching usually resolves itself after a few minutes. Depending on what is causing your eye to twitch, you can help alleviate the spasms faster. You can also reduce the frequency of the contractions by counteracting the causes.

These actions include the following:

Having less caffeine if you are overstimulating your nervous system with coffee and energy drinks.
Try new stress relief tactics if you are under a lot of pressure and constant stress.
Taking breaks from using screens or devices which could be causing eye fatigue, especially if you need to use these devices most of your day for work.
Consult your eye doctor for eye drops or anti-allergen medications to help with dry eyes and allergies.

Lastly, if you suffer severe symptoms or your eye twitching is accompanied by other symptoms like numbness, which leads you to believe something might be seriously wrong, contact your doctor immediately or go for emergency medical services. In rare cases, the eyelid spasms can be a symptom of neurological problems. And those issues may cause other complications if not adequately treated.

Psychologists Expain Why Mental Illness Makes People Feel Tired

May 6, 2020 by Power of Positivity

If you have one or more mental illnesses, then you might battle a plethora of symptoms. Have you noticed that you have more exhaustion than usual? It could be another health issue, or it may be stemming from a psychiatric disorder.

We live in a society that is blessed with more technology and convenience than any other time in history. Yet, we seem more tired than ever. Talk to just about anyone you know, and they will probably complain of how exhausted they are these days.

Is this fatigue a product of a work-obsessed culture, or could it have something to do with brain chemistry? After countless scientific studies, psychologists believe that mental illness can be a significant contributor to fatigue. Struggling to find answers to your chronic lack of energy has probably exhausted you.

Have you been shaming yourself for not being as energetic as you would like? Treat yourself with compassion and realize that you are neither lazy nor unambitious. Here are some reasons why your mental disorder can be making you tired.

It’s Ok Not to Be Ok

We live in the 21st century with astronomical advances in science and medicine. Unfortunately, the shadows of mental illness stigma still linger. Remnants of Victorian-era prejudice continue to influence our attitudes about these conditions and those who have them.

Does that sound painfully familiar to you? After being diagnosed with a mental disorder, did you feel a tinge of guilt or shame? You may even feel guilty for stigmatizing yourself. To cope with your inner turmoil, you may try to mask it.

Trying to maintain a façade of happiness is a never-ending chore. Perhaps you are tired of well-meaning people continually asking if you are ok. To end their curiosity, you keep a happy smile glued to your face, regardless of the pain on the inside.

Repressing your feelings can be quite exhausting. You are always careful not to let your guard down, so people see the true you. Realize that it’s ok not to be ok every second of the day.

Your Story is in a Perpetual Loop

Nobody feels like explaining or defending themselves at every turn. When you have a mental health issue, everyone becomes an expert in the field. One of the reasons why you may hide your diagnosis and feelings is to detour prying noses.

Do you feel like an exhausted fish in a glass bowl for everybody to scrutinize? Regardless of your diagnosis, somebody seems to know all about it. It is frustrating to hear ignorant people trying to compare you to movies they’ve seen or books they’ve read.

For many people, being admitted to a mental health facility for inpatient care can be especially embarrassing. If you have, realize that your mental health was a stake, and you made the best decision. There is no shame to receive intense therapy, and you needn’t feel obligated to share your business.

Staying in a defense mode chronically stresses your body into the fight, flight, or freeze mode, which is an adrenal response. The excess adrenaline and cortisone can result in serious health issues and relentless fatigue. While you have every right to advocate for yourself, you don’t owe anyone an explanation or defense.

You Never Feel Rested After Sleeping

You know that smothering haze you have in the mornings when you didn’t get a good night’s sleep? These feelings can be exacerbated if you battle mental illness. Additionally, brain chemical imbalances are notorious for causing sleep disturbances.

Do you lie in bed and anxiously watch your alarm clock for hours? If you’re not getting quality sleep, your body can’t recharge itself, and you will continue to feel lethargic. Severe drowsiness is a side effect of many psychiatric medications, too.

Before you chalk up your sleepless nights to medicine or a symptom of your mental illness diagnosis, consult your doctor. She may prescribe a sleep study to diagnose an underlying sleep disorder or other health issues.

Can’t Stop the Chatter

When most people sleep, the brain temporarily shuts down all but vital functions. It is the brain’s time to recharge and allow the body to rejuvenate after a long day. For the most part, internal dialogue is silent.

For those with mental illnesses, the mind’s chatter rarely stops. It is as if you are in a crowd of people, and everyone is trying to talk to you at once. No matter how much you try to drown out the nagging voices, they may persist day and night. The lack of peace can cause exhaustion.

For some, like those with schizophrenia, the internal dialog can be perceived as the voices of other people. These voices can be irritating or dark and menacing. People with anxiety or depression may hear their internal voice encouraging their fears or suggesting other ones.

Hearing an endless, one-sided conversation in your mind can rob you of rest and precious energy. Medication and therapy have successfully treated people with this debilitating symptom, so there’s hope. Silencing the voices can help you re-energize.

Riding on a Mood Roller Coaster

It’s a false and unhealthy belief that people can be on “Cloud Nine” all the time. All your body’s systems experience an ebb and flow pattern. So likewise, your moods will slightly fluctuate from internal and external stimuli.

When these fluctuations increase dramatically across the emotional spectrum, a mental disorder may be the culprit. Mood swings are a common symptom in many mental illnesses, especially bipolar disorders. Instead of the gentle babbling of a brook, your moods may come crashing in like tidal waves.

Who wouldn’t be exhausted with such an internal noise? If your malaise comes from a bi-polar disorder, you may also be facing the consequences of severe manic episodes. Your mental health professional can discuss how therapy can reduce the symptoms of your mental illnesses.

You Don’t Feel Like Getting Out of Bed

When you are juggling a family, career, and other obligations, it stands to reason that you’ll have days you want to stay in bed. Rather than face the world, you just want to pull the covers over your head and forget it all. For the average person, these feelings are occasional.

If you have a mental disorder, reluctance to leave your bed may be the norm. Symptoms may bombard you that exhaust you, and your body refuses to cooperate. As a mode of defense, you may want to stay in bed indefinitely, but it’s just the mental illnesses that are affecting you.

Have you been diagnosed with depression? Severe fatigue, lack of interest, and self-isolation are tell-tale signs. Those with anxiety disorders, panic, and agoraphobia are also prone to locking themselves in the bedroom.

Hypersomnia, or oversleeping, can cause problems of its own. Lack of exercise can be harmful to your body and mind. Plus, you may not get the socialization you need if you are always hiding under the blankets, which is what your mental illnesses want you to do.

Restoring your life and joining the world again is possible with the right treatment. Has a mental disorder threatened to turn you into a hermit? Consult your doctor or therapist as soon as possible.

Mental Illnesses Can Be Treated, Not Cured

Psychiatric disorders are not like having the flu. You can’t just go home from work one day with an anxiety disorder, recoup a couple of days, and get over it. However, therapy and lifestyle changes can significantly reduce the reoccurrence and severity of symptoms.

Even with the best treatment plan, you can experience a relapse. These relapses of mental disorders can be devastating to your energy levels. It also requires a lot of momentum to rebuild your way back to health.

Talk with your mental health professional if you are experiencing more bad days than good. Your medications may need to be changed or tweaked, or another therapy can be explored. A setback doesn’t mean that you’ve failed.

Final Thoughts on Feeling Better When You Have a Mental Illness

As you have already discovered, diagnosing, and treating a mental disorder takes time, energy, and resources. Scheduling and attending doctor and therapy appointments can make anyone feel weary. Ongoing treatment means that you may have conflicts in family scheduling that need to be resolved.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it. If going to the doctor or counselor wears you out physically and mentally, ask a trusted family member or friend to take you. Many mental health facilities also offer in-home and video conference options. Your pharmacy may also provide home deliveries in your area.

If you feel overwhelmed with your treatment plan, talk to your therapist, if you are progressing well, maybe your visits can be less frequent. While you may get tired of running to appointments, they are ultimately worth your while.

Your fatigue may be a result of a mental illness diagnosis, and you may feel discouraged and hopeless. Consider talking to your mental health professional about your treatment options. You can have more energy and feel like doing things again that you’ve always enjoyed, but you must get your mental health in top shape.

10 Behaviors That Reveal Someone Grew Up With Chronic Loneliness

May 6, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Lonely children often become lonely adults. Before you get into a relationship or even a friendship with someone, you should look for warning signs that the person may have issues from their past. Chronic loneliness can cause all kinds of problems emotionally.

When you reach adulthood, it’s hard to have friends because everyone is so busy with their jobs and families. Connecting for Thursday night poker may not be doable. How do you know if someone suffered as a child from chronic loneliness, even though they might not have been alone? Here are some signs that a person was lonesome as a child.

10 Signs of Chronic Loneliness

1. Mindless Chatter

Have you ever heard someone talk just to hear themselves speak? When a person has a lot of sadness, they may try to make friends by chattering about nothing. The only problem is that their attempts to be recognized often turn people off rather than making them want to converse.

It’s socially awkward when someone is continually talking, and you can’t get a word in edgewise. If you have a friend or you use mindless chatter a lot, perhaps you had a lot of sadness as a child.

2. Redirects Conversations To Themselves

One of the worst types of conversations to have is those where the other party continually directs the issues back to their life. Friendships must be a two-way street where you listen to their life problems, and they hear yours.

However, one of the biggest complaints about someone who is chronically lonely is that they will often talk right over the top of you and bring it back to their issues. Though they genuinely care about you, they cannot hear what you are saying because nothing is as essential or as trivial as the battles they are fighting.

These are signs that this person doesn’t show empathy, and they have a hard time relating to others. They need to find happiness inside.

3. “Poor Me” Mentality

Someone with low self-worth needs validation from others. If you tell them they made a good meal, they will give you 100 reasons why the meal was horrible, and they could have done a better job. They so desire for you to pat them on the back that they will practically beg for your praise by making themselves appear insignificant.

First, this person relies too much on the opinions of others, and second, they are desperate for someone to compliment them because their low morale needs a boost. These are the kind of people that try to make their life appear perfect on social media sites too. However, behind closed doors, it’s much different than the fairy tale they portray.

4. Utilizes Attention Seeking Behaviors

Attention seeking behaviors can range vastly. When someone does an action, either positive or negative, to gain the attention of others, then they are trying to redirect the focus towards themselves. In childhood years, this chronic loneliness can make people use destructive tactics.

Consequently, as a person with these sadness issues becomes an adult, they will use more manipulative behaviors to get people to take notice.

5. Poor Social Skills

People who have poor social skills stand out in a crowd. They are awkward and don’t know how to have friendships. They were the child that couldn’t make connections with their peers and may have had few friends, which resulted in chronic loneliness.

Children who were bullied often grow up into adults with social skill issues. They may miss those little social cues or nuances that are a part of socializing. They’ve never felt like they were a part of anything, so they cannot fit in.

Others might declare lonely children to be weird, odd, eccentric, or marching to the beat of their drum. They just don’t fit in with society’s norms, and they worry about the opinion of others more than they should.

6. Problems with Anxiety and Depression

Chronic loneliness causes depression and anxiety. Anyone shy, withdrawn, or lacks self-confidence can develop these mental illnesses. It’s hard to fit into a world that they seem to be removed from, though they may try.

Many times, these mental problems creep in because of a horrible childhood. Take, for instance, Oprah Winfrey. She is one of the most influential women of today, but she grew up as a poor girl from Mississippi. She has produced one of the most beloved talk shows of all time, plus she created a billion-dollar company that is thriving.

Yet, what many people don’t know is that Winfrey struggles from anxiety and depression. At one point, she said that her depression got so bad she had a complete breakdown. Every day is stressful, no matter her wealth.

As a victim of sexual abuse, Winfrey felt isolated and alone as she had a horrible secret to hide. Frequently, loneliness can come from the darkest places, and it has a hold throughout life. Money couldn’t solve these problems for the megastar. However, she overcame a lot of her issues by learning to vocalize her pain to help others.

7. Low Self-Esteem

A person with low self-esteem sees themselves very differently than the world sees them. They may be a beautiful woman with the perfect figure, yet they feel they are overweight and unattractive. Their poor self-image can be caused by chronic loneliness they felt as a child.

As in the case of Winfrey, abuse can often alter one’s perception of their body. They cannot see past the nature of the violation. Thus, they allow it to scar their attitude. If they could only see themselves the way others see them, then they would know their true worth.

8. Has a Vivid Imagination

Have you ever met someone with a vivid imagination?

Here is a hypothetical example A little girl went to summer camp. When the counselor asked her about her mother and father, she told them she lived with her mother, but a shark killed her father.

The counselor was horrified that the child had experienced such a traumatic loss. The ironic thing was the child’s father was not in her life. A single mother was raising her. Her mind couldn’t rationalize the fact that her dad didn’t want her, so she had to make up a horrible story to justify why he was gone.

A vivid imagination can be used either positively or negatively. In this instance, the little girl’s imagination was used to help her gain closure to a painful situation. She also craved the attention and pity from the counselor who was almost in tears as she told the story.

The little girl grew up to be incredibly sad and lonely. Her vivid imagination caused her to tell other tales through the years, and soon people knew she had a problem with chronic lying.

Having a highly active imagination can be great for the artistic person and those that enter into creative careers. But for the person who is sad and lonely, it can get them into trouble.

9. Constantly Interrupts Conversations with Others

There is nothing ruder than someone who constantly interrupts you during a conversation. It can be accidental, or they can be so eager to burst out what they have to say that they talk over you.

People with ADHD or even bipolar disorder often use mindless chatter and have difficulty with interrupting a conversation. It’s usually because they finally have someone’s attention and their mind is racing with all the things they want to tell you.

10. They Openly Talk About the Chronic Loneliness

Some people try to appear in sync with social norms even though they feel broken on the inside. However, others are very vocal about their pain. They may tell anyone who will listen to their problems.

Chronic loneliness can be challenging for an adult to deal with, and they may ruminate about their issues. They may call family members and go on for long periods about how horrible life is for them.

They have become quite skilled at vocalizing their loneliness and other problems. For the person on the listening side, it’s not a fun conversation. These are the relatives and friends that you avoid answering the phone when they call, though you do feel sorry for them.

Final Thoughts on Letting Go of Chronic Loneliness

When you feel sad and alone constantly, it can cause a mental imbalance that leads to illness. It’s essential to find healthy outlets of expression and people to call friends.

Sadly, the world has gone to a state of virtual reality where people chat online, but they have no face-to-face interaction. You can even date via the web these days. Though a person may be quite busy and bustling about networking in cyberland, they lack the comfort that having dinner and a movie can bring.

Consequently, society feels that stars like Oprah Winfrey have it all. However, there are some things money cannot buy. Lastly, you can be surrounded by family and friends and still feel empty and lonely on the inside.

All these things can be signs that there is an underlying mental illness caused by a childhood of problems. Everyone needs friends, and there’s nothing worse than loneliness.

10 Things Couples Can Do To Change A Bad Relationship

May 6, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Many people wish for the fairy tale romance where they all live happily ever after. Isn’t that everyone’s romantic goal in life? When you find your soulmate, everything should be sunshine and roses for the rest of your life.

Unfortunately, couples living happily ever after only happens in fairy tales and movies. You’ve lived and experienced enough to realize that nobody has a perfect relationship or marriage, and anyone can have a toxic partner. It can happen to anyone.

Are you a person struggling in a bad relationship? Even though we all have disagreements and may want to call it quits, the good usually outweighs the bad. What if your relationship is more tumultuous than fulfilling?

How do you realize when your relationship is worth saving or not? Do you continue to your partner in your future, or do you feel doubtful or unnerved about it? Life is too short to stay miserable.

Is it possible to salvage a bad relationship? If you both have committed to making it work, there’s hope. Consider these ten tips for reconnecting with your lover.

1. Go Back to the Start

When you are playing classic board games, getting sent back to start is a bad thing. In a faltering relationship, starting from the beginning, maybe your saving grace. It brings you back to the things that connected you in the first place.

Sit down together and have a heartfelt conversation about when you first met. You can write down some points to share with your partner. What attracted you to the other person and made you stand out from the rest?

In revisiting roads of the past, you may discover where you lost your love along the way. The things that formed a bond then have the power to recreate one now. Perhaps you can retrace your steps to reverse a bad relationship.

2. Offer and Receive Forgiveness

Since no human is perfect, an ideal relationship is impossible. No matter how much you are in love, you both are bound to make mistakes that hurt one other. However, when a toxic partner keeps making the same mistakes, it makes them a life habit.

There will always be thorns on the roses, and there will be many times when you are angry at each other. In a healthy relationship, couples can usually wait out the storms and find healing. Some grievous trespasses are not so easy to forgive.

One of the worst casualties in a committed relationship is cheating. It’s a betrayal that rends your heart and crushes your spirit. Frequent disagreements can also fester and create unreconcilable differences that can destroy a couple.

If you both have decided to move beyond whatever rift you had, it can only be done with forgiveness. It is a chance to offer the offending partner the opportunity to change. It’s in no way excusing or forgetting the offense.

Are you the offender? Ask for forgiveness, but you must also learn to forgive yourself. Now, you must also learn to trust again as a couple, and you should learn from previous mistakes.

3. Learn How to Connect Again to Improve a Bad Relationship

When you first fell in love, you probably wanted to spend every waking moment talking and being with your person. As time passes, some couples get used to the relationship and take the other for granted. You may have said a million times in the beginning that you can’t even breathe without talking with each other, but you soon realize you can.

In a healthy relationship, both people learn to connect on a physical and spiritual level. It goes beyond the superficiality of sex. When you are genuinely in love, you are still interested in what your partner says and feels.

When’s the last time you put down the phone or stepped away from the computer to have a meaningful conversation? Do you know what is happening in your partner’s life at this moment? A relationship can’t survive unless you stay in constant, loving communication.

4. Go Out on a Date

Married couples often get in a rut and lose the excitement they once had. Loss of interest can quickly lead to a bad relationship. Even if you must move some things around on your schedules, making time for each other is crucial.

Set aside a day or an afternoon each week just to go on a date. Go for a walk in the park or make dinner reservations at your favorite restaurant. Bring back the fun and spontaneity in your love life.

5. Become a Toxicity Detective

While you review the internal reasons, your relationship may be going south. You should look for external ones that are toxic. Many marriages and love relationships have been ruined because of outside forces. It’s up to you to identify and eliminate them as much as possible.

Do you have friends or family members who offer nothing but negativity? Perhaps, these people are continually playing you against one another. Until these toxic folks follow reasonable boundaries, it’s best to stay clear of them.

6. Set the Game Rules

Nothing succeeds in this life without rules and boundaries, including relationships. If you and your lover haven’t set healthy boundaries, then the relationship can’t last. How can either of you be upset with a broken rule if the rule hasn’t been established?

For your relationship to flourish, set clear expectations and guidelines with each other. Don’t expect your partner to be a mind reader. When you outline and understand reasonable boundaries, you are more likely to enjoy mutual respect.

If your partner feels uncomfortable spending time with you, then they should voice their feelings. Are there issues that are non-negotiable in the relationship, such as substance abuse and how you define cheating? Remember not to expect anything from your lover that you are not willing to do yourself.

7. Learn to Color Outside of the Lines

Just because you have established mutual boundaries doesn’t mean the relationship should be static and boring. Einstein once observed that the meaning of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over while expecting different results. People in a relationship crave variety and the element of surprise.

Break out of your rut and do something different with your partner. Take a spontaneous trip or start a fascinating hobby together. Spice up your romance and do something totally out of character for you.

8. Leave the Past in the Past to Avoid a Bad Relationship

The demise of many relationships is an unrelenting memory. As you work on forgiveness and empathy together, discuss ways to acknowledge the past and leave it there. Otherwise, past transgressions will still hold a death grip on you.

When re-evaluating the rules and boundaries, set one for arguments. Make a pact not to use the past as ammunition. If past grievances are still lethal weapons, a bad relationship is inevitable. If you both can’t go beyond the hurt, your connection will suffer.

9. Be Each Other’s Best Friend Again

Everyone needs a circle of friends beyond their love relationship. It is normal to have a girl’s night out or a weekly guy’s poker game. Isolating yourself as a couple can be just as damaging to a relationship than neglecting each other.

Yes, you probably have people you consider your best friends. However, conflict can arise if your mate isn’t at the top of your list. Nobody wants to take second place to another, especially if it’s a person of the opposite sex.

You must include time to have fun with your besties, and don’t be afraid to spend some time alone because it’s healthy. Consequently, you must try to spend just as much quality time with your lover, who should be your best friend. Like a flower, a relationship will die without proper care and attention.

10. Seek Professional Help

Some bad relationships have so many variables, and it makes it difficult for couples to reconcile. If you and your mate have decided that your relationship is on the rocks and it’s worth saving, you may need professional counseling. Just admitting there is a problem is a giant step in the right direction.

It’s not a sign of weakness to seek couples counseling. Venting to a neutral party can be helpful, and the counselor may draw out solutions you never considered. For some couples, the relationship may be beyond repair.

If your partner is toxic or abusive in any way, then it’s time to leave. You deserve someone to love and care for you ultimately. An experienced couple’s counselor can help you sort through these issues in a safe, non-judgmental atmosphere. If your partner is unwilling to seek counseling as a last resort, you may need to re-evaluate your relationship.

Final Thoughts: Know When to End a Bad Relationship

You don’t have to stay in an unhealthy, bad relationship just to feel needed and loved. Discuss these suggestions with your partner if you feel like you’re drifting apart. If you’ve done all you can do and things are still unbearable, then it’s probably a cue that it’s time to move on with your life.

How to Make Okra Water to Reduce Stress and Fatigue

May 6, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Has the day-to-day life of taking care of your household, your family, and office work left you feeling drained and in a state of exhaustion? If so, okra water may be just what you need.

Research published in the journal Nutrients has shown that the seeds found in okra pods help reduce fatigue and stress.

Within the study, antioxidant assays were used to show the seeds of okra pods had significant anti-fatigue and antioxidant outcomes. Polyphenols and flavonoids were found to be more active in the seeds as well.

There are multiple health benefits for consuming this water and utilizing this vegetable in your cooking. It has even been shown to lower cholesterol and improve blood sugar levels in diabetes.

The Health Benefits of Okra

The main health benefits of the okra vegetable include the following:

Diabetes management
Dietary fiber
Stress reduction
Anti-fatigue elements
Cholesterol reduction

We will delve more deeply into each health benefit of okra. Then we’ll discuss how to make water out of this vegetable to reduce stress and exhaustion.

Okra and Diabetes Management

Researchers from the University of Ahvaz published a study in the Cell Journal showing how an okra supplement improved diabetes management in diabetic rat models. Okra supplements reduced the high levels of fasting blood sugar, total cholesterol, and triglycerides in diabetic rats. Besides, okra decreased the homeostasis model assessment of basal insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) index.

The pancreatic damages and islet structures among diabetic rats were also improved. This research shows how you can use okra to boost diabetes management.

More studies will need to be done to see how this vegetable affects diabetes in humans. In the meantime, you should ask your doctor if adding okra to your diet is a good idea.

One study did find that okra may stop the absorption of metformin in the bloodstream. Metformin is a medication that diabetes patients may use to manage their blood sugar levels. If you’re taking metformin, you should not have too much okra. Otherwise, ask your doctor about holistic treatments like okra.

Dietary Fiber and Okra Pods

Okra pods are low-calorie vegetables full of dietary fiber as well as good sources of vitamins and minerals. More specifically, okra has potassium, calcium, carbohydrates, and unsaturated fatty acids (linolenic and oleic acids), according to a study published last year in the journal Molecules.

Dietary fiber has a variety of health benefits, such as reducing hunger and improving digestion. A high-fiber diet can help people feel full for longer. Therefore, those who are overweight or obese could benefit from okra pods and its dietary fiber.

Dietary fiber is helpful for diabetic patients. It boosts insulin sensitivity and glycemic control. One study from Japan and published in the Nutrition journal uncovered how dietary fiber improves glycemic control among Type 2 diabetes patients.

Okra Water and Stress Reduction

So far, research has found that the seed extracts of the okra vegetable create a stress-reducing effect in mice. There is an antioxidant and anti-stress impact on the mice’s bloodstream.

Researchers from India and Malaysia studied the antioxidant and in vivo protective effect of okra seed extracts, which was published in the Scientific World Journal. The scientists used the elevated plus maze (EPM) and forced swimming test (FST) among mouse models to study stress-based behavioral and biochemical deviations.

The results from the research bolster the idea that okra seed extracts contain anti-stress, antioxidant, and nootropic capabilities. Using seed extracts in okra water will help reduce stress on those particularly hard days.

Decreasing Fatigue via Okra

We all know that exercising regularly is hugely important for our health, but when we leave it off until the end of the day, we rarely have the energy to get up off the couch. However, with the use of okra, you may find yourself with more energy to go for a run or a long walk around the neighborhood.

A 2015 research study from China published in Nutrients found that consuming okra can help people exercise for more extended periods and even recover more quickly after working out without feeling a state of exhaustion.

So be sure to add okra to your diet if you want to exercise more after a long day at work. The cardiovascular benefits of exercise will help you live a longer and more active life.

Reducing Cholesterol through Okra

If you’re looking to lower your cholesterol, you’ll need to change up your diet. You’ll want to add some healthy and nutritious foods to the mix. Harvard Health Publishing reports that both okra and eggplant are low-calorie vegetables that are excellent foods for your soluble fiber intake. Oats and barley are also advised.

Reducing your LDL or low-density lipoproteins can be essential for keeping your cardiovascular system strong and healthy. You can reduce your cholesterol and LDL levels by adding foods like okra, nuts, beans, apples, grapes, strawberries, and fatty fish to your diet.

Now that we understand the importance of okra and its health benefits, it is time to discuss how to make okra water. If you want to lower your stress levels and reduce your fatigue, you’ll want to read the following information.

How to Make Okra Water

Some people may not like the texture of okra when added to salads, soups, stews, or a grilled veggie platter. However, okra water is a way to retain many of the nutrients of okra without having too much of the taste.

Drinking this kind of water will give you a simple way to get the nutrients without having to make a meal out of okra.

This water has become more popular and common in recent years. The nutrients in the skin of the pods and the seeds can be absorbed into the water by letting it soak overnight.

When making this water, you’ll need anywhere from three to five okra pods along with a glass of water or a mason jar. Clean the seeds before use. You can either slice the pods into strips or put them into the liquid as is.

You’ll need about eight ounces of water. The pods need to be soaked in the glass of water overnight. Then, you only have to remove the okra pods once morning comes and drink up!

If you sliced the pods into thin pieces, your glass of water would likely taste more bitter. However, you’ll get more nutrients from the okra pods!

You don’t want to pass up this vegetable. It has plenty of nutrients, and there are multiple ways to prepare it.

Other Okra Uses

Besides adding it into a glass of water, you can make all kinds of recipes with okra. For instance, a tomato and okra stew makes a great side dish to any meal! All you need is some celery, onions, okra, tomatoes, and bacon and simmer it in a Dutch oven before serving.

A roasted sweet potato and okra salad is an excellent addition to your Thanksgiving meal or a weekend dinner. You’ll need to cook red potatoes, yams, and okra as well as sautée some spinach before tossing the salad in a vinaigrette dressing.

You can even make a gumbo using okra. There are both shrimp or chicken gumbo recipes that include okra to thicken the stew. You won’t regret trying one out!

You can roast it, make a succotash, or throw it in a stew or soup. There are plenty of ways to cook okra to get its health benefits. On top of this, you’ll enjoy the delicious taste of gumbo or stew.

Others may want to consume okra by shredding the okra peel and ingesting it. You can use a kitchen grater to make this type of addition to your daily activities. Usually, you won’t need more than half a teaspoon of this peel.

You can also grind the seeds into a powder and add it to a smoothie or a glass of juice. Additionally, powdered okra can be easily bought at health food stores if you can’t grind the seeds at home.

Final Thoughts on Making Okra Water to Beat Fatigue and Stress

If you’re looking to reduce stress and eliminate fatigue from your life, you’ll want to consider adding okra to your diet. Many adults today have felt more fatigued than ever before due to demanding schedules for work, handling childcare, and managing their households. However, you’ll find that okra boosts your energy levels and even allows you to exercise for longer.

Adding okra to your water is a simple process that won’t take you more than five minutes. Just be sure to soak it overnight!

Also, you can reduce the stress you feel on those charged-up days with too many things on your to-do list. By adding okra water to your morning routine, you’ll recharge your batteries and feel ready to start the day feeling refreshed.

10 Characteristics Of A Manipulative Partner

May 5, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Manipulation is a normal part of human social interaction. Those who have cultivated manipulation into a skill that is interwoven into most of their interactions are considered to be manipulative. In the beginning of a budding relationship, it is easy to brush off little quirks in the name of infatuation or by being over-invested in the relationship. At some point, some of their little quirks may leave you with negative feelings and leave you wondering how you ended up agreeing to something you really were not ready for.

Your instincts may have already alerted you that something is amiss, either in your own relationship or in someone else’s, or you may be simply curious. You will always have the upper-hand by being informed and being able to recognize signs of a manipulative partner is the first step in protecting yourself.

Here are 10 signs of a manipulative partner:

1. They Often Give the Silent Treatment

Needing your own space to process negative emotions like anger or sadness is a healthy coping skill; however, complete refusal to speak to another person that you disagree with or to “punish them”, is not. A manipulative individual will use this tactic to take control of the discussion. After all, you can’t continue a conversation if one party is unresponsive.

2. Rushing You Through A Decision

Salesman often use this tactic to get buyers to feel the time-sensitive pressure and quickly decide. Manipulators will use this tactic to get their victims to feel that same time pressure and respond to get the response they want.

3. Small Requests for Big Favors

Oftentimes, a manipulative partner will get their foot in the door by asking a small, unobtrusive favor from you and once you have agreed to that, they follow-up with their much larger request. If you dare to object to their larger request, they will act as though you are in the wrong by not being good on your word, or a similar accusation.

4. Guilt Trips

I, like many people, enjoy traveling but I do not enjoy going on the guilt trips put on by a manipulator! Guilt trips are a commonly used resource by a manipulator when they do not get what they want. Manipulators will turn the tables to make you feel like you were in the wrong and have inconvenienced them significantly by your objections.

5. They Play Dumb

Psychology Today formally defines this term as “pretend ignorance”. Normally, it would not make sense to demand something from someone who does not understand the task or is incapable of completing the task. Manipulative people know that if they pretend to not understand where they have gone wrong or what you are asking of them, they can buy some time on the subject or avoid it altogether.

6. They Rob You of Your Self-Confidence

Those with low self-confidence are easy targets for a manipulator because they can easily maintain a sense of control over that person. A manipulative partner will constantly berate, criticize, or ridicule their partner to maintain a certain level of control over them.

7. They Are Passive-Aggressive

Aggressive behavior is not always physical. Some examples of passive-aggressive behaviors are things like “forgetting” tasks that need to be done, backhanded compliments, and sarcasm. Oftentimes these behaviors are are used as ways to express anger directed towards someone.

8. Little to No Conflict Resolution

When you feel like you have been talking about the same conflict for weeks or even months without resolution, it is possible there are manipulative behaviors at hand. Your partner may have ended the conversation leaving you agreeing with something you may not really be okay with.

9. They Are Constantly Playing the Victim

If you feel like your partner is constantly exaggerating their level of physical or emotional discomfort, they may be trying to manipulate you. A manipulative person may play the victim to try to induce feelings of guilt or a sense of protectiveness in you to twist the situation in their favor.

10. They Fake Concern

All in an effort to undermine you, a manipulative person will become suddenly interested in what is going on in your life. If you decide to let them in, they may ignore your input completely and twist the situation to their benefit.

Relationships are not about seeing how much we can control another person or gain benefit from them. Relationships are about forming a healthy and working attachment with someone that we can rely on to trust, honor, and respect us. Once you find a partner that is invested in your growth and well-being, you will see that relationships are meant to make us feel happy and secure.

10 Core Exercises That Are Important for Every Woman

May 5, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Are you looking for core exercises that will sculpt your mid-section? Not only will you look better, but you’ll also see better posture and feel better, too!

According to the Center for Disease Control(CDC), more than 60 percent of American women do not participate in physical activities. This statistic is a worrying number considering how vital exercises are for our health. Those who engage in routine workouts end up ignoring core exercises in their workouts, which is not a good idea.

These are physical activities that help to strengthen your pelvic, lower abdomen, hips, and lower back muscles. Every time you work out, you should include these exercises in your routine. The American Heart Association recommends two and a half hours of strenuous exercise each day.

The two hours are enough for you to include those exercises and achieve a well-rounded work out routine.

Exercises enable you to live a healthy life and prevent unnecessary ailments. If you spend most of your time on a desk, you should consider some posture exercises to help improve your health.

1. Push-Ups

Push-ups are the exercises that build the upper part of the body from the chest to the shoulders, then triceps and finally the core and glutes. These exercises are great for you as a woman because they help in shaping and toning your chest muscles.

They are good at burning calories, building strength effectively, and controlling the fat deposits in your body. It’s one of the most essential bodyweight exercises to learn before you begin exercising.

Push-ups are quite challenging at the beginning considering that your body muscles, which are not strong enough, have to contract. However, as soon as you build momentum, you won’t feel the resistance in your body.

How is this Exercise Done?

Get on all fours on the floor.
Then position yourself by placing your hands wider but in line with your shoulders. Your feet should be close together in that position.
Lift your hips and brace the core as you lower your body in such a way that your chest lightly touches the floor.
Raise your body back again as you straighten the elbows. Continue doing it back and forth for a few minutes.

2. Side Plank Exercise

Side plank is one of the core exercises that also doubles as an ab workout. Exercise improves your sense of balance. The target of the exercise is to strengthen the abdomen, legs, and arms.

How to Do the Exercise

The exercise is pretty simple.

Lie on your side and ensure your legs are straight together.
Support your body with your right hand as you raise your hips to attains a straight line in line with your feet and the head. Rest your left hand on your hips.
Once you raise yourself, remain in the position for at least five seconds before switching to the other side for five seconds. Maintaining the same time on both sides helps with muscular balance.
Keep in mind that the hips and knees should not touch the floor. Likewise, prolonging your stability depends on the side of feet support and not the sole.

Remember to succeed at the side plank exercise. You should keep your body rigid to avoid swaying and falling.

3. Hip Raise Exercise

A stronger core can heal back pain. One crucial exercise for an effective back pain remedy is hip raise. One of the muscles that most women ignore while working out is the hip muscles known as the hip cuff. When these muscles are weak, the chances of getting injuries on your back, hip, and knees increase.

The hip raise is an ab workout that focuses on strengthening the abdominal muscles. It is also a good exercise if you have back injuries as it helps in aligning those muscles.

How to Do It

The hip raise is pretty simple to perform. You need to:

Lie on your back and ensure your head and back are comfortable on the floor.
Place both your hands on each side facing down.
Bend your knees as you lift them in such a way that they are perpendicular to your upper body.
Lift your hips as you lift your legs in the direction of the ceiling while exhaling. Ensure the head is resting on the floor.
Lower your hips back to the floor as you inhale. Ensure your knees are bent or lying straight on the floor.
Repeat the exercise for a couple of minutes.

4. Chair Dips

Among the best and easy core exercises to work out to strengthen your triceps is the chair dips. The exercise is quite flexible because you can perform it anywhere. Indeed, you only need a chair, and you are good to go.

Chair dips are essential for every woman because they engage your core as well as the arms. The triceps helps when you are trying to reach out for something.

How to Do it

Face away from the chair and slide on it; ensure your hands are holding the edge for support
Ensure the position you have assumed looks like you are about to fall, but you are still close to the chair.
Lower your body by bending your elbow
w, almost like you are about to sit on the floor. Then lift yourself back to the previous position.
Repeat the exercise for a few minutes.

5. Mountain Climbers

This move is among the exercises that also work as a full-body workout.

How to Do it

Get on all your fours facing the floor. Ensure you support the body on your toes and your hands. The core and glutes should be engaged.
Ensure your legs and arms are extended, but your feet should be apart.
Bring your right foot forward toward your chest, then hold it for a few minutes before returning it to its position.
Do the same with the other foot as you alternate for a few minutes.

6. Step-ups

Step-ups exercise is a full-body workout that targets your quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings. This is also a more comfortable exercise to accomplish, so whether you are a beginner or a pro, this exercise will help you work out.

How It’s Done

You will need a step such as a chair or a bench for these exercises.
Step of the chair using your right foot.
Bring the other foot and step on the chair such that you are standing on it with both feet.
Takedown the right foot then followed by the left such that you are no longer standing on the chair but the floor.
Repeat this process for several repetitions.

7. Squats as one of the Core Exercises

Doing squats is a full-body workout. However, it’s known for targeting certain parts of the body, which include the core, buttocks, and thighs.

Women who are worried about toning and tightening their abs can benefit from this exercise.

Squats are beneficial to your body in many ways. They help improve digestion, blood circulation, and improving your posture.

How it’s done

Ensure you are standing in an upright position with your hands hanging on the side
Push your hips down as lower your body to the ground by bending your knees but don’t sit.
The lower part of your body should be parallel to the floor. Allow the weight of your body to fall to your toes, but be careful not to let the knees go over your toes.
Return to your starting position the back. Repeat the exercise for a few minutes.

8. Planks

Another exercise for your ab workout is planks. The exercise strengthens the spine, abdominal muscles, rhomboids, quads, and trapezius.

This exercise allows you to get into shape through your body weight. It is easy and flexible to do so you can quickly exercise even during your lunch break.

How to do Planks

Get in a push-up position on the floor

Bend your elbows at 90 degrees such a way that your whole body depends on them.
Your tummy and knees should not touch the surface but be on a straight line with the feet.
Inhale as you stay steady in that position a few minutes.

Assuming the correct position will help you stay steady for some time.

9. Arm Circles

The arm circle is another exercise that helps in toning your muscles and increasing endurance.

The Process

Stand on a steady floor and spread your legs and shoulders apart such that your hands are parallel to the floor.
Make circles of one diameter on each arm slowly then increase the pace.
Keep doing it for a few seconds before reversing the circle’s direction.
Hold your abs tight as you make the circle– you’ll engage your abs and tone your arms.

10. Lunges

If you want to develop strong thighs and hips and lower abs, then lunges are the right exercises for you. The exercise targets explicitly your hip extensions, and you can squeeze your abs to engage them, as well.

How to Do Them

Stand tall on an even surface. Stretch your shoulder backward and place your hands on your hips.
Place one foot forward, then lower your leg slowly by bending the knees to 90 degrees.
Repeat the process with the other foot.

Final Thoughts on Core Exercises that are Important for Every Woman

Exercising is an excellent way to keep fit and live a healthy life. However, most of the time you may workout but forget some important exercises which are crucial for your body. For instance, core exercises are useful at strengthening your pelvic muscles, back, and hips. Follow the above list of exercises to strengthen your entire body as you sculpt your abs.

10 Ways to Lose Love Handles Without Exercise

May 5, 2020 by Power of Positivity

Love handles can be challenging to get rid of, especially since the fat sits in an area on your body that doesn’t get a lot of activity. Exercising could be one smart way to help get rid of them. However, it’s not the only option.

There are plenty of weight loss methods that can help with overall fat reduction, including those stubborn love handles. While it is going to take a bit more time and dedication than achieving the same goal with regular exercise, it isn’t impossible.

Here are ten ways to lose those love handles, no exercise required.

10 Ways to Lose Your Love Handles (sans exercise)

1 – Cut Down On Sugar

Sugar is an excellent source of fuel for our bodies to help power us through periods when we’re highly active. But what about if we don’t get the activity we need to burn through it?

If it’s left to sit without being used, sugar ends up converting to fat. Then, our bodies store it for later use when our sugar reserves are gone, and we need an extra boost. Since sugar gets converted to fat, the first step to melting off those love handles is to cut back on added sugars.

This commitment includes cutting back on all the sweets like cookies and cakes. Also, you should cut out sugary sports drinks and sodas. Having too much sugar can also lead to other health problems, like the onset of diabetes, high blood sugar, and circulatory problems like clotting.

Fortunately, the natural sugars in fruits have different chemical makeup than additive sugars. So try eating a sweet Honeycrisp apple the next time your body craves something sugary.

2 – Keep Active

While you’re not outright exercising, you’re going to have trouble with losing weight without staying at least somewhat active. For your body to start the chemical processes involved in fat reduction, you need to use up enough energy reserves for your body to start tapping into that fat to fuel itself.

Try to keep active throughout your day. Do chores like laundry that require physical movement, or try walking instead of driving short distances to local stores. Stay on your feet and busy a moderate amount throughout the day. Thus, you should be able to at least burn through some of your energy reserves, helping you reduce fat if you are on a low sugar diet.

3 – Limit Harmful Fatty Foods

Much like sugars, fatty foods can also lead to fat build-up and fat retention. Avoid saturated fats since they can’t be as easily broken down by your body. This accumulation leads to fat retention and storage.

Instead, opt for foods with unsaturated fats. These unsaturated fats will help you feel full faster, curbing your calorie intake while also enabling your body to break them down for use elsewhere.

Unsaturated fats can be found in a variety of foods, such as vegetable oils, peanuts, and peanut oils, fatty fish, and other nuts. Even if you are on a low-fat diet, there are plenty of healthy snacks you can eat to curb your cravings.

4 – Relax

When we say relax, we don’t mean just loaf around the house all day like a lump. Stress can harm a variety of body systems. But most importantly, it can affect your weight.

Cortisol is released under stress, which is natural under short term circumstances. Prolonged stress can cause too much cortisol in the system, though. The outcome leads to a variety of side effects, including weight gain. Try to spend some time each day to relax and destress, giving your mind and body a break from the day to day frustrations.

Here are five easy tips to increase your willpower.

5 – Bulk Up On Your Proteins

Increasing the amount of protein you eat can also help indirectly get rid of those love handles. Proteins are very filling. This satiety means you’ll be less likely to snack later on in the day. On top of this, the chemical reactions proteins use to build muscle, and many of their other uses use fat as an energy source to help fuel them. Proteins also help specifically reduce belly fat and love handles.

6 – Cut Back On Alcohol

Alcohol has many adverse effects on the body, but there are a few that are directly related to your body’s weight. Alcohol acts as a sedative, slowing down your body’s function and reducing adrenaline.

It boosts the activity of the parasympathetic nervous system, which plays a significant role in regulating appetite.

This increased activity leads to a larger appetite. Plus, it leads you to eat more than you usually would. Alcohol can also slow down the body’s metabolism, meaning that you won’t process and burn off calories as quickly as usual.

7 – Stay Motivated

It can be surprising how much a positive attitude can subconsciously affect your day to day actions. Staying motivated and not letting yourself get discouraged can help with weight loss by merely increasing your chances of continuing healthy habits and staying on track.

If you start getting discouraged, you’ll be more likely to cheat on your diet. You might even become less active or even give up entirely and gain even more weight in the process. It’s essential to keep yourself motivated and to remember that weight loss is a process.

The first few pounds usually go quick, but after a point, getting rid of the deep fat can take a while. No matter how tough it gets, don’t give up.

Read tips on how to get chiseled arms–right from the comfort of your home.

8 – Avoid Processed Foods

Processed foods often contain a lot of ingredients that are bad for your overall health. They aren’t necessarily toxic to your body. However, they aren’t easily processed, leading to increased weight gain, increased blood sugar, and a variety of other issues if you eat too many of them.

Stick to unprocessed foods like lean meats, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. If you are looking for a snack and want to avoid processed foods, consider picking up some organic flour and some fresh ingredients, and try your hand at baking.

There are plenty of flours that offer a lower-carb alternative like buckwheat and rye as well. Then, you won’t have to feel as guilty about your snacking. Since processed foods can have a significant impact on your weight, you’ll see a noticeable difference once you cut out things like fast food and tv dinners.

9 – Pay Attention To Your Hunger

It’s essential to pay attention to how you feel after eating. Eating slowly and being mindful of your appetite can help prevent you from overeating, as well as help you feel less bloated after eating a meal since you won’t overeat and stuff yourself.

Your body doesn’t necessarily send the signal that you are full right away, which often leads to a feeling of bloating after a large meal. Eating more slowly and savoring your food helps you better keep track of when your body is full.

Practicing mindful eating habits can help directly reduce your weight by decreasing your food intake. In turn, you’ll decrease stored fat. Additionally, plan to eat more frequent smaller meals rather than more substantial meals. This habit can help keep your body more consistently fueled. It also enables you to eat less throughout the day.

10 – Stay Hydrated

Most people don’t realize just how critical water is to your body’s vital functions.

Water helps with the following processes:

Regulating your cellular metabolism
Flushing toxins from your body
Balancing your body fluid.

The problem most people encounter is that they opt for sugary sports drinks to stay hydrated. And those drinks add up to a lot of extra calories. The good thing about sports drinks is that they provide an extra energy boost in the form of sugars and electrolytes, helping you keep hydrated and energized through heavy workouts. If you’re not working out, though, these sports drinks will merely do more harm than good.

Energy drinks increase your water retention, leading to more weight gain. Also, they can cause some bloating. Finally, the extra sugars can easily be converted into fat, doubling down on the weight gain.

Water provides many of the same benefits, keeping you hydrated as well as clearing out substances that can lead to fat retention. Water is essential to most of your body functions, so staying hydrated will not only help with weight loss but will help you feel healthier overall as well.

Final Thoughts on Losing Your Love Handles Without Exercise

If you are trying to get rid of love handles without exercise, it’s certainly possible. However, it will take a lot longer than using a combination of proper diet and exercise.

There are plenty of ways to help lose weight without exercise, though. And by following these ten tips, you’ll be able to get rid of those love handles with patience and discipline.

Just be sure to stick to your healthy eating habits and try to keep relatively active throughout the day. The most important thing is to stay on track and stick to your diet and restrictions. No matter how long it takes, don’t lose hope; eventually, you’ll shed those love handles, feeling happier and healthier about your body.

20 Things To Never Say About Love To Single People

May 5, 2020 by Sarah Barkley

Relationships, especially romantic relationships, are tricky business. Love is one of the most profound emotions that we can experience. Most of us seek to be loved and accepted by a person in a relationship in ways that bring out the best we have to offer. But others enjoy being single people!

For many people, romantic relationships are one of the most meaningful experiences a person can have; the need for human connection and to be wanted and needed seems innate. While we may establish this relationship in different ways, we desire a partner that understands, celebrates, and wants to grow with us through thick and thin.

Some psychologists theorize that the ability to forge healthy relationships starts in infancy when we understand what it means to be connected to someone. We might not be able to articulate these feelings into words. Still, we perceive what being in a “healthy” relationship means to us, and we form an opinion as to whether or not we want to make an effort to create meaningful relationships in our lives.

Single people vs. happy couples

Do we have to be at odds with one another? Why can’t we all just get along and accept each other for our pathways in life? There seems to be a stigma in our society regarding single people. Indeed, it is assumed that they are usually unhappy with relationships, somehow fundamentally flawed, or in between relationships.

We make similar judgments about “happy couples.” These dynamic duos have it all: they are forward-thinking, have a harmonious home life, and will be together forever.

The longer you live, however, and the more experience you have with all significant relationships in your life, the more you find that there is some serious gray area in between both of these extremes. Let’s not assume too much about each other, but for the intent and purpose of the rest of this article, we’ll be speaking specifically to those single people who don’t want to be told that they are “waiting,” “unhappy,” or “unfulfilled.”

If you are in a relationship, congratulations! We hope you are happy! If you are one of those couples who want to set up your single friends on the next Saturday date night, you might want to avoid these phrases when talking about what is to come as a result of your matchmaking efforts.

Here are twenty things never to say about love to single people:

In case you’re on the receiving end of these questions, we’ve also included some tips for you!

1. Why are you still single?

Newsflash! There’s nothing wrong with being alone. This question is probably one of the most offensive things that a single person can hear. In the middle of a backhanded compliment implying that you are fabulous, there’s a lurking, small question regarding what may be wrong with you. Refuse to answer that question and live your life!

2. Are you dating anyone?

Not everyone has to date to feel fulfilled. There are plenty of singles out there who are completely happy with the lives that they have created–sans dates. Regardless of where you are on the dating timeline, you can choose to divulge information or keep it to yourself. If you would like help finding someone special, ask for it. If not, steer clear of those friends and family members that will inevitably ask this question at the next social gathering you are at.

3. You will find plenty of fish in the sea!

Of course, there are plenty of fish in the sea! Not all fish are compatible with one another, and if you had your eye on a particular fish, you might be disappointed to find that the two of you cannot swim together anymore. It would honestly be more comforting to have them empathize with you on how the dissolution of valued relationships sucks. You don’t need to focus on more opportunities until you are ready.

4. I never liked “so and so” anyway.

Your breakup may have been ugly, you may never want to see them again, but that doesn’t mean that your coupled-off friends can start bashing single people and their dating practices. You legitimately cared about this person, and you need time to grieve without finding out that your loved ones did not support your relationship from the beginning.

5. Surely you don’t want to end up alone!

And why not? What’s wrong with being alone? Single people lead lives as fulfilling as those of their married and partnered counterparts. Instead, it all comes down to what you choose as right and appropriate for you and your life’s goals. If you want to rock the single catwalk, go for it! Make no apologies!

6. Don’t worry. Your time will come

Just what time is it that your married friends are talking about? There may not be the right time for you to meet that someone special, and that’s okay. You are not racing against society, a time clock, or Father Time, for that matter. If it happens, it happens. If not, be happy with what life has brought you, and look for opportunities to be grateful for your gifts.

7. Why not spend time focusing on yourself instead?

Who says you are not already doing this? You can focus on yourself AND look for a relationship, or on the details of your life that will bring you happiness and fulfillment. It does not have to be in the form of a relationship. Create your best experience, and see what beautiful gifts of relationships unfold naturally.

8. Don’t single people want to have children?

Having children is not for everyone. So whether you want to have them or not, there are steps that single people take to start a family without the addition of a relationship. Foster parenting and adoption are options for you if you want to experience what it’s like to raise a child, and if you have the opportunity to create children with someone special, it’s a bonus. This question is rather personal, and you have every right to decline to answer if the occasion calls for it politely.

9. I know what will be right for you

Many people in your inner circle think they know what’ll be right for you. Who knows what is best for you, though? That’s right…..YOU. Only you can do some soul searching and find what you genuinely want regarding relationships, and only you can seek to make that happen. Single people make solid choices, too; allow yourself the freedom to express yourself for who you truly are.

10. What’s wrong with you single people, anyway?

While we might bristle at that question and push back even when we are jokingly asked this question, secretly, we might wonder if there is something fundamentally unlovable about us. We all have those moments of neurosis; they will pass, and as you learn to ride the wave of life and appreciate what comes to you, you’ll be less and less affected by this ignorant question.

11. How’s the single people life?

You are not the ambassador for millions of single people around the planet. You can only speak for your experience of single life. Don’t be afraid to gently correct as you regale sizzling tales from your life, and bring the asker to the realization that no subgroup of people can be classified together as having a shared experience.

12. Deciding to get married is the best choice you’ll ever make!

Marriage is not for everyone. It takes time, commitment, and hard work. While it might be the bee’s knees for some people, it might not be for you. Realize that this opinionated statement is a perception based on something that someone else has experienced, and you have the right to create your unique pathway.

13. Don’t ever get married!

Again, this very opinionated statement is based on one other person’s bad experience with and perception of marriage. You should be allowed to formulate your own opinions without being barraged by those of others. While it’s unfortunate that this does take place in relationships, it does not have to be the ending of your story. You are the master of your tale.

14. You must love yourself before someone else can love you.

It’s a massive assumption that you have low self-esteem. So how dare anyone else look at your unique situation and judge your opinion of yourself? Recognize the ignorance that comes with this statement, and look within to see if there are areas and things about yourself that you could accept more willingly. Regardless of relationship status, more work on the “self” translates to more happiness and peace. Isn’t that what we’re all after anyway?

15. I think it’s great that you’re happy all by yourself.

This sentence is one of those statements you’re unsure how to take. Is it a compliment? Is it borne of sympathy and pity? Couples do not have a monopoly on happiness, so if you are rocking life by yourself, keep trucking!

16. I cannot imagine having to put myself out there again!

Great news! Dating people is not the same as sitting in line at the DMV. It can be an experience rich with adventure, excitement, and the potential for love. You might find a few rocks along the path, but move them aside and keep enjoying your walk. Have fun with the opportunity to meet others and learn more about yourself in the process.

17. Don’t worry. You’ll get lucky one day just like I did!

Marriage and Couplesville is not a slot machine–you don’t pull a lever and receive your potential partner at the bottom of a device. If you choose to date and meet someone seriously, it should be a thoughtful process of co-creating the future with someone.

Take matters into your own hands if you choose to, and with some thoughtful contemplation, determine what type of partner, relationship, and life you wish to have.

18. You just need to be more “presentable.”

What the heck does that mean? Should you get a gym membership? How about veneers? Do you need to get a makeover or start coloring your hair? If someone does not accept you for who you choose to be and how you express yourself, they can keep walking. This rule goes for your friends and family members too, by the way. Don’t let anyone talk to you like that.

19. What do you single people do on the weekends?

There are plenty of things to do in a single weekend; the sky’s the limit with how you choose to craft your time. The fact that people assume you are not doing anything because you “don’t have a special someone” is entirely erroneous. Fill your weekend with whatever you want to fill it with, and leave the speculation to those most opinionated couples around you who need a little education when it comes to a single perspective.

20. Why do single people always push love away?

Why is there a stigma that the only meaningful love that can be experienced in life is that which comes from a romantic partner? You have the love of family, friends, and others around you that make your life rich and meaningful. Refuse to feel bad about the experience that you have created, and look forward to loving as it comes your way, in whatever form it takes.

Final Thoughts on Being Compassionate to Single People

Regardless of your thoughts, feelings, and perceptions of love, you have every right to create your life and relationships in a way that feels best to you. Realize that others are entitled to their opinions and that you don’t necessarily have to defend your actions and choices to anyone other than yourself. Have fun, enjoy the ride, and see where’d life…..and love…..take you!

Weekly tips, affirmations, and small actions to feel your best.

Every day is a day to shine. Shine on!