Would you fake a girlfriend?

The single status is often looked upon with disdain by both men and women. It's no wonder that people are afraid to acknowledge it and end up resorting to different methods to ensure they get rid of the tag of 'singledom'.

In fact, according to a daily in China, some men even hire a real-life fake girlfriend for an occasion. This demand increases especially before the Chinese New Year, where men would rather fake being in a relationship to their family than admit being 'single'. While a site that allows you to create a profile of your 'fake girlfriend' has been around for a while, the latest entrant on this front is a new texting service on the net where you sign up to have your 'girlfriend' send you fake SMSes.
As per the instructions listed on site, all you need to do is save the fake girlfriend number on your phone under a fictitious name. Then, when you're out with the woman you are interested in, just text that number. They will then send you "a random girlfriend-esque message".

Nobody wants to be lonely
Actor Rahul Dev says, "Men are scared of being rejected. That's the reason they would subscribe to such a service. Nobody wants to be told they aren't good enough, so they will pretend to be 'wanted' by the opposite sex in front of their buddies. Jealousy can make you do strange stuff."
Mehar Bhasin, a former model and grooming expert, adds, "This concept takes jealousy to the next level. It's like the man is trying to appear 'uber cool' to his girlfriend by showing off that he's much in demand, and she's lucky to have him. In China and Japan, break-up experts are being hired to tell the partner that the relationship is off. Personally, I wouldn't try to make my partner jealous by going that far."

"It's all about the ego," Dr Kurien S Thomas, clinical psychologist, says. "Some guys may opt for this as it gives them an ego boost and a false sense of security. It takes away the emotional stress that they go through because of peer pressure for not being able to find a girl who appreciates them for who they are."
Clinical psychologist Dr Seema Hingorrany adds, "I had a patient who came to me and told me he tried something similar to win over his girlfriend. He was sure she had feelings for him but she was reluctant to admit it. So he got a guy friend to pose as a secret admirer. Luckily for him, things worked in his favour." However, Seema warns that it's advisable not to use this frequently. While it may make you appear attractive in the eyes of the opposite sex initially, it could work against you in the long run.

Is there a best time to exercise?

Not really, say experts. For most people the best time to do exercise is the best convenient time. If you are doing exercise at a particular time daily then you are more likely to see results.

It is often found that those who do exercise in the morning are more disciplined and are unlikely to skip exercise at any cost unlike those who do exercise in the late evening.

Though there are researches on exercise they are still limited. So it is difficult to fix the right time to exercise. "Some people can wake up early in the morning and can easily do exercise without fail. But others are lazy to get up early. So for them it is always better to do it according to their convenience," says Bindu S, a fitness expert.

But some research shows that you have more endurance in the late afternoon as the body temperature is at its highest and so strength and endurance are greater. "Not many can afford to work out when they feel like due to various family and work commitments. So even if you are doing your workouts at a time you despair, don't feel sorry for your body can easily adapt to any circumstance," says George Joseph, a personal trainer. George says more than the physical aspect missing the exercise routine can have psychological impacts. "The guilt feeling that you could not do the exercise can bring forth many negative emotions. This would affect your productivity the whole day.

So, the good news is, whether it is morning or late evening what matters is you do the exercise regularly.

So, happy exercising folks!

Unexpected benefits of Depression Treatment

      Better Sleep

Depression can rob you of rest by making it hard to fall asleep or by waking you up too soon. That leaves you dragging the next day. And more important, lack of sleep can make depression more severe. Treatment for depression can help improve sleep.

Better Love Life

Some antidepressants may dampen the libido. But often, the bigger roadblock to a happy love life is depression itself. One study showed that 70% of people with depression reported a loss of sexual interest while not taking medicine. Treatment may help restore your self-confidence and strengthen your emotional connection with your partner.

Pain Relief

Treatment for your depression can make you feel better emotionally and may reduce pain. That’s because depression can contribute to the discomfort of pain. Studies have found that people who have conditions like arthritis and migraines actually feel more pain -- and are more disabled by it -- if they're depressed. Seeking treatment may help provide relief.

Improved Health

If you are depressed, getting treatment may help prevent some serious diseases down the road. That’s because depression can take a toll on your body. One study found that women who were depressed had double the risk of sudden cardiac death than women who weren’t. Getting treatment may help lessen health risks.

Better Performance at Work

Depression can make it hard to hold a job. If you’re depressed, you might lose focus at work and make more mistakes. If you think depression might be affecting you at work, getting help now could head off serious problems.

Sharper Thinking and Better Memory

Feeling forgetful? Does your thinking seem fuzzy? Experts have found that depression might cause structural changes to the areas of the brain involved in memory and decision-making.

The good news is that depression treatment may prevent or reverse these changes -- clearing away the cobwebs and strengthening your recall.

Happier Home Life

Irritable and angry? Constantly snapping at your kids -- and then feeling bad about it? Getting depression treatment can help boost your mood. And that can help reduce tension around the house and improve your relationship with your family.

Healthier Lifestyle

Why does depression cause some people to gain weight? In part, it’s behavioral -- you may withdraw and become less active, or turn to food for comfort. It’s also physiological -- low levels of certain brain chemicals can trigger a craving for carbs. Getting treatment may change that while giving you the energy to exercise and eat well.

Less Chaos, More Control

When depression zaps your energy, even the most basic tasks -- like vacuuming or paying the bills -- can become impossibly hard. The more chaotic things get, the less capable you feel. Depression treatment can restore the energy you need to take control of your life and get it organized.

Lower Risk of Future Depression

People who have been depressed have a higher risk of becoming depressed again. But ongoing therapy or medication may help prevent depression from coming back. Even if it does return, treatment now will prepare you. You’ll know the early signs. You’ll know some coping skills. And you’ll know where to get help.

Stronger Ties With Friends & Family

Treating depression may improve your social life. Depression isolates people. It can sap your self-esteem, making you feel unlikeable. While therapy and medication can help restore some of that lost confidence, you still need to decide to reach out. Reconnecting to old friends when you’re depressed -- not to mention making new ones -- is hard. But it’s a crucial part of getting better.

Getting Help

Some people with depression try to wait it out, hoping it will get better on its own without treatment. That's a mistake. Studies have found that the longer depression lasts, the worse your symptoms may get and the harder it is to treat.

See your doctor. Schedule an appointment with a therapist. The sooner you get help, the better your odds for a healthy future.

How to cope with PCOS

Women around the world have to take up multiple roles, which means they not only have to juggle home and work, but also come out with flying colours! The working woman thus ends up stressed, oblivious to the fact that it can have adverse effects on her health.
Stress nowadays can lead to Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome or PCOS, which arises due to hormonal imbalance in a woman’s body. The same can cause changes in the menstrual cycle, loss of hair on the head, chronic acne apart from other issues. But it is surely not the end of the world. PCOS can be cured if treated and a healthy lifestyle can play a big role in getting rid of it. Here's how to deal with PCOS.

Don’t hit the panic button yet: Stress can often lead to outbursts which just worsen the situation. Chronic stress is also responsible for depression which leads to excessive eating resulting in fast weight gain. Try staying calm or join a yoga class to relax your mind.

Consult a doctor: Once diagnosed, the first thing that comes to a woman’s mind is whether she can become pregnant or not. Visiting a gynaecologist is the best thing to do here; also a dermatologist who can help you deal with hair loss, acne et al. Speak to your gynaecologist and start monitoring your ovulation cycle.

Communicate with your partner: Pregnancy and child birth are sensitive issues in a relationship. Therefore speak to your partner at the earliest. Before he bombards you with questions, educate yourself about the condition. Be honest about health complications, but  assure him that with medication, pregnancy is very much possible.

Start exercising: One of the major symptoms of PCOS is excessive weight gain in a very short span of time. Set goals for yourself and start hitting the gym regularly. Losing that flab can be a strenuous and long-term activity, but eating right and staying committed to a definite weight loss programme can work wonders for you.

Kick the butt: If you are a smoker, your monthly cycle could be affected by the birth control pills your doctor might prescribe during treatment. PCOS can also lead to heart disease in future which gets aggravated by smoking. Kick the butt today!  

Join some activity: Hair loss and chronic acne can sometimes pull you down and lead to depression. Low self-esteem and lack of confidence are common problems faced by women suffering from PCOS. Do something exciting or join a hobby class to distract yourself. Try to find happiness by doing what you love the most.

Find support in friends: Reports suggest that a large number of women have been diagnosed with PCOS in the last couple of years. High chances it may mean that your friend is suffering from the same. Confide in her instead of bearing all the stress yourself.

Take rest: You are the boss at work and also at home; so what? You do deserve to take it easy and put your feet up at times. Plan a holiday and switch off your cell phone during the trip. Try and get yourself at least seven hours of sleep daily.

Look like a diva this winter

Winter makeup doesn't mean you have to look washed out. Here are some trends you can choose from to look like a diva this season.

Bold lips: A statement pout is an evergreen trend. So go ahead, dab on some fiery red lipstick and turn heads. Make sure you line your lips well before the application so that your pout doesn't look smudged. Also, if you are going heavy on the lips, keep the eyes kohl-free. Just dab on some gold eyeshadow to highlight your brows and mascara to open up your eyes.

Pink blush: In winter, the skin often looks dry and pale. Blush is a good way to create the illusion of rosy chheks. To apply the perfect brush of blush, suck your cheeks in and apply blush on the apple of your cheeks. Don't overdo it. Round off with neutral or light pink gloss and dewy eye makeup.

Nature inspired: Nature inspired trends are in this season. Use an eye quartet that has the colours of autumn like gold, browns and beige. Alternatively, if you are bold enough, go for white eye makeup: white liner, white shadow with silver accents.

Go goth: Dark eyes and lips make a gothic combo. But this winter play it up with a twist: use metallic eye shadow instead of the susal opaque black. For the lips, go for a glossy scarlett or deep maroon.

Stepmom? So what!

Being a stepmom is not easy. It is one of the most difficult relationships that a woman may have to nurture. Our society has always portrayed stepmother as the evil woman. It's natural for children to feel the same and not feel comfortable being around their stepmom. So, it is upto her you make the children comfortable. Here are some tips to make an entry into your new family without feeling like a stranger:

Be a communicator from Day one: Once you know that you are about to enter another family, start communicating with your new children from the beginning. There might be some things that your stepchildren might need clarification about. Talk to them. You should ask your husband to help you out with this. Do your research and know what is it that your stepchildren like and dislike. Take them out for a coffee, and talk to them like you would to a friend. You could even join them at an activity which they are interested in, but make sure they permit you to do the same.

Don't be too eager: Remember that no child, be it adult or young, can give their stepmother the place of his/her mother at first. It takes time. So it is best for you to respect that. Don't pester them to call you mom or behave like a stern mother chalking down rules for them.

You are not their Mom yet: Let your husband take major decisions where the children are concerned. Your husband does know them better and you should accept that sportingly.

Know your limits: Your stepchild is not someone you know for many years, so they may not want to share detail with you. Respect their privacy. Do not intrude, it's likely to make things uncomfortable for everyone.

Don't be a pushover: You don't have to be extra nice to your kids to establish a good rapport with them. Don't give in to unusual demands. Follow the rules that have been set over the years.

Cut out the complaints: If you keep complaining about them to your husband, it's likely to affect your relationship adversely. Make sure you don't fake being nice to them, and actually bitch behind their back.

10 healthy habits that make you handsome

There are easier, more effective, ways to look like a million bucks than by plunking down that much on some surgical solution -- the way some Hollywood pretty-boy wannabe would.

And just your luck: all involve treating your body better. It's true, a healthier lifestyle can actually boost your physical appearance -- targeting everything from your complexion, to those bags under your eyes, to the sheen of your hair.

Follow these 10 simple health and nutrition tips to make the face staring at you in the mirror hotter than ever.

1. Care about skin care.

Too often, this advice is sloughed off like dead epidermal cells. But listen anyway: Use moisturizers to keep your skin from drying out -- and more importantly, apply sunscreen to curb premature aging and undue damage from ultraviolet rays bound to resurface in the form of leather-textured moles or other such unpleasantnesses.

"If men would simply do this, it would make the biggest difference in their appearance," says Dr. Leslie Baumann, a dermatologist and author of the best-seller The Skin Type Solution. Make it a habit, like shaving or brushing your teeth, she suggests.

2. Butt out.

As in, stop smoking. "Cigarettes cause worse wrinkling than the sun," stresses Dr. Brooke Seckel, a plastic surgeon and author of Save Your Face -- The Revolutionary 6-Step Nonsurgical Facial Rejuvenation Program. Smoking robs the skin of collagen and elastin -- which give the skin texture, strength and elasticity -- and in turn speeds up the aging process. Cigarette use can also give the skin a grayish tone. Hot!

3. Eat right.

A healthy diet equals a more glowing complexion, shinier hair and a fitter you.

"The key is to stay well balanced," says Jim White, a fitness and nutrition expert, and a spokesman for the American Dietetic Association. "Oatmeal is a great power food. It's loaded with fiber and can help manage hunger and lower cholesterol. Cottage cheese, meanwhile, is low in sugar and high in protein and calcium."

Overall, stick closely to a Mediterranean-type diet, with few high-fat meats and larger amounts of grains, fish and olive oil.

4. Sleep.

Get the recommended eight hours a night, at least. "Sleeping restores all organs of the body, including the skin, which is the body's largest organ," notes Seckel. "It also reduces tension and anxiety, lessening crow's feet, frown lines and worry lines."

Lack of sleep also causes those dreaded circles under your eyes. (See our Facebook photos.)

5. Hydrate.

"Skin needs water to function properly, especially to fight damage caused by the sun," says Baumann. Drinking the recommended eight glasses a day additionally flushes toxins from the body and brings nutrients to the deep layer of the skin (the dermis).

6. Slenderize.

Trimming down will not only improve your appearance but also reduce your risk of stroke, diabetes, cancer and other diseases.

"Don't go on some radical diet. Instead think about portion control," says White. "Shave your calorie intake by 500 a day by cutting back on some vices like fried foods, and you'll lose a sensible pound or two a week."

7. Be pro-antioxidant.

Antioxidants like vitamins A, C and E found in fruits and vegetables are essential. They promote skin repair and elasticity and also reduce your risk for heart disease and cancer, says White.

8. Do cardio.

A cardio workout regimen lowers stress, makes you happier and gives your skin a glow. "Do any kind of aerobic exercise that will raise your heart rate above baseline for half an hour a day, says Dr. Douglas Peterson, a sports medicine specialist at the Mayo Clinic. "It could be going for a walk, taking a bike ride or using the elliptical -- something that works up a sweat a little. Don't do too much too fast or you'll get injured and quit. Exercise should be fun, and you should feel good doing it."

9. Watch the booze.

"Alcohol causes swelling of the tissues, especially puffy eyes, and often leads to bad eating habits -- causing weight gain -- and smoking," warns Seckel.

10. Stand tall.

Good posture really is a good thing. Core strength training will get rid of that unseemly slouch. (Plus, a new set of six pack abs is definitely an appearance improvement.) Dr. Peterson recommends light resistance training two to three times a week to strengthen core muscles. A certified personal trainer can work with you on a regimen that you can follow at home.

Create your home gym

While a common complaint of most people is that they don't find time to go to the gym, there is always the option of utilising a small space in your home for working out.

Get equipped
When putting your home gym space together, it's important to purchase the right equipment. If you're just starting training, it's best to keep the machines to the minimal. A good exercising mat is needed for push-ups, other stretching exercises and yoga. Buying a small treadmill or a stepper can be good to get some cardio. A fitness ball and dumbbells help as well.

Designed to fit
Adding mirrors in your gym space can help. It will not only make the space appear larger than it actually is, but also enable you to see what you're doing right or wrong. A music system can also help to keep your mood upbeat.

Be careful
Always use equipment that is tested. Ask a fitness enthusiast to help you purchase machines for your home gym. Faulty equipment can cause you injury.