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How To Detox From A Junk Food Addiction

Junk food has infiltrated our homes, schools and offices. We can’t run an errand without standing next to a counter full of candy, we can’t buy a coffee without being tempted with biscotti and pastries, and we can’t walk down the hallway without the temptation of a vending machine or a colleague’s birthday treats.

So why does junk food have so much power over us? Because it’s designed to. The sugar, salt, fat and all of the other ingredients of junk food are designed to make us want more. In fact, sugar has been proven to be eight times more addictive than cocaine. Yes, eight! We don’t stand a chance, and it’s no wonder we can’t say no.

Many experts believe the sugar and chemicals used in processed foods are at the heart of the obesity epidemic and the root of many diseases. Knowing this, makes paying attention to what we eat more important than ever. We have to stop thinking of nutrition as a way of fueling our bodies for right now and start thinking of how we can fuel it for long-term health and well-being.

So, how exactly do we kick our junk-food addiction? You have to make the choice to do it and then take action. It sounds simple, but like most change, it can be a challenge.

Here Are 6 Ways to Detox From a Junk-Food Addiction

1. Allow For Three Days

Realize that an addiction to junk-food will likely result in withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The first three days are going to be tough as our bodies work to get rid of the toxins and realize we are not giving into the addiction anymore.

We can do anything for three days, right? Do these things to help get through it:

  • Remove as much temptation from your daily routine as possible during the first few days
  • Drink more water than usual and add lemon when possible
  • Take frequent walks outside
  • Have nuts, veggies and other easy snacks on hand
  • Don’t starve yourself, just choose better options

2. Stick to Three

Keeping on the three theme, apparently three is the magic number. A study out of Cornell University found that we prefer multi-colored food on our plate. The recommendation is to choose three different types of food in three different colors when creating your meals.

3. Read Labels

The longer the ingredient list usually means the more processed it is. Food companies are required to list the ingredients in order of the amount in the product, with the ingredient with highest amount being listed first. Try to stay away from foods that have sugar, white flour and unfamiliar ingredients near the top of the list. The best way to tackle the grocery store is to spend time on the outside aisles, the produce section, and the organic aisles.

4. Learn Your Triggers

Everyone has certain triggers that lead to making poor choices. It might be a certain kind of food, a certain time of day, or a specific activity. Knowing what it is that triggers us can help us avoid it by eliminating foods, keeping busy during specific times, or avoiding the activities that trigger the desire for junk food.

5. Change Things Up

Our routines may be a big reason we reach for junk food instead of healthier, more nutritious options. Much like our triggers, changing our routine can play an important role in helping us to detox from a junk food addiction.

Create a morning routine where you pack lunch and snacks, create an afternoon routine of taking a walk when your energy is low, and create a nighttime routine that supports your desire to eat healthily. Include your nutrition goals when establishing routines, and they’ll be more likely to stick.

6. Take it One Day at a Time

Detoxing from anything is hard work, and we have to be forgiving of ourselves. Oftentimes we are so hard on ourselves and set unrealistic expectations, that we set ourselves up for failure. Take it one day at a time and let every day be a new day. If you fall off the wagon, don’t wait to get back on – just get back on. You are trying to create a lifestyle change, and there is no perfect. Just try to do better tomorrow than you did today.

It might be easy to walk away from the vending machine and reach for some grapes instead. And then again, it might be really hard. Choosing better nutritional options is easier than ever, but it’s still a challenge unless you have the intention and motivation to make it happen. Even though it can be hard at times, the benefits are immeasurable and definitely worth the effort.

What Does Your Birth Month Zodiac Reveal About You?

While you have probably heard that zodiac signs can reveal a lot about a person’s personality and characteristics, did you know that the month you were born can also tell many things about you?

Your birth month can offer insight into your overall demeanor. You can also discover how other people see you and understand more deeply your feelings toward life in general. These astrological descriptions base character traits on the alignment and placement of the stars during your birth month.

Read on to see what your birth month zodiac reveals about you:

birth month

January

People born in January have a strong work ethic, and will not hesitate to voice their opinions. They can portray a headstrong attitude. In other words, they don’t take well to people telling them what to do. They make good leaders because of their persistence and drive to succeed, but listening to others is not a strong point. If you were born in January, you have a natural ability to teach other people. What is more, others tend to listen to you with a willingness to learn.

February

If you were born in February, you probably have a strong creative streak. Likely, you enjoy working on new projects. You love getting into intellectual discussions and avoid conversation with others who seem shallow. You have probably been called a free spirit more than once or twice. Living within the confines of society’s rigid rules is not your favorite choice. You love to travel. Adventure and exploration excite you and make you feel alive. You operate best in the company of other dreamers. February-born free-spirits make loyal, honest friends and partners.

March

People born in March tend toward creativity and imagination, but they can also be introspective and quiet. They live inside their own heads a lot, creating masterpieces within their minds. They turn to the arts for expressing themselves and enjoy quiet time alone. If you were born in March, you have a kind, gentle demeanor toward others, yet tend to hide many aspects of yourself from them. You crave peaceful, serene environments, and avoid noisy, crowded places when you can.

April

Those born in April crave attention and love every second they can spend in the spotlight. They don’t take orders well, instead preferring to do things their way and lead others. April-born individuals seek new adventures and seek out ways to experience an adrenaline rush. They act first and think later, living life day to day, seeing where it takes them. Although sometimes known to be loud and obnoxious, they speak their minds and have no problem telling other people how they feel.

May

People born in the month of May tend to be fickle, wanting one thing today, and something totally different tomorrow. Those of this zodiac sign express themselves well and love talking to people from all walks of life. They tend to have an active social life and don’t like to spend a lot of time alone. If you were born in May, you probably love stimulating, intelligent conversations, yet need an equal amount of fun and excitement. You may get bored easily, and seek new ways to entertain yourself.

June

If you were born in June, you are sensitive and caring toward other people and their feelings. You can be shy and soft-spoken, but people admire that about you. A creative spirit helps you think far into the future about what you can create. You spend time considering how you can bring your ideas into the world. Though you don’t always express your feeling, you have a whole world living inside you, and you hope to figure out how to realize your many dreams.

zodiac

July

People born in July have many of the same traits as those born in June, except they are often more spontaneous and extroverted. They live for adventures, and love to have a good time. Outwardly, they appear confident and cheerful, but inside, they harbor a lot of dark secrets. If you were born in July, you might tend to hide your pain from others. You have lots of energy, and people love to hang out with you because of this.

August

Those born under the August zodiac are natural leaders, not afraid to stand on their own with their opinions. They can be bossy and opinionated, but they have big hearts. If you were born in August, you might tend to overthink matters and find difficulty considering other approaches. People born in August do well in careers that involve critical thinking and analysis because they see life in a logical manner. They find it challenging to express their emotions, so understanding the deeper side of them can seem difficult at times.

September

People born in this zodiac sign have high expectations of others and can tend to get disappointed easily. They have a stubborn streak and hold grudges if you get on their bad side. If you were born in September, you are probably a perfectionist, holding yourself and others to high ideals. You are likely sensual, creative, and kind, always wanting to help others when you can.

October

People born in October crave balance and stability in everything they do and have a positive outlook on life. They don’t like confrontation and avoid it whenever possible. If born in October, you likely have an active social life and love your friends to death. You’re charming and talkative. Though you love being around people, you’re fiercely independent as well.

November

People born in the November zodiac are very secretive, and often hide their true feelings from others. They don’t like others telling them what to do, and tend to carve their own path in life. November-born people don’t have too many fears and will jump into a situation headfirst, no matter the consequences. They don’t let anything in life stop them, and have a headstrong, passionate approach to life.

December

December babies are very adventurous, generous people. They can let their pride get in the way sometimes, and tend to have a short fuse with people. They like to be on-the-go, and can’t stand to sit still too long. If you were born in December, you might be feisty and like entertaining people. Your free-spirited attitude perfectly balances your more conservative side.

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5 Signs It’s Time to Rethink Your Relationship

When we find someone we truly admire and adore, we sometimes overlook or ignore warning signs of certain behaviors and personality traits that can actually harm us emotionally and even physically. Most everyone in a relationship just wants a happy, healthy, thriving union between themselves and their partner, but when something doesn’t feel right, they sometimes choose to look past these feelings and pretend like everything’s fine.

Of course, no one is perfect, but you should never have to put up with any sort of behavior that makes you feel small, unimportant, or even fearful of your partner. Certain things should make any of us rethink our relationships, and where we want it to go vs. where it’s actually going…

Here are 5 Signs It’s Time to Rethink Your Relationship:

single

1. Your partner doesn’t listen to you anymore

Your thoughts matter, and they deserve to be heard by your partner especially, the one person who you should always be able to count on to listen to you. However, sometimes these insensitive and self-absorbed behaviors don’t surface until months into a relationship, so don’t feel bad if you didn’t spot this right away.

People who talk over others and don’t want to listen to what they have to say usually have low self-esteem and feel they must control their partner to feel validated. They can’t control themselves, so they must look around them for ways to remain significant.

You should never tolerate someone who doesn’t know how to communicate with you, and a huge part of communication in a relationship actually involves listening. If your partner can’t give you that respect, they don’t deserve you. Period.

2. There is a lack of support for dreams and goals

If you are in a relationship with someone who doesn’t believe in your goals and dreams, then you probably feel pretty unsupported and alone. And is that how you think you should feel in a relationship? Ask yourself this next time your partner tears you down or mocks you for your career or life goals. A relationship should make you feel fulfilled and supported, not the opposite. Someone who belittles you and makes you feel incapable of achieving your goals is simply jealous and insecure. They don’t want to watch you rise above obstacles and achieve greatness, because they don’t have the courage to do the same for themselves.

You should never tolerate a relationship with someone who doesn’t believe in you and doesn’t want to see you advance your life. Choose a relationship with someone who uplifts you and will stand behind your dreams and goals 150%.

3. There is a withdrawal from communication

Realizing that all relationships require honest, uninhibited communication; relationships don’t last very long if there is an ongoing behavior pattern of keeping secrets and being closed off from having real conversations. Relationships can quickly take a turn for the worse if people start distancing themselves, and won’t admit when the other person did or said something to upset them.

People can be rational when confronting someone, and have a mature conversation that doesn’t end in name-calling and yelling at one another. A healthy relationship is built on trust and effective communication, so strive to cultivate these in all of your close relationships if you want to avoid damaging it.

4. The relationship has difficulty dealing with problems.

In both relationships and life, problems inevitably happen, and knowing how to deal with them and figure out solutions together can strengthen your relationship – and keep it running smoothly. If you or your partner are having a hard time tackling problems as a team and talking things through to solve the problem, it may mean that there’s a happier and longer-lasting relationship elsewhere.

A couple married for 75 years said that the key to making a relationship work long-term is communication, even if that means arguing in order to solve a problem. Whatever your style of problem-solving may be, if you are your partner can resolve things quickly and easily without too much conflict, chances are you have the ability to make things work in the future. According to Dr. Preston Ni, “Successful couples have the ability to solve problems and let [them] go.”

relationship

5. Someone is withholding the truth.

When asked about the most important quality a person can possess, most people quickly say “trust.” If two people don’t have that, the foundation of the relationship will quickly crumble once the truth finally comes to the surface. Healthy relationships require two people committed to sharing their darkest secrets and most authentic self no matter what.

This Simple Little Invention Will Save MILLIONS Of Lives

This only little invention could save millions of lives!

Did you know that worldwide, around 780 million people don’t have access to clean drinking water? That equates to a staggering 11% of the world’s population.

Also, according to the CDC, lack of access to sanitation, unsafe drinking water, and lack of availability of clean water for hygiene contribute to 88% of deaths due to diarrheal diseases.

For many years now, people worldwide have tried to figure out a way to provide access to clean drinking water for people living in impoverished countries. Everyone deserves to have clean drinking water, but sadly, much of the world’s population drinks contaminated water daily. Due to a lack of resources and funding, many people simply drink from whatever water source they can find. As a result, a lack of clean water leads to exposure to dangerous parasites and other waterborne contaminants.

However, one invention could change all that and provide clean drinking water for billions of people. Not only is the invention simple, it has the ability to be manufactured on a large scale so that everyone who needs clean drinking water can have access to it.

life straw

The Life Straw is going to save millions of lives!

The LifeStraw turns otherwise undrinkable water into safe, clean drinking water. The company sells various products to suit each person’s lifestyle. The most popular product, the actual straw, can filter up to a thousand liters of water. That volume provides enough water for one person for an entire year. In addition to Life Straw, they also sell a water bottle called LifeStraw Go. That product incorporates the life straw filter, the LifeStraw Family for family use, and the LifeStraw Mission water purifier.

The LifeStraw Family can filter a maximum of 18,000 liters of water, providing a family of five with safe drinking water for three years.

Each of these products has the potential to save millions of lives, because water IS life. Without water, everyone would perish. However, most of us don’t even think twice about the clean water we drink daily. We simply go to our faucet or refrigerator, fill our glass or water bottle, and chug down cold, fresh water. We tend to take it for granted, because we have no idea what people go through who don’t have the privilege of drinking clean water.

So, how can YOU help these children out? Well, for every LifeStraw product you purchase, one child in a developing community will get safe drinking water for an entire school year. In 2014 alone, 157,975 children received clean drinking water and participated in752 follow-up visits. In 2015, LifeStraw wants their invention to reach 203,000 school children and perform 1,800 follow-up visits.

The LifeStraw can be used for many purposes, including camping trips, hikes, kayaking, and other outdoor expeditions. Wherever you go, you can take the LifeStraw products with you. Then, you will always have safe water to drink, and you get to help a child access clean drinking water, too.

6 Things to Remember When You’re Bored Out of Your Mind

With the endless cell phone scrolling and screen staring, it seems like people are always bored, forgetting about all of the fun left in life. Between work and family responsibilities, somewhere along the line we became adults, and having fun almost seems taboo. Having fun can often seem like a guilty pleasure, and we feel we are selfish because of it.

Just because we are adults, doesn’t mean that we have to live a borerd lifestyle. The need for play is no less important than when we were children. Dr. Stuart Brown, a psychiatrist and founder of the National Institute for Play, has reviewed over 6,000 case studies of childhood and adulthood exposure to playing.

He found that boredom and a lack of exposure to playing was equally as important in predicting criminal behavior as other factors. He is also learned that couples who played together were more emotionally connected and intimate.

So what does it mean to have fun, and how much of it do we need? Having fun means to do something because it’s meaningful and for pure pleasure. And that something can’t be work. The beauty of fun and play is that a little goes a long way. Just a few minutes a day of doing something just for the fun of it can keep you from being bored, as well as contribute to better overall productivity and happiness.

Here 6 Things to Remember When You’re Bored Out of Your Mind

1. Remember what fun means to you.

Fun means different things to different people. Sometimes we do “fun” things with friends but it might not be our preferred type of fun. Fun might mean hiking or knitting, painting or gardening, or playing sport or playing online casino malaysia games or baking. It’s important that we foster that feeling of fun that we had when we were younger. Pick an activity that allows you to get lost in it as if time is flying by.

2. Remember to surround yourself with fun people who like to play.

It’s a lot easier to make life fun again when we are surrounded by people who like to have fun and have similar interests as us. Having fun shouldn’t be work, and creating a fun habit is much more rewarding when you share it with the people you are closest to. It’s also important to incorporate play into our existing relationships, so let’s schedule some “fun” dates to help get our partners on the same page.

3. Remember that you don’t have to stay bored.

We often get so caught up in our routine that it becomes almost mundane. Add a splash of color to your wardrobe or your hair, bike to work one day a week, or plan a coffee date with someone new each week. Sometimes just doing something a little different or changing our habits can breathe a bit of fresh air into our lives.

4. Remember to find the small joys in things you don’t like.

It’s obvious that not every day can be full of fun things. There are still things we have to do that aren’t necessarily our ideal version of fun. For some people that might be going to work, a doctor’s appointment or even running errands.

The goal is to find something about the things we don’t enjoy that can make them more fun. It can be something like listening to a podcast while walking on a break at work, reading that magazine you never have time to read while waiting for the doctor, or singing along to fun songs while running errands.

When we take the time to make our time count, we can begin to be more mindful of our time and realize we can create our own fun. Having fun isn’t a thing, it’s a process, so add more of it wherever you can.

5. Remember possibility.

Sometimes our thinking is limited by the daily grind. There are no rules to how any day will unfold except the ones we put in place. We should let the possibility of the day inspire us to think bigger and do more. Having fun isn’t about what we should do or could do, it’s what we will do. There are endless possibilities for fun, and it’s up to us to find them.

6. Remember to schedule in the fun.

The idea of having to schedule fun seems like it will take the fun out of it. On the contrary, it will remind us and create a focus on having fun, so it doesn’t get swept under the rug when the latest crises arise. It’s easy to find reasons to not to have fun, but it’s harder to ignore it when you make time for it.

When we were kids, life was all about fun. We chose to do things because we loved doing them. We didn’t think about it; we just did it. It’s time to get back to that mindset. Fun isn’t just something to do to pass the time. It adds tremendous value to our lives through increased satisfaction, decreasing stress levels and strengthening our relationships.

5 Things People Who Like Themselves Do Differently

According to John David McCarthy, an American sociologist who now teaches sociology at Pennsylvania State University, around 80% of people in the world have low self-esteem at any given time.

This means that most of us could learn a lot from the 20% of people who seem to like themselves, despite the negativity and turmoil in the world. Having a healthy image of ourselves can seem challenging, especially since advertisements constantly try to sell us something to better our image, and social media sites make it easy to compare ourselves to others. However, we can’t do much in life if we don’t have confidence in ourselves and our abilities. If we can’t even like ourselves, if we’d rather hide away from the world because we fear what it will think or say, then we can’t contribute to the planet in a positive way.

While having high self-esteem might seem impossible to some, we need to have the self-worth to function at our best.

Here are five things people who like themselves do differently:

people

1. They believe in themselves.

People with a positive self-image might have doubts, but they don’t let those voices dictate their lives. They have a go-getter attitude, and even if they fail, they don’t let it stop them from achieving their goals and moving forward. Believing in yourself doesn’t mean you have unrealistic expectations that everything will always go as planned, but you have faith that you can get through both the good and bad times.

People with a positive self-image don’t allow themselves to fall into a slump of insecurity; they approach life confidently and keep an optimistic outlook in their back pocket.

2. They don’t beat themselves up whenever they make a mistake.

They don’t expect perfection from themselves; they know that they will inevitably make many mistakes in life. But they know that mistakes will help them learn and grow, so they don’t take it too seriously when they slip up. They simply take it in stride and take it as a positive experience in their journey. People with a positive self-image usually have a carefree, light-hearted attitude. Maybe they were born with it, or maybe they learned over time not to take life so seriously because it will always unfold a little differently than they’d planned.

3. People with a positive self-image don’t compare themselves to others.

They don’t use other people as a point of comparison. Instead, they simply follow their hearts and focus on their own journey. They know comparing themselves to others will only fill them with doubts and disappointment. As a result, they allow other people to live their lives and go confidently and boldly in their own way. They know they can learn from other people’s lifestyles and choices, but they don’t let other people’s journeys make them jealous or insecure. They feel happy and fulfilled enough, contributing to their positive self-image.

4. They value themselves.

People with a positive self-image have learned to become their own best friend. They may not have gotten to this place of acceptance overnight, but they worked at it enough to feel worthy in their own eyes. It doesn’t matter how other people view them, because they realize their importance on this planet, and don’t let anyone tell them otherwise. They know that their own unique strengths and talents can bring a world of difference and much-needed change to the Earth, and they hold that vibration of themselves so that nothing can drag them down.

People with a positive self-image know their worth and don’t let anyone devalue them.

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5. They don’t allow others to define them.

Most importantly, people with a positive self-image define themselves; they don’t listen to the opinions of others. No one can know them as they can, so they have realized that only their definition of themselves matters. How can a person define something they don’t know? They can’t. Most people who try to define you or throw you into a box have no clue who you are; they just want to pigeonhole you to boost their own self-esteem, most likely. People will always have an opinion of you, but that doesn’t mean you have to let it affect you.

People with a positive self-image do not mind what others think or say about them; they just focus on their own path and don’t concern themselves with trivial matters.

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