Unsafe City

How to Protect Yourself in an Unsafe City

When such incidents take place in our country's capital, it makes us wonder how safe any of us are. So how should girls protect themselves in an unsafe city? Here are some tips…

Be alert
If you've been living in a particular city for years, you land up thinking it's safe. So partying late at night or taking an early morning walk on a promenade seems perfectly normal. Now, we're not telling you to stop your daily activity but it's important to stay alert at all time. If you notice anyone following you or acting suspicious, make sure to tell a male friend or call for help if need be.


Arm yourself
Not with a weapon exactly. Simple things from your handbag like your car key, nail file or deodorant spray can be very handy in case your are attacked or about to be attacked by some miscreant. Pepper spray is also a useful weapon.

Approach the police
Never dismiss a stalker as just “some crazy dude”. Usually, these kinds tend to get obsessed and can be dangerous. If you notice someone following you for more than a day or two, it's advisable to keep your family and friends involved. Go a step further and make an official report at the police station and let the authorities take the necessary action.

Stay in company
While you may be brave, it's best not to attract offenders by traveling alone late at night. Ask a male friend/ relative to drop you home after a night out. Also, if you happen to be walking down a lonely road and notice someone close on your heels, try stepping into a building that has a watchman or a nearby hotel. Once you think things are safe, you can proceed home.


Fight back
If you are single in a city, it's always good to be prepared to defend yourself if the situation calls for it. Very often you will find yourself taking public transport and eve-teasers as well as molesters are a dime a dozen. A quick one-month to three-month self defense course would benefit you tremendously. Try taekwondo or karate, maybe.

Image and Article Credit: Idiva.com 

Nokia

Worlds collide: Nokia adds touch-screens on classic handsetsWorlds collide: Nokia adds touch-screens on classic handsets

Referred to by Nokia as best of both worlds, the Finnish cell-phone manufacturers have released two handsets mixes classic key-based input with contemporary touch-screen interface. The company decided to release these models based on a survey conducted by them revealed a desire among Nokia users for such a phone.

The two new models in discussion are Nokia X3 - 02 and Nokia C3 – 01, priced at Rs. 8, 839 and Rs. 9, 389, respectively. The related press-release that we received was not accompanied by a complete spec sheet. However, referring to specs posted on GSM Arena, the only difference we could spot between the two models is that NOKIA C3-01 comes with 64MB of system RAM and a LED flash. Besides these couple of differences, the two models are virtually identical as their price-tags suggest. The Nokia X3 - 02 and Nokia C3 – 01, both have 2.4” TFT resistive touch-screen and support for communication over 3G and Wi-Fi networks, in addition to GSM and Bluetooth.

Image and Article Credit: http://technoholik.com

Weight Lose

For someone who is trying to lose weight, the word weight loss is a daunting prospect and can cause the person a lot of stress and heartache. With so many weight loss myths out there, anybody attempting to lose weight can lose his or her mind. The moment a well wishing relative or friend realizes that you are trying to lose weight, there comes the advice.  Beta, eat this, don’t eat that, walk, run, don’t lift weights, lift weights… the advice is endless. And with the advice comes a wide selection of weight loss myths. 

Here are some common weight loss myths that you should steer clear off:

Myth: If you’re trying to lose weight do more and more cardio.

Fact: In order to lose weight you need to shock your body. If you have never exercised before, sure running everyday will definitely shock your body and make you lose a lot of weight initially, but for how long will you be able to sustain it is the question. Over time, you will reach a weight loss plateau and eventually start gaining weight again, because of repetitive workouts. Instead try a variety of workouts like yoga, weight training, and cardio. You can keep upping your weights and fine-tuning your workout, therefore bringing about a change in workout so necessary in sustained weight management.

Myth: Buy low fat foods when on a diet.

Fact: Yes, low fat foods are lower in calories, so when comparing the nutritional information on two packets anyone on a diet will tend to pick up something that is lower in calories, it’s only common sense right? But beware of the hidden calories from sugar. It is now a known fact that manufacturers increase fructose in many low fat foods (like slim milk) in order to ensure that the product tastes good. So when lowering fat content, more sugar gets added and consuming foods richer in hidden sugars is not the right approach to weight loss efforts. Another drawback with eating low-fat foods is that these products are highly processed. So moderation is ok, but depending on low fat for everything from your milk and yoghurt to ice cream and whipped cream is not.

Myth: I can snack on anything I want, as long as it is not fried, but baked.

Fact: There is a plethora of so-called ‘healthy’ baked snacks out there in the market. And people guiltless in their innocence, munch incessantly on these, happy with the knowledge that at least they are not snacking on something fried. While on the surface this is perfectly good logic, it depends on what the baked snack that you are munching on is. For e.g., if you are munching on baked nuts instead of fried nuts or baked chicken over fried chicken or baked nachni chips over fried, then by all means you are making a healthier choice by avoiding the excess oils. But let's say on the other hand that you are munching on baked chakris or baked bhakarvadis then you are indeed eating something that is highly processed, with high levels of sodium and maida. I would not call that a healthy snack in anyway, as it all adds up when you are trying to lose weight.

When confronted with weight loss dilemmas, it will make sense to dig deeper into what’s being said in order to make an informed decision. By just taking advice and tips at face value, you may not foresee the damage that is being caused by something that may not entirely ring true.

Image and Article Credit: http://healthmeup.com

Back Pain

Quick Tips to Cure Back Pain

Back pain or backache is a common problem among a lot of people, not just the elderly and middle-aged people but also young people who work for long hours coupled with their busy lifestyle. The back bears most of the body weight and this problem is more pronounced among people who are overweight because in their case, they have to carry the extra load of their excess weight. The various causes for backache include poor posture, lack of exercise, too much stress, muscular tension, etc. Here are some home remedies to help you deal with this problem:

1. If you are overweight, the first thing you should do is lose excess weight because then your back won't have to bear extra pressure.
2. Massage your back with garlic oil and eucalyptus oil to seek relief from pain and inflammation.
3. Drink a glass of warm water mixed with a tablespoon of honey to soothe back pain.
4. Deficiency of vitamin C makes one prone to backache. Therefore, increase the vitamin C intake in your diet.
5. Apply a towel that has been squeezed after being soaked in hot salted water, on the back. Application of heat in this way will provide relief.
6. Do not sit in the same position for several hours. Also, sit straight and do not stoop. A poor posture will only worsen your back pain.

Image and Article Credit: Idive.com

Jealousy

3 tips for dealing with jealousy

One of the things that makes “jealousy” such a loaded word is that it’s really a concoction of various other emotions, the exact recipe for which depends on the individual. As Dr. Scott Haltzman, author of The Secrets of Happily Married Men, phrases it, jealousy “is the fear or worry that someone with whom you have an emotional relationship may be experiencing an attraction toward another person... it generates a host of emotions, such as sadness and inadequacy, or rage and desire for retribution. The sadness comes from the fear of losing the object of your love, and the rage comes from a desire to have it back.”

Fear, worry, sadness, inadequacy, rage — as stark as those emotions sound, you may be surprised to learn that a little jealousy is perfectly healthy (and even normal) in a relationship. No jealousy at all — or huge, seething buckets of it — are a good indication that something has gone amiss. So how do you know if you’re feeling the “right” amount of jealousy, and how do you express it without driving your significant other crazy? Here are some tips.

1. Be honest with yourself. According to Dr. Ish Major, author of Little White Whys: A No Nonsense Guide to the Lies Men Tell in Relationships and Why, some men feel so secure in themselves and in the fidelity of their partners that they experience no jealous feelings whatsoever. Aside from these lucky guys, Major says, most men who refuse to admit to jealousy fall into one of two camps: either “they aren’t paying attention and have no clue that they should feel jealous,” or “they simply don’t care... this type of guy would be more than happy if someone (other than himself) would come and sweep a partner off of her feet and right out of his life.”

I am a:  Seeking a:  Near:   Clearly, it’s better to acknowledge (at least to yourself, and perhaps to trusted friends or relatives) the little bit of jealousy you do feel, rather than letting it fester for weeks or months only to explode at a melodramatic moment. Sometimes, just sitting down and writing in a journal will help you to objectively assess your feelings; perusing a hastily scribbled entry, like “Mamie should have been home from the grocery store 20 minutes ago! I KNOW she’s been flirting with the floor manager!” will hopefully make you feel ridiculous enough that you’ll do something more productive than obsessing over your significant other.

2. Express your feelings appropriately. Sometimes, as with that grocery store fantasy, jealousy-provoking scenarios are best left unshared with your partner. If you do decide to unload, Dr. Haltzman says, you should keep in mind that “expressing jealousy is a double-edged sword. It says ‘I care about you enough to be jealous,’ but it also says ‘I don’t trust you.’ I think it’s more important to talk about the experiences that lead to jealousy rather the jealousy itself. So instead of saying ‘I’m really jealous of the time you’re spending with Tommy,’ you might say, ‘I have to admit, I’m a little jealous that you and Tommy went to the movies and then went out afterward.’”

Granted, very few people can discuss their jealous feelings so rationally and calmly. Says Dr. Major, “It’s rarely helpful to express full-fledged anger over an issue that has made you jealous. You can never control a person to determine who flirts with whom and what their respective responses are; just make sure you’re doing everything you should as a mate, because you’re the only one you can fully control in this equation.” What are the signs that you’ve taken your jealous feelings too far? One clue, Dr. Major quips, is that “you notice children and strangers looking on in horror and snapping pictures of you with their phones.”

3. If you’re not feeling it, don’t be afraid to fake it. “Some, if not most, women are absolutely flattered when their partners get jealous,” says Dr. Major. “Think Marilyn Monroe. Think Scarlett O’Hara. For women, a partner’s jealousy serves a multitude of purposes, not the least of which is letting them know they still ‘have it’ and somebody wants it. It also lets them know you’re paying attention and you care.” Not surprisingly, Dr. Major adds, “I am a strong advocate of feigned jealousy. I have used it personally and at times I’ve advised friends and patients to do the same.”

Dr. Haltzman points out, of course, that feigning jealousy (and expressing it) can have unforeseen consequences. “Some women worry that if a guy isn’t jealous, he might not care enough about her. Early in the courtship, she might use jealousy to get the man to pay more attention. If he seems disinterested, she’ll go off and talk to someone else and becomes a more ‘valuable’ partner because other people are attracted to her.” The trouble, Dr. Haltzman concludes, is that “if a woman is used to seeing jealousy as proof of attraction, she may worry when the jealousy disappears” — leading to a vicious cycle of jealousy and jealousy-provoking behavior. What’s the lesson in all of this? Tread carefully when feeling or expressing jealousy, but a little bit can be a good thing.

Image and Article Source: yahoo.com

Victoria's Secret

Stunning Victoria's Secret supermodel Doutzen Kroes reveals her perfect bikini curves just two months after giving birth

She's one Holland's most famous exports - and Victoria's Secret supermodel Doutzen Kroes revealed why as she sunned herself on the beach in Miami today.

The 26-year-old showed her perfect curves in a multi-coloured leopard print bikini top and denim hotpants as she sashayed along the sand with her sandals in her hand.

Incredibly, the beauty only gave birth to her first child in January - and showed not even one extra ounce of baby weight.

Scroll down to see behind the scenes of a shoot Doutzen did for Marie Claire...

Incredible figure: Truly yummy mummy Doutzen Kroes was showing her perfect figure on Miami Beach - just over two months since giving birth

Doutzen is currently enjoying some truly special family time with her husband and new baby at Miami Beach's exclusive W Hotel.

Yesterday, she was seen topping up her tan in the tangerine Missoni two-piece, the star once again flaunted her bikini body that has snapped back into shape following the birth of her son.

The beauty, who has also been the face of Gucci, Tommy Hilfiger and Versace among others, and her Dutch DJ husband Sunnery James called their son Phyllon Joy Gorré.

Doutzen - who is so famous in her home country she has a waxwork figure in the Amsterdam branch of Madamme Tussaud's - married James in November last year at Eastermar in The Netherlands, where she was born.

Meanwhile her husband Sunnery James took the reins of parental duties, doting on the couple's newborn son.

After the family's relaxing day, the trio later ventured out for a stroll taking in the sights of the Florida city.

In a simple brown dress and beaded sandals, the supermodel looked effortless.

Earlier in the week she returned to the front of the camera, shooting a campaign on Miami Beach.

She showed off her jaw-dropping post pregnancy body as she modelled an array of tiny shorts and matching sweaters, whilst filming an advertisement for Repeat, the Swiss cashmere label, her first job since giving birth.

Image and Article Credit: www.dailymail.co.uk

Beat the Heat

Is the summer heat driving you up the wall? Do you feel like you are baking every time you step outdoors or worse still, sweating buckets? Are you aching to douse yourself with ice cold water and beat the heat? Sweat err... fret not because we give you a complete guide to help you keep cool while the temperatures rise this summer!

Water therapy: During summer, your body loses maximum amount of water through perspiration. That's why it becomes even more important to drink loads of water during this season to replenish your store. So if you are used to drinking about eight glasses of water a day, up that to 12! What's more, include water in your diet through juices, stews and broths.

Fruitilicious: Binge on fruits like watermelon, grapefruit, pineapple, pears and other citrus fruits that are cooling and have high water content. Have a glass of fruit juice with your breakfast daily. You could also carry a box of fruit salad to work and have it as a mid-day snack. This will ensure you get the maximum nutrients from these fruits.

Dress easy: The worst thing you can do in summer is wear extremely tight-fitted clothes/ synthetic fabrics. Not only will they make you feel stifled but they could also cause prickly heat as well as other skin irritations and rashes. So bring out your whites and cottons and flaunt those summer dresses and hot pants this summer!

Wear it short: Now's a great time to visit the salon and get one of those chic hairstyles you've been eyeing for ages. Remember, the shorter the better. But if you don't want to snip off those lovely locks, wear your hair in a bun so that it doesn't stick to your neck and bother you especially when you're sweating. P.S. Switch to a shampoo with menthol just for the summer. It will help you cool off.

Eat light: Avoid fried and heavy foods that take long to digest and in the bargain slow down your body's cooling process. Substitute a heavy meal with salads made from tomatoes, cucumber, lettuce, spinach and beans. Just keep the dressing simple (olive oil and herbs may be). Light sandwiches are also a good option. This diet will leave you a lot less sluggish and will help you drop pounds over the summer ;)

Slather sunscreen: Apply sunscreen about half an hour before you step out and keep re-applying every three hours or so. Use a sunscreen with SPF 15, or SPF 30 if you are outdoors for long. Choose a sunscreen that suits your skin. For example, if you have oily skin, use an oil-free sunblock but as you get older, move on to a vitamin-enriched one. For working women, a moisturiser/sunblock combination works best.

Eye gear: While they may be a great style statement, sunglasses are a summer necessity. You don't want to get crow's feet and wrinkles from all that squinting in the sun, now do you? Invest in a pair that has 100% UV protection and not just fashion value. While you are at it, buy yourself a stylish summer hat to protect your face from the glare of the sun.

Limit sun exposure: As far as possible stay indoors. But if work requires you to step out, opt for a convenient mode of transport (read: your own car or an A/C cab). Also make sure to leave early and return at sunset so that you miss the afternoon sun which is most damaging to your skin. Remember, the 12 to 4pm sun is the worst and can even cause a heat stroke.

Health alert: Apart from the heat, the dust has been causing throat infections, bronchitis and laryngitis too. So take precautions – hold a scarf around your mouth when traveling and avoid drinking chilled water when you are just back from the outdoor heat. The change in body temperature could affect your throat and voice box. Don't forget your insect repellents as insect infections and mosquito bites are common in the summer.

Bathe often: There's nothing like a cold shower on a summer's day. In fact, you could indulge in two or three showers to cool off. A cooling shower gel (and face wash) with mint or tea tree oil extracts will not just relax you but leave you with a tingly fresh feeling. Just make sure not to stand in front of the air-conditioner just after.

Image and Article Credit: Idiva.com