5 tips to avoid a 10lb Christmas weight gain

Most people gain weight every Christmas and then regret it in January. Follow these tips to have fun at Christmas and enjoy your food without getting a tum like Santa

The average person puts on between five and ten pounds between November and January and it's pretty easy to put on more if you let yourself feast on all the delights of the season. But who wants to be miserable and diet through Christmas? Follow these tips to have fun without piling on the pounds.

1. Have the right attitude

If you go into Christmas with the idea that you'll just eat everything you possibly can and worry about it in January then you will bitterly regret it when Christmas is over. Decide to enjoy the festive season without going plain silly over all the goodies on offer. Choose the things you particularly like and say no to anything which you're really not bothered about.

2. Eat how much you need

At every meal aim for a comfortable feeling of satisfaction rather than getting to the stage where you need to loosen your waistband. Decide to enjoy your meal AND feel great afterwards. This tip alone will save you hundreds of calories every meal. If you want to try all the courses, have small portions of everything you really want.

3. Keep up your exercise

Don't give up your usual exercise routine over the holidays because it will be hard to get back into it later. If you really can't get to the gym, do a few exercises at home or go out walking. It will not just use up some calories, it will keep you in touch with your desire to stay slim and healthy. Also, keep as active as possible as you go about your day - don't sit about watching the TV specials, nibbling nuts and chocolate.

4. Put it away

If you have lots of extra treats at home "for guests", get them out when people come and put them away when they go home. Out of sight, out of mind will help a little but if those treats do start calling out to you from the cupboard, put a few on a plate and put the rest away so that you are not constantly nibbling from the packet.

5. Peace and goodwill

Try and keep calm over Christmas. As stress levels rise, so does our tendency to eat for comfort. Just remember that you don't have to make Christmas perfect for everyone else while running yourself into the ground. Do the best you can with the time available and then just decide to enjoy it however much you've done. If others have expectations of how Christmas should then get them involved in making it so! Have some (non-food)  treats up your sleeve to enjoy when it all gets a bit too much. It doesn't cost a lot to tuck away a sachet of perfumed bubble bath, a glossy magazine or a novel you've been dying to read. If all else fails call an old friend for a chat rather than eating the fridge empty.

where to travel christmas time

Travelling at Christmas time has its own unique nuances that aren’t usually a concern when travelling at other times of the year. Especially if you are trying to get around with children, it is best to create a comprehensive checklist ranging from worldwide travel insurance to shuttles and even entertainment for the little ones. It is always best to plan ahead and make an attempt at anticipating everyone’s needs while on holiday.

To simplify this seemingly overwhelming task gather your thoughts, create a checklist and even set up reminders for the planning stages of your Christmas adventure.

A Christmas Winter or Summer Wonderland

Shop Off-Season Destinations: Travelling at Christmas time cannot be done on an impulse, especially if you are travelling with children and trying to stick to a budget. However, it can be an ideal time to go to one of those luxurious beach destinations you have always deemed way too expensive! Typical ‘summer holiday’ destinations, such as the Caribbean or The British Virgin Islands, are considered ‘off-season’ destinations despite the fact that the weather and the temperatures are still gloriously sunny and warm. When travelling with children there can never be enough outdoor activities or opportunities to burn off lots of energy, and a sunny beach holiday offers just that.

If the call of tradition and the lure of a winter wonderland cannot be beaten, then there are many colder climes to choose from. Many of these destinations thoroughly embrace the holiday season and will probably fulfil your child’s every dream of what Christmas should be. Although worldwide travel insurance is the best option even if you haven’t decided on the beach or slopes yet, it is even more important to make sure your policy has comprehensive coverage in case of any snow-related falls or accidents. Wintery weather, even from the confines of a warm cabin or chalet, creates a higher probability of problems ranging from injuries to delayed flights.

During the planning stage of your Christmas travel, be sure to address all the logistics issues first. When travelling with children it is imperative that all flights, shuttles and accommodation suit your needs and will not add any additional worries to what should be a fun experience. Make sure your chosen accommodation has any extra equipment you may need, such as a crib or high chair, and that food preferences and requirements can be met.

Prior to jetting off to either sand or snow, be sure to winter-proof your home. Set your home’s thermostat to remain on a low but steady temperature to avoid the possibility of pipes bursting if the weather gets really cold. It can also be wise to leave a key with a neighbour so that they can check in on your home periodically, especially if you are planning on being away for an extended length of time.

Travelling during the Christmas season can be fraught with challenges or purely magical experience. The key to ensuring the latter is in preparing extensively. Arranging everything – from worldwide travel insurance to comfortable accommodation and even gifts to open on Christmas morning – will create that desired ‘holiday feel’ for the whole family.

Don't delay start to plan your trip today. 

A Brazilian blowout what you need to know

A Brazilian blowout is gaining extreme popularity since women want smooth silky hair without all the fuss. With this new treatment, you don’t have to be afraid of getting your straight style wet. It’s easy to just wash and blow-dry the hair in minutes instead of hours. Since this process does not make your hair completely bone straight, you can also wear your hair in its textured state – just without all the frizz. Explore how this technique can give you the versatility you’ve been hoping for.

Benefits
Unlike relaxers, texturizers and perms, this technique allows the hair to go back to its natural state after about three months. This means you won’t have to deal with the awkwardness of two different textures as new hair grows in overtime. For instance, with a perm, as the hair grows out, you’ll have straight hair at the roots and curly hair further down. This can look strange and even make it difficult to style your hair. With a Brazilian blowout, by the time your hair begins to really grow, everything will have washed out. Furthermore, this process doesn’t have all the damaging chemicals, like formaldehyde, that can come with some other techniques.

Process
If you have a couple of hours to spare and approximately £300 to £600, then you can get the Brazilian blowout. Basically, the technique is pretty easy, only requiring clean hair that has been clarified. The stylist will apply the solution and place you under a hairdryer. Once your hair is dry, the stylist will then use a flat iron to help secure the solution into the hair. After this is done, your hair is rinsed, you’ll get a deep conditioning treatment and the stylist blow-dries your hair.

Results
Keep in mind that everyone’s results will vary depending on hair type, texture and length. But for the most part, you’ll have hair that is more manageable than you ever dreamed it could be. You can even wash and go if you want. Rain, wind, snow, even swimming pools are no longer an issue since you don’t have to be concerned with whether or not your hair can stand up against a little humidity or strange weather. If you do get it wet, you can simply restyle it in less than 20 minutes because you won’t have to fight with it anymore. Best of all, if for some reason you feel the Brazilian blowout isn’t for you, you can have your original curls and waves back only after about three months. No need to cut your hair and start over like you would if you had a relaxer.

Risks
When getting a Brazilian blowout, be extremely cautious, since similar versions of this process can include the chemical formaldehyde. This can put your health at risk since this chemical can make you feel queasy, cough or damage your skin. In the worst-case scenario, some believe it can cause certain cancers. Be sure to ask for a formaldehyde-free formula to help minimize problems. If a stylist says he or she can safely complete the process using formaldehyde, find another stylist. Versatile hair isn’t worth risking your health.

Try before you commit
Why not consider ordering a straight hair wig, These are a way of having the straight hair of your dreams without having any chemical treatments. This will give you the change to find out if you really like this style on you and you are not committed to it as you can easily remove it. This giving you the most flexibility and style options. 

how to straighten your hair

Sleek, shiny and straight hair is eye-catchy isn’t? Straight hair looks cool. It gives a classy look even if your dress is not rocking. It is pretty easy to do and takes less time, so whenever you are in a hurry, or just feel lazy, hair straighter is there at your disposal.

Most girls are aware of straightening tips though, for a professional look, you need a lot of practice. Boys can also be pro at this too. Here are the tips to straighten hair like a pro, and it will work for boys and girls alike.

• Take shower

Prepare your hair before getting started, hair should be dust-free, clean, and oil-free. Some conditioners and shampoos claim to give straight hair but it is unlikely to give effective results.  Many hairstylists also suggest not changing the shampoo, if it suits you.  It will lead to other problems like hair fall, dandruff, thinning of hair, etc. Still, if you want to try something for it, pick a product that smoothes the hair.  Straightening looks best on smooth hair, on rough hair, frizz will happen.

• Blow Dry

After washing hair, don’t dry it in a towel as most people do, it will encourage frizz and curls. Lightly dab on hair and use a smooth towel for this purpose, rest leave it for natural drying for a few hours. When hair is half dry, use blow drier on minimum heat, don’t exceed the temperature, it will turn hair brittle.  One pro tip to use a blow drier is, keep the nozzle in a downward direction all the time to avoid frizz. Don’t do the blunder of skipping heat protectant.

• Wait until hair is extremely dry

Don’t start straightening unless the hair is extremely dry.  There is no use of running a straightener on moisturized hair, frizz will come out. Let the moisture escape from hair completely, till then complete your set up process for straightening. To evaluate the situation, touch strands of your hair, if you hear sizzle then stop for a moment before beginning the process.

• Use heat Thermal protectant

While straightening, you need to take care of the frizz factor on an extreme level. So stop being lazy and apply a heat protectant. Many hairstylists insist on using hair serum not only to add shine but also to protect hair from damages. Many hairstylists are biased for hair protection, so they will always show you the right path. They will even suggest you avoid heat application if your hair is damaged; such hairstylists are available in a unisex salon.

• Set the temperature

The setting of temperature depends on the quality of your hair. For fine hair, color-treated, processed hair should stay in the range of 350- 400 degrees. To avoid application repeatedly, maintain a 410 degree. Professionals use 450 degrees, but they are highly trained for managing the temperature. If you are already pro, you can try it but the apt temperature is 350 to 400 for a beginner. Well, you can go for hair straightening anywhere, it’s pretty easy to find. If you want to avoid straightening your hair why not try fashionable straight wigs and this will save you time and you will not cause any damage to your hair. 

• Final step

Make sections and start the process, for flawless straightening, use flat iron of high quality. Split the hair from the middle to make sections, bring it forward, if your hair is thick, make sections and apply clip. Apply the final product to add shine. If the process is too long for you, go for hair ironing.

Blaming Others for Your Unhappiness

It is far easier to put the blame on someone else when things go wrong. You can blame your boss for how miserable your job is. You can blame your teacher for your inability to understand the lesson. 

it is far easier to put the blame on someone else when things go wrong. You can blame your boss for how miserable your job is. You can blame your teacher for your inability to understand the lesson. You can blame your romantic partner for your failing relationship. You can blame your parents for your emotional struggles. And you can even blame the government for the poverty that you suffer.

It actually makes you feel much better when you find fault in others because placing the blame on yourself opens you up to feelings of regret, guilt and even shame. Doing so makes you focus on your own flaws and mistakes. And this may allow feelings of worthlessness to set in.

But blaming others for your problems does not solve them. It only adds bitterness to your already miserable state. And by believing that others are at fault for your troubles removes your ability to take control of the situation. It renders you helpless and paralyzes you into simply accepting things as they are. In effect, it makes you surrender to your unhappiness.

Blaming others may very well be a defence mechanism because it protects your ego from the pain of seeing your failures. But it also distorts reality and hinders the possibility for any meaningful change to occur. Instead of engaging in this, it may be far better to take responsibility for the situation in which you find yourself. Doing this allows you the opportunity for self-realization, self-correction and further growth.

how to pick a backpackers hostel

Are you a backpacker who loves to travel around the world? Well, this post is much needed for you to pick the best hostel wherever you travel. After all, it is the accommodation that compliments your overall travel experience and brings you the utmost comfort after a tiring day. Especially when it comes to choosing a hostel, you expect to take away cherishable and memorable moments with you that last forever.

However, picking the right hostel is a tedious task, isn’t it? So, let's quickly look through how you can decide on the most appropriate hostel before you book your next travel:

Explore: Hostel is not just about staying, but it’s much beyond that! Hostels bring you a complete environment, where you experience the best of your time. So, before you jump to a conclusion, make sure to explore a few hostels and then decide which one to go for.  You can go through the hostel’s website and get a fair idea on its offerings to help you find the perfect one for you. Research thoroughly if the desired hostel has got ensuite, single rooms, dorm or deluxe rooms. Prior to making your decision, look for other amenities and also make sure to give them a call to clear all your queries. 

Inspect the price: You must keep the price in consideration but remember that cheaper is not always better! Just because the hostel is charging low, do not assume that the overall services would meet your expectations. If you are a solo traveller, you must look for affordable hostels but make sure you do not end up paying less but suffering more. A lot of cheap hostels may have cleanliness issues, uncomfortable bedding, and improper services. Thus, it is advised that you should go for a hostel that has moderate charges and also that offers a good deal of services. 

Inspect the room: This has much to do with the cleanliness. Often, the hostel might look appealing to you from outside but can be a real mess from inside. Before you decide to book your dorm, make sure to check the room and see if it is clean and hygienic. An unhygienic room can certainly spoil your experience and can disappoint you in many ways. While you inspect your hostel, check if the sheets and covers are washed, there is a seamless water supply, the rooms are neatly arranged and you have all the amenities right there in the room. 

Location: The location of your hostel matters a lot! Though it also depends whether you are looking to stay at the prime location of the city or looking for some lone time outside the city. Whatever you choose, make sure that you have the availability of cabs or other public transport to get you going around the city with ease. While considering the location of the hostel, think twice that how far it is from the airport/ station, is their good transportation facility, does it have good attractions, restaurants or nightlife and how safe is it. There are so many tips for staying safe when travelling so please check them out and stay safe. 

Check for hostel offerings: Make sure to look for luxuries and amenities offered by your desired hostel.  Check if your hostel provides you morning breakfast, locker facility, push-button showers, free wifi, bar, laundry services, dining halls, and other services. The more facilities you get, the better it is! With all the services, right a call away, your stay can be much more refreshing and worthy. 

Decide the type of dorm: While choosing your backpacker hostel, you must also decide the type of dorm you want to fit into. If you are looking forward to saving your money, you can pick larger dorms as smaller dorms are likely to charge you more. Also, if you are a solo traveller, and love to socialize with new people, make friends and share stories, going for larger dorms can be the right choice. On the other hand, if you are a person who likes to have privacy and not much chatter, you can go to smaller dorms or single rooms to avoid any disturbances.  

Look for a common area: It is good to have a good common room in a hostel that can accommodate many people at once. The best hostels are the one that allows their guests to interact and socialize as much as possible. As solo traveler are fond of meeting new people, hanging out with new friends and sharing great stories, during the morning or evening snack time, having a common area would encourage people to gel up with each other, create new stories and complement their overall stay at the hostel. 

Read the reviews: Last but not least, do not forget to read the reviews of the hostel where you intend to stay. It’s not wise to ignore the negative reviews. If you wish to go for the best hostel, reviews can really help you. While browsing for the hostel, also check their positive and negative reviews and pick your final one accordingly. Reading the negative reviews can get you an idea of what things can go wrong with you and get you a fair idea of where you need to clarify things with the hostel before you get it booked. 

None of you would like an unpleasant stay or any element of discomfort in a splendid travel tour. But unfortunately, there are many backpackers who don’t spend much time selecting the hostel and end up choosing the one which doesn’t suit their requirements at all. But, if you don’t want to make the same mistake, make sure to follow these pieces of advice and make your travel worthwhile. You never know, who may cross your path, what new experiences you get, and what new stories you create. Its all about the place you choose to stay and people you spend your time with. Following these hostel choosing hacks, your hostel will not just be a place to sleep or shower but to have a blast, make new friends and share amazing stories with fellow travellers!

Dealing With Unhappiness Through Positivity

If we know that all unhappiness leads to choices, we can be ready for alternative action and therefore we can stop wallowing in self-pity. Unhappiness can be a good thing if we learn to frame it in a different way.

I am unhappy when things do not go as I want. The unhappiness is due to unfulfilled desires. It happens when the rest of my world does not have the same view of a perfect world as I have. I think I have done a good job. My boss thinks otherwise and tells me so. I become unhappy. I couldn’t make it to a top B-school. I become unhappy.

As soon as I am unhappy, my thought process goes like this. I am right but they are not agreeing with me. If they were my friends, they would agree with me. So they are not my friends. Therefore I do not need to like them. Ergo, I will thwart all they want to do, because they have stopped me from following my wishes. I know that this thought process seems exaggerated in the cold light of day, but when we are unhappy, this is the sentiment.

Since I cannot thwart them, as I have no control over them, I feel incompetent. I have two reactions – either I try to control them (be it my significant other or my boss) or I wallow in self pity. Sometimes, I try to control and if that does not work, I wallow. While I wallow, more scenarios come to mind specially those that reinforce my belief. I love these thoughts because they justify my unhappiness and give a reason why I should not do anything.

The result of this mindset and lack of action is that people become genuinely unhappy with me and want to avoid my company. If the issue is at the workplace, the company wants to avoid me. I get fired.
Let me reframe unhappiness. When I am unhappy with the status quo, I want to change it. The desire to change can lead to action. Wallowing in self-pity is denying myself the opportunity for action. Sometimes I pay lip service to action, but I know that it will not work so that I can retreat into self-pity.

As soon as I am unhappy, I say to myself, “Yes, I am unhappy, therefore I need to change my status quo. What actions can I take?”

The impulsive or instinctive action of fight-flight is obvious. That is what animals do.

Do I have any other choices?

One choice could be to reframe my desire and really determine if this desire is a genuine need or wishful thinking. For example – I want a Rolex and I am unhappy I don’t have one. Do I really need one? What need does it satisfy? To prove to myself that I have money or to impress someone? If neither is necessary, or I can achieve the objective by another means, I don’t need the Rolex.

The other choice could be win some-lose some. Maybe I will agree in this case, so that I invest in a relationship which will yield something bigger later. For example, does it make sense to take up cudgels with my client just because of ego – to prove that I am right? If I agree with him now, will he agree with me later?

The third choice could be to determine an action plan of some duration, which leads to the change in the status quo. I sometimes want the complete change to happen overnight, and when that does not happen due to laws of nature, I get the reason to wallow in self-pity and stop the action. For example, if I am not satisfied with my weight, my desire is to do something so that I become thin overnight. When that does not happen, I get a reason to give up. I can create a plan with some intermediate checkpoints like losing 500 grams a month so that I can do 6 kilos in a year. The problem is my emotions and the desire for instant gratification.

My point is that I have more than one obvious choice. If I know that all unhappiness leads to choices, I am ready for alternative action and therefore I can stop wallowing in self-pity.

In essence, unhappiness can be a good thing.