img @ realitywanted

To be honest, it’s summer, and you should be avoiding TV altogether —  you should be out, working on your bod and your brain, enjoying the single life and loving every minute of it. However, there will be times when you wanna sit on the couch and eat crap and watch TV, and during those times, you should be careful what you watch. So much television today makes the single life seem like a miserable pit where people die of loneliness. Here are DatePro’s top shows you should avoid while single.

1. The Bachelor/ette

These shows are absolutely the worst. They’ve trivialized marriage, made women look like insecure, needy b****es, and have convinced us that love can be forced, scripted, and taped. All false. Don’t watch this show, even if you are in a relationship… but if you’re single — avoid it like the plague.

2. Basically any show on the E! Network

Save for The Soup (which is a DatePro fave), mostly every show on this channel is a disaster for your brain cells and self-esteem. Something about the formula of vapid characters + terrible writing + drama just sucks people in, when it should be pushing them away.

3. Gossip Girl

Awful, awful, awful. Lends to the idea that the only worthwhile people in the world are the rich and attractive. Save yourself the misery.

4. Any soap operas

For obvious reasons, right? They play in the middle of the day (when you could be out for a run, or reading in the park), and they are quite possibly the worst shows in history

5. Man Vs. Food

Or any other show that promotes gluttony and overeating. Watching a show of that style will only prompt you to sit and eat, instead of getting out in the world and enjoying being single!

We all have days when we want to sit and relax with the blinds closed. Although you should do your best to be outdoors, engaging your body and mind- the times you choose to sit and veg should be chosen with thought as well. Travel and science shows, healthy cooking shows, and smart, funny comedies like 30 Rock or Arrested Development, will make you enjoy your relaxed time without rendering your brain

img @ askmen

Ah, Summer. Sunshine, warm weather, longer days, what more could you ask for? Well, you don’t have to ask for anything but you should know that summer’s great assets also give a great boost to your sex and love life!

Here are a couple scientific (and a couple not-so-scientific) reasons your love life’s about to heat up!

1. High temp, less clothes

You don’t wanna spend your summer in a loose sweater and jeans, do you? Hit that treadmill or swim some laps and get on your short shorts (not if you’re a dude, please)… Summer is the season of skin, and while we don’t promote looking, well, Miley-Cyrus’-new-album-ish, a pair of shorts or sumer dress can really turn up the heat.

2. Sun, sun, sun

Along with the heat, the sun brings something else: Vitamin D, which protects against depression and fatigue (not to mention its usefulness against a host of many other diseases). Energetic and healthy? Those are two ingredients for a great dating and sex life!

3. Tons of fun dating opportunities

No longer are you stuck inside at bars or cold movie theaters. With the warm weather finally hear, dates at outdoor cafes, beaches, parks, and other nature adventures are great times to get your romance on.

4. Outdoor sex

Need we say more? Check out the Frisky’s great list of places to get down in the wild outdoors.

5. Don’t worry, be happy!

That’s right, summer is scientifically proven to be a great way to get happy, social, and flirty. In fact, those in live in places without enough sunshine actually experience SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder, a syndrome that actually causes 4 percent to 6 percent of the population to feel as gloomy as the storm clouds in the winter months.

So hop on a surfboard, chat up a cute singleton at the park, and have fun, Summer only lasts so long!

img @ lymenaide

As Americans, we live pretty indulgent lives. We’re very impatient, and usually demand instant gratification. As a rule, we are viewed as fat and lazy and a little selfish. There’s not really much one can do to change that perception, but you can make changes in your daily life that will help you become a healthier, happier, and more attractive. One way to do that is to cut back, on many aspects that we take for granted.

1) Eating

Food and water are requirements, of course, but the way we eat is definitely optional. In his book, In Defense of Food, Michael Pollan gives great tips on how to eat healthily without forgoing delicious food, or ever setting food in the freezer section.

2) Alcohol

Happy Hour should be a treat, something you look forward to after a long week at work or on holidays. Once tossing back drinks loses its “hey, this is fun” appeal and becomes an everyday thing, you know you’re drinking too much.

3) TV

TV is awesome, and some  shows genuinely supplement our lives. Even so, it’s gotten to the point where upwards of 4 hours a day are spent sitting on our couches, when there are so many things in the world to be doing. Cutting back on television will allow you the time to do so much more.

4) Time with friends

We’ve all gotten so used to being constantly entertained and engaged that we’ve forgotten the joys of being alone. Although being surrounded by loved ones is great, taking time to be alone and completely at one with your thoughts is a great way to calm yourself.

5) Spending money

If you’re reading this, you’re probably better off that most of the world’s population. Spending money is your reward for working hard, but sometimes it’s nice to give money to those less fortunate than you. Giving to charity, a family member in need, or even just starting a savings account are all ways that you can show some self-control.

img @ urbanspeaker

So, you’re single. Maybe it’s been a long time thing, maybe you’re freshly alone. But you may be seeing couples everywhere – out to lunch, at a bar, at a park, and think that your life is obviously less fulfilling than those who are knee-deep in relationships.But guess what? When you’re single, there are tons of things that you can do better and easier than those who are coupled up.

Here are just the top 5 things DatePro knows you can do better single.

1) Working out your body — and mind

When you’re in a relationship, it’s easy to forgo a workout in lieu of dinner and drinks with your mate, but when you’re single you can concentrate on improving your self, but externally and internally. Spend time running, going to the gym, and reading new books or trying new things. When you’re not dependent on someone else’s plans, you’re more likely to be in your best form.

2) Spend time with family

Dating often leads to you spending more time with your partner than with your family, which is totally understandable, but why not take this time when you’re single to visit your family?

3) Surround yourself with friends

Being with your friends, like spending time with family, takes a back seat when you’re coupled up. When you’re single, reconnecting with friends can be a great way to avoid loneliness. And don’t just pick one to leech onto — connect with many, so you can appreciate all their different personalities.

4) Take a trip

That may seem like the last thing you want to do when you’re single, but taking an adventure along can be an adventure you’ll never forget. Just be sure to pick a safe destination, and be smart in your choices!

5) Clean house

Both figuratively and literally, take stock of your stuff and clearing out whats unnecessary is a good way to being life again. Get rid of stuff you never use in your house, and rid your life of people who don’t bring any value to your friendship. The feeling that people get after a cleanse diet is more than just physical… its mental and emotional too.

Instead of considering it to be a curse, consider the time that you spend single as a gift, to reconnect with yourself, your friends, and family, and when you date again, you’ll be more a catch than ever!

img @ hubimg

It is often said that women dress for other women instead of dressing for men. The reason for this is usually, well, men never notice what I’m wearing anyway, why would I care what they like? Which is why the success of the babydoll dress, boho pants, and hair “BumpIt”  happened despite men hating all three. However, women may want to start taking into consideration their clothing and accessories that actually turn men off altogether, and maybe only wear them out with friends, and not on dates.

1. Small, yappy dogs

You might think little Tinkerbell is cute, but that yappy little ankle-biter is a huge dealbreaker for guys, especially guys who like dogs, because save for the very few small dogs that are extremely well trained, most are annoying, loud, and just plain obnoxious.

2. Huge sunglasses

Although you love the Audrey Hepburn look, the truth is the huge face-covering sunglasses are a cue to guys that you could be hiding something awful under them.

3. Oversized sweaters

The Olsen twins made the huge sweater popular, and we all adored it. Perfect for a cold day or a day where you’re feeling bloated or fat, the oversized sweater is your best friend. Guys though, see one thing: homeless woman.

4. Super-scented candles and lotions

Bath and Body Works is like Mecca to women in the mall, but unfortunately, when a guy walks into your house and it smells like coconut-vanilla-sea breeze-lavender, all they smell is a headache.

5. Super sticky lipgloss

It makes your lips shiny and seductive and comes in more colors than most guys knew existed. And while they’ll probably admit it looks sexy from a distance, they’ll also say once it hits their lips it feels like someone is spreading grape jelly on their face, the type of grape jelly that never comes off.

imig @ 123rf.com

If you were to tabulate all the different methods that self-help books use to tell their readers how to live better lives, you’d find about a 100,000 that over lap and another couple thousand that completely contradict each other. So when I come across books that suggest a simpler approach to happiness, it’s always freeing.

Elisha Goldstein, Ph.D, is a writer who fits that mold; her approach to being happy is about as simple as you get. The question she asks to determine your happiness is straightforward: “what and who are we spending our invaluable resources of attention on?”

For the what portion of the question, she says to ask yourself what the main tasks of your days are, from start to finish, and whether they are nourishing or depleting of your mental energy. Of course “work,” a large portion of most of our days, is depleting, but its the things you surround it with, like eating breakfast, going on a run, reading a book, etc, that can equalize your energy levels. Contrast this with rushing out the door, watching TV, eating junk food or drinking too much, etc, that even further deplete you of healthy energy.

As for the who, Dr. Goldstein asks you to take an inventory of the people you spend your life with, and whether they are nourishing or depleting. Perhaps you spend too much time with a friend who actually depletes you of happiness instead of nourishing you, maybe with gossip or negativity. Spending time with people who uplift you can make an extreme change in your happiness.

As you can see, this simple approach to gauging your happiness and stress level is a great way to take a mental overview of your life, and make changes that will help you for the better!

Read more at the Huffington Post

img @ lovetoknow

We’ve all heard the same mantras ever since we were kids… eat healthy, exercise, don’t smoke cigarettes or drink too much alcohol, and yet, we all continue to break all these rules. Unfortunately, one of the only reasons that people take care of their bodies is because they want to look good, as opposed to feeling good and being healthy and living longer. Therefore, those who feel unattractive or unwanted tend to ignore healthy lifestyles because they feel it’s pointless to try.

Luckily, there is an upside. There are so many ties between a healthy lifestyle and your appearance that people tend to believe are far off and impossible. But each and every day, little lifestyle choice will make you more attractive, and more willing to take on challenges of the world.

1) Go out in the sun

We all know frequent sunburns can lead to skin cancer, but being out in the sun for some of the day (perhaps walking your dog, taking a a bike ride to the store, or reading on the porch) can energize you and give your skin a nice glow, which is universally appealing.

2) Veg & Fiber up

A wholly vegetarian lifestyle is not only difficult to maintain, but can actually be detrimental to your health if not properly done. However, adding more vegetables and fibrous foods (beans, seeds, nuts) to your daily meals instead of carbs can help you lose weight without even trying, by keeping your digestive system regular and keeping you fuller throughout the day.

3) Step away from the computer

We at DatePro are fully aware of the attack upon our livelihood that the internet has threatened. Somehow, running outside seems to make the minutes stretch on for days, but sitting on Facebook for 2 hours feels like 30 seconds. Make a bold step and decide to only use the internet for an hour a day. Or, if you work with computers, stay off of them once you get home. You’ll suddenly realize how much more free time you have to try new things, and an adventurous guy or gal is far more attractive than a sedentary one :).

img @ teamsugar

This one’s for the ladies, or for the guys who love those ladies.

We’ve all been that girl, rocking back and forth in the corner because it feels like someone is cheese grating your uterus. And despite their claims, most over the counter cramp medication isn’t all that effective. While I am no hippie, there are some time-tested homeopathic ways to calm the pain of those monthly death cramps.

1. Old School Ibuprofen

I know this isn’t exactly homeopathic, but it still works! Unlike specifically-engineered menstrual cramp medication, regular old Ibuprofen isn’t gonna try and help your bad mood and bloating and headaches, but it just plain does wonders for bad cramps. If you have 800 mg ones, you’re set for the whole day.

2. The Heating Pad

Seriously, amazing. Whether you get cramps in your lower abdomen or back, a heating pad is a cost effective and safe way to treat cramps without having to ingest anything.

3. Poppy tea

When I first read this, I kinda thought the advice was telling me to do heroin, but don’t worry. Ordering poppy seeds is perfectly legal, and the tea you can brew with the leaves is a great pain medication.

4. Hot buttered rum

Not only is this treat delicious and warm, but it’ll give you a little buzz that’ll help with the crummy mood, too!

5. Bananas and Avocados

I’ve heard before that bananas’ high amount of potassium makes them a great cure for the pain of cramps, but guess what. I hate bananas. Luckily I just found out that avocados can do the trick too!

read more at Jezebel

img @ marieclaire

When you’ve finally found a great relationship, you’ll start to notice that things you once did alone are now more fun together… eating, watching TV, drinking, etc. And if you’re both athletic people, you might start wanting to go to the gym or play sports together. Is this a good idea?

Pros:

• Motivation: working out with your partner can be motivating and inspirational. Perhaps you didn’t really want to go at all, but they pushed you to go. Or maybe you were thinking of calling it quits for a day, but your partner isn’t ready to go yet. Similarly, being together will motivate you both to get healthy, for yourself, and for each other.
• Friendly competition: a fun contest between the two of you can make working out a nice activity… perhaps you’ll play a game of raquetball or see who can do the most pushups. As long as it doesn’t get personal, competing a bit can be fun!
• Better sex: higher confidence, better cardio, and a stronger core can make sex tons better if you’re both getting in shape. And if you’ve met on a site like SugarDaddie.com, you’ll want to stay in shape to keep your hot young thing interested ;). Ultimate plus!

Cons:

• No alone time: sometimes working out is one of the few times an individual can be alone in their thoughts and really just enjoy time to themself. Taking that away could end up causing more problems if they’ve got a routine (alone) they enjoy.
• Not-so friendly competition: there are those who don’t take losing so well, and others who relish a bit too much in winning. If you know you’re one of these types, playing athletic games together might not be the best idea.
• Pressure: working out in front of someone else (especially someone you care about) can be nerve-wracking. If you tend to make weird faces that you never really want anyone else to see, doing them in front of a person you sleep with could put a damper on your workout, or even your relationship.

Ask yourself if you think you both can handle a workout partner who you also spend the rest of your time with… and then get on that treadmill!

img @ nunzioweb

( Wow. I am really, really proud of that article heading. )

A recent study of unmarried men and women aged 18-29 by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy showed some alarming results about people who are relatively uninformed or straight-out ignorant of the use/function/purpose of contraception and birth control.

• 63% of people were unaware of how birth control works (eh, ok, I somewhat understand this, they are probably mostly men who don’t understand uteruses [uterii?] or estrogen or anything about women)