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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.

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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 :).

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Even the smartest, most health-conscious women have bad habits that they don’t realize could be seriously detrimental to the health they try so hard to maintain.

Here are 5 habits you might have that you don’t realize are bad for your health.

1) Driving with the windows down

There’s nothing like turning off the AC on a perfect summer day and driving with the windows down. The wind in your hair and on your face feels great, but what you don’t realize is that you’re breathing in toxins from the other cars on the road. While it’s next to impossible to totally give up driving with the windows down, trying to avoid doing so in heavy traffic or on the freeway is a good step to keeping your lungs toxin free.

2) Rocking out too hard at the gym

In an age where your music device can be the size of a credit card, working out can be make exponentially more enjoyable by listening to some fast paced music while on the treadmill. However, blasting your music at full volume can irreversibly damage your hearing, just while your trying to get your body at peak performance! You might look super hot, but you won’t be able to hear any of the compliments. Turn the music down to 50%, and save your eardrums a world of hurt.

3) You always order a salad

You’re trying to watch your weight so you order salads at restaurants and fast food joints, thinking you’ll cut the fat and cholesterol out. In reality, though, those salads, with bacon bits, ranch dressing, and cheese, are actually just as bad for you, except a lot of them don’t even offer protein! Instead, stick with a grilled chicken sandwich or a salad without all those high fat add-ons.

4) You don’t lift weights

Contrary to popular belief, pumping iron alongside your cardio workouts will not turn you into some bulky looking freak. Most women don’t have the physical capability to put on that much muscle, as there isn’t enough testosterone in their bodies. In order to get body-builder huge, women have to spend hours a day listing heavy weights and (sometimes) adding enhancing drugs. Think of weight lifting as “muscle toning,” and help your body be more than just thin.

5) You thinking home cooking is always healthier

Not true, lady. Although cooking at home can cut out some preservatives and fatty oils, always making your food gives you the opportunity to take seconds or even thirds, not to mention that many home cooked foods are actually richer in saturated fats. To enjoy home cooked meals healthier, always measure your portion and immediately put the rest away as leftovers, thus discouraging you from taking more than you should.

Read more at Prevention.com

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Despite the fact that sex is everywhere in the media, there is still a kind of stigma surrounding those who enjoy and take part in casual sex. Whether or not you are okay with the idea of casual dating, there are some reasons why a  sex life (whether you are in a relationship or not) can be good for your health.

1. It improves your immune system

In a recent study, scientists discovered that people who reported having sex twice or so a week reported higher levels of immunoglobulin A, an antibody that can protect the body against sickness, than those who were not having frequent sex.

2. It relieves stress

A healthy sex life has been proven to keep lower blood pressure and improve peoples’ ability to  handle stressful situations.

3. It burns calories

Move over, treadmill! Having sex can burn upwards of 85 calories for every half an hour. While that might not your daily dose of exercise, it’ll at least be a fun way to start the day!

4. It improves your cardiovascular health

While older folks have expressed concern that too much heart-pumping sexual activity might give them a stroke, this is rarely the case, according to English researchers. Out of 914 men that they followed, their frequency of sex was not linked to heart problems. Similarly, studies have shown that a healthy sex life (perhaps one between a couple that met on PrimeSingles) actually reduces the chance of a heart attack in men by almost half!

5. It can reduce prostate cancer risk

This is where it gets interesting. According to the British Journal of Urology, men who reported having five or more ejaculations a week lessened their risk of prostate cancer by a third! We suppose you don’t have to have a sexual partner to reap the benefits of this one, but I’m sure it’s much more fun that way !

Check out more health benefits of sex at WebMD.

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DatePro is dedicated to providing you with no-nonsense, real life dating advice, without all the vague, self-help book stuff that a lot of sites will give you. And now with our lifestyle section, we hope to make a bridge between your single life, and your dating life, to show that in fact you can have both a healthy lifestyle while living in the 21st century dating world.

So, in this section, we’ll describe to you how a healthy lifestyle can actually improve your sex life.

1. Endurance

A healthy dose of cardio in your workout (45 minutes at least 3 times a week) can help you go the distance in the sack, without breaking down in a fit of unsexy gasps for air. While improving your heart health and burning calories, you’ll also improve your performance in, ::ahem:: other heart pumping activities.

2. Strength

An hour on the treadmill might give you the ability to last long between the sheets, but having strength in your upper body, abs, and lower body will give you the amazing new ability to utilize positions you never knew possible. bust out the Kama Sutra book, readers, cause after just a few weeks of resistance training at the gym and you’ll be able to escape the monotony of missionary.

3. Self-Confidence

Everyone knows that the sexier you feel, the better you perform. Eating right, feeling healthy, and looking hot will exponentially increase your self-confidence, giving you the fortitude to enjoy sex more and feel more satisfied afterwards.

It’s no secret that  being sedentary for 12 hours and eating burritos is not exactly an aphrodisiac. However, what you might not have known is that eating healthy and having a nice hard workout can increase endorphins, which are key the enjoyment of better sex! Log onto your favorite dating site (OnlineBootyCall, perhaps), hit the gym, and then reap the benefits of your new healthy lifestyle.

img via stayingfitonline.net

You’ve heard it, you know it, you get tired of people trying to shove their healthy mantra in your fa

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Been feeling sluggish recently? Walking slow, having a hard time getting out of bed, getting sleepy around 3 in the afternoon? You’re not alone. Ask anyone and they’d probably say they wish they had more energy. Here are a few quick, healthy ways to boost your energy level without much effort.

1. Keep your workouts early

That cup of coffee (or eight) that you’ve been relying on to wake up could be the reason you’re actually tired! Instead of using caffeine to get you through the day, try waking up a little early and getting in a workout, even if it’s just a quick 15 or 20 minute run, you’ll instantly feel energetic and fueled for the day. Plus, working out too close to your bedtime will make you tired, in fact it will get your blood pumping and your brain moving so fast you might have a harder time falling asleep.

2. Utilize citrus

The smell of citrus is shown to have dramatic effects on the brain, as its potent smell wakes up the senses! For men, this might mean keeping a citrus scented oil or candle in your house to take a quick whiff of, and for women, this could mean using a grapefruit scented body wash in the morning!

3. Change your socks

Sounds strange, right? But according to some Zen living principles, changing your socks when you start to feel fatigued can instantly give you a boost of energy!

4. Make sleep about quality, not quantity

According to recent studies, the human body can get by on an average of 5 hours of sleep, but that should be good solid, real sleep, so practice healthy sleeping patterns by trying to fall asleep on your own, without the TV on, and without sleep aids.

5. Hydrate!

There are very few people around who get the daily recommended water intake. Keeping a big jug of water filled throughout the day, with a lemon wedge, can keep you from feeling lethargic and tired, thus making you more productive throughout your day.

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Sometimes, when you’re single, you might feel like you’re doing something wrong. You can’t seem to meet the right person, you don’t think you’re date-able, you might feel lonely sometimes. But to be honest, you are in a much better position than a lot of people, who have never been single. They always hop from one relationship to the next without time to collect themselves and decide who they really are. Instead of mourning your lack of a significant other, you should enjoy your time being single by remembering these 5 healthy lifestyle facts.

1. Be Selfish & Selfless

Hmm? How can I be both? you might wonder. It’s easy. When you can, enjoy the aspects of your life that wouldn’t be able to enjoy if you were in a relationship. Use all the hot water, record your guilty-pleasure shows, take classes in things you’ve never had time for before. But also, use your time to so some selfless work. Maybe volunteer work at a shelter, or help clean up beaches. Not only will you feel better about yourself and your community, but you’ll meet new people!

2. Be adventurous

Invite a friend to do something you’ve always been scared of- mountain biking or bungee jumping, for example. By garnering life experience and letting go of fear, you’ll realize there is no one in the world you can rely on like yourself! That way, the next time you get into a relationship, you’ll just enjoy the other person, not depend on them.

3. Call up old friends

When we’re in relationships, we tend to drop all the other people in our lives. When you’re single, take the time to re-get to know friends you haven’t seen in a while. Make an effort to initiate contact with an old friend every week. Lovers may come and go, but you can always count on your friends to put you in a good mood.

4. Get in shape!

Join a gym or pick up a healthy habit like jogging or bike riding. Spending time working on your body will also give you time alone to think about anything you need to contemplate… especially during classes like yoga, pilates, or spinning.

5. Don’t be afraid to date

If you are making an effort to take some time off from relationships, that doesn’t mean you can’t date. If someone at a coffee shop or bar asks you on a date, there is no need to think, no, I said I’d be single… because going on dates with people can be fun, exciting, and can help you be more confident. And don’t feel the need to delete your all online dating profiles, but stick to casual sites like LavaLive or Metrodate. Just keep in mind that you are not looking for long-term, and let your dates know this, so they don’t try and get too serious, too fast.

The single life may seem lonely sometimes, but by following our tips, you’ll see that being single can be the best time in your life!

img @ optimisticthinking

Embedded somewhere in your long-term memory are a bevy of quotes from your parents pertaining to your health… “An apple a day keeps the doctor away,” “always eat your vegetables,” and  ”floss, or I swear to God the Tooth Monster will tear your molars out” are just examples of the loving advice I remember from childhood. However, after years of schooling, I think I’ve realized a new one: “Don’t get locked into a long term relationship!” and here is why.

1. You’ll stop eating healthily

When you’re single, you have the time and motivation to hit the gym, stock your fridge with healthy foods, rise early and Carpe Diem. Fast forward six months into a relationship and you’re surviving on oven pizzas and beer… Neither item of which even exists on the food pyramid. A Cornell University study showed that women, especially, usually put on 5 to 8 pounds within the first two years of marriage.

2. Better sleeping patterns

When you go from single to in a relationship, you suddenly have to share… well, everything, especially your bed. When you sleep with someone, you are often awoken by accidental kicks, snores, and movement. Having a bed to yourself will normalize your sleeping patterns.

3. Spending time alone

Those who are single are more likely to have time to read books, explore nature, and have a healthy introspect on themselves. When you are constantly with someone else, you often lose sight of yourself and thinking mainly of “Us,” choosing to revolve daily life around activities together. Your independence suffers and you begin relying on your mate for happiness. When single, you know how to make yourself happy, satisfied, and confident.

Of course, being in a relationship feels comfortable and safe, not to mention the regular sex (but even that dwindles, check out the numbers over at AshleyMadison.com and you’ll see). However, by pulling yourself up and taking a hard look at yourself and your health, you might realize you’re in a rut that could harm you mentally, emotionally, and even physically.