Romantic Ideas For Busy Couples : A Healthier Relationship

by Britanni Shanon

No matter the rewards you get from your work, the rewards of happy, healthy, and connected relationships are greater and longer lasting. It doesn't take much to add romance to your busy life, especially when you see the results. Life is better when you love and feel loved.

For dating couples:

Invite him/her to join in on something you already do
Ask them to meet you at your regular coffee stop before work. Invite them over for a quick early morning breakfast. Meet them at the gym for a work out and let off some steam. Go grocery shopping or do your laundry together.

Lunch Date

Meet them for lunch and spend your time just enjoying each other. Your lunches can be friendly and fun, or hot and sexy. Take turns making lunch for each other. Giving and receiving has a magical way of opening up love "waves."

Talk on the phone
Between meetings or classes, on speaker phone while you're traveling or getting ready for your day, while cleaning your home or walking the dog, take few moments to chat about life, love, dreams, or anything that comes to mind with your partner.

Thinking Of You Phone Calls
My sweetie and I have been seeing each other for going on five months now and he is not particularly comfortable with being verbal about how he feels. Although we only get to see each other perhaps once a week, and that is only if he is NOT busy, he calls me three to four times a day, "just to check in", or just to say "hi." Even though sometimes it can be very hard not to be able to spend time with him on a more regular basis, I do know that he cares and most definitely thinks about me during his days.

--submitted by Julie

For cohabitating and married couples:

Love notes.
Take a second to write a quick, "I love you" on a post it, on the mirror, or in an email. Everyone has enough time to write those three little words that mean so much.

Daily Loving
Sometimes life gets too busy for all of us! It is however very important to let your partner know you love them. Even though they already know you have to always reinforce it! When I make my partner breakfast and have to rush off to work I leave a note that tells him to have a good day and that I'm looking forward to seeing him that night. Sometimes I send him a love quote during the day to let him know that I'm thinking about him. These small actions make a big difference in the lives of busy people like us who forget to slow down sometimes!

--submitted by Trissie

Hot E-Mail/Text Messages
Start out early in the day sending your honey a loving, hot e-mail or text message while they are at work. Send hot e-mails back and forth all day then meet for a romantic candlelit dinner.

--submitted by Mike

Massage
Take a minute to grab a hold of your lover and massage them. Grab a foot while they are working on the notes for their early morning presentation. Rub their shoulders for a minute while they are doing the dishes. Hold off lying your head down for a few so that you can massage your lover.

Gifts
Expensive gifts, cheap gifts, homemade gifts, or treasured heirlooms; simple gifts, extravagant gifts, sexy gifts, or silly gifts, everyone loves to receive gifts. Gift giving is a timeless way to romance your love. Every time they see the gift you gave, they will be reminded of the day you gave it to them. Bring a gift home to your love, have it delivered to their work, or stop by in the middle of the day and bring it to them.

Plan an "Us Day" or weekend
Set a date and go for it. Go how ever far away you need to leave your worries behind and have some fun. Plan it together so that you both get what you need and want from your time together away from your stressors.

A Little Escape
My boyfriend had been really stressed, and it seemed like everything I did or said only made things worse. We even had "the world's dumbest argument" so, I sent him an email and told him, "Let me help you escape your problems; give me 5 ways I can make this weekend relaxing. There is only one rule, absolutely no worrying or stressing!" We had the best time spending the weekend "escaping"!

--submitted by Zundra

For couples with children:

Family time romance
If it's not an issue of working too much or living apart, but it's because you never get a chance to be alone, make the most of your time as a family. A family is more than the parents' relationship with the children. It's also the relationship between the parents. Model for your children how love should be. Kiss, hold hands, and do little things that show your lover that they are in fact, your lover.

Make sex a priority
When the thought enters your mind, but you disregard it because you have things to do, rewind. Do it anyway. Choose lovemaking over chores. Tell your lover that you have a time limit, but that you want a little action. Don't take no for an answer, find a quiet room in the house, and do it. Making the decision to prioritize lovemaking is making the decision to show love to your partner. Note: a proven outcome of sex is stress relief!

Date night
Sit down together with a calendar and absolutely commit to a regular date night. Or, surprise your lover with a date night. There are a lot of groups that support date night. Some groups and organizations support date nights by offering child care for that specific reason. Also, parents can trade child care with another couple. This might help you keep your commitment to date night.

After Work Limo Ride

My wife had been working long hours of overtime for several days. She was never sure what time she would be able to leave the office and we weren't spending as much time together as we usually do. I decided on the spur of the moment to pick her up in a Limo and to spend the night paying attention to each other & just enjoying doing whatever we wanted with no interruptions from our kids, work, friends etc. I called a Limo co., walked across the street to a local florist, picked up flowers, and stopped at a local tavern to make sure that her favorite beer would be in the Limo (the bar owner thought it was so romantic she contributed a bottle of champagne). I called my wife at work and told her I would pick her up so she wouldn't have to take a bus home. I changed into dress clothes and was waiting for her at the side entrance to her building. The look on her face when I put the window down and called her name made it all worthwhile. We had a great time, that was about 3 years ago but I can't wait to do it again.

--submitted by Darrel

Read more...

12 Food Good For Your Heart

Since February is heart month, i would like to post contents all related to heart. Here is your guide to foods that are good for the heart:

Aubergines supply some of the heart-protective nutrient vitamin E and, like other vegetables, are a useful source of potassium which helps keep blood pressure normal.

Blackcurrants are one of the richest sources of vitamin C. 100 g. of blackcurrants will give more than three times the recommended daily allowance. Vitamin C is vital to protect against heart disease.

Blackberries are rich in vitamin E, which can help prevent damage to the arteries caused by free radicals and provide enough soluble fibre in the form of pectin to help reduce LDL.

Broccoli and Broccoli Sprouts belongs to the crucifer family of vegetables, They contain a number of chemical compounds including carotenoids and indoles, which inhibit the production of cancer cells. Broccoli is very rich in vitamin C - weight for weight, it contains more than an orange. It contains antioxidant vitamin E and is a good source of calcium and B2. Because broccoli is a good plant source of iron, It contains sulphoraphane - which may help protect the heart from high blood pressure, heart disease, and stroke.

Onions contain allium compounds that have been linked to a reduced risk of some cancers. They are rich in a phyto-chemical called quercetin (especially the red onion) which is a strong antioxidant which may also help to improve circulation and regulate blood pressure.

Oily fish such as sardines are a really good source of omega 3s and sardines eaten with the dissolved bones are an incredible rich source of minerals. Unlike Tuna, canned sardines retain their beneficial oils.

Sunflower seeds are rich in powerful antioxidant vitamin E. Mix them with pumkin seeds for a healthy blend of beneficial omega -6 and omega -3 fats, try sprinkling them onto salads.

The red colour of tomatoes is due to the antioxidant lycopene, research has linked eating plenty of tomatoes, especially cooked, canned, pastes and sauces reduced risk of heart disease. Tomatoes are great source of antioxidant vitamins C and E, flavonoids and potassium, which may help to regulate blood pressure.

Garlic performs a number of healthy functions in the body. It is said to reduce the risk of heart disease by decreasing total blood cholesterol.

A daily glass of pomegranate juice slows down the damage caused by cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease, it also reduces blood pressure and more than doubles the levels of health-boosting antioxidants in the blood.

Soya beans provide protein, antioxidants ,vitamins and minerals. Antioxidants protect our hearts by preventing bad, LDL cholesterol from damaging artery walls. This is the first step in preventing clogged arteries. Soy also helps keep blood from becoming sticky, and forming clots, which could lead to a stroke or heart attack. Soy protein and soy fibre both help lower LDL cholesterol.

Pumkin as their yellow-orange colour suggests, pumpkins are lavishly supplied with betacarotene, the antioxidant which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Betacarotene has a range of beneficial effects on the body, preventing the tissue damage caused by free radicals that can lead to heart disease, cancer and accelerated ageing. Half a cup of pumpkin provides a quarter of the recommended daily allowance of betacarotene (which is deficient in most Western diets), 10 per cent of the RDA of vitamin C and a healthy dose of heart-protecting potassium.

Read more...

10 Foods You Should Consider To Have A Healthy Heart

Eating for optimal heart health is really no different than eating to get lean. And exercise recommendations are the same too - make time to move regularly (at least 5 hours per week), add 2-3 days of higher intensity, short duration sprints and make sure you're hitting the weights several times each week.

As for nutrition, here are the top 10 foods you should include regularly if you want to be in optimal health - you can not only decrease the risk of disease, but specific foods can virtually prevent heart disease (and many others as well).

1. Wild salmon (canned or fresh) - at least 12 oz/week
2. Raw nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans, etc) - 1 oz/day
3. Rolled oats (steel cut, whole, or quick oats are best) - 1 serving/day
4. Beans (black, kidney, chick peas, etc) - ½ cup, most days of the week
5. All fruit - at least 5 servings per day
6. All vegetables - at least 5 servings per day
7. Olive oil
8. Barley -- ½ cup 3-5 times per week
9. Fresh garlic - used regularly in cooking
10. Unsweetened, brewed tea (black, green, or white) - at least 2 cups daily

And these are not the only foods (or categories of foods) that can surely boost heart health, but there are others that can do the opposite and really put you at risk overtime.

These need to be drastically limited, if not eliminated.

1. Trans fat (listed as partially or fully hydrogenated oil on food labels)
2. Sugar (and it's 30+ aliases, included raw and organic sugars)
3. Fried foods
4. White foods (including breads, cereals, and other carbohydrate based products with 0 grams of fiber)
5. Breakfast cereals with less than 3 grams of fiber and over 10 grams of sugar

Always remember, keep that 90/10 rule in mind - 90% of the time, follow smart eating rules and principles. The other 10% of the time you can be a bit more lax.

To make sure you reach the 90% compliance get started with the http://mealplans101.com software. You will find that it is super easy to reach that 90% compliance rule.

Read more...

10 Commandments of Valentines Day

I just found this article few a hours ago and just wanted to share to you guys since it's only 2 days to go for Valentines Day - The ten commandments of Valentine's Day. Surprise? Well don't be it's as easy as eating ice cream.

Here they are: Thou shalt:

1: Look your best. Honestly, what does it takes to put on a decent shirt, shave and get a decent haircut? If you've been dating a while, that stuff has a tendency to slip, FIX IT! FYI: Lemondrop suggests some pretty dramatic things she can do to her lady region, so you can get rid of that unibrow.

2: Bring a gift. For dog, dog, dog's sake, bring a gift. Be creative guys! She'll appreciate the sentiment. Bonus points if it's homemade. Don't go crazy, you may have to top this. Em & Lo have a wide range of suggestions of stuff she can get you, don't show up empty-handed. Candy is totally optional.

3: Have a dinner planned. You don't have to go to the Four Seasons and eat caviar (in this economy, that would be crazy). But have plans, either a reservation somewhere you've never been or dinner at the homestead. Bonus points for showing that you do listen to her, as always. A few dinner ideas from iVillage.

4: Pack flower power. They're dead, they're pricey and this time of year really lets florists gouge you. Not important, women really dig flowers. Here's an explanation.. Also, sending them to her workplace is a slick deal because her coworkers will be quite jealous. That's the ticket, guys.

5: Wine 'em up. A little wine goes a long, long way with most gals. There's something more romantic about a nice cabernet than a sixer of Bud tallboys (go figure). And these days ferment grape juice is pretty affordable.

6: Pick a card, any card. Hallmark has taken you hostage, no doubt. But you still should bring a card, seriously. You can even make your own at home (I'm partial to preschool-style glitter and macaroni monstrosities). Par for the course, extra points are given for humor (tasteful is appreciated).

7: Keep it in your pants, lover boy. I mean that semi-literally, while there is something in the air in and around February 14th, it's not a carte blanche invitation to expose yourself to someone you've been sweating. One of our panelists on That's What He Said found out about that little wrinkle the hard way.

8: Make it intimate, keep it sexy. Not to contradict the above, but feel free to crank up the romance, dude. Ladies (especially after item 5: Wine) appreciate the sensual. This is not a go-ahead to morph into Leon Phelps (The Ladies Man), but try out some candles or scented oils with your full-time lady. Shine suggests a bath for two. That is intimate.

9: Remember it's just one night. For realsies, it's one night; don't make other plans. Full, undivided attention is a commodity more valuable than light, sweet crude oil in the '09er; give it up. And don't be a dadgum baby about the whole thing. Dragging ass or pouting won't make you enjoy it more. If an issue comes up, agree to disagree (I, generally, don't agree to that).

10: Bring the tunes. I've always thought "Sexual Healing" and "Let's Get It On" (the whole Marvin Gaye seduction catalogue, it appears) to be a slightly cheeser. But to each his/ her own (AKA know thy lay). Crank the Seal up to a comfortable listening level and get a little bit crazy. Big bonus points for sentimentality.* Paste sort of endorses the new Ryan Adams album ("Anything For Love" is sadly missing).

Goodluck and Happy Valentines Day to all!

Read more...

Chocolate on Valentines Day

Chocolate isn't a Food, but an Experience

Few words evoke the emotional enthusiasm people feel toward chocolate. It has a treasured place in our personal collection of memories - the Easter baskets, the birthday treats, the candy displays at Christmas, the heart that told you someone loves you.

Those days during special times, chocolate was there - an integral part of the event. One taste of chocolate (or even the thought alone) makes the mouth water and the emotional associations rush in. It brings back the multitude of fondly-remembered feel-good experiences we didn't want to end.

So a great-testing piece of chocolate inevitably makes us happy inside. Of course, it doesn't hurt that chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a natural substance that's reputed to stimulate the same reaction in the body as falling in love. That's why, even at times when we're feeling down, anything chocolate feels so comforting.

Chocolate is Meant to be Shared! Why not give your love ones on Valentines Day a chocolate she loves.







Here is 1 simple chocolate recipe:

Chocolate Toffee

2 cups granulated sugar
½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup dark corn syrup
dash salt
½ cup whipping cream
½ stick (� cup) butter

Line an 8-inch baking pan with buttered foil. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Begin cooking over medium heat, lowering heat as candy thickens. Cook to 250 degrees F. Pour into prepared pan and let cool. Break into bite-sized pieces or cut and wrap in plastic film.

Recommended Books for You:

Chocolate Matter - Chocolate Recipes For A Happy Heart and Soul
World's No. 1 Chocolate Recipe

Read more...

Important Things You Should Know About Chest Pain

My parents are here with me in Malaysia for holiday for a month. Last Tuesday night while he was finishing his dinner, he stopped eating because he felt like he swallowed 1 tiny fish bone. Then my mother immediately asked him to drink more water and eat banana to bring down the bone that stuck to his throat. However, after for a while he said that pain goes down somewhere between his chest.

My father had a mild stroke 1 year ago and now he is doing ok. He can pronounce the word properly though it fells like it is difficult for him to speak. He can now do jogging slowly though he walks slow.

So yesterday, he said that pain is getting stronger that everytime the pain strikes the becomes breathless. So i send to him to the clinic. His blood pressure is ok for his age 130/80 but the doctor said that his heart is under stress and squezzing that's why he is having chest pain. Whether due to his long walking every morning in the park, his food intake and or skipping his hypertension medication. However, is given some medication for pain and heartburn. After 2 days, there would be another test like ECG to determine if he needs a heart specialist. Right now with the medication, the pain is lesser though the discomfort feeling is still there sometimes and hoping he would be better today or tomorrow.

So to ease some worries and help understand my father illness, i browsed some articles related to chest pain. I would like to share this to you all hoping this would help you in case you may experience the same.

What is Chest Pain?
It is often used to describe any pain, pressure, squeezing, choking, numbness or any other discomfort in the chest, neck, or upper abdomen, and is often associated with pain in the jaw, head, or arms. It can last from less than a second to days or weeks, can occur frequently or rarely, and can occur sporadically or predictably. With such a broad definition, you can see why the term “chest pain” is itself of little help to doctors.

Chest pain is one of the most frightening symptoms a person can have. It is sometimes difficult even for a doctor or other medical professional to tell what is causing chest pain and whether it is life-threatening.

• Any part of the chest can be the cause of the pain including the heart, lungs, esophagus, muscle, bone, and skin.
  
• Because of the complex nerve distribution in the body, chest pain may actually originate from another part of the body.
• The stomach or other organs in the belly (abdomen), for example, can cause chest pain.

Causes of Chest Pain (Potentially life-threatening)

A. Cardiopulmonary

• Acute coronary syndrome
  • Unstable Angina Pectoris - Angina is chest pain related to an imbalance between the oxygen demand of the heart and the amount of oxygen delivered via the blood. It is caused by blockage or narrowing of the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. Angina is different from a heart attack in that the arteries are not completely blocked, and it causes little or no permanent damage to the heart. "Stable" angina occurs repetitively and predictably while exercising and goes away with rest. "Unstable" angina results in unusual and unpredictable pain not relieved totally by rest, or pain that actually occurs at rest.
  • Myocardial infarction ("heart attack") - A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the arteries that supply the heart (coronary arteries) becomes blocked. With decreased blood flow, the muscle of the heart does not receive enough oxygen. This can cause damage, deterioration, and death of the heart muscle.
• Aortic dissection - The aorta is the main artery that supplies blood to the vital organs of the body, such as the brain, heart, kidneys, lungs, and intestines. Dissection means a tear in the inner lining of the aorta. This can cause massive internal bleeding and interrupt blood flow to the vital organs.
• Pericarditis - This is an inflammation of the pericardium, which is the sac that covers the heart.
• Pulmonary embolism - A pulmonary embolus is a blood clot in one of the major blood vessels that supplies the lungs. It is a potentially life-threatening cause of chest pain but is not associated with the heart.
  
• Pneumonia - Pneumonia is an infection of the lung tissue. Chest pain occurs because of inflammation to the lining of the lungs.
• Hemothorax
• Pneumothorax and Tension pneumothorax: Pneumothorax often called a collapsed lung, this condition occurs when air enters the saclike space between the chest wall and the lung tissue. Normally, negative pressure in the chest cavity allows the lungs to expand. When a spontaneous pneumothorax occurs, air enters the chest cavity. When the pressure balance is lost, the lung is unable to re-expand. This cuts off the normal oxygen supply in the body.
• Arrhythmia - atrial fibrillation and a number of other arrhythmias can cause chest pain.

Other causes

• Cardiopulmonary
  
  • Stable Angina Pectoris - this can be treated medically and although it warrants investigation, it is not an emergency in its strictest sense
  • Pleurisy - an inflammation which can cause painful respiration
• Upper gastrointestinal ailments
  • Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other causes of heartburn - occurs when acidic digestive juices flow backward from the stomach into the esophagus. The resulting heartburn is sometimes experienced as chest pain.
  • Hiatus hernia (which may not accompany GERD)
  • Achalasia, nutcracker esophagus and other neuromuscular disorders of the esophagus
  • Functional dyspepsia
• Problems of chest wall structures
  • Costochondritis or Tietze's syndrome - a benign and harmless form of osteochondritis often mistaken for heart disease. This is an inflammation of the cartilage between the ribs. Pain is typically located in the mid-chest, with intermittently dull and sharp pain that may be increased with deep breaths, movement, and deep touch.
  • Spinal nerve problem
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Chest wall problems
  • Breast conditions
  • Herpes zoster - Also known as shingles, this is a reactivation of the viral infection that causes chickenpox. With shingles, a rash occurs, usually only on one small part of the body. The pain, often very severe, is usually confined to the area of the rash. The pain may precede the rash by 4-7 days. Risk factors include any condition in which the immune system is compromised, such as advanced age, HIV, or cancer. Herpes zoster is highly contagious to people who have not had chickenpox or have not been vaccinated against chickenpox for the five days before and the five days after the appearance of the rash.
• Psychological
  • Panic attack
  • Anxiety
  • Clinical depression
  • Somatization disorder
  • Hypochondria
• Others
  • Hyperventilation syndrome often presents with chest pain and a tingling sensation of the fingertips and around the mouth
  • Da costa's syndrome
  • Bornholm disease - a viral disease that can mimic many other conditions
  • Precordial catch syndrome - another benign and harmless form of a sharp, localised chest pain often mistaken for heart disease
  • Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
  • Sarcoidosis
  • Lead Poisoning
  • High abdominal pain may also mimick chest pain.

Chest Pain Treatment at Home:

Heart Attack
If you suspect that you or someone you are with may be having a heart attack, call 911 for emergency services or go to the nearest hospital emergency department.

• While waiting for the ambulance, have the patient chew two baby aspirin or at least half of a regular aspirin - at least 160 mg. There is no evidence that taking more than this helps more, and the patient could have unwanted side effects if they take too much.
  
• It is important to chew the aspirin before swallowing it because chewing decreases the time the medicine takes to have an effect.
  
• Chewing an aspirin in the early stages of a heart attack may reduce the risk of death and it may also reduce the severity of the attack.

Angina
If the patient has had angina and has nitroglycerin tablets available, have the patient place one under the tongue. This may aid in increasing blood flow to blocked or narrowed arteries.

• If the chest pain continues in the next five minutes, take another tablet under the tongue.
  
• If, after three nitroglycerin tablets, the patient does not have relief of the chest pain, immediately call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

Esophagus
If the pain is from acid reflux (GERD), it may be relieved with antacids. Even if the patient's pain goes away after taking an antacid, do not assume they are not having a heart attack. The patient should still be evaluated in a hospital emergency department.

Prevention
Prevention is always better than cure.

• Don't smoke.
  
• Maintain a healthy weight.
  
• Eat nutritious, low-fat foods in moderate quantities.
  
• If you drink alcohol, use alcohol moderately.
  
• Engage in physical activity or exercise for at least 30 minutes every day.
  
• Control high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
  
• If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar every day.

For Acid reflux (GERD) can be prevented to a certain extent in most people:

• Avoid foods and other substances that bring on or worsen symptoms, especially fatty foods
  
• Stop smoking
  
• Use alcohol in moderation, if at all
  
• Avoid eating large meals
  
• Avoid eating for three hours before bedtime
  
• Avoid lying down right after eating
  
• Elevate the head of your bed

More information on chest pain causes and symptoms.

Recommended eBooks:

Stop Heartburn Fast!
Heart Attack Survivor: a field Guide
Panic or Anxiety Attack: Treatment and Symptoms
Panic Away Official Site -Treat Panic Attacks and Anxiety
Your Heart Needs the Mediterranean Diet - Emilia Klapp
Cholesterol and the French Paradox
Stop Smoking! Quit Smoking Forever With Quit Smoking Success Plan

Read more...