Don't Allow Overwhelm To Lead To Inactivity

When making a significant change to your lifestyle such as following the low carb model I personally use and help clients with, it can be a challenge. Or in fact anything that means significant change for you, and those around you. For some it's a matter of ripping the band aid off quickly and diving in, this can be a bit tough but the rewards come quickly. New habits are established and the old ways are soon left behind.

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Belly Dancing Classes - Private or Public

Belly dancing lessons may be done in the privacy of the home or attending public classes at dance studios, school and college campuses, women's organizations, and community centers. Electronic devices or a private instructor may be used in home instruction. There are many public facilities available for this popular dance art.

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Weight Loss - Ending Your Diet Mentality Means Greater Success With Losing Weight

Are you overweight, or do you feel you have weight to lose? Do you have Type 2 diabetes? If you have answered yes to these questions, there is a good chance you are a victim of the "diet mentality." The diet mentality is one that may seem fruitful in theory but is ineffective in practice. It is certainly a sound idea to plan your diet and nutrition around your health goals, which may involve your weight or blood sugar level. But there is one ingredient integral to the success of any diet, which is inherently lacking in most.

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An Ode to Ranch: How I Fell in Love With America’s Condiment

What are your first memories of middle school? Catching a glimpse of your crush’s braces-crossed smile? Straining to remember your locker combination? Half-heartedly digging through your backpack to "find" the homework you knew you’d forgotten at home? My earliest middle school memory took place in the cafeteria, on the first Friday of the month: pizza day. I was sitting across from my friend Allen, mouth agape, as I watched him douse his slice of pizza in ranch dressing. I’d never seen anyone do that before.

"You ever try this?" he asked, grinning.

"No," I said, trying my damnedest to decipher the swirl of cheese, tomato sauce, bread, and tangy buttermilk. It didn’t make any sense. Ranch was for salads, not pizza. That combination simply couldn’t be good… could it?

"It’ll change your life," he said, offering me a bite.

Allen was right.

The marriage of ranch and pizza is said to have begun in the South, when Pizza Hut began offering it as a side with their pies, but we'll never know for certain who came up with that brilliant scheme. I can only deduce that the person in question was a bona fide genius.

However, the practice of dipping pizza—or even just the crust—into ranch dressing has its detractors. In protest of the growing trend, one Dallas pizzeria famously charges $1,000 for a side of the stuff, and more than one publication has sounded off on the matter.

In a recent article published by The Washington Post, "Ranch Dressing Is What’s Wrong With America," Ben Adler suggests, among other insults, that ranch is something other than perfect.

Clearly, that’s an absurd statement, and the article was met with controversy (just scroll down to the comments section). But while there are die-hard ranch fans and people who want to see every last bottle dumped out, if anything I think Adler proved ranch is more beloved than it is scorned.

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Ranch dressing was invented in 1949 by a cowboy from Nebraska named Steven Henson, while working as contract plumber in Alaska. In 1954, Steve and his wife, Gayle, opened a ranch near Santa Barbara, California, and would often serve their guests a special dressing made of buttermilk, mayonnaise, and herbs. Their home was called Hidden Valley, and the dressing would eventually be known as… well, you know.

In 1972, the entire dressing brand was bought for a staggering $8 million by The Clorox Company, but it wasn’t until 1983 that the more popular non-refrigerated bottle hit supermarket shelves. Less than a decade later, ranch would become America’s favorite condiment, and by the mid-90s, it had become a staple far beyond salads: Kids would trade anything in their lunch for a snack-size bag of Cool Ranch Doritos.

As a kid, I was never one to consume ranch with reckless abandon. But after that day in the cafeteria with Allen, my taste for the dressing started to grow. Soon I was regularly using it as a condiment for pizza and fries. The only thing holding me back was the knowledge that my family would ride me out of town on a rail if I polished off the entire bottle the way I really wanted to.

But eventually I left for college, where rules were meant to be broken. In our dorm, my friends and I engaged in what I can only refer to as "culinary experimentation." Ranch on burgers. Ranch on steak. Ranch on beans. Ranch on pie. Ranch and Diet Coke. OK, we never did the last one, but there is such a thing as ranch soda.

I never considered the possibility that I might take it too far, but in the end, I flew too close to the sun on wings sprinkled with dill and dried parsley, and the inevitable happened: I made myself sick. I know plenty of people who lost their taste for tequila after an overambitious night in college. But me, I overdid it on the ranch. I put the bottle back and didn’t touch it for over a year.

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When my favorite condiment and I got back together, it was—appropriately enough—in the Midwest, where the ranch dressing flows like wine. I was sitting in a bar, waiting for my girlfriend to finish class. We were doing the long-distance thing, and she was finishing a degree from the University of Wisconsin. I ordered a pint of Spotted Cow and the fried cheese curds, which were served with a plastic tub of ranch dressing for dipping. I stared at it with cautious interest, like a bear gazing at an open picnic basket. I knew what ranch had done to me in the past, but I wasn’t ready to pass over a regional delicacy. Gingerly, I dipped the curd in the dressing... and promptly went back in time.

Suddenly, I was in eighth grade all over again, in that noisy cafeteria with Allen. Enough time had passed, and my heart was ready to accept the treasure trove of buttermilk and herbs. I’d rediscovered white gold. Elated, I texted my girlfriend, who responded with understandable confusion. She’d grown up in Massachusetts but had spent enough time in the Midwest to know that ranch was king. Despite being in the middle of her class, she texted me back: What? Yes. Ranch is effing majestic. How could you not know it’s good on cheese curds?! Or like… on everything??

The question remains: Why is ranch so good on everything? NPR pondered this a few years ago and came to the conclusion that ranch is so good just because… well, it’s delicious. It’s tangy, creamy, smooth, and naturally, full of calories. It tastes good because it makes you feel good, like eating an ice cream sandwich or waking up for work—only to realize it’s Saturday.

I'll never understand the snobs who think ranch isn’t high-end enough to be delicious. Like other classic comfort foods, it doesn't require expensive, difficult-to-procure ingredients in order to be amazing, but that doesn't make it any less valuable to me. However, ranch did end up teaching me a valuable lesson in temperance. It may be delicious on everything—and I do mean everything—but I've learned to use the American classic the way it was intended: in moderation, savoring each and every bite.

Show how you ranch out your favorite foods with a dip, dunk, or drizzle of Hidden Valley Ranch. Snap a picture of your Ranched Out dish and then visit RanchOutSweeps.com to enter. You can also enter by sharing it on Instagram or Twitter with #RanchOutSweepstakes. NoPurNec18+ Rules @ HiddenValley.com Ends:4/19/17@11:59am PT.

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Step by Step Instructions to Look More Youthful Than at Any Other Time

The passing of years is our biggest enemy, because no one can stop time and no one appreciates getting older. But, if you want to preserve your natural...

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9 Super-Easy Stuffed Sweet Potato Recipes

Did You Know These Fast Facts About Alkaline Water?

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6 Tips You Must Remember to Get Your Perfect Tan Safely

Girls, summer days are here! And that perfect golden-brown hue, a.k.a. suntan can make you look sexy and slim for the entire season. Studies show that sunbathing help our body produce vitamin D, which is essential for healthy skin, teeth and bones. Besides, right exposure of sun increases serotonin level in your body, which helps your body relieve stress and depression naturally.

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A 30-Minute Yoga-Pilates Sequence to Ease Tension in Your Back

Whether you've been crushing your workouts at the gym or putting out fires all day at your desk job, strenuous or stressful situations can cause a lot of tension in your upper and lower back. Ease the pain with this gentle yoga and Pilates fusion sequence.

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This 30-minute routine features a powerful combo of yoga and Pilates moves. It's intentionally slow and subtle, so you can nurture your body rather than punish it. The class is set to a soothing instrumental track, which immediately helps you feel relaxed AF. Seriously, get home, shut the door, dim the lights, and take these 30 minutes for yourself—you'll feel like a brand new person. Just grab a yoga mat (a strap or belt are optional) and press play to get started.

Looking for more short and effective at-home workouts? Grokker has thousands of routines, so you’ll never get bored. Bonus: For a limited time, Greatist readers get 40 percent off Grokker Premium (just $9 per month) and their first 14 days free. Sign up now!

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7 Times Veggie Sides Were the Absolute Best Part of the Meal

3 Common Foods to Help Burn Body Fat - Simple Ways to Lose Weight

This article examines the benefits of 3 common foods whose health benefits are often misrepresented. I am going to give you the truth about these foods.

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Fat Burning Vegetables

People are rapidly changing their lifestyles today in an attempt to become healthier and lose weight. Individuals are paying closer attention to their diet habits and the foods they eat. With that in mind, weight loss is one of the most researched subjects on the internet today. This report lists fifteen of the most beneficial fat burning vegetables to help you maintain your health and lose weight.

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High or Low Intensity?

he most common one used in the general fitness industry to date is HIIT sessions, also known as HIIE( high intensity intermittent interval training) or SIT (sprint interval training). Normally these sessions are aimed at 85-90% of an Individual's maximum heart rate with a short rest period between cycles.

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The Best Gluten-Free Pastas You Can Buy

7 Can't-Fail Expert Tips for Treating Dry Winter Skin

7 Make-Ahead Breakfast Casseroles That Aren't From Grandma's Cookbook

Weight Loss - Are You Exercising, But Still Gaining Weight?

You may be wondering why it is so difficult to lose weight, despite the amount of physical activity you are doing. Could it be fact or fiction exercise helps with weight loss? Surely the case is different for each person. If you hadn't guessed it, weight loss is a challenge unique to each person. While some people have a harder time than others, it is rarely (if ever) easy. Weight loss is difficult because it asks the body to get rid of what it holds valuable. Body fat is essential to the body, even if it can be a danger to health in higher amounts.

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Test, Procedures and Treatments of Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a chronic disorder, characterized by recurrent, unprovoked seizures. Many people with epilepsy have more than one type of seizure and may have other symptoms of neurological problems as well. Epilepsy diagnosis is based on multiple pieces of information such as the description of the episodes, the person's medical and family history and the results of diagnostic tests. Epilepsy can be treated and many people achieve good seizure control with medication. There are other treatments also available in case medication is not effective.

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Complications and Successful Outcomes of Cardiac Surgery of Infants

According to records 8-10 infants per 1000 suffer from congenital heart disease. Heart surgery in kids are performed to rectify the heart problems the child has inborn with. Heart problems may differ in every child; some might be minor problems for which a child may be able to wait for months or years for the surgery while some major problems might require immediate heart surgery. It is possible that defects might occur inside the heart or in the large blood vessels outside the heart. A single surgery might be enough to rectify the heart defect, but many a times a series of procedures are required.

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5 Shopping Tips to Burn More Fat

How often do we go to the shops and come back with everything, except what we need? When you are at home it is easy to stick to a weight loss program because there are so fewer distractions! It's when we go the shops that temptation strikes. However, with that being said we do still need to leave the house to purchase the necessary ingredients that make up a healthy diet.

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Healthy Happy Holidays

The Holidays are meant to be a joyful time, and I'd like to see each of you have the best Kwanzaa and New Years' celebrations ever. Too many times we build every event around the food. Sure, enjoy the 'good for you foods' and by-pass the unhealthy ones. The "most important decisions we make each day are all about 'what we eat".

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5 Things You Should Know About Co Washing

Co washing is short form for "conditioner washing" or cleansing your hair with conditioner instead of shampoo. It was coined by Lorraine Massey, author of Curly Girl: The Handbook, and creator of Curly Girl Method. Due to the structure of curly hair, it has a natural tendency to be drier than straight hair types.

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What Makes Laser Hair Removal Technology Better Over Traditional Methods

Advanced Derma Laser provides the best laser hair removal services in New York City. We provide reasonable hair removal treatment for face, ears, hands, legs and full body etc.

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7 Vegan Lasagna Recipes That Are Just As Good Without Meat and Cheese

6 Ways to Cut Back at Work and Be Instantly Happier

I’ve always been busy and achievement-oriented; I was the college kid with a high GPA, multiple on-campus jobs, and a full course load. When I graduated, it was only natural that my industriousness would continue into adult life, but I was still struggling to make ends meet, so I started working more and more hours. I relocated to a larger city with more opportunities, took on two part-time jobs—one an overnight shift—and redoubled my efforts.

It wasn’t long before this perseverance became a real problem. For two years, I had a near-constant headache and neglected my relationship. When my partner and I went out for a dinner date, I was unable to leave work behind—I was always concerned that a client might email me. I stopped doing things I loved, including spending time outside, reading for fun, and connecting with friends. Finally, I reached a breaking point: I physically couldn’t keep up with the pace I’d been setting for myself and started missing deadlines. I was constantly sick. I realized I’d lost control and finally admitted that I had a problem... even as peers continued to compliment me for my ability to work so much.

It took me months to start changing course. Like many in my generation, I still had six-figure student loan debt, but when I was being honest with myself, I knew that stability would elude me until I changed my habits to make them more sustainable.

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Finally, nearly a year after I first began to flounder, I'm in the process of making some concrete changes, so I can get more enjoyment out of time I spend doing something other than work. Here's what I'm doing… if you're going through something similar, these tips might help you too.

1. Put self-care on the schedule.

For people battling work addiction, any time spent outside of work can be anxiety-inducing, but self-care is vitally important. It's still hard for me to relax, so for now, I’m focusing on activities like horseback riding that demand my full attention, so I can't get distracted. When I’m riding, if I don’t focus on the moment, my ride can be less than enjoyable at best, and dangerous at worst. I'm still working toward enjoying unstructured time—right now it makes me very uncomfortable to have nothing on the schedule—but my hope is that by getting more comfortable with not working, I can get more comfortable with actual leisure.

2. Learn to unplug.

A big part of learning how to be engaged in the world outside of my work has been to commit to other activities and to hold myself accountable, so I'm spending a minimum of one hour per week unplugged—my phone is not allowed to come with me on a date, a hike, a class, or any other activity. During that time, I just can't work. My goal is to eventually be in a place where I don't actually need to schedule that time and to learn how to push work completely out of my mind when there's nothing I can do about it.

3. Learn to change the way you talk to yourself.

For me, the hardest part about addressing my addiction to work is the whirlwind of feelings every time I work… and every time I try to take a step back. Like most people in this world, my financial situation makes it impossible for me to go cold turkey, so it is crucial that I have help learning to manage my emotions. The biggest struggle I have is feeling guilty whenever I take time for myself. I have a hard time focusing on activities that are important to non-work-related parts of my life.

My first goal in therapy is to learn to deal with the guilt. We discuss where it comes from, and I'm learning to change the way I talk to myself. While I still often find myself thinking things like, “You’re being lazy and wasting time. You could be working and earning money right now,” or “You’re broke! How can you afford to just sit around doing nothing?” I'm actively working on interrupting those thoughts with new ones like, “You are not doing this alone. Let your partner help,” and “No one can work 24 hours a day. You are not being lazy by letting your mind rest.” One of the most important things to remember is that taking real breaks actually helps me be more productive when I am working.

4. Recruit supporters.

One of the most isolating aspects of work addiction is that being hard-working and industrious is seen as virtuous, even when it’s out of control. There are always people complimenting my ability to focus for long hours. It’s nice to feel admired, but these people unintentionally reinforce my addiction instead of helping me change habits. When I decided to make a change, I talked to my partner and my mother about what I was dealing with, and about what I was trying to do. I asked them to help me hold myself accountable for taking time to do other things. And they’ve been doing it. They remind me that the work will still be there when I come back, that my bank account is doing OK, and that taking a break will help me be more productive later. They also commit to coming with me to non-work-related activities if they can make the time.

5. Set firm boundaries.

One of the hardest things is that these days, there are lots (and lots) of tools that allow you to work from almost anywhere, and I was taking full advantage of them. One of the most important steps I've taken is removing my work email account from my phone. If I'm not in my office, I'm not checking or responding. I thought that by making this change, my career would suffer—after all, who would want to work with someone who doesn't get back to them right away? But what I found instead is that it didn't take long for my boss and coworkers to get on board... and even take similar steps themselves.

6. Learn to delegate and say no.

Last year, if my staff had come to me with a big project idea—like securing grant funding to make important changes—I would have tackled the project almost all on my own. I would have researched options, scheduled meetings, written proposals, and sent them out, asking my team for their feedback occasionally and then calling it a collaborative effort.

But last month, when my staff asked what we could do to improve our workplace, I turned the question back on them, asking what they would like to see happen and what they thought was possible. The result so far has been that my employees have come up with some very creative solutions that my company might actually be able to implement, and I'm not overworked trying to make it happen. Instead of taking on the whole project, I offered my mentorship and material support when they needed it, but let them handle any tasks they wanted to try themselves.

I still struggle with wanting to take it all on, and I find myself resisting putting too much time into projects that really belong in someone else’s hands, but I keep reminding myself that letting them do their thing is giving my staff ownership over our workplace, and showing them that I have confidence in their abilities. The sky is not falling. In fact, it's been great—both my staff and I are thriving.

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How to Stop Muscle Cramps in Their Tracks

Whether you call them cramps, stitches, or just pains in the butt, muscle spasms put a serious damper on any workout—especially considering they usually strike without warning.

No one is immune to muscle cramps. Your calf muscles, hamstrings, quads, arms, and abs are most likely to be affected. There are plenty of possible culprits too, including being dehydrated, having poor blood circulation, not stretching enough, or just fatiguing your muscles. The news only gets worse: Cramps can occur up to six hours after exercising (talk about a sneak attack!); the notorious charley horse often happens in the middle of the night—and you thought nightmares were bad. Luckily, scientists have found things you can do to prevent and stop muscle cramps in their tracks

Prevent Cramps

• Drinks lots of water. Many experts suggest dehydration is a leading cause of muscle spasms. Plus, there are so many other upsides to drinking more water.

• Fill up on electrolytes. Low levels of sodium and potassium could be the reason for that side stitch. Influence of Hydration and Electrolyte Supplementation on Incidence and Time to Onset of Exercise-Associated Muscle Cramps. Jung, A.P., Bishop, B.A., Al-Nawwas, A., et al. University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC. Journal of Athletic Training, 2005 Apr-Jun; 40(2): 71–75. So down some Gatorade or better yet, grab a banana.

• Try a vitamin. Studies suggest magnesium, zinc, and vitamins B, D, and E can limit the likelihood of getting a muscle cramp (or at least ease the pain). A selected controlled trial of supplementary vitamin E for treatment of muscle cramps in hemodialysis patients. El-Hennawy AS, Zaib S. American journal of therapeutics, 2011, Mar.;17(5):1536-3686.
  Assessment: symptomatic treatment for muscle cramps (an evidence-based review): report of the therapeutics and technology assessment subcommittee of the American academy of neurology. Katzberg HD, Khan AH, So YT. Neurology, 2010, Mar.;74(8):1526-632X.
  Preliminary observation: oral zinc sulfate replacement is effective in treating muscle cramps in cirrhotic patients. Kugelmas M. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 2000, Mar.;19(1):0731-5724.
  Role of calcium and vitamin D in the treatment of muscle pain. Liang, R. The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association, 1985 June; 29(2): 90–91.

• Jump around. When small nerves in our muscles get fatigued, cramping can occur. Luckily, jumping drills (a.k.a. plyometrics) keep these nerves from tiring. Do them a few times a week after working out to help prevent spasms.

• Warm up and cool down. A proper warm-up and cool-down, including plenty of stretching, can keep cramps at bay. So make sure to carve out time to get your body moving before working out and relax your muscles once you're done.

Treat Cramps

• Stretch the spot. Once the spasms start, stop, drop, and streeetch. Or treat yo’self with a massage to really hit the knot.

• Take a chill pill. When muscle cramps strike, take a break. Trying to push through the pain often makes the cramps worse and more severe. Increased running speed and previous cramps rather than dehydration or serum sodium changes predict exercise-associated muscle cramping: a prospective cohort study in 210 Ironman triathletes. Schwellnus MP, Drew N, Collins M. British journal of sports medicine, 2010, Dec.;45(8):1473-0480.

• Hit the pharmacy. Anti-inflammatory medications may help combat soreness from muscle spasms. Cramps and muscular pain: prevention with pycnogenol in normal subjects, venous patients, athletes, claudicants and in diabetic microangiopathy. Vinciguerra G, Belcaro G, Cesarone MR. Angiology, 2006, Jul.;57(3):0003-3197. It’s always best to check with a doctor first, of course, before making this your go-to fix.

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7 Hawaiian-Inspired Poke Bowls You Can Make at Home

Bodyweight Burn Review - Does It Work?

Bodyweight Burn is a workout program that promises to help you lose weight in just 21 minutes a day, but does it work? Take a look at what's really involved in the Bodyweight Burn program and find out if it could work for you.

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Acrylic Nail Monomer - Get Your Desired Nails

Satisfaction and Pleasure are those two things which have been the base of any successful product purchase. Without these two, no product can create an impact on the client's mind. You must be very busy and time for looking after yourself is very less.

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How to Create a System That Will Help You With Any Goal

Life coaches are crazy-obsessed big goal-setters. Coaching is largely about beginning with the end in mind (a goal) and creating an action plan to get there, wherever “there” is. I personally reset my goals every 6 months. They are pinned to my vision board as a daily reminder of what I’m working toward.

But a goal alone isn’t enough for success. You also need a system to get you there. Because systems work—they provide clarity and keep you on track.

In How to Fail at Almost Everything and Still Win Big, best-selling author Scott Adams explains: "A goal is a specific objective that you either achieve or don’t sometime in the future. A system is something you do on a regular basis that achieves your odds of happiness in the long run. If you do something every day, it’s a system. If you’re waiting to achieve it someday in the future, it’s a goal."

Why the differentiation? Because systems make winning likely. It’s the system that matters, not the rare moments of ticking a box that was a goal. A system is set of steps to help you achieve your goal, not just dream and talk about it.

For example, let’s say your goal is to find a job. Your system might look like this:

• Research career websites every day.
• Have a networking coffee with someone new every week.
• Allocate an hour per morning to do some fresh outreach.
• Consistently polish your LinkedIn profile and resume.

A system makes your goal real. It’s concrete. It gets you moving. When you put your system into action, you’ll be very likely to reach your goal, because you have a map to get there.
The system is all you have to worry about to summit whatever mountain you are climbing.

Here’s an example of one of my systems in action: When I started my side hustle, my goal was to get five coaching clients. One way to attract new clients was to start blogging life advice, hoping that the right people would find me. To do that, I decided to publish one fresh blog post each week on a topic I felt mattered.

My system to do that was to write every. single. morning. Even when I didn’t feel like it. Just for 15 minutes if that’s all the time I had. Some of my writing does nothing—it tanks and attracts no readers at all! But I always write every day. It’s not “I’ll do it when I feel like it.” It’s “I’ll do it today.” Because it’s my system. Morning time is writing time. (It’s morning right now, and so I’m writing this column.)

Following my system ultimately got me featured in my dream publications and eventually even resulted in my first book being published. I scored my goal and thensome through that process, because, unlike goals, systems never end (they also take away the guesswork).

What goal do you currently have that you could replace with a system?

• Could you replace looking for a relationship with going on two new dates per week?
• Could you replace a goal of losing 5 pounds with cutting out soda from your diet?
• Could you replace your revenue goal for your business with spending 20 minutes per day on marketing?
• Could you replace your desire for a deeper spiritual practice with a 15-minute morning meditation?
• Could you replace a goal of spending more quality time with your spouse with all screens off during dinnertime?
• Could you satisfy your desire for work-life balance with a massage every month and no email-checking after 7 or 8 p.m.?

Systems reduce decision fatigue; they provide you with an inner guidance system and a equip you with the power of habit. What system can you start this week?

Susie Moore is Greatist's life coach columnist and a confidence coach in New York City. Always wanted to pursue your own passion? Sign up for her Side Hustle Prep School. You can also sign up for free weekly wellness tips on her website and check back every Tuesday on Greatist for her latest No Regrets column!

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9 Matcha Recipes for Those Days You *Need* Extra Energy

How to Grow That Long Hair You've Always Wanted

1. Use conditioner every time you shampoo - Over time, strands get thin from colouring, chemical and heat styling.

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9 Excuses for Eating Avocado Toast Every Single Day

Tips For Managing Pregnancy Weight Gain

It is somewhat difficult to manage your weight when you are pregnant. Good thing, experts have shared some tips for preventing pregnancy weight gain.

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Adopt These Simple Steps to Get Fit

It may be a tough bet to make a guess about the next big theory in the fitness field. In this context, if your aim is to get fit and if you keep on asking for advice from every person you meet, you will get as many or even double the number of suggestions as the number of people you seek advice from. This complicates the whole process and ultimately, you will be a confused person who is not able to take even the first step towards achieving your goal. But there are a few simple steps that can help you in achieving your aim of getting fit.

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Nail Design Shop - Find the Suitable One With an Ease

If you go out and try to find a reliable nail design shop, it's almost impossible to find the one where the needs would combine with the proper service. Though there are ample of shops which promise to give you the best service in the market, often they fail to give the same.

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I Gained 30 Pounds This Year… and Finally Learned to Love My Body

If you'd told me a year ago that I would be OK with gaining 30 pounds in the next 12 months, I would have laughed at you. On the list of things I definitely didn’t want to happen to me, gaining weight would have been fighting for the top spot, right alongside being banished to a deserted island with Donald J. Trump. After all, it was just last year that I was at the lowest weight I’d been in my adult life. Of course, that was also the lowest point in my life across the board, but I took my lean figure as a sign that I was succeeding in at least one aspect.

In hindsight, I was so very wrong. My weight is not something to be proud of in and of itself. Likewise, my body isn't a work of art that I must perfect for the consumption of onlookers. Right now, it still feels strange to be OK with my body even though it's not as lean as it could be (or has been). But if I’ve learned anything by gaining 30 pounds in the year since I began my recovery, it’s that our bodies are pretty damn amazing.

After spending over a decade being body-conscious to the point of compulsively checking my weight, measuring my thighs, and restricting my food, I can say that I have reconciled my relationship with my body: I’ve finally found the beauty in gaining weight.

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It can be easy to decide that we want to "win" at weight loss the same way we want to win a trophy or a board game. But much like a gridlocked game of Monopoly, yo-yo diets can just make us feel like we're playing an interminable match against ourselves. But I’ve learned that health isn't a game that can be won. Being healthy doesn't have a finite ending, and while we can achieve specific fitness goals, this competitive perspective isn't good for us.

I previously thought I could run a couple half-marathons and be content with my accomplishments, but I’ve realized that being healthy is really a proactive, ongoing process. We should always try nourish our bodies, exercise them, and show them love. That said, I sometimes think that I should feel defeated for gaining 30 pounds in a year. But these days, I don’t feel that way at all.

Sure, it would be nice not having to do the Electric Slide to fit into those expensive jeans I purchased last year. (Although let’s be real: Having an excuse to wear leggings 24/7 isn’t the worst thing in the world.) But more than anything, after a decade-long battle to comprehend the futility of being obsessed with the scale, I finally get it: it’s not just the lesson that our bodies aren't games we play; it’s that our weight (and more importantly, our well-being) isn’t a static number we should be aspiring to. We can lose weight, we can gain weight, and we can maintain weight—and as long as we’re aware of our choices, each of those can be just fine.

Besides the fact that the scale isn't the most accurate reflection of our fitness level and overall health, our fitness—just like any other aspect of our lives—is going to have peaks and valleys. For me, it’s hard to say whether this past year of gaining weight was actually a peak or a valley from a health-minded perspective. On one hand, yes, it's fair to say that I justified a little too much Ben & Jerry’s. On the other hand, because of my newfound recovery, I was purposely relaxing on what had become an obsessive relationship with restricting food and working out. So while I gained 30 pounds, I also gained confidence, strength, coping skills, and a whole bunch of great memories.

Our weight (and more importantly, our well-being) isn’t a static number we should be aspiring to.

I’ve come to embrace all that my body can do. My body has carried me through 13.1 grueling miles in the summer heat. My body has stood the test of long days at work and long nights at the gym. My body may one day carry a child and create breast milk. My body might even complete that miraculous cycle more than once.

I know I need to cut back on the moscato while I’m watching Vanderpump Rules and get to the gym more often, but everything in moderation, right? I do plan to (slowly, patiently) shed the 30 pounds I’ve gained over the past year; in fact, I’m already working on it. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the last 12 months, it's that our bodies are brilliant—and we don’t need to babysit the scale to see that.

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