Taking care of your beautiful eyes... Do Eyes Yoga!!!

  In alternative therapy vision care assumes that the muscles of the eyes, like the rest of those all over the body, must be exercised to remain healthy. We naturally did that as children when we played games, like ball games, running etc. These involved complex eye movements. However, these days, with even children confined to the desk, TV, or media (computer, electronic games) that involves only a confined strain by the eyes the muscles within the eye socket are not worked out. Reworking them, even with gentle movements, including peripheral ones, can help contain degenerating sight.

A few poses that may be safely practiced to help maintain eye sight:

Trataka (Yogic focusing exercise)
Hold your right hand in front of you. Extend the thumb, folding back other fingers lightly. Ensure hand is at eye level. Look at thumbnail. Then switch focus to nose tip. Back at right thumbnail, then switching focus to nose tip. This is one round. Rest your eyes. Do palming (see above). Do up to five rounds. Then switch hands, to do for left hand. Do palming after each round.

Benefits: This helps with the eye's ability to switch focus from distant to close viewing. Most problems, according to yogic occur when the eye muscles slacken and do not accommodate this important skill. Unlike with reading a book, staring at a computer screen reduces our vision skills, creating eye problems. This exercise rectifies this. Plus, when done regularly can boost mental focus. It is also advised for insomniacs.

Avoid: If having glaucoma or cataract.

Palming
Rub palms together. Place them gently on closed eye-lids so the cups of the hand cover the eye-lids. The palms should feel the eye socket. This would ensure that your holding the hand over the eye in a correct position. There should be no pressure. This is called palming and may be practiced several times during the day for a quick rest, not just for the eyes but for the mind too. If the duration of the final hold (of palm over eyelid) is lengthened and if palming is done several times during the day, it is believed that eye problems will be controlled.

Benefits: It soothes eyes strained by an effort to see. Also, keeping the eyes in a dark, soothing mode creates a healing impact by tweaking the master glands, like pineal gland, which reacts to excessive exposure to light or artificial lighting by hitting sleep etc. In yogic eye exercises palming is seen as the most important of healing exercises.

How to lose weight without dieting

Losing sleep over losing weight? Can't seem to stick to your diet plan?Let me tell you how to lose weight without dieting. To most of us, the term 'diet' conjures up images of starvation and hunger. But is this really necessary? Will starving yourself really help you achieve that ultimate weight loss target? Today we're breaking all the 'diet to lose weight' myths, and exploring the concept of 'enlightened eating'. Enlightened eating essentially involves focusing on long-term weight control and learning new eating habits which are devoid of deprivation and extremes. Sounds exciting? Read on!

1. Say yes to the veggies!
Research suggests that when offered with a variety of foods for a meal, we tend to eat more. Therefore, replace some high-fat dishes on your menu with more vegetables. Make two varieties of green veggies, instead of one, and you'll feel satisfied without sabotaging your weight loss programme.

2. Eat slowly!
Take a pause from your chaotic schedule and really eat your food. Chew your food slowly, and be conscious of every bite you eat. Wolfing down a meal makes you eat a lot more than when you eat slowly.

3. Pick whole grains over processed!
Brown rice, barley, oats, whole wheat must all be your friends. They will improve your lipid profile (lower bad cholesterol), consequently helping you in losing weight. Stay away from maida-based stuff, and pick whole grains, because they are much healthier.

4. Watch the alcohol!
Drinkers have lower odds of obesity than non-drinkers. But binge drinkers and those who consumed more than four drinks a day had considerably higher odds. Also, when you consume more than the recommended quantities of alcohol, you tend to indulge more in foods that are bad for you.

5. Focus on your target!
Do you have a pair of jeans that you would like to fit into? A little colourful sundress you dream of wearing one day? Hang it up in front of your eyes! Yes, believe us when we say- motivation is half the battle won. Every time you're struck by that sinister craving for indulging in those fries, picture the dress, and feel the steely resolve come back.

6. Home-cooked is good!
Carry a lunch box to work. Carry a fruit box to your evening picnic. Carry a few bread sticks and some low fat yoghurt to your road trip. Carrying healthy food can work wonders. Skip the cafeteria food. If cooking in the early morning rush seems like a daunting task, you could try preparing for it the night before. It is a little more work, but definitely worth it!

7. Go green tea!
Although unconfirmed, several studies do suggest that green tea can boost the body's capacity to burn more calories, possibly through the action of phytochemicals called catechins. Even if it isn't quite the wonder-beverage we'd like to believe it is, a healthy beverage that replaces something unhealthy like an ice-cream shake, or a creamy coffee is definitely worth a look-see.

8. Walk a mile!
Okay! We don't expect you to be a marathon walker, but studies have revealed that walking for twenty minutes a day (that's approximately a mile) can help you burn 100 calories more than usual! So, get off the bus one stop before your destination and walk the rest of the way. Take the stairs instead of the lift, and leave the car at home when you're going shopping to the mall next door.


9. Eat in a smaller plate!
If you pick a 10-inch plate instead of a 12-inch one, your mind will never notice that you've just shaved off about a hundred or two calories from your daily food intake. And doctors have found that most people didn't even notice the difference in amounts, but just instinctively ate less, and didn't even feel less full at the end of it.

10. Order smart at restaurants!
Eating in restaurants can add those calories like you never could at home. So, order smart. Maybe you could split the starters with a friend, or order the appetizer as the meal. Ask for the option of a half plate. Remember, you don't have to finish it all, leftovers can be packed too.

Maintain your weight and stay fit

Maintaining one's weight is just as tough as losing weight. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent your weight from fluctuating constantly.


A few simple points to keep in mind are:

1. Have breakfast: 
One should eat a proper breakfast before starting the day. Follow the old saying and eat a king size breakfast. It can have lots of oats, juices, milk. Make sure you avoid fried and oily food in the morning.

2. Eat slowly:
It is said that one should chew one's food about 30 times before taking the second bite. It helps in proper digestion. Digestion actually starts in the mouth, so the more you chew; the easier will the digestion process be.

3. Have meals in break:
Rather than having three huge meals a day, have small meals consisting of healthy fruits and vegetable dishes. Eat at least six small meals in a day.

4. Wash it down with water:
Drink at least one glass of water at intervals of half an hour. One should consume three to four liters every day to keep the body cool.

5. Exercise:
One need not necessarily join the gym. Even simple exercises like walking, running, jumping, skipping can help you maintain your weight. Make sure you do at least one physical activity for 30 minutes daily.

6. Late meals are a no-no:
Avoid having your dinner late in the night, since the number of activities you perform is less. Have light meals during the night.

7. No binging:
If one does feel hungry, they should avoid eating fast food and snacks like chips, oily food, pastries etc.


Such simple tips can help you to enjoy life to the fullest and fittest.

Simple tips to avoid skipping exercise

Even the most dedicated among us sometimes feel lazy to exercise. You may have the intention of exercising, but may come up with a number of excuses to skip gym. Keep in mind these simple motivational tips to inspire yourself whenever you're tempted to skip your exercise regime.


Get your priorities right. 
Fitness should be important to you not only because you want to lose weight or get into shape, it should also be because you love exercising. Don't let working out seem like a chore. Make it a habit.


Don't just stick to one fitness program. 
This is your chance to try out different things. Take a break from weight training and treadmills. Try out yoga, kickboxing, pilates or even Tae Kwon Do till you discover something that you truly love doing.


Keep some variety in your workout. 
Doing the same things everyday will seem monotonous and boring. When you try something new, don't give up if you find it difficult. Give yourself time and worth practice you're bound to improve.


Don't go overboard when you start something new. 
Begin slowly and pace yourself accordingly. Similarly, don't push yourself too hard. Give yourself a routine that you can mange even on days when you're absolutely down. Accept your limits and work within them.


Try to workout with a friend. 
This way, you can inspire each other when you want to skip your routine and also while you're working out.


Don't set goals that are seemingly impossible to attain after some time. 
If you set a grueling pace, you won't be able to keep up with it over time. Instead keep your goals simple and gradually increase them after you accomplish each one.

Laugh 15 minutes a day for good health

Have people forgotten to laugh? In the good old days, they used to laugh 18 minutes a day, but today not more than six minutes.


Experts say children can laugh up to 300-400 times in a day, but as adults this frequency drops to 15 times a day. But it's medically proved that laughter benefits your health.

"Laughing exercises the heart as well as the lungs. When one laughs, the heart rate goes up and the brain is relaxed."


Do we need to laugh more today? "In a fastpaced world, stress-related diseases are on the rise. More than 70 per cent of illnesses are related to stress. To escape stress, people turn to alcohol, smoking and drugs. If only they realised the wonder medicine of laughter!"

According to research, open-mouthed laughter is most appealing. "Laughter sounds good only when it's open-mouthed. Conversely, a closed mouth laugh such as a snigger, which scientists describe as a 'pant-pant' sound, has the opposite effect." A study suggests that beginning in childhood, we learn to associate the wide-open guffaw with life's most positive experiences. Eventually, all it takes is to hear that happy sound to feel happier.


Laugh your way to health!

Great workout at work

Take stairs instead of elevators

While a regular workout routine is an essential part of reaching your weight-loss goals, there will be times when your job or family obligations get in the way of exercising.


There are occasions which keep us so busy that we either forget to exercise or deliberately avoid doing them. But that shouldn't be the case at all; doctors recommend a 20-minute exercise routine daily, irrespective of what's going on in your life. However, days when you are super-busy, try to get in a five- or ten-minute walk or simply incorporate more movement throughout the day. After all, some exercise is always better than none. Here are seven tips to help you squeeze in fitness throughout the day.


- Park farther away from the office, or choose public transportation.
- Take the stairs instead of the elevator, especially if you have just a few flights to climb.
- Go for a walk during lunch. One way to do this is to skip your usual salad spot on the corner and find one a little farther away.
- If you bring lunch to work, use the time you save buying lunch to take a walk around the block.
- Walk over to co-workers' desks when you need to chat with them or deliver messages rather than using e-mail or the phone.
- Instead of meeting friends in the office or over lunch, meet to take a walk instead.
- Use your headset or cell phone and walk around while talking on the phone.
- Stretch occasionally while sitting at your desk or leave a light pair of weights at work and do some upper-body exercises.

Treadmill exercise helps Parkinson's patients

People with Parkinson's disease who walk on a treadmill at a comfortable, low-intensity speed for a longer duration may be able to improve their gait and mobility, according to a new study.

The researchers have found that such exercise may be better than walking at faster speeds for a shorter period of time.


They also found benefits for stretching and resistance exercises. The study showed that low-intensity exercise performed for 50 minutes three times a week was the most beneficial in terms of helping participants improve their mobility. Walking difficulty is the major cause of disability in Parkinson's disease.
These results show that exercise in people with Parkinson's disease can make a difference in their function. Exercise may, in fact, delay disability and help to preserve independence.


The study compared 67 people with Parkinson's disease who were randomly assigned to one of three exercise groups:
       -walking on a treadmill at low intensity for 50 minutes,
       -higher-intensity treadmill training to improve cardiovascular fitness for 30 minutes,
       -and using weights (leg presses, extensions and curls) and stretching exercises to improve muscle strength and range of motion.
Participants exercised three times a week for three months under the supervision of exercise physiologists.
The team measured participants' cardiovascular fitness before and after training, and found cardiovascular improvement in both the low- and high-intensity groups. Other measurements included the distance covered in a six-minute walk and timed tests of walking short distances, such as 50 feet.

Go for your fitness goal

It is very common to start an exercise plan, and then give it up midway due to boredom, lack of time, pressing work deadlines or just sheer laziness.

Tendencies that lead to the abandonment of a healthy lifestyle cause not only weight gain, but also lead to depression, frustration and an acute sense of inadequacy. But adhering to a few simple steps can always help one to maintain an exercise plan or fitness regimen.

Researches have shown that people who exercise first thing in the morning are more likely to adhere to their fitness and diet plans. So it will help to start early to increase motivation levels Exercising with a buddy is also known to help maintain accountability, besides making it harder to shirk that extra set of crunches. If exercise gets boring, it helps to keep oneself distracted with music, television or a magazine.

A zingy playlist of cardio-music is a must. Try mixing up the regimen. Alternate between jogging, aerobics, dance, sports and yoga to make exercising fun. At all times, be realistic and set smaller goals. Set a small target at the start of every week — little successes can play a big role in sustaining motivation levels.

A-Z of weight loss

A
Avoid alcohol: You booze, you lose! Alcohol increases your levels of the hormone leptin, which in turn makes you crave sweets. Don’t want to be branded a teetotaler? Order a glass of Sauvignon Blanc – 119 cal’s per 5 ounces.

B
Breakfast: A good breakfast with fiber and protein will keep you full till lunchtime and help you avoid bingeing. Opt for multi-grain cereal, low fat curd or fruits to kick-start your metabolism.

C
Cholesterol: Prolonged stress leads to high levels of Cholesterol which makes you crave junk foods. Solution: deal with long-standing stressors. As for short-lived ones, treat yourself to an oil massage.

D
Density: Go for grub with an energy density of two or less. To calculate this, simply divide the calories by the weight in grams (per serving). Stay at it and watch the pounds melt faster.

E
Eat at regular intervals: Go no longer than five hours between meals. Several small meals through the day lead to a better metabolism and greater control over binges.

F
Fructose: Ditch the artificially sweetened juices and sodas and get your fructose from natural sources such as fruits. Because natural fructose is kinder to your waistline.

G
Gum: Chewing on gum helps cleanse the mouth of bacteria, satisfies a sweet-tooth and reduces your urge to eat. The next time you feel the urge to reach for a biscuit packet, try a piece of sugarless gum instead for a zero-calorie treat.

H
Heart-healthy foods: Overweight people face a greater risk of heart disease. So, switch to olive and vegetable oils. Fill up on omega rich foods like walnuts and fatty fish. Choose non-fat dairy products and lean cuts of mutton and skinless poultry.

I
Insulin: The amount of insulin you secrete may dictate your diet. High insulin secretors shed more weight on a low-carb diet and less on a low fat/high carb diet. Got a jelly belly? You secrete excess insulin and could benefit from fewer carbs.

J
Journal: Write down everything you eat and you could cut your intake by 1,000 calories a day. Food journaling may seem boring but goes a long way in making you aware of what you eat and thereby helps you shed pounds.

K
Ketosis: Ketosis refers to the point where your body runs low on carbs and burns fat for fuel. Therefore, ketosis jump-starts a diet. Restrict carbs and lose more initially. Later, allow yourself wholegrain cereals and roti, in moderation.

L
Low blood sugar: This is often the reason for between-meal cravings especially for sweet. When it strikes, reach for naturally sweet foods such as fruits and accompany it with a little low-fat dahi for a healthy dose of protein.

6 tips to kick start weight loss

Now we can help you stick to that New Year's resolution of losing weight if you just follow these six tips.

1. Keep moving each day: all it takes to see a weight-loss benefit is 30 to 60 minutes of aerobic activity daily.
You don't need to be athletic. Just brisk walking or dancing to your favourite music or using an aerobic exercise machine like a stationary bike or treadmill is all you need to do – just try to do it each day. 
You can break it into 10- or 15-minute sessions throughout the day to get the weight-loss benefit,

2. Keep a food journal: By spending a little extra time to write down everything you eat and drink, you'll be able to see where extra calories sneak in.
There are lots of good online tools that can help estimate the calorie content of common foods and track your weight loss progress over time.

3. Set realistic goals: For long-term success, aim for a slow, steady weight loss of about 1 to 2 pounds a week. No one wants to lose weight only to gain it all back – and often more – a few months later.

4. Set specific goals: set several smaller but more specific goals, such as eating five servings of vegetables per day, taking a 15-minute walk at lunch each day or drinking six glasses of water per day.
Adding healthy behaviors to your routine is often easier than telling yourself 'don't do this' or 'don't eat that.

5. Don't let one slip-up derail your efforts: Don't throw your entire routine out the window after one bad day. Instead, try to identify the specific barriers that got in your way and think through strategies to avoid such challenges in the future.

6. Practice yoga: regular yoga practice and weight maintenance and weight loss are related, according to several studies.
It is found that regular yoga practice is associated with the prevention of middle-age spread in normal-weight people and the promotion of weight loss in those who are overweight.
A follow-up study published in 2009 found that regular yoga practice is associated with mindful eating, and people who eat mindfully are less likely to be obese.
These findings fit with our hypothesis that yoga increases mindfulness in eating and leads to less weight gain over time, independent of the physical activity aspect of yoga practice.

Mindful eating is a skill that augments the usual approaches to weight loss, such as dieting, counting calories and limiting portion sizes. Adding yoga practice to a standard weight-loss program may make it more effective

The benefits of stretching

Stretching will improve appearance, flexibility, health, and overall performance. First, warm-up for 5-10 minutes at a low intensity (such as the elliptical machine, exercise bike, or treading mill) and stretch the muscles used.

If your workout time allows it, a cardiovascular exercise for at least 20 minutes at a faster pace is recommended. Then, a 5-10 minute cooldown at low intensity should be completed. cool down for 5-10 minutes at a low intensity (50-60 per cent of your maximum heart rate). Now that you've warmed up, you should stretch every major muscle group.

Why should you stretch? 
It builds bigger, better-quality muscles.
Stretching helps prevent postural problems..
It results in far less muscle-pulling overextension injuries compared to not stretching.
Simple stretches increase range of motion.
It improves muscle appearance.
Flexibilty exercises help prevent overuse injuries from occuring.
Stretching gives you more flexibility, which prevents soreness, allowing for faster recovery and better muscle growth.
Stretching allows for a more active lifestyle later in life.
It invigorates the circulatory, respiratory and neuromuscular systems.

Aerobics help improve sleep, mood

Regular aerobic exercise improves the quality of sleep, mood and vitality, according to a new study.

The study is the first to examine the effect of aerobic exercise on middle-aged and older adults with a diagnosis of insomnia.

About 50 per cent of people in these age groups complain of chronic insomnia symptoms. The study is scheduled for publication in the journal Sleep Medicine.

The aerobic exercise trial resulted in the most dramatic improvement in patients' reported quality of sleep, including sleep duration, compared to any other non-pharmacological intervention, according to a Northwestern University release.

"This is relevant to a huge portion of the population," said Phyllis Zee, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at the Northwestern University and senior study author.

Kathryn Reid, research assistant professor at Northwestern, who led the research, says: "Insomnia increases with age," Zee said.

"Around middle age, sleep begins to change dramatically. It is essential that we identify behavioural ways to improve sleep. Now we have promising results showing aerobic exercise is a simple strategy to help people sleep better and feel more vigorous."

The drug-free strategy also is desirable, because it eliminates the potential of a sleeping medication interacting with other drugs a person may be taking, Reid said.

Sleep is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle, like nutrition and exercise, noted Zee, a professor of neurology, neurobiology, and physiology at the Northwestern University.

10 Ways to keep a healthy heart

Having a healthy heart is key to a healthy life. The expert, Dr. D.S Gambhir shares tips for a healthy heart

1. Consuming mixed nuts, about 25 gms of walnuts and peanuts as they help in bringing down cholesterol levels and are rich in proteins.

2. Consuming food rich in protein, like fish as Fatty acids found in fish prevents clot formation.

3. Taking a tablet of 10 mg of statin everyday at night (if over the age of 40 and particularly diabetic).It helps to decrease cholesterol and reduce risk of heart attack.

4. General health check-ups after the age of 25 years in case of family history of heart disease.

5. Avoiding extreme weather. In the cold weather blood pressure soars harming blood vessels thereby inducing heart attacks.

6. Meditation: It has a direct impact on one's blood pressure; there is a significant reduction in the blood pressure levels and is key to a healthy heart.

7. Starting the day with a spoon full of honey- It reduces the cholesterol in the arteries and prevents heart attack

8. Walking on dew bare feet: Walking restores a sense of balance and brings an inner calm hence it good for the heart.

9. Maintain good oral hygiene: Studies suggest gingivitis may increase the risk of heart disease and stroke because of the high levels of bacteria found in infected areas of the mouth.

10. Brisk walking for atleast 30 minutes early in the morning since it reduces the affects of pollution on the heart, which are more likely during the evening hours.

11. Listening to soft music, gurbani, sholkas etc, as these have beneficial effects on lowering the blood pressure and thus keeping the heart healthy.

Improve your posture in 3-steps

A wrong body posture can predispose people towards aches and pain, but it’s never too late to work towards correcting one’s pose and keeping the spine healthy.

Posture is the position in which you hold your body upright against gravity while standing, sitting or laying down. Good posture involves training the body to stand, walk, sit, and lie in positions where the least strain is placed on supporting muscles and ligaments.

"Poor posture can lead to loss of shoulder motion, chronic pain, walking deficits, neck-related headaches, the inability to exercise, and more," said Thielman.

He added: "However, aside from contributing to a good appearance, the long-term benefits of proper posture include helping to decrease abnormal wearing of joint surfaces, lessening stress on the ligaments of the spine, preventing the spine from becoming fixed in abnormal positions, and preventing backache and muscular pain."

Thielman shared the following exercises and tips to help you keep your spine healthy:

Evaluate your workstations

Workstation is anywhere that an individual spends a notable amount of time daily and for many of us, our primary workstation is standing or sitting at a desk.

"If you’re sitting, don’t drop a ton of money on an ergonomic chair. Instead, position the chair to provide lumbar, shoulder, and if needed, head support,'' said Thielman

Perform daily exercises

Thielman has recommended regularly exercising the large muscles on the front and back of the thigh, the abdominal muscles, and performing three exercises daily:

Pelvic tilt: "While sitting, push your pelvis back into the chair, hold it for three seconds and then relax. This tightens and strengthens your abdominal muscles," explained Thielman.

Chin tucks: "Also while sitting, put your pointer finger on your chin and push straight back. Be sure your head isn’t tilted up or down and this exercise will realign your spine and combat forward head position," said Thielman.

Lean back: "Lastly, most of what we perform at our workstations forces us anterior, so we’re constantly bending forward. To straighten the spine, stand-up, put your hands on your lower back, and lean back. This exercise combats the effects of being in a forward position," said Thielman.

Invest in supportive shoes

Stiletto heels may look good, but Thielman has warned that they don’t do women any favors in the posture department.

"There is no such thing as a good high heel shoe." Shoes that cover the top of the foot are ideal. "Each brand fits differently, but the key is to find one that works for you and that gives the much-needed overall support,'' said Thielman.

Thielman also cautioned against carrying backpacks that weigh more than 20 pounds, attempting to lift objects that are too heavy, and repetitively making the same moves without taking frequent breaks.

In his opinion, any one of these actions encourage the forward leaning motion that causes poor posture and back problems.

"A common misconception about good posture is that it can be maintained by only doing occasional strength training. Good posture is more than just standing-up straight and holding your shoulders back, and if you don’t have the muscle strength, you aren’t going to be able to hold that posture for very long. By maintaining your strength and being consciously aware of your posture, you can maintain proper posture and mobility well into your mid-60s, before the natural onset of aging," he said

Seven days to that fab figure

An important event is round the corner and you feel you are out of shape... Here’s how to tone up in seven days flat!

Swap tea...

...for something else. If you want to get in shape fast, ditch your regular cup of tea and go for a fat-burning one instead. Studies show that green tea revs up your metabolism, so aim for several cups a day.

Take some supplement

Fish oil supplements are a great way to shed pounds. A recent study found that volunteers who took them lost, on an average, two kilos over three months without changing their diet or exercise habits. Fish oils are great for helping your body burn fat more efficiently.

Avoid salt

That’s the advice most weight-loss experts give. When people cut down the salt in their diet, they instantly look slimmer and less bloated. Too much salt makes your body retain water, which makes you puffy around your face and stomach. Go for low-salt breakfast options such as a khichdi .

Also, don’t add table salt to your food or cooking, avoid salty snacks such as crisps and go easy on processed sauces which are often packed with salt.

As a guide, avoid foods that contain more than 0.5g of sodium per 100gm on the label (sodium is just another way of describing the salt content). The fresher your food, the less salt it’s likely to contain. And be very careful about take- always – Chinese food, in particular, is loaded with salt because of the sauces.

Ditch sugar

Like salt, sugar is a diet baddie. Even though sugary foods – such as boiled sweets and mousses – are often labeled ‘low-fat’, they’re incredibly high in calories. And if you don’t work off the calories by exercising, that sugar gets stored as fat – usually around your stomach and waist. Sugar also increases your hunger. So, ditch the sugar in your tea and also the colas that you gulp down every day.

Eat low-sugar snacks instead. Chopped vegetables, for example are rich in fiber, so they’ll keep you fuller for longer and will aid your digestion, which helps to reduce bloating. Alcohol is practically pure sugar, so give that a miss, too. If you drink regularly, you’ll notice the difference after giving it up for a week.

Relax

If it is day seven already, don’t worry. You can still lose weight! Stress really does make you fat. It causes hormones to be released into your body that encourage fat deposits around your waist and stomach.

Scientists have found that those with the biggest waist measurements (though not necessarily the heaviest) had the highest stress levels. The hormones secreted during times of stress are instrumental in causing more fat to be stored, particularly around the abdomen.