Things to keep in mind when you ask her out

Women are sticklers for remembering ‘perfect’ moments and stuff like thefirst date,

the way the guy asked her out, what he spoke about during the first date, the way he looked at her will be etched in their memory forever. To use a cliché, first impression is the last impression and it is the one that lasts the longest. So don’t simply walk up to a girl and ask her out like you’d ask your buddy for beer; do it with elegance and like a gentleman. But before you ask a lady out, you need to keep certain things in mind. What follows is a concise list that you need to check before you proceed to ask her out.
1. Be polite / Ask, don’t tell

You need to have a soft / polite tone when you ask a girl out. Please avoid sounding cocky; an overtly aggressive and brashly confident tone will not only ensure that you come across as a git but it will lower your chances considerably. Also don’t tell her she needs to go out on a date with you, ask her if she’d like to accompany a gentleman like you on a date. Using the right words and using them in a dignified manner will get you that first date.
2. Don’t over-promise

In a bid to get her to go out with you, don’t make the common error of over-promising and exaggerating through the roof. It is good to boast and build expectations, but it issuicidal to raise her hopes and then under deliver.
3. Keep her schedule & likes/dislikes in mind

While you may think that Saturday night is perfect date night, ensure that she has no other plans that evening and would be interested in going out during the weekend. Be sensitive to her likes / dislikes and suggest a venue that she would feel comfortable in and enjoy. Try finding a venue that has a soothing ambiance; one which allows you to wine and dine in style & at ease.
4. Need for Secrecy

Not all women like the world to know that they are going on a date. So be sensitive to her need for privacy and don’t brag to the world about landing a date with a beautiful lady. This display of immaturity will turn her off and she in turn might just call the date off.

Tips to Lose Weight Naturally

Weight loss remains a major health issue for many of us despite the onslaught of weight loss tips and medical aids that surround us.

Most of the contemporary solutions border on providing unrealistic weight loss solutions or are too time-consuming. Drastic dieting is never recommended since it can leave you malnourished and damage your body in an unredeemable manner. In order to lose weight naturally, i.e. without using any magic pill or gymming like a maniac, use the following tips:
Consider Whole Grains As Your Friends

Try to eat a larger concentration of foods made from whole grains (rotis, whole wheat breads, cookies and oatmeal) rather than refined or processed foods. Whole grains are more complex for the body to metabolize, taking a longer digestion route. This keeps the body busy for a longer period, ensuring that energy is released throughout the day. This helps to decrease the frequency and intensity of hunger pangs, particularly the sugar cravings.
Psychological Preparedness

Don’t be shy about your weight loss goals. In fact, use the people around you to your advantage. Announce it amongst your friends and family that they should thwart you every time you are headed for a bit piece of creamy cake or a cheese-loaded pizza.


Know Your Food

You need to be more alert when picking up packaged food items. Remember that non-saturated fats and essential fatty acids are the good kind of fats that your body needs for its basic functions. Food items bearing labels of low-fat or low-sugar might not necessarily contain lesser calories. Instead, try to make smarter substitutions. For instance, you can choose eggless baked items and juices without sugar.
Use Water As A Weight Loss Tool

Try to drink water every time you get hungry or you are about to have a meal, i.e. just before a major meal like a lunch or dinner. This is a simple and effective way of instantly quenching your hunger to a certain extent. More water also raises the metabolic rate or the rate at which the body uses calories, meaning you are losing more calories per hour.


Manipulate Yourself To Reduce Food Intake

Try to eat slowly, breaking your food into more bites. This will ensure that you derive more pleasure out of each bite, allowing each morsel to provide more satiety, ensuring your calorie intake at the dining table remain limited. Rather than taking single, big servings, try to take numerous small servings. This helps to establish the perception that you have been serving yourself repeatedly and also makes you more conscious about the amount of food you are about to consume.
Use Fiber To Your Advantage

Try to include more fiber in your diet. This should include soluble and insoluble fiber for ensuring that the digested food in your intestines absorbs more water. This in turn ensures that the feeling of being full is achieved quicker. Insoluble fiber is found in leafy salads that also help you limit your food intake naturally. This is because the raw state of most salad ingredients means that you need to chew a lot more. The extra chewing and salivating that accompanies it helps to control the hunger pangs for a few hours.
Overcome Your Snacking Habits

Snacking is perhaps the biggest sin a dieter can commit. To ensure that you stay away from the urge to bite into a chocolate or cookie, keep your mouth busy with sugar-free chewing gum. Try to sip iced or hot herbal teas prepared with minimal amount of sugar throughout the day. These are low cal aids that help to establish the feeling of feeding yourself without consuming too many calories, preventing the urge to snack.
Keep Away From Salt

Salt is responsible for retention of water within the large intestine. Further, salt tends to keep our blood pressure high, making us more prone to sweating. These factors raise our thirst and the tendency to consume beverages, including teas and colas, which contain sugar.


Burn Your Sugars

If you cannot do without your daily intake of sweet or sugar-concentrated items, try to snack upon them during the morning hours. This ensures that the body will be using the calories extracted from your favorite milkshake throughout the day, reducing the number of calories stored as fat.
Exercise Easily

You don’t need to take upon heavy gym routines to exercise your problem areas. For instance, climbing up and down the stairs is one of the easiest, most accessible types of cardiovascular exercise that works-out your hips, legs and thighs beautifully. Combine this with undemanding calorie-burners like brisk walks, walking to the nearby market, walking when talking on your mobile and taking upon more household chores.
Weight Loss Precautions You Shouldn’t Ignore

Maintaining your body frame is vital at the time of losing weight. Weight loss often causes loss of vital protein, weakening the muscles that are necessary to maintain the elasticity of our tissues. To ensure that you don’t lose too much of your lean muscle mass, ensure you consume egg whites on a daily basis. Avoid the yolk since it contains a high amount of cholesterol.

10 Things Not to do on a First Date

As an old saying goes, "first impression is the last impression".

One has to subscribe to this saying when going on a first date. Here are 10 things you should absolutely avoid doing on a first date.
1. Be a braggadocio



A braggadocio is a person who boasts about his own deeds irrespective of the response from the other person. Such kinds of empty pretentious bragging can be an anti-climax. So, avoid boasting about yourself in a bid to leave a pleasant impression on your date.


2. Mention past relationships



Broaching the subject of a past relationship could prove to be a speed breaker in your rendezvous. You will get ample of time to talk about the past. You needs to realize that the girl wants to move over her past. Don't be a victim of the circumstances instead be a master of it. After all nobody wants to spend his/her first date wiping tears.


3. Eat like a glutton



This means: do not end up going on a date when you are ravenously hungry. The objective of a date is to have a pleasant conversation. Eating is an excuse for the date. It is embarrassing and awkward to talk while eating. It is better if you adhere to one activity at a time.
4. Act nervous



This could be a tough task; it is crucial to realize that women like confident men. Assertiveness will help you score some brownie points on a first date. An amalgamation of confidence and sense of humour is an ideal recipe for a nice date.
5. Money can't buy love!



Talking about money will project your image as selfish and self centered who equates everything in terms of money. It can paint your image as someone who is deficient of emotions. This could affect the equilibrium of a relationship in the long run as your show-off may appear condescending.
6. Fiddle with your phone




There are two reasons for this. Talking or texting on the phone can be a hindrance on your first date. It will neutralize the essence of the date. Second reason is that flaunting your phone may not help win her heart. It is advisable to keep the phone on silent mode because one needs to give exclusive attention to the partner.


7. No Touching!



Only seeing

 If you get too close to your first date, there are chances that your first date will unequivocally be the last. A woman can determine the intentions of the partner from his touch. Thus, a date does not give the license to touch her figure but to touch her soul.


8. Smoking





Smoking is one of the most overlooked aspects which could annoy your date. Smoking can affect the gravity of your conversation. It is advisable not to smoke prior to a date as black finger nails and a smelly mouth can be a deal breaker.


9. Compare



A woman hates comparison with the other person. It is crucial to acquiesce that every woman has an identity and you should give due respect to it. Any comparisons to another person can be troublesome.


10. Lie




Honesty is the quintessential part of any relationship. Do not base the beginning of what can be a potential relationship on a falsehood since such relationships will be feeble and may not last long.

Top 10 Things You Should Never Tell Your Girlfriend

So, you have won the girlfriend you always dreamt about but do you know what you should be doing and more importantly,

not saying to sustain this relationship? If not, take some clues from here:
1. Preaching Her Not To Get Emotional



Apart from a few exceptions, women continue to be the most emotional of all the genders. Periodic and inexplicable bouts of crying, getting teary-eyed over seemingly regular conversations or becoming explicitly possessive about your whereabouts is perhaps coded in the female DNA. The worst thing you can say during such situations is preaching her “not to get too emotional”. This is almost parallel to asking women not to talk that is simply against the rules of human evolution!
2. Talking About How Much Money You “Really” Have & How You Handle It

Okay, you are dating the self-driven, contemporary woman who likes to spend even when you two are together but sometimes it is wiser to guard your own interest. Agreed, that being and acting rich gives you a sense of self-worthiness but this doesn’t mean you have to be absolutely honest with how much money you have at your disposal. Ensure that you don’t divulge details about how you spend money on your friends or hobbies. Don’t brag about your savings or how much money you are about to inherit. When it comes to financials, keep it simple—she doesn’t need to know where it came from and how much more is coming your way.
3. Relating Her Behavior To Her Hormonal Cycles

Asking your girlfriend whether she is PMS(ing) or if it is that time of the month again and suggesting this as the reason behind her irritable behavior can make you look insensitive or inconsiderate. Menstruation puts forth so many confusing symptoms that even some women don’t realize that they are already into their next cycle. So, it is better to refrain from giving wings to the budding doctor inside you and keep your mouth shut even when it is plainly obvious.
4. Asking About Her Sexual Past Doesn’t Help Anybody



Yes, everybody thinks about it, i.e. the kind of sexual experiences your partner has had. However, you need to question yourself—how does this information really help?

Apart from making you mad with jealousy or making her extremely uncomfortable, such questions don’t solve any purpose.
5. Commenting About Her Make-Up Free Look Just Isn't Cool Buddy



The first few dates are bound to bring out the best in her in terms of how she presents herself. However, you cannot expect her to be the picture of absolute perfection on every occasion. She is bound to show-up in her casual, normal attire where the missing make-up is likely to make her appear a bit less gorgeous. Accept this as a part of your relationship. Even if you don’t like it, never comment about it—it will only make you look shallow.
6. Suggesting Couple Activities That You Are Not Likely To Follow

Suggesting things like dieting or exercising together might seem fun at the outset and the “couple” thing to do but such commitments can soon become a burden. Apart from members of the extreme metro-sexual clan, women still emerge as clear winners when it comes to following self-improvement schedules. You might commit to such activities with the thought of exploring how things develop but your girlfriend might already be counting upon your dedication towards it. Unless, it becomes absolute unavoidable, abstain from such emotional obligations.
7. Asking About Her Self-Pleasuring Indulgences

As guys, we do it commonly and discuss it among ourselves with absolutely no hesitation. However, the scenario isn't as liberating in the female domain and that includes your girlfriend. Asking about whether she indulges in pleasuring herself or the frequency of “it” can make the entire conversation go awry apart from making her feel embarrassed or tongue-tied. Unless you feel this topic emerging as a natural outcome of a situation or a conversation, stay away from it.
8. Talking in Detail About Your Relationships



Many men have committed the eternal sin of detailing their past love lives, the kind of women they dated and how their past relationships worked or failed. Yes, you do need to talk about your romantic liaisons but this doesn’t mean detailing it to the extent that your girlfriend can start noticing dating or break-up patterns. The idea is to allow her to know your past but not providing so much information that she can dissect your psyche.
9. Discriminating Her Outfits or Hairstyle

No matter how progressive your girl is, her hair and her choice of clothes are bound to be two things that she will obsess about—these typical feminine traits had probably started during the Neanderthal Age and they still exist. Your opinion is valid in itself but never let it become a critical observation. Restrain the enthusiastic critique in you and it will probably save you at least a dozen ugly arguments.
10. Making Comparisons That Are Sure To Drive Her Nuts

There are some comparisons that can literally drive women crazy. This includes her mother, your mother, your ex, her sister and her best friend. If you feel like comparing here to someone, pick a character from a TV series or a movie, at least that doesn’t endanger your physical well-being!

Smart Dressing Tips for Shorter Men

Dressing according to your body type is key to your comfort and style.

It is important that your clothes fit flawlessly. Whatever the body type, your best features need to be highlighted but do not overdone. Below are a few tips for men with a shorter frame.

• Styles and look

Short men should choose a style that helps add visual length and cut width. Two-buttoned single-breasted and also three-buttoned single-breasted suits works best and give a neat line and length. Jackets and blazers should fall slightly below the bottoms. Too short a length will cut the body in half while too long will make the legs appear shorter than they actually are. Avoid wide lapels and pocket flaps.

Avoid wearing suspenders. Wear trousers on natural waist with tapering at the bottom. It is best if you go for a straight cut. Flat front trousers are in. If pleated, then single pleat gives a leaner look.

Shorter men should wear the smallest rise in their trousers. This will elongate the legs and will avoid making the crotch and bottom look baggy and empty. V-neck silhouettes elongate the torso. Button down and regular collars work best on this body type. Overall, opt for clothes which are trim rather than baggy.

• Patterns, colors and fabrics

Wear one bold color. A stark contrast between the top and bottom can cut the figure in half. Dark colors tend to have a slimming effect. Thicker and heavy pattern do not suit the shorter body types.

Avoid large and clustered patterns. Choose smaller and neat prints. Self color motifs work fine. Vertical stripes add good amount of height to the body. Avoid anything that gives a horizontal effect. Light and medium weight fabrics work the best. Starched outfits appear to add weight to the body. Fabrics with good fall are best suited.

• Accessories

Slim tie will suit a diminutive body. A small sized pattern on tie looks good. Ties should reach the belt buckle to avoid a gap. A smaller knot for the tie works better than the wider one. Opt for square-toed shoes as pointy ones will not work well for a person of shorter height. You can also opt for slight heels for an added height.

• Simple yet overlooked tips

Short hair works best for shorter men as long hair tends to hide the neck and shoulders making them look one part of the body. Maintaining a good posture also plays a key role in making you look taller than you really are. 

Natural Ways to Fight Depression

A depressive or anxious mindset continues to be one of the most common psychological ailments.

People seem hesitant to seek help, afraid that taking psychotic drugs or counseling will make them look ridiculous. If you are one of such folks, reading about natural ways of defeating depressionmight prove rather useful. Others, who don’t have a severe problem of depression but suffer from phases of low mood too can benefit from the following advice:

Exercise Regularly

Exercising regularly is perhaps the best, daily activity you can indulge in to ensure better mood. Researchers across the world have confirmed that you don’t need to be a gym-junkie or into hardcoreweight training to feel the benefits of exercising. Just take upon any kind of physical activity that gets your heart pumping and makes you sweat. This includes running, jogging and a bit of stretching. If you can combine some bit of light-weight training, it is even better but not imperative. Exercise has a direct impact on our mood. It makes the body secrete more endorphins. These biochemicals are responsible for inducing a feeling of goodness that sustains for many hours after exercising. You should exercise for more than 30 minutes to use exercising as an anti-depression tool.

Make Small Dietary Changes

You can make small dietary changes to fight off depression. Ensure that you get your daily quota of vitamins, particularly folic acid and other types of vitamin Bs. For this, regularly indulge in green leafy veggies, bright-colored fruits, potatoes and dairy products like yogurt and cottage cheese. These vitamins are essential for synthesis and release of mood-lifting chemicals within the brain. Vitamin B12 is required for the overall regulation of our nervous system. Combine this with some source of essential fatty acids. This includes flax and mustard seeds. Omega 3 fatty acids are required for release of mood boosters like Serotonin and Dopamine. Thus, increase your intake of walnuts, soybeans, fish and tofu.

Get Sufficient Sleep

All of us suffer from phases of troubled sleep. When this problem starts to surface regularly, it becomes an underlying cause of depression. Lack of good sleep causes irritation. It reduces your ability to handle low mood swings. Trying to catch a nap and staying-up late at night watching TV further reduce the quality of night sleep. Ensure that you get at least seven hours of peaceful sleep each night. Lack of sleep disturbs the body clock, and can push you towards chronic depression.

Take Psychological & Physical Breaks

Boredom and a mundane lifestyle are among the more common causes of depression. Even if you don’t have something really exciting to do, seek regular breaks. Here, a break refers to something that engages your mind and body. This ensures that you are holistically disengaged from your anxiety or depressive way of thinking. For instance, going shopping to the local market, playing a game of soccer outdoors, playing snooker or bowling indoors or washing your car occupy your mental and physical faculties. Try talking more among your friends and family to ensure your mind is engaged in healthy conversations or arguments that help you get rid of feelings of anguish or frustration.

Develop Better Lifestyle Habits

Some seemingly minor factors contribute to depression in a big way. For instance, lack of exposure to sunlight causes Vitamin D deficiency. This vitamin is essential for better mental health. Similarly, people on low-fat diets don’t understand that a basic amount of cholesterol is required for the synthesis of serotonin. Without this neurotransmitter, we cannot sustain that good/happy feeling. This makes us more prone to being anxious. Thus, extreme dieting should always be avoided.

Avoid Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia is a condition of lack of sufficient sugar in our bloodstream. This is often found among people who tend to fast for long periods, between meals. Phases of Hypoglycemia aren't good for your mental health. This impairs the release of serotonin. Hypoglycemia is often found among people who tend to consume too much of refined sugars. Such sugars are highly processed and get immediately absorbed into the bloodstream. This causes a surge in the blood sugar levels, inducing a feeling of goodness. However, the surge is soon followed by a sudden fall in sugar levels as refined sugar is metabolized quickly. Thus, a few minutes after eating a sugar-loaded candy, you might suffer from a short phase of Hypoglycemia. These wide fluctuations in blood sugar levels cause a spike in the release of stress hormones like cortisone and adrenalin, making us more prone to nervousness and anxiety. Thus, eat regular intervals but stay away from snacking on processed, sweet foods.

Those who killed themselves this year

With suicide rates hitting the roof in medical and technical institutes, here's a round up of the list this year.

Name: G. Varalakshmi ( 18) of Vignan Engineering College, Hyderabad
When: January 30, 2011
A first year BTech student of Hayathnagar ( a sub- urban town of AP), Varalakshmi succumbed to burn injuries. Unable to bear the harassment by the college management for not being able to pay tuition fee, she committed suicide. The delay was caused by the state government not granting fee reimbursement.

Name: Manish Kumar ( 20) of IIT Roorkee
When: February 6, 2011
His death was IIT Roorkee’s first suicide. A second year student from Muzaffarnagar, Manish jumped off the fifth floor of his hostel. Kumar’s family alleged that he took killed himself after a few senior students made “ casteist” remarks about him.

Name: Linesh Mohan Gawle of National Institute of Immunology, Delhi
When: April 16, 2011
Linesh Mohan Gawle, a PhD student committed suicide in his hostel room. He came from a poor Dalit family who lived in Dindori tehsil near Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. Reasons for his suicide remain unknown.

Most suicide cases are reported in technical and medical institutes. Is stress and pressure from friends and parents too much to tackle? What could be done to stop this?