kindlybeautiful.comd-whysel.org

Author: Samantha Man

  • Slow Down, No One’s Taking Your Food

    Your brain doesn’t know when to stop eating, not until it’s twenty minutes too late and suddenly your stomach kind of feels too full. That’s how long it takes your brain to know that you are full, a good twenty minutes after, you are full. When you eat, ghrelin, a hormone that is responsible for controlling hunger starts becoming suppressed and in turn that lets it release fullness hormones. Then these fullness hormones will start whispering to your brain, telling it to tell you that you’re full and that you can stop eating now. The thing is, the brain can do better at telling you when you’re full if you eat slower because it has time to receive those fullness hormones. Not only that, eating slower can also increase fullness hormones. 

         In a study conducted with seventeen people, all at a normal weight, found that finishing 10.5 ounces of ice cream in thirty minutes versus finishing the same amount in five minutes reports to be more full. 

         Eating slowly can also help you reduce calorie intake. In a study splitting people up into eating slowly and quickly with both overweight and normal weight people found a statistically significant fewer calories consumed in the normal weight group. All participants, though, felt fuller for longer after eating slower. 

         Eating slower can also mean chewing more thoroughly because drawing out that chewing time slows you down. Slowing down, as stated above, lowers your calorie intake and in turn that helps you lose weight. Find the right pace for you because chewing too much can also decrease meal enjoyment. A study found that while chewing thirty seconds or more reduced snacking later on, it also reduced meal enjoyment. 

         Remember, eat slower, chew more thoroughly, and most importantly, stay safe and think for yourself. 

  • The Girl and the Vending Machine

    What To Do Once A Month?

     Once a month, I go on an eating spree. I take myself to a vending machine and shove ten dollars and the annoying change I accumulated over the month into it, then I proceed to leave said vending machine with six packages of chips, chocolate and cookies. Sometimes, that once a month spree means one brownie and leave the vending machine with three bags of things. It is absolutely the most enjoyable day of the month in my opinion.

    And Then What Happens?

    I find a private place to sit first, then I play a show on my phone before cracking open all my bags of snacks and then shoving all that unhealthy junk into my face. That feeling  is unbeatable. Food makes people happy, so that time frame is pure bliss. My brain is literally almost empty minus the thought of, “these chips taste so good” and “this show is amazing”. It’s admittedly not the best thing to be doing because it leaves me craving that amount of junk food each day over the next few days. And sometimes, I do give in. Some months, my “guilty pleasure day” becomes my “guilty pleasure days”. It takes willpower to stop after just one day and I don’t have that kind of willpower every month. But for most of them, I do. And it feels good, being able to stop yourself before you fall down a rabbit hole. The amount of serotonin that comes with consuming that much junk also makes waiting a month really worth it. 

    Enjoy With Caution

         Don’t be afraid to have stuff you like. Maybe don’t do it the way I do, though. My eating habits aren’t that great, but that shouldn’t matter. You can think for yourself. I’m just a random voice on the internet writing an opinion piece.

         Be smart out there, but don’t be afraid of having that cheat meal. Stay safe, healthy, and try to find joy.

  • To Be Beautiful Means…

    Three hundred (give or take) words on what beauty means to me

    Beauty Is Something Complex

     Beauty is a complex thing with too many standards, too many restrictions and too many expectations. My Chinese female self associates beauty with clear skin, a pale complexion, wide eyes, and a skinny body. And, of course, who doesn’t like a symmetrical face? My body does not fit those beauty standards and my face is so asymmetrical, I make myself cringe in the mirror. 

         But, sometimes, on occasions, I feel beautiful. I’m wearing my favorite shirt and nothing can ruin my day. 

    All Up In Our Heads

         Do we all worry about what people think of us? We all have fleeting thoughts about strangers we see so of course we would worry about what people think about us in return. That thought about what random strangers see when they look at me proceeds to make me want to sink into the ground and not come out for the rest of the day. What other people think about me shouldn’t matter as much as it does to me, in all honesty. And I recognize that. It’s just not easy to stop a train of thought. 

    But, Who Cares?

         At the end of the day though, it’s what I think about myself and what the people I love think about me that matter. I can be wearing the ugliest shirt in the world, but if it makes me happy, I feel beautiful. The added bonus is when my friends just accept the fact that I’m in what could possibly be a pajama top, and move on. It’s mutual, really. They could be mid-bite of ice cream in a picture, but I would frame that picture in a heartbeat.

    Be You

         Beauty is what you make of it and what makes you happy. Beauty is not caring about what people think because random strangers don’t matter (no matter what your brain tells you). Beauty is finding joy with the important people in your life. Beauty is treating yourself with kindness and respect and treating others the same. Beauty is trying your best at living your life.

         Exercise caution on the web, and be beautiful out there.

  • Move Your Body. It’s good for you.

        There you have it folks. It’s written in big bold letters. Move. Moving your body is vital to keeping it in tip top shape. And that’s not only referencing physique, it’s also referring to your health. Moving is an important part of life for both adults and kids. It improves brain health, helps you to manage your weight, strengthens your bones and muscles, reduces your risk of functional limitations and reduces your risk to certain diseases. 

    Improves Brain Health 

         There are multitudes of hormones and chemicals that your brain needs to function well. Exercising helps keep these hormones and chemicals in check.

    • Insulin: Insulin is a peptide hormone and is important for your brain because it regulates cognitive functions. Neurodegenerative disorders may be one of the effects of insulin resistance. Dementia states may also be a result of damaged cognitive systems due to insulin resistance. Moving your body and keeping active can help reduce insulin resistance. Therefore, get active. 

    Weight Management

         Consuming more calories, through eating and drinking, than you can burn, causes weight gain. Of course, even while being active, you will gain weight as long as you consume more calories than the calories burned throughout the day along with physical activity. That is why you have to get active while also watching the calories you consume. 

    • Maintaining weight: You can maintain your weight with at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week. You can split it up to 30 minutes everyday for five days a week. There are a plethora of things you can do to get active. Go on a walk with someone, go jogging, hiking, biking, teach yourself a dance, play a sport. Moving can be fun. 

    Strengthens Bones and Muscles

          None of us get younger with each passing day. Our age only continues to climb, but the strength in our muscles and bones decline. 

    Reduces Your Risk of Functional Limitations

         Think about all the things you are able to do now. And then think about getting older and not being able to do any of the simple daily tasks you could. Imagine not being able to climb the stairs at 70. Imagine not being able to go for a walk without aches and pains. If we make it to old age without any serious illnesses, shouldn’t we try to keep our bodies as mobile as possible? Quality of life would be so much better than achy and creaky joints. 

     Reduces Your Risk to Certain Diseases

         Getting moving keeps you healthy. It’s a known fact. Being healthy plays a part in preventing diseases. That is also a known fact. Moving even reduces the risk of getting certain types of cancers. Even thinking about cancer fills every fiber of my being with dread. Moving is a simple preventative measure that might keep you from facing certain diseases. 

     Move

         In the gentlest manner, in the kindest manner, in the manner which I wish with all my might for each and everyone of us to be the healthiest we can, to be the kindest we can to each other, I ask that you take care of yourself. Love yourself, respect others, and move.

  • Rest Your Head, Weary One

    Sometimes, don’t you just need something simple and soothing? I’ve found this song that’s just that. Simple and soothing. It’s like sitting in a quiet meadow, sunlight sitting warm against your skin, leaning against someone you trust. Then, they strum their guitar and sing to you in a warm voice. There are no fancy vocals, just a soft voice. It’s called 让暖风给你送去个拥抱 and it’s part of the album 反正都是我 by 陆虎. The song title translates to, let the wind give you a hug. It’s almost like a lullaby, where nothing is wrong in the world and you feel at peace. The world is a messy place, take a few minutes to just sit and be still. And this song is the perfect song to make you feel like everything is going to be okay. 

    It Feels Fine, This Song

        There are a few lines in the song that are a favorite of mine. 睡吧, sleep. 靠近我, lean close to me, 拥抱我, hug me and 要快乐, be happy. In four lines, it gently wished you something kinder.

         It’s okay, I think, to not know where you’re going. It’s okay to sit down for a bit and not think. We’d get really tired if we kept on trying to find answers every second of the day, and that’s what most of us are doing. There’s also a whole lot of stuff we’d be better off letting go of, even though it’s a lot easier said than getting done.

    Sit Down. Relax.

         So, why not sit down for a song? Let something soothe you like a lullaby. This song is just that for me and I’m sharing it with you. A little gift from one stranger to another. Of course, you don’t have to accept it. You can always find your own gift.

         As always, take stuff you read online with a grain of salt, kick back, relax and find something that makes the world a little okay.   

  • Water is One of Earth’s Finest Resources. Drink It.

         Drink that water, folks. It’s a very important component to maintaining a healthy body. Drinking water also prevents unpleasant sensations. Dehydration, overheating, constipation and kidney stones are a couple of them.

    Dehydration

         Losing more fluid than you take in and your body starts to malfunction is dehydration.     

    A multitude of reasons, including diarrhea and vomiting can cause dehydration. Exercising vigorously in hot weather without replenishing your fluids can also cause dehydration. If you ever feel thirsty, dizzy, confused, tired, have dark-colored urine, or urinate less frequently, you might be dehydrated. Now, go drink some water.

    Overheating 

         If you’re in a really hot climate and you can’t sweat enough to cool yourself down, you’ll overheat. If it gets bad enough, you’ll end up with heat stroke. Staying too long in the sun can cause overheating and lead to heat stroke.  Heat stroke is a severe form of heat illness and is life-threatening. If you’re going to be outside for extended periods of time in extreme heat, drink your water, but not caffeinated drinks, soda and alcohol. Those dehydrate you instead. Drink that water, please.

     Constipation

         Can’t poop? You might not be drinking enough water. The food you eat needs to pass through your large intestine, but if you’re not drinking enough water, your large intestine will soak up that water from your food. In turn, this causes you to have hard stools and hard stools are hard to pass. Again, drink your water.

    Kidney Stones

     Kidney stones are made from chemicals in the urine that form into a hard object. It can stay in the kidney or move into the ureter. If the stone doesn’t pass, it’ll back up your urine and you’ll experience pain. If you don’t treat kidney stones quickly enough, it could cause kidney damage. But, kidney stones formed from not drinking enough water can easily be prevented. Just drink your water and you’ll prevent the stones from forming. Drink. That. Water. 

    In Conclusion

         At the end of the day, drinking enough water depends on you yourself. This is also a blog. All these things listed above can be from something completely different. Always consult a medical professional for any health related issues. Surf the web responsibly. Stay safe. Take care of your body. And of course, drink water. 

  • Go Watch Something. You Deserve To.

    Hey, guess what? I’m Asian American. Specifically Chinese, lmao. Some of y’all must know what that advantage of having a second language under your belt feels like. Must know that feeling of having a wider variety of things you can watch. Lemme offer you this, then.《欢迎来到蘑菇屋》. If you can’t read Chinese but can understand it, copy and paste those words into YouTube and give episodes one through three a watch. It was hilarious, simple and clean. There was nothing fancy and flashy. It’s comforting, just watching close friends being together. It might make you think about your own friends and you’ll smile. Or it might invoke the feeling of I-wish-I-had-friendships-like-that. Either way, they’re hilarious. Them simply sawing wood can draw a chuckle out of you. But aside from the hilarity that ensues when they’re put in close proximity to each other, they’re also people who have emotions that they discuss and it’s really sweet. So, if you’re looking for something funny and sweet and down to earth all at the same time, this is the show you wanna watch. Or, at least I’ve only watched episodes one through three because it satisfied me and was a good place to leave off. 

    Get Out There and Watch!

         Give it a try if you want to. You might just like their personalities enough that you’ll want to see more of them. They could give you stitches in your side from laughing so hard or they might make you tear up. 《快乐在出发》and《快乐在出发2》are also great places to get a laugh and catch some feelings. It’s a nice feeling, watching people be friends. They’re simple and down to earth people. Maybe you’ll learn a lesson or two along the way. If you don’t like watching them, go read another article and find another suggestion from this website. There’s more out there for you to discover.

  • You’re Making Your Face Sad. Do Something.

         Is your face dry? Is it itchy? Does it look dull and/or rough? Did you answer yes to any of these questions? If you did, don’t you worry. There’s an easy fix. What is it, you may ask. Good question. There’s this magical thing called moisturizer. Moisturizer is an amazing thing that prevents dryness in the skin and if you find the right one for your face, you’ll not only prevent dryness and itchiness in your face, you’ll also mask a little bit of those fine lines and wrinkles. If you have any, that is. 

    A Recommendation

        I for one, use the Multi Function Formula All In One Snail Repair Cream from Mizon. The tub has seventy-five milliliters for an average price of about twenty dollars. It spreads amazingly, just a small amount covers a large portion of your face, making it easy to cover every square inch. I got my tub In July. It has been three months and I have just used about half the tub. If I finish the tub in the next three months, I can divide twenty dollars by six. It’ll be $3.33 a month spent on this product. It’s pretty cheap in the long run. 

    More Recommendations

         Now if we hop onto the oo35mm website, where I got my own tub from and it costs $21.99. If you buy from here, guess you’ll have to pay an extra thirty-three cents per month. But it’s worth it! Snail mucin is said to be very beneficial for the skin and this product has plenty of snail mucin. It helps repair your skin and revive it. It’ll leave your skin moisturized, nourished and plump, bringing your skin close back to its prime! 

    You Do You

         Of course, not everything is for everyone and sometimes, skincare is more of testing what is right for you. I have oily skin. It literally oils itself five minutes after I step out of the shower. Now that I’ve started to take care of my face, it doesn’t do that anymore. I can probably attribute it to the Multi Function Formula All in One Snail Repair Cream from Mizon because it’s what I’ve been using so far. 

  • Something Fun For You. Maybe

          Let’s get up a bit up close and personal as I tell you what I like to do for fun or to relax. First, you need a tab opened (or multiple) for Youtube (or another source of entertainment). Play a video of something you wanna watch or have as background noise. Next, you grab some plain paper, a notebook, pens, pencils and an eraser. After you have your video loaded and playing, you sit down with all your gathered things and alternate between drawing and writing (Doesn’t matter what you draw or write, It’s your own private down time, after all.).With three activities within grasp and before your own very eyes, you’ll be entertained for who knows how long!

    Drawing and Looping A Video

         I, for one, love creating my own characters, the found-family trope, and a good song on repeat. Just imagine all the conversations you could create between your fictional characters. You can even do some healing by giving yourself the pep talk you never got in the form of your characters. Illustrate those scenes and give yourself a balm on old hurts. There’s a lot you can discover about yourself when you write and draw. Play some Bluey, too, while you’re at it. I absolutely love Bluey. Best show, ten out of ten would recommend. Go give Bluey a watch, too. Shove “Bluey” into that Youtube search engine, why don’t you? Give yourselves a taste of the clean graphics and well-written storyline.  

    Note: Not everyone enjoys or will enjoy these activities and Bluey. There are other activities on this blog. You can navigate there to view their recommendations.

         When you find that you have time, take a break. Life’s too short to not do the very cheap non-expensive things you like doing in your downtime. There’s something out there, it might even become a hobby, just waiting for you to pick up and interact with. Embark on a journey to find something that brings you joy. You’ll even learn more about yourself, what you like and dislike. Just remember, stay safe, respect others, and you’ll be set to go.

  • Carrots, Your Skin, and More Carrots

         Hey, y’alls want healthy and supple skin? Well, boy do I have the food for you. It’s called a carrot. Y’know, that vegetable we all kinda hated to eat as kids. They gave it to us raw, unseasoned, and it  had some weird aftertaste. But, that’s besides the point because the easy fix is to add heat and season them with spices and sauces. They taste so good that way. 

         I remember the first time I shredded my carrots with a manual grater and dropped it into a pan with oil to let it slowly cook. I then proceeded to forget about it, but luckily I had the heat so low. By the time I remembered the carrots, they turned to mush when I stirred them around. Thus, I slapped in some garlic, onion and curry powder. Then I added just the smallest dash of soy sauce. Lastly, I threw in some noodles I had made earlier and mixed it all up. Those were probably the best noodles I had ever made. Add in some sriracha, too. It tasted heavenly.

         Alright, now that we’ve gotten “how to make carrots taste good” out of the way, we’ll discuss why carrots can aid you in achieving healthy and supple skin. 

    Note: Do not eat carrots if you are allergic to them. Do not try any of the mentioned spices and sauces if you are allergic to them. Do not have noodles if you are allergic to them. We all know what we are allergic to. Please eat responsibly, thank you.

         Carrots are very high in beta carotene. Not only does Beta carotene protect your skin from the sun’s rays (a necessary component in preventing wrinkles), it also converts into vitamin A in the body. Vitamin A is retinol, that thing we go crazy over because it keeps out skin tight and youthful. So, moving from beta carotene into vitamin A, the body benefits all over. You get healthy skin and the added bonuses of aiding your vision and eye health, your immune system, and mucous membranes.   

    Note: Do not over consume carrots or beta carotene. Anything in excess is bad for the body.

         What more could you ask for? Healthy skin, and most importantly, a healthy body. It’s a two for one deal!