Happiness is... hitting the gym: Exercise fans feel greater levels of excitement, say scientists

Happiness is... hitting the gym: Exercise fans feel greater levels of excitement, say scientists - If the person next to you appears more enthusiastic about life, it may be because they are more physically active, say scientists.

Such people report greater levels of excitement and enthusiasm than people who are less physically active, according to researchers in the U.S.

‘You don’t have to be the fittest person who is exercising every day to receive the feel-good benefits of exercise,’ said David Conroy, a professor at Penn State University.

Happy: Research has found that those people who are more physically active report greater levels of excitement and enthusiasm than those who do not exercise regularly

'It’s a matter of taking it one day at a time, of trying to get your activity in, and then there’s this feel-good reward afterwards.'

Some 190 students were asked to keep diaries of their exercise, sleep and mental states for the study published in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology.

Participants were instructed to record only those episodes of physical activity that occurred for at least 15 minutes and to note whether the physical activity was mild, moderate or vigorous.

Participants returned their diaries to the researchers at the end of each day for a total of eight days.

Professor Conroy added that ‘physical activity is so much more effective for treating depression rather than anxiety’, and ‘people dealing with anxious symptoms don’t need an increase in activation. If anything, they might want to bring it down some’.

Professor Conroy added that it often is hard for people to commit to an exercise program because they tend to set long-term rather than short-term goals.

'When people set New Year’s resolutions, they set them up to include the entire upcoming year, but that can be really overwhelming,” he said.

'Taking it one day at a time and savoring that feel-good effect at the end of the day might be one step to break it down and get those daily rewards for activity. Doing this could help people be a little more encouraged to stay active and keep up the program they started.' ( dailymail.co.uk )

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Mysterious gelatinous spheres rain down in England

Mysterious gelatinous spheres rain down in England - The discovery of mysterious, blue, gelatinous spheres in an English backyard has captivated the imagination of scientists and the public alike. What the heck are the spheres? And where did they come from?

The unscented, water-insoluble spheres were first found in the yard of former aerospace engineer Steve Hornsby. Since the discovery was made immediately following an ususual hail storm, the spheres were first assumed to have come from the sky. However, according to the Met Office, the U.K.'s national weather service, the spheres are "not meteorological."

There's no consensus as of yet regarding the source of the gelatinous balls. One research assistant believes the spheres could be eggs from marine invertebrates that hitched a ride on birds' feet; another believes the gel could be a type of underwater bacteria colony. Yet another theory says the balls are made of hydrogel, a planting material used to regulate soil moisture, but Hornsby says he's never used the product.

It appears that the mystery may soon be solved. Hornsby saved a few spheres in his refrigerator, which Bournemouth University have accepted for analysis. ( Today in Tech )

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Calories count, but source doesn't matter

Calories count, but source doesn't matter - People trying to lose weight may swear by specific diet plans calling for strict proportions of fat, carbs and protein, but where the calories come from may not matter as much as simply cutting back on them, according to a study.

Researchers whose results were published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found there were no differences in weight loss or the reduction of fat between four diets with different proportions of fat, carbohydrates and protein.

"The major predictor for weight loss was 'adherence'. Those participants who adhered better, lost more weight than those who did not," said George Bray, at Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, who worked on the study.

Earlier research had found that certain diets -- in particular, those with very low carbohydrates -- worked better than others, Bray told Reuters Health in an email, but there had been no consensus among scientists.

Bray and his colleagues randomly assigned several hundred overweight or obese people to one of four diets: average protein, low fat and higher carbs; high protein, low fat and higher carbs; average protein, high fat and lower carbs; or high protein, high fat and lower carbs.

Each of the diets was designed to cut 750 calories a day.

After six months and again at two years after starting the diets, researchers checked participants' weight, fat mass and lean mass.

At six months, people had lost more than 4.1 kg (9 lbs) of fat and close to 2.3 kg (5 lbs) of lean mass, but they regained some of this by the two-year mark.

People were able to maintain a weight loss of more than 3.6 kg (8 lbs) after two years. Included in this was a nearly 1.4 kg (3 lb) loss of abdominal fat, a drop of more than seven percent.

But many of the people who started in the study dropped out, and the diets of those who completed it were not exactly what had been assigned.

For example, the researchers had hoped to see two diet groups get 25 percent of their calories from protein and the other two groups get 15 percent of their calories from protein. But all four groups ended up getting about 20 percent of their calories from protein after two years.

"If you're happier doing it low fat, or happier doing it low carb, this paper says it's OK to do it either way. They were equally successful," said Christopher Gardner, a Stanford University professor uninvolved in the study.

"They did have difficulties with adherence, so that really tempers what you can conclude," he added. ( Reuters )

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Corruption Costs Indonesia $238m in 2011

Corruption Costs Indonesia $238m in 2011 - Indonesia lost as much as Rp 2.13 trillion ($238.6 million) to corruption in 2011, although authorities should have been able to easily detect the methods used for graft, a watchdog revealed on Sunday.

Danang Widoyoko, the coordinator of Indonesia Corruption Watch, said a study by his organization showed that embezzlement accounted for most of the money lost and that government investment was the sector most prone to graft.

Embezzlement cost the state Rp 1.23 trillion last year, almost three times more than the second most prevalent method, bogus projects and travel costs, which cost the state Rp 446.5 billion.

Danang Widoyoko, the coordinator of Indonesia Corruption Watch, reveals the watchdog's findings to the media. (Antara Photo)

Misappropriations came third at Rp 181.1 billion, followed by markups at Rp 171.5 billion.

Danang said those were age-old methods that should have been easily preventable.

“Our corruption practices are actually still quite primitive and therefore easy for auditors to track,” he said.

Part of the problem, he said, was the presidential instruction issued last year on eradicating corruption, which he called weak for overstressing prevention at the expense of taking action.

“Programs on corruption prevention account for almost 90 percent of [antigraft funding], particularly in law enforcement institutions,” Danang said.

“There’s nothing wrong with preventing graft, but the presidential instruction should have given more weight to action that can be taken by the police and the Attorney General’s Office to investigate corruption cases.”

He said police and the AGO made the problem worse by using much of their graft prevention funds for internal reform instead of going after other graft cases.

“They focus their prevention efforts on shoring themselves up from the inside, so that it looks like they’ve achieved their antigraft programs,” he said.

If prevention must be stressed, he continued, it should be in the political arena. However, Danang said it was regrettable that neither
the government nor the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK) had drawn up a blueprint for tackling graft at that level.

He said ICW’s projection for the coming years was that politically related graft cases would increase in prominence as the 2014 legislative and presidential polls approached.

He warned that the next two years could see politicians and parties meddle in the mining, forestry and plantations sectors as they sought to raise funding for their campaigns.

“The high cost of running will see all the parties in a race to get money throughout 2013, so 2012 will be the year to watch out for [possible graft] in state funding for the energy and mineral resources sectors,” Danang said.

He said this pattern played out in the period leading up to previous elections and would continue to occur as long as the KPK failed to draw up strict standards for transparency in political party funding.

He added that in addition to raiding the state budget, politicians would also constitute the biggest obstacle to the KPK in carrying out its job.

Separately, Bambang Soesatyo, a member of the House of Representatives, called on the KPK not to be pressured into cherry-picking which politicians it investigated.

“If a single KPK commissioner is boxed in by political interests, the commission will lose its independence and its effectiveness,” the Golkar Party lawmaker said.

Bambang was responding to speculation that KPK chairman Abraham Samad was pressured into not probing Democratic Party chairman Anas Urbaningrum, who has been implicated in corruption by graft suspect and former Democrat treasurer Muhammad Nazaruddin.

Correction: This story has been edited to rectify an earlier error. In the original article the figure Rp 2.13 trillion was incorrectly converted into $238.6 billion. The figure should be $238.6 million. We apologize for the error. ( thejakartaglobe.com )

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10 ways to boost your relationship

10 ways to boost your relationship - Even if you don't like all the fuss around Valentine's Day, take this opportunity to make some long-term changes in your relationship, to ensure a happier, more loved-up future

1. Share an activity

According to Devika Singh, psychologist at Dubai Herbal & Treatment Centre, a great way to focus on the future of your relationship is through shared activity. "Research on neurobiology in human relationships shows that engaging in recreational or functional activities together creates a sense of bonding. This is because of oxytocin, the cuddle hormone which is produced through activity and talking," says Devika. Whether it's watching movies, signing up for cookery classes, or going to the gym together, try and establish a routine for doing some things together as a couple. It is key to protect this together time from conflict, however. "If a pressing relationship issue comes up during this time, commit to discussing it at an agreed time in the near future," Devika suggests.

2. Find true forgiveness

Look inwards and ask yourself, what past hurtful acts of your partner have you truly managed to forgive? You may have been able to look past angry and bitter thoughts, and carry on, but these resentments continue to act as weeds in the relationship. "It does not mean that the relationship will not continue, but it does mean that it will not reach its full potential," says Dr Saliha Afridi, psychologist at Human Relations Institute. "Forgiving may mean that you two have to talk about the painful issues with a third person, or a therapist, or you may have to turn towards spirituality to process the pain and let go of the old wounds on your own."

3. Express gratitude

All too often, we take the help and support we get from our partners for granted - and forget to say ‘thank you'. In the same way you would thank a friend if you went to their home for dinner, you should also thank your partner for cooking you a lovely meal at home - or taking the trash out, or paying bills, or whatever little chore he has done. Showing your partner you appreciate what they do for you is essential for maintaining a happy relationship.

4. Eat healthy

When you eat a healthy balanced diet geared towards physiological wellbeing, you are also feeding your brain. "There are many different mechanisms by which the brain extracts what it needs from the diet, but one of the basics for this process is gastrointestinal health. Serotonin, the happiness hormone, is found in the gastrointestinal tract," Devika points out. Therefore, by promoting a general sense of wellbeing, you are creating more positivity in your relationships.

5. Make joint decisions

When you are making big or small decisions - whether it's where you move, what colour your new curtains should be, or where you go on vacation - make a conscious effort to consult your partner, and have an open mind, says Dr Saliha. "By considering their thoughts and feedback before making the decision, you are showing them that you respect them and their input," she says. "This sharing of ‘power' is one of the most important things for a relationship to be healthy."

6. Look for the secret button

In any marriage, each person needs to be aware of their partner's needs, says life coach Sahar Moussly. "You might think that you are giving everything to the relationship, but maybe you are not giving what your spouse really needs. The challenge is to find the ‘secret button' that works for that person, because if you don't, it can lead to frustration and disappointment, and the relationship will start to feel like too much hard work," she says. The basic human needs are comfort and security; variety (challenges that stimulate); the need to feel important; the need for love and connection; the need to grow and develop; and the need to contribute. Being observant about your partner's behaviour will help you work out what his priorities are. For example, is he feeling angry because his need to feel appreciated is not being met? Once you start understanding what is driving him, you can work at addressing that need, rather than reacting on a superficial level.

7. Don't overlook the little things

Don't wait for a birthday or Valentine's Day to do something nice for your partner. Make every day special by doing something small for each other or planning little surprises that show you care. This could be anything like a quick phone call to check on him if he isn't feeling well, picking up a muffin from the bakery on the way home, a midday text to say that you are thinking about him, or making his favourite food for dinner. "Too often we think the big things like expensive gifts or fancy vacations will boost our relationships, but research shows that it is consistent and small acts of kindness on a regular basis that are the most effective," says Dr Saliha.

Devika adds, "When pleasantly surprised, the mind-body system instantly goes into an arousal state. This rush of chemicals can create or enhance healthy feelings of attachment between partners."

8. Feng-shui your home

This ancient Chinese wisdom can be applied to all spectra of life, including relationships, to help enhance and strengthen them. Feng shui consultant Shivani Adalja (www.shivaniadalja.com) suggests these simple changes in your home: "Avoid placing water fountains or large fish aquariums in the bedroom, as moving water creates active energy that can create disharmony in the relationship; avoid keeping cactus or thorny plants in the bedroom as that can also lead to conflicts; display fresh flowers in the bedroom as they create a harmonious energy that helps bonding with your partner; and swap art of solo, lonely people for pictures that reflect happiness and togetherness."

9. Keep it funny

A sense of humour is critical for getting through common relationship hurdles. If your partner has an annoying habit, using humour when telling him about it, rather than nagging, will make getting your point across that much easier. Equally, playfulness is one of the main casualties of relationships, when you are bogged down by everyday stresses. Consciously seek out ways to find the humour and fun you enjoyed in the early stages of your relationship - there are few things that are as bonding as shared laughter.

10. Wave a magic wand

Sit down and make a list of all the changes you would want to see in your relationship, if you had a magic wand to wield. Ask your partner to do the same, but do this separately. The lists should include changes you want in your partner, as well as yourself - so be entirely honest, "This helps to gauge how each partner sees the relationship at a specific moment in time and how it can be improved. It creates the opportunity to commit to change, so both partners can take responsibility to create the relationship they want to be in." ( gulfnews.com )

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