10 Things You Don't Know About Kissing

GoodForLadies
Do you know where XOXO came from? Or why you get so turned on from a kiss? Read on to find the answers then check out our expert tips on how to kiss!

1. There Are Tons Of Nerve Endings...

...in your lips (100 times more than in your fingertips!) that stimulate desire. That's why smooching before, during, and after sex can be extremely arousing and satisfying.
Source: Krista Bloom, PhD, author of The Ultimate Compatibility Quiz

2. Forty Percent Of Men Say That...

...a really long, steamy kiss will get them immediately ready for sex. (Thirty percent said that grabbing their crotch will do it. Duh.)
Source: Cosmo Poll, April 2009

3. Pay Attention To Those "See Ya Later" Pecks. If Your Guy...

...routinely only gives you a quick kiss on the cheek when saying good-bye, it could be that he's guarded and doesn't emote easily. If this is a more recent development, it's a warning sign; he may be feeling ambivalent about the relationship.
Source: Body language expert Tony Reiman

4. Instantly Turn Up The Kissing Intimacy By...

...closing the "A-frame": a smooching stance in which you and your guy are in the middle of a smooch but your hips are a mile apart. By pressing your hips together, the degree of desire quickly rises.
Source: William Cane, kissing coach and author of The Art of Kissing

5. The Best Way To Kiss A Guy's Ear? Kiss And...

...suck on his earlobe for a moment and then trace the outline of his ear with the tip of your tongue. (Bonus points if you whisper something naughty to him.)
Source: Ava Cadell, PhD

6. Men Initiate Open-Mouth Kissing To Transfer...

...libido-boosting testosterone to their partner. So when he's getting a little more aggressive, it's not just about his desire — he wants you to be a bit more amorous too.
Source: Study by the University at Albany

7. Men Are More Than Twice As Likely...

...to have sex with a bad kisser than are women.
Source: eHarmony.com, "What Men and Women Want in a Kiss

8. When Coy Kisses Aren't Going To Cut It...

...here's why you should let loose: Passionate kisses elevate your blood pressure and cause your heart to beat faster, getting you more excited, and making it easier for you to reach orgasm.
Source: Ava Cadell, PhD

9. Fifty-Four Percent Of Women...

...between the ages of 18 and 24 say they've kissed another girl. That number drops to 43 percent for those between 25 and 34.
Source: Cosmo Poll, December 2008

10. During The Middle Ages, People Signed Legal Contracts...

...by making an "X" on the document and then kissing it to pledge their honor. That's how XX became shorthand for a smooch.
Source: Kissing: The Complete Guide by Tamar Schreibman

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The 10 Best Weight-Loss Tips Ever

GoodForLadies
Dieting sucks and never seems to work long-term anyway. These easy habits will slim you down.

Losing pounds doesn't have to be torture (we're looking at you, cayenne-pepper cleanse). Adopt at least three of these behaviors — they're simple to integrate into your day-to-day routine, and all are enthusiastically backed by nutritionists — and you'll be thinner and healthier in days. (Plus, the weight will stay off.)

1. SNACK, BUT SMARTLY

Grazing between meals used to be on the weight-loss hit list. But nutritionists now know that it's better to satisfy a craving with healthy grub than ignore it and risk a junk-food binge later. The best picks are filling, protein-packed snacks, such as one stick of string cheese, a tablespoon of peanut butter on a piece of fruit, or a medium-size bowl of edamame.

2. TURN OFF THE TV

Dining while viewing can make you take in 40 percent more calories than usual, reports a new study. And texting, driving, or any other distracting activity during a meal can also result in your eating too much. Instead, make each meal something you put on a plate and sit down to, even if you're eating solo.

3. STEP ON THE SCALE DAILY

If your regular weight increases several days in a row, it's a red flag letting you know you need to cut back a little or beef up your workouts slightly.

4. SCULPT THREE TIMES A WEEK

Doing 5 minutes each of push-ups, lunges, and squats (in 30-second intervals) will help build and maintain muscle mass. The more muscle you have, the higher your metabolism will be, so you'll torch more calories as you go about your day.

5. REACH FOR YOUR CELL

Next time your mind gets stuck on a certain food, call a friend and redirect your brain by asking how her day's going. Research shows that cravings only last about 5 minutes, so by the time you hang up, the urge to devour junk will have subsided.

6. EAT A BIG, BALANCED BREAKFAST

An a.m. meal made up mostly of carbs and protein with some fat keeps blood-sugar levels steady and hunger pangs away so you're not susceptible to pigging out come lunch, studies show. Opt for something satisfying for your stomach and taste buds — like egg whites and turkey bacon with whole-wheat toast.

7. WATCH THE BOOZE

One innocent-looking margarita or cosmopolitan can rack up hundreds of calories that do nothing to quench your appetite. Treat yourself just on the weekends and cut back somewhere else or stick to a glass of wine, light beer, or vodka and soda — three drinks that each have about 100 calories per serving.

8. HAVE FRUIT TWICE A DAY

Fruit has no fat and is mostly water, so it'll fill you up while leaving less room on your plate (and in your stomach) for high-cal fare. Don't freak about fruit's carb count — we're talking the good kind of carbohydrates that contain lots of healthy fiber.

9. STAY ASLEEP LONGER

Getting to bed just 30 minutes earlier and waking up 30 minutes later than you normally do can help you make better food choices, researchers report. Also, when you're well-rested, you're less prone to snacking out of fatigue or stress.

10. VISUALIZE YOURSELF THIN

When you feel your willpower breaking, conjure up a mental picture of yourself when you looked and felt slim. The visual motivation keeps you focused on your goal weight and reminds you that it is attainable, since you've achieved it before.

SOURCES: NUTRITION AND WEIGHT-REDUCTION SPECIALIST JANA KLAUER, MD, AUTHOR OF THE PARK AVENUE NUTRITIONIST'S PLAN; NATALIE ROSENSOCK, RD; CERTIFIED PERSONAL TRAINER JASON WALSH

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