Hasta La Gadget!

Having mobile internet access inside the Channel Tunnel is useful, but where are those faster speeds we were promised? Well, after expanding their 2G and 3G networks in March, EE and O2 are finally offering 4G connectivity on the Eurostar. Vodafone…

“You’re just too sensitive. Don’t take things so personally.”

In a culture that favors the powerful, sensitivity can be seen as a deficiency. Sensitive people can be perceived as delicate, quiet and aloof, but that doesn’t mean sensitivity is a negative trait. Being a highly sensitive individual may be more useful than the common wisdom would have us believe, according to researcher and psychologist Elaine N. Aron, Ph.D. In fact, as Aron explains, there are numerous misconceptions about people who, as she describes, “just feel more deeply.”

Below are 11 things you probably thought wrong about highly sensitive people.

1. They’re weak.

As a society, we tend to rank people based on certain characteristics — and HSPs tend to evade those traits that are perceived as “strong.” “There are different kinds of weakness,” Aron told The Huffington Post. “They’re more sensitive to pain, so they’re going to avoid a fight; that might make them look weak because they’re not aggressive. They have more emotional reactivity, so they cry more easily.”

But their ability to pick up on others’ emotions and intuitive nature offers a different type of advantage, Aron explains. “Highly sensitive people see things in a way that other people don’t see,” she said. “It’s a different kind of strength.”

2. They’re introverts.

High sensitivity is often used synonymously with introversion, but while they share similar characteristics (like wanting downtime and having relatively quiet personalities), Aron says the two are not the same. In fact, approximately 30 percent of HSPs are extroverts, according to her research.

3. They’re easily offended.

Sensitive people cringe over criticism, and when they receive it, it’s something they reflect on internally rather than take as a personal offense. Because they try to avoid scrutiny at all costs, HSPs tend to criticize themselves first or avoid the source of criticism altogether, Aron previously told HuffPost.

4. They’re shy.

One of the largest misconceptions about the personality trait is that people perceive HSPs as shy or neurotic individuals, Aron says. This could partially be due to their aversion to criticism or their reserved nature — but Aron stresses it’s important to distinguish the differences. “Shy is a fear of social evaluation, and we are not born with that fear,” she said. “A lot of people study shyness today and they don’t realize what’s under the hood, they just look at the behavior.”

5. All highly sensitive people are women.

Sensitivity doesn’t discriminate based on height, weight, gender or job description. According to Aron, there are just as many men who possess the trait as there are women. “Being a sensitive man is difficult in our culture, but they are out there,” she said. “There’s no difference in how big and strong and masculine looking you are, if you’re a man or a woman. It’s not a matter of size.”

6. They’re prone to mental or physical illness.

Just like many other traits, it all comes down to variability in your genetics and environment. On average, a highly sensitive person is not at any more risk for mental or physical health issues, Aron says. In fact, if you’re in a stabilized environment, the trait may even benefit you. “You’re healthier than other people mentally and physically,” she explained.

Aron also notes that the trait is not associated with the autism spectrum, like many people believe. Becoming easily overstimulated is a common thread — especially in young children — but she stresses that there are many other distinctions that parents should pay attention to and discuss with their doctor. “That’s a difficult diagnosis to make in a very young child … it’s been misdiagnosed both ways, but they’re different,” she said.

7. Being highly sensitive negatively affects workplace success.

Because they’re so intuitive, Aron says that sensitive individuals can actually use their trait to perform better. “It’s not a handicap in relationships or at work,” she said. “Sensitive people can use their observations to their advantage … They’re going to rise to the top. They know how to bring ideas up without being ridiculed or scorned.”

8. They don’t like big crowds.

While highly sensitive people do prefer to participate in activities (like exercise) solo, that doesn’t mean they don’t enjoy a large party or interacting in a big gathering. In fact, HSPs can thrive when there’s social stimulation and some even find calm in large groups, Aron says.

9. They don’t take risks.

It’s a myth that highly sensitive individuals just want to stay at home or want everything calm and quiet all the time. Many HSPs seek high-sensation thrills like surfing and extensive traveling. Aron says they also choose careers where they can apply their traits while still finding stimulation and meaning, such as journalism or other service-based jobs.

10. You can easily identify a highly sensitive person.

In most cases, you probably won’t be able to spot an HSP in a crowd, Aron explains. Save for a few eccentricities, like preferring alone time or a quiet restaurant over a noisy one, the personality trait doesn’t often stand out. “They blend,” she said. “They’re creative, insightful and have a lot of empathy. People tend to like them.”

11. The trait is abnormal.

Aron, who has been researching HSPs since the early ’90s, says that nearly one in five people possess it. If you’re interested in finding out if you’re a highly sensitive person, you can take the self-assessment here.

Although it’s certainly advised that you power down devices an hour before bed, escort them out of the bedroom and log a solid seven to eight hours every night, once in a while — whether it’s due to insomnia or busy schedules — we don’t always get the sleep we need.

The Atlantic’s senior editor and health columnist James Hamblin is all about napping. “Ever since I moved in over a Subway, I’m not sleeping well,” he explains in the video above.

The video goes on to explain that lack of sleep costs the U.S. an estimated $63 billion each year in lost productivity — yet naps are rarely seen as a good thing. “If you fall asleep in a public place, people take pictures of you. They laugh,” Hamblin says. “Be supportive. If you see someone sleeping, good. Good for them.”

Hamblin has a point. The benefits of a daytime nap range from increasing creativity and productivity to lifting your spirits. Although taking a midday snooze is frowned upon in most workplaces, Sleep Review reported in July that office “nap pods” are on the rise.

“Growing in popularity as a response to more studies that show the harms of not being well-rested, companies use the pods to provide mid-day naps to workers to boost productivity,” Sleep Review’s A.J. Zak wrote.

Feeling ready for a nap yet?

H/T The Atlantic

By Laurel Leicht for Life by DailyBurn

Sure, you could eat whatever you wanted in high school and stay thin as a rail. But unfortunately you’re not 17 anymore, and even if you work out ’round the clock, you can’t transform your body if you constantly give in to cravings, high-fat foods and sweet treats. The truth is, flat abs are made in the kitchen, and no amount of cardio and crunches can sculpt a sleek physique if you maintain an unhealthy diet.

“Consume excess calories and you have to counterbalance them,” says Sara Haas, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. “And it’s hard to get enough exercise in to undo the calories you’ll get in a double cheeseburger with French fries and a milk shake.”

Read on for reasons why aligning your nutrition plan with your exercise routine will help you get the body you want.

1. You’re not a professional athlete.
If you justify frequent fried chicken or pasta dinners with the Flywheel class or CrossFit WOD on your schedule the following morning, you might want to recalculate how many calories you’re actually burning in comparison to the ones you’re taking in. “The majority of people are not serious athletes, meaning they don’t require the same type and amount of fuel as the pros,” says Haas. “Eating a calorically dense, high-carbohydrate meal or snack makes sense for a competitive cyclist about to endure a 100-mile road race, but it doesn’t make sense for someone who is about to take a two-mile jog around the block.”

Instead, opt for a healthier form of chicken such as grilled or poached and save the spaghetti for a post-race meal. Yes, it’s OK to have a cheat meal here and there, but try not to make it a weekly or even bi-weekly thing. And don’t bother justifying it with an intense sweat session you may have had earlier — it’s called a cheat meal for a reason.

2. You won’t be able to hit your peak if you’re overdoing it with the wrong foods.
To effectively change your physique and stay toned requires intense exercise. You won’t have the physical endurance to push through tough workouts if your diet isn’t up to snuff. Yes, that unfortunately means that while Reese’s Pieces and soda may give you a sugar high that you mistake as energy, they won’t fuel you to PR on the bench or around the track. Also, if you’re consuming high-fat foods in the evening, they could be disrupting your sleep, according to Brazilian researchers — which will leave you too tired to go all out at the gym.

You’ll need a combination of carbohydrates and protein to recover following a workout, as well as adequate carbs beforehand, too. “They’re the preferred energy for the exercisers’ muscles and mind,” says Jennifer McDaniel, RDN, founder of McDaniel Nutrition Therapy in St. Louis and spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.

Watch out for taking in too much fat; that often translates to an abundance of calories as well, which quickly packs on as extra pounds. Another diet pitfall to avoid when training is extremely high amounts of carbs or fiber. “These could cause annoying digestive issues and prevent you from performing well,” says McDaniel. In general, aim to get about 30 percent of your diet from protein, 40 percent from carbs and 30 percent from fat.

3. You won’t have the energy to exercise if you’re not eating enough.
Keep in mind that a diet you might think is healthy — one that’s super-low in carbs or calories — is just as harmful to your workout plan as one that’s high in fat. A very restrictive eating plan, paired with hardcore exercise, could leave you leaning on muscle mass for energy, says McDaniel. Not getting enough fat (fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamins A and D, and essential fatty acids, like omega-3s, in particular), she adds, “leaves you unable to produce energy and grow muscle because it lowers your levels of hormones like insulin and testosterone — which are important for building lean-body mass.”

Additionally, maintaining a very restrictive diet for a prolonged period can lead to a reduction in muscle tissue and can decrease the ability of your skeletal muscles (the ones needed for lifting, walking and other forms of exercise) to perform well, found a study published in the journal Advances in Nutrition.

4. You won’t want to exercise.
Unhealthy food choices — whether you’re eating too much fat, too many calories or not enough of either–may make you feel slow and less driven to exercise. “Diet and exercise are a feedback loop,” says McDaniel. “When you eat well, you are motivated to move, and when you move, you are more motivated to eat better.” Consider, for instance, a low-carb, high-fat diet; it might not only weaken training adaptations and hinder performance, McDaniel adds, but can also lead to a ‘hangry’ mood. Translation: You’ll be less likely to want to get to the gym.

5. You won’t be able to tone your target areas.
Having a hard time sculpting a better butt or washboard abs? When you consume excess calories and can’t burn them all off solely from your workouts, they head right to these trouble zones. “It’s dependent on your specific body type,” says Haas, “but generally, women tend to gain weight in the hips and thighs, while men pack it on around their midsection.” So even if you’ve gained muscle in these areas, it will be covered by a layer of fat. And abs exercises alone aren’t enough to decrease your body-fat percentage or abdominal fat, according to a study published in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research.

Keeping your diet in check will help because to become truly toned, you’ll need to build muscle and burn more calories than you’re consuming at the same time. It’s easier to do so if you don’t treat yourself to nachos or ice cream in the first place.

6. You could get sick — or hurt.
Low-carb and low-fat diets can be mentally draining and have a negative impact on heart health, says McDaniel. Plus, she says, “Following a chronic low-carb diet may lead to micronutrient deficiencies and increased inflammation throughout the body, which both make you more susceptible to injury.” Studies have found that not taking in an adequate amount of healthy fats may raise your chances for overuse injuries (such as stress fractures and tendonitis) and it doesn’t allow your body to protect itself in order to stay healthy. Furthermore, if you pair a low-fat diet with intense exercise, that can lower your immunity even further.

Regular sweat sessions are, of course, key for staying in shape and maintaining your overall health. However, says McDaniel, “Remember that exercise sustains weight loss — but a healthy diet is what drives it.”

More from Life by DailyBurn:
How Much Exercise It Takes to Burn Off Thanksgiving Dinner
The 5 Best Ways to Measure Body Fat Percentage
9 Healthy Homemade Energy Bar Recipes

VIENNA (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Iran’s foreign minister decided Friday to pull back from nuclear talks in Vienna, leaving the future of the negotiations unclear less than four days before the deadline for a deal.

Members of the Iranian delegation to the talks said Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif was flying to Tehran for consultations. U.S. officials said Kerry was heading for Paris. A U.S. statement said Kerry’s “future travel schedule is still being finalized, and we have not yet determined when he will return to Vienna.” That suggested that he was waiting to see whether Zarif is returning and bringing new proposals before deciding to rejoin the talks.

The statement said Kerry will be consulting with “European counterparts” while in Paris. Diplomats said French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond were also leaving the Vienna talks after arriving earlier in the day.

Hammond held out hope for an agreement by Monday before meeting with Kerry and Fabius. At the same time, he told reporters that “we have a long way to go if we are to get to a deal before the deadline.”

Expectations are growing that the Monday deadline for a full deal will be missed because of differences on how much Iran needs to reduce the size and scope of key nuclear programs. Both the Iranians and the six world powers negotiating with them must soon decide whether to go beyond Monday or adjourn to a later date. They may also opt to end negotiations, but that is unlikely.

Officials from the U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany are seeking to reduce the potency of Iran’s nuclear program and slow its technical ability to produce atomic weapons. Iran denies seeking such arms, but is negotiating in pursuit of relief from international sanctions.