Blog Posts by Cosmopolitan.com

Your health matters too!Scary new research out of the University of Missouri: Scientists have discovered that young women are more interested in how they look over how healthy they are.

By Korin Miller

Researchers conducted several focus groups of college-aged women and discovered that they paid more attention to calorie counting instead of making sure that they ate a balanced diet. As a result, they're not always getting the nutrition that they need.

Related: 9 Ways to Deal With Stress

What's up with that? Nutritionists say that a lack of time to prepare a good meal and unhealthy food environments are to blame. They also said that a lot of women might not know how to make a healthy meal, either.

Sure, we know it can be tough to eat healthy sometimes-especially when you don't have much time to cook-but it's important to take care of yourself. Try these little tricks to add more nutrition to your diet when you're in a bind.


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He's ready to put a ring on it!Summer is wedding central, so we don't blame you for wondering when you're going to walk down the aisle. Luckily, we got our experts to reveal the secret hints that he's ready to go ring shopping.

By Yelena Shuster

He Says Things Like "You're The Only One"
When a man makes it clear how special you are (obviously), by saying you're the only woman who's ever done fill-in-the-blank for him or made him feel this way, he's on his way to don the tux.

You're Invited To His Family Events
If he imagines you having a lead role in the big picture, he will include you in family holidays and bring you as his plus one to other special events. He wouldn't want his family and friends to get close to you if he didn't want you to stick around for the long haul.

He Considers You Part of His Team
Because a guy's career is a main part of his identity, confiding in you about work problems or crediting you for work successes means that he values you as an equal. Ditto for referring to you as a proud

These dating tips will get you the guy.In her new book, The Gaggle: How The Guys You Know Will Help You Find The Love You Want, Jessica Massa coins a new dating term every girl should know. Say hello to your gaggle: the group of guys already in your life that will lead you to Mr. Right. Here's how it works...

By Yelena Shuster

Think of Every Guy as Part of Your Gaggle
"Your gaggle is the group of guys who you might not be 'dating' or in a defined relationship with, but who fulfill some sort of need in your life," Massa explains. "They are helping you figure out who you are, what you want, and what type of man you ultimately desire." These dudes can include The Hot Sex Prospect, The Career Booster, and The Ex-Boyfriend Who's Still Around.

Don't Wait for a Date
Let this be your new mantra: Everything and nothing is a date. "You'll be missing out on all sorts of opportunities to connect with guys if you're simply waiting for them to ask you out," Massa says. Every interaction counts, from the conference

Try these massage moves on your man.Love foreplay (who doesn't, right)? Take it to the next level by giving your guy a steamy tantric massage. This sexy sequence, designed by Patricia Johnson and Mark Michaels, co-authors of The Essence of Tantric Sexuality and Tantra for Erotic Empowerment, is the perfect way to get his blood pumping-and yours.

By Korin Miller

Warm Up His Traps
People tend to have a lot of tightness in this muscle, which is located between the shoulder blades. Loosen his by putting some massage oil or lotion at the base of his spine. Cross your thumbs and slide them up the spine to the point between the shoulder blades. Then use your thumbs to massage his upper back and release the tension that's stored there.

Get His Juices Flowing
Lightly tap the small of his back with the edges of your hands. This stimulates erotic energy, and the nerve impulses will go right to the genitals.

Use Your Lips
Wipe off any excess oil or lotion from his bod. Then, take a deep breath, and run your lips from the base of

Pump up your ego!Even if you've got a Rihanna-like ego, you're bound to need a good self-esteem boost every so often. Next time your confidence is on shaky ground, crank it up with one of these easy tactics.

By Casey Gueren

1. Fiddle with your Facebook timeline. Sure, reading a bunch of humblebragging status updates from friends may just piss you off, but a Cornell University study found that spending time editing and adding to your own profile actually makes you feel better about yourself and the awesome things going on in your life. The kudos you just scored from your boss? Yeah, hit post.

2. Put on the one outfit or item of clothing you already know you look fantastic in. When you're wearing something you really can rock, your self-assuredness skyrockets, says clinical psychologist Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD, author of A Happy You. There's a reason Kim Kardashian is always sporting the same bandage dress silhouette-she looks banging in it, and she knows it!

3. Have a dance party. "Any form of

What's up with all those flowers?After being forced to wear a thong for Magic Mike, Joe Manganiello says he can't believe women wear them. That made us LOL and wonder what other things we do that dudes just don't get. So we consulted the guys at ModernMan.com, who revealed their top head-scratchers...

Vases
If we bought you enough flowers to fill up all the empty containers of varying shapes and sizes in your house, we'd bankrupt ourselves.

Foot Lotion
Is what goes on your face or hands not good enough for your feet?

Bathroom Scale
You never use it, but thinking about it collecting dust under the sink makes you cranky. It'd be like us keeping a bag full of our fallen-out hair.

Clutches
No, we will not hold your wallet, keys, brush, and cell phone. You chose to carry that useless bag.

Decorative Pillows
If we're not allowed to rest our heads on them, and you're not using them to playfully beat your cute yoga instructor, Amber, during a slumber party, there's really no point.

Related: 7 Signs He's Probably an

Show off your funny bone if you want to find a guy!Ready for a new guy? Sure, looking great on date night doesn't hurt. But new research has found that specific traits are even more important to people searching for an S.O.

By Korin Miller

Scientists at Penn State University found that playfulness and a sense of humor are the most attractive traits someone can have. In the study, researchers asked 164 men and 89 women to rate the top personality traits that they think are most important in someone they're dating.

Related: The One Trait That's Like Catnip To Men

Of the list of traits, "sense of humor," "fun-loving," and "playful" ranked highest of the things women searched for in men. Men also liked playfulness, but ranked "physically attractive," "healthy," and "good heredity" (um...do they want us to take a genetic test before the second date?) high on the list as well.

Related: What Guys Really Notice About Your Looks

Researchers theorized that women like playful men because it subconsciously signals that a guy isn't aggressive

The more you sip, the lower your libido falls.It's always a little jarring when your sex drive takes a vacay. Not in the mood lately? Brian Clement, PhD, and Maria Clement, PhD, co-authors of 7 Keys to Lifelong Sexual Vitality say these foods and drinks might be tripping you up. (BTW: Try these foods when you want an added boost.)

By Korin Miller

Soy Lattes
Eating and drinking soy definitely has health perks. But the bean also contains plant estrogen, which can mess with your sex drive. If you're not allergic to dairy, and just love the taste of soy milk, mix it up with regular milk lattes to balance it all out.

Fried Foods
French fries, chips, and chicken fingers often contain trans fats, which screw with your blood sugar and make you feel lethargic. And when you don't have energy, it's harder to get in the mood for a horizontal workout.

Ice Cream and Cheese
Too much dairy can make you feel sluggish-and enhance the crappy side effects of your period (namely, cramps and bloating). Try to limit yourself to three servings a