Blog Posts by Self Magazine

Cristina Tudino, SELF magazine

Touch is vital to any relationship. But some guys may have a genetic variation that could make them seem less affectionate, new research from Oregon State University in Corvallis suggests. To feel tight even if he's snuggle challenged:

Try PDA-Lite: Link arms with him in public but lay off the smooches. Small points of contact are powerful bonders, too-and tend to be less freaky for a touchphobic dude.

Bust a move: Request some Rihanna and dance your butts off with each other at the bar this weekend. Simply moving in unison will make you feel more intimate and in sync.

Sweat together and fist-bump after killing a set of reps. NBA players who knock knuckles work better as a team, research shows, and so will you. LeBorn would be proud.

See more: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

Getting close to him will help you...

Forgive and forget. A hug can make you and your BF want to cooperate, not bicker. Researchers say that even the briefest touch can make you feel

Preparation: Place 1 tbsp limeade concentrate in a shallow bowl. Place salt in a second shallow bowl. In a third bowl, combine remaining limeade concentrate, beer and tequila. Rim 6 glasses with reserved limeade and salt. Divide beer mixture evenly among glasses; garnish each with a lime slice.
Marge Perry, SELF magazine

Why should guys be the only ones who get to enjoy gooey pub grub? These apps let you satisfy your cravings without the food coma and next-day guilt.

VEGETABLE QUESADILLAS WITH FRESH SALSA

Packing these puppies full of veggies gives them a wallop of low-cal flavor, leaving plenty of room for queso.

Ingredients

• 4 medium plum tomatoes, diced
• 1/4 cup chopped red onion
• 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
• 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 can (15 oz) low-sodium red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
• 1 tablespoon chopped chipotle chiles in adobo
• 4

Danielle Braff, SELF magazine

Rich holiday food isn't the only reason our jeans "shrink" in winter-seems the season has it in for us. Ice these top pound-packing triggers.

More from SELF:

6 Moves for a Great Butt

5 Simple Steps to Cellulite-Free Skin

Foods That Fight Belly Bloat

6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism

Marisa Cohen, SELF magazine

Fat paychecks and fancy perks don't equal contentment. You need something deeper. Agree with any of these statements and it's likely your job falls short of fulfilling.

Your company isn't inspiring. If you wish your company had a purpose a bit more noble than padding the owner's bank account, spearhead a community project, such as a book drive, suggests Nicole Williams, career expert at LinkedIn and author of Girl on Top. "It's great PR for the company, brings the team together and makes everyone feel good about their work."

See more: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

You don't care about the projects you work on.When you're stuck with tasks you could do in your sleep (or that bore you to sleep), consider ways you might combine your interests with the company's goals-perhaps by updating the website or making connections to nab new clients. Before you run your plan by your boss, come up with solutions for how you'll cover your old to-dos while taking on

Rachel Hayes, SELF magazine

Trendy nutrition boosters are showing up in beauty products. Will they make your skin flawless? Top derms dig in.

More from SELF:

6 Moves for a Great Butt

5 Simple Steps to Cellulite-Free Skin

Foods That Fight Belly Bloat

6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism

Caroline Schaefer, SELF magazine

Having sex is good for you. No shocker. But the benefits depend on how often you do it. See what you score each time you score.

More from SELF:

6 Moves for a Great Butt

5 Simple Steps to Cellulite-Free Skin

Foods That Fight Belly Bloat

6 Secrets to Firing Up Your Metabolism

Marisa Cohen, SELF magazine

Make any gig more fun with these 6 tips.

Think back: Remember all the reasons you took this job in the first place. Was it the sweet hours? A quickie commute? Tons of responsibility? Then come up with ways to rekindle the excitement you felt on day one, says Jane Boucher, author of How to Love the Job You Hate. Go out after work and enjoy your free evenings; bike to the office just because you can.

See more: The Flat-Abs-Fast Secret

Escape your desk: Working endless hours can affect your productivity. Take an honest-to-goodness lunch break (we know, crazy, right?) and eat your salad in the park or hit a yoga class. You'll be more effective after a time-out, research shows.

Set two goals: Make one short-term-"I'll go to two networking events this month"-to get an instant sense of satisfaction that you're opening doors to a happier future. The other should be bigger-picture: "In a year I want to get promoted." Clear-cut goals increase your energy and focus,

Julai Savacool, SELF magazine

Ask yourself these questions to see what's draining you.

Are you stressing hard-core?
A crazy day at the office can cause production of the hormone cortisol to skyrocket, says SELF contributing expert Catherine Birndorf, M.D., associate professor of psychiatry at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. "Once whatever's stressing you out is over, cortisol levels go back to normal, but that drop leaves you feeling fried."

Taking mini time-outs during the day-texting a friend, updating your Spotify playlist or chatting with a coworker-can help keep stress freak-outs in check so you won't be completely zonked by 6 p.m.

See more: 20 Superfoods for Weight Loss

Is your pee the color of a tangerine?
Unappetizing, but true: Urine should be pale yellow; any darker means you're dehydrated. Even mild dehydration can make you feel wiped and less able to focus, finds research in The Journal of Nutrition.

As for what you sip, it doesn't have to be water. Any liquid, even