Are you in the know about testosterone? | Source: Shutterstock

The thing is though, that doesn’t really give a complete picture of what testosterone actually is and what it does or even who has it. Because believe it or not, your body makes testosterone too!

Now, there is definitely a reason that testosterone is often associated with men, since testosterone is a hormone produced in their testes and responsible for many of the changes that guys go through during puberty. From that point on, guys keep producing testosterone (though not always at the same level).

Though guys’ bodies have more testosterone present than girls’ bodies, women’s bodies do still produce it! Ovaries produce the hormone in smaller amounts and it actually plays a role in a variety of functions, such as affecting a woman’s sex drive and keeping bones and muscles in healthy condition. The genetic medical condition where women happen to have higher testosterone levels is called hyperandrogenism.

When it comes to women and testosterone, you may have heard in the news about issues going on for female athletes. The Olympic Committee’s regulations allow them to make women they deem have “excessive” ineligble to compete. The issue is that there’s not evidence to back up their claims that too much testosterone puts those women at an unfair advantage and it also targets women who “look like” they’d have more testosterone (which leads to a lot of potential for discrimination based on appearance).

Later in life, testosterone may be prescribed for women during menopause. There is also some evidence that it could help with bone issues as a result from osteoporosis.

Did you know that women have testosterone too? Did you learn something new about what testosterone does? Tell us in the comments!

What Is Estrogen?

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When I was in high school, I dated a guy for about five years ( I know). As silly as it sounds, I barely ate in front of him when we first got together. I avoided dinner dates and stuck to “lady-like” foods like salads or picking at fruits when I was forced to eat so that I didn’t pass out. It was ridiculous.

As we got closer and more comfortable with each other, I let my guard down and actually started eating in front of him. My ex was relatively thin and could pretty much eat whatever he wanted without having to worry about gaining a pound. Me, not so much. Once I felt stable in our relationship, I started eating a lot. Like a lot. I figured, why should I care so much about my appearance? My guy loves me the way I am and he’s not going to leave me if I go up a few pounds.

Obviously, I gained a bunch of weight – and while my ex never said anything, it bugged me. I wondered if I was the only one who had gained weight once they were in a relationship, and I quickly figured out that I wasn’t. Over the years, I’ve watched many, many girl friends spend their single lives dieting like crazy, only to get into a relationship and gain all of that weight, and more, back. I’ve watched cousins get married and pack on the pounds. Basically, I’ve seen people literally transform once they get into a long-term relationship.

Now, there’s nothing wrong with gaining a little weight. It happens. It’s nothing to beat yourself up over. But I’ve always wondered: is there really a link between food and relationships? And apparently, yes, there is.

The Huffington Post recently spoke to a psychology professor Maryanne Fisher, who has done a little research on the subject. According to Maryanne, food and love are sort of linked in your brain. She says that in the beginning of a relationship, “Food is a way to display skills to a potential mate. You might buy nicer food, prepare better meals. It’s fascinating how it can be used as part of the relationship.”

TOTALLY TRUE. At least according to my love life. When I first started dating my current BF, I wouldn’t touch greasy chips or fries or candy in front of him – I wanted him to think I only ate healthy foods that are good for you. Why? I don’t know. I once watched my boyfriend wash down two jumbo Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups with a bag of BBQ pork rinds, so I don’t know why I felt the need to lie about my own eating habits.

Maryanne goes on to say that in the beginning of a relationship, people tend to eat less due to the fact that they release an abundance of “reward hormones”. These hormones make you happy and give you energy, and can sometimes suppress your appetite.

However, those hormones don’t stay up throughout the entire course of a relationship. The levels go up and down, and in extreme cases they can even cause obesity. Many other studies have found that people who are married or in long-term relationships are more likely to gain weight. Why? I can only imagine that it’s for the same reasons I gained weight: you feel comfortable and secure in your relationship and you don’t really feel like you have anyone to impress anymore. So you let things slide.

This all makes total sense to me and I’m sure it’s something that a lot of us can relate to. So I want to know: have you ever gained weight during the course of a relationship? Have you ever seen friends do it? Tell me in the comments!

If you’re slightly overweight, you may live longer

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That’s exactly why we found a few quotes that will help you love your body. We’re all about positive body image here at Gurl, and so are these awesome quotes. Read them if you’re feeling totally down in the dumps about your looks or you just need a healthy boost of confidence. These positive words will definitely remind you of just how awesome you are.

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Which of these quotes was your favorite? What did we miss? Do you think you could just more confidence, or do you love your body now? Tell us in the comments!

10 quotes that will help you get a fresh start

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I’ve heard of a lot of crazy weight loss diets, secrets, tips and tricks – but this one just may take the cake. Apparently, the inventor of Segways has teamed up with a company called Aspire Bariatrics to design a pump that will literally suck the fat out of your stomach. I can’t be the only one who thinks this is completely crazy.

Here’s how this would work, according to the Aspire Bariatrics site: the pump basically reduces the amount of calories absorbed by your body so that you don’t gain weight (more calories = more weight gain). How does it do that? After you eat something, food is temporarily stored in your stomach as the digestion process begins. Your stomach starts breaking down your food and then passes it to the intestines and that’s where your calories are absorbed. The AspireAssist (the name of this crazy pump) sucks that food out of your stomach before the calories can be absorbed.

Does this sound familiar to anyone else? Yeah, it’s basically like eating and then throwing up your food. But instead of throwing up, you’re just going to stick an A-Tube™ into your stomach through a hole in your abdomen. No biggie. The A-Tube™ will suck the fat out and is controlled by a little handheld device. UM. There are so many things wrong with this.

For one thing, how does this actually effectively work? The ladies over at Jezebel asked a lot of the same questions I was thinking of: what about the risk of infection? What about all of the other scary complications that come with sticking a foreign object in your body? How does this work once you’ve reached a goal weight? Your body isn’t properly losing weight, so your metabolism isn’t really changing – so I’m going to assume that once you stop using this, you’ll probably just gain all of that weight back simply because you’re once again eating and digesting food normally.

I mean, this thing just doesn’t sound healthy at all. As Jezebel pointed out, this is coming from the dude who invented Segways, otherwise known as the guy who gave us a lazy alternative to walking. That means that this is a lazy alternative to eating healthy. The idea of this seems to be that you can eat whatever you want and still lose weight (although one newspaper discovered that that’s not true). That can’t possibly be safe or good for you.

Ladies, please don’t fall into this. If you want to get healthy, the best way to do it is to simply eat foods that are good for you, maybe eat less and workout on a regular basis. I’m so sick of hearing about these crazy fad diets, like no eating after 5 PM (that’s INSANE), and these ridiculous pills and/or machines that promise results that don’t even sound like they’re good for you. That kind of stuff might help you lose weight quickly, but it’s not going to keep it off. It’s also not going to keep you healthy, which is the most important thing you should be worrying about.

Would you ever try something like this? Do you think it’s ridiculous? Have you ever tried a crazy diet? Tell us in the comments.

Being slightly overweight may be a health benefit

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Must be that time of the month! | Source: Shutterstock.com

The service is called Le Parcel, and for $15 every month, you get a package that you have customized for your period! To start, you select up to 30 tampons, pads and/or panty liners from some big-name brands, like Playtex, Kotex, Tampax and Always.

And now for the best part (in my opinion at least)! Not only do you get the necessary stuff mailed to you each month, but there is also chocolate (which I always want to eat at all times every month) and a gift! As Le Parcel puts it on their website, “Nature’s gift stinks so we give you a better one.” I like how they think!

If you’re curious about the whole “Uhhh, what if it doesn’t get here in time?” situation (a very valid concern in my book), well Le Parcel addresses shipping right on their site. You actually select what date you’ll be needing your products by, and it should get there by that day or earlier.

Just in case you forgot your period was approaching, now when you receive your package in the mail, you’ll know! I guess as is the case with all mail, there is always the chance that something could happen to it and leave you stranded, but it seems like the Le Parcel people have tried to plan out a system where that shouldn’t happen.

Le Parcel’s website also highlights this particular benefit: “No more awkward stares at the checkout stand.” I know that can definitely be a point of concern for some girls, and I’ve done the try-not-to-make-eye-contact-with-the-cashier thing on a number of occasions. Buying these things is totally not something to be embarrassed about, but that doesn’t always mean that all of us don’t feel a little uncomfortable at the time of purchase.

Now, while I’m not sure that buying my own products inconveniences me enough that I’d personally sign up for Le Parcel, I still think it sounds like a pretty neat idea that could be particularly useful in a number of situations. I think it’d be awesome for a freshman in college with no car access and a campus convenience store that is not well-stocked, or if you live a little out of town from the nearest store and are sick of making specific mini-road trips once a month. It could be Le Parcel to the rescue!

Overall, it seems like a cool and creative way to make the monthly event that many women dread a little more fun and exciting. Plus, who doesn’t love getting mail?!

Do you find it embarrassing to have to buy your tampons, pads and/or panty liners at the store? Would you ever use a subscription service like Le Parcel? Tell us in the comments!

The Funniest Lies You Tell When You’re On Your Period

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I’ve always heard that one of the biggest appeals of smoking cigarettes is because they supposedly help relieve stress. My smoker friends are constantly telling me that breathing in a steady stream of nicotine helps them calm down, relax and feel stress-free for at least a few minutes. In fact, one of the main reasons people start smoking to begin with is to help with anxiety. But guess what? Everyone is apparently wrong, according to a new study.

A recent British study on 500 smokers discovered that smoking doesn’t relieve stress – quitting smoking relieves stress. Researchers studied 500 smokers before and after they quit and found that the people who quit had less stress than those who tried to quit but failed. Bam – another reason you should never start smoking. Or, if you’re already a smoker, this is another reason why you should quit.

Look, I totally understand the idea that smoking helps you feel more relaxed. But I understand even more how quitting can actually help you feel more relaxed, not to mention better about yourself. I’m a little ashamed to admit this, but I was a big social smoker when I was in college. I was never addicted and I very rarely smoked a cigg on my own, by myself – it was mostly when I was out with friends and they were all puffing away. But after a while, I started to believe smoking cigarettes calmed me down, and I started smoking more often. Whenever I was upset, angry or feeling super anxious, I would reach for a cigarette because I thought they made me feel better.

Looking back, I realize that the cigarettes weren’t making me feel better. They were actually making me feel really light-headed and kind of out of it, which is never a good thing, and I associated that with feeling more relaxed. What was making me feel better? The few minutes of peace and quiet I got while smoking – not the cigarette itself.

When I made the decision to stop smoking entirely a few years ago, I instantly felt a huge weight lift off my shoulders. Not only are cigarettes extremely bad for your health, but they’re also really expensive! When I was smoking, I was constantly worried about what I was doing to my lungs or how much I was spending on packs of them. Also? I was always stressed over whether or not my parents were going to catch me. Once I stopped, I felt so much better about myself. So I can completely understand this study and I definitely believe that it’s true.

I know the idea of cigarettes can be alluring to some people, especially if you think of them as a stress reliever. But girls, trust me, there are so many other ways to get rid of stress that are fun and aren’t threatening to your health. The idea that smoking a cigarette is calming you down is all in your head. If you ever feel the urge to smoke a cigarette to deal with your anxiety, try something else instead: take a walk, scream into a pillow, do some yoga, play a video game. Anything but smoking. How many more times do we need to be told they aren’t doing us any good before we stop smoking them entirely?

Do you smoke cigarettes? Have you ever smoked them? Do you think they really do relieve stress? Tell me in the comments. 

10 ways to relieve stress that are actually fun

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One of the most popular resolutions out there is to lose weight, so I know that some of you are striving to reach some sort of weight loss goal. If you’re looking to live a generally healthier lifestyle, that’s great! But if you’re freaking out over a few pounds that have been annoying you for the past few years, and if you’re giving up your favorite foods to torture yourself with unrealistic diets, you might want to tone it down a little.

Here’s a new reason to stop stressing over those extra few pounds: a new study shows that people who are only slightly overweight will live longer than those people who are at a “normal” weight. The study focused on about three million people and discovered that those whose B.M.I. (body mass index) ranked them as being overweight actually had less of a risk of dying than people who were at a “normal” weight. Experts say this report is the largest and most carefully done of it’s kind, meaning it’s pretty legit.

While this is kind of awesome news for those of us who are constantly feeling like losing the last 10 pounds would change our lives, there are other things you need to take into account when considering your health and weight. This research studied B.M.I.’s, but it didn’t focus on an individual’s cholesterol or blood pressure or other stuff like that. Doctors pointed out to the New York Times that looking only at someone’s B.M.I. is “an imperfect measure of the risk of mortality.”

It’s also important to realize that being more than slightly overweight is still dangerous to your health, so don’t get too comfortable. I definitely wouldn’t advise you to cut out healthy eating all together and start pigging out on cartons of ice cream. This study basically means that it’s not as big of a deal as we thought to carry some extra pounds – in fact, those extra pounds actually seem to help us.

As I’m sure a lot of you know, it’s really easy to get caught up in a weight obsession. When celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence and Kate Upton are called “fat” by critics, it can make the rest of us feel like we’ll never look good enough or thin enough. It’s so easy to forget that there’s nothing wrong with being a few pounds overweight – it’s normal and now we can say it may actually be healthy.

So what’s the best plan for your body? Yeah, you should focus on having a generally healthy diet – it’s not good for anyone, no matter how thin they may be, to stuff themselves with fattening foods all day. But you shouldn’t get caught up in a diet that doesn’t allow you to indulge at all. Eat that third cookie if you want it! Have a piece of your friend’s birthday cake! Like we’ve said all along – stop worrying about being “perfect.”

What do you think about this study? Was your resolution about losing weight? Do you ever worry about how you look? Tell us in the comments.

Try this eating tip instead of a crazy diet

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One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to lose weight. In fact, the goal to lose weight isn’t only popular during the beginning of a new year – it’s something people are constantly talking about. It seems like everyone is always scrambling to find the newest and fastest solution way to drop a few pounds. But here’s the thing: dieting is hard.

So if you’ve ever found yourself in that situation, we’ve got a tip you’re probably going to love. You don’t need to go on a serious diet – you just need to start chewing your food for longer! Previous studies have found that chewing your food for 30 seconds or longer helps you eat less and get full faster, and now new research has come out that says that chewing your food for 30 seconds helps curb your appetite later in the day. Basically, it means you’ll be snacking less.

Think about it: do you ever put any thought into how long you’re munching on your dinner? Probably not… I know I don’t. But consider all of the times you’ve scarfed down a full plate of food and then somehow still felt hungry soon ever. It’s most likely because you’re eating too fast.

So here’s how to implement this into your everyday life if you’re looking to lose a few pounds: eat slower. It’s as simple as that. I’m not going to encourage you guys to go on some crazy diet or anything like that – what you do with your body is your business. But this tip sounds like a relatively easy way to start eating a little bit healthier. And if it helps you get to your goal weight? That’s cool too.

Eating slower will keep you full for longer and help you eat less. When you’re more focused on what you’re eating and you really think about what you’re chowing down on, you’re less likely to eat a ton of it. That’s why we’re always told not to eat in front of the television – it distracts us too much. If you want to try this out, do it during your next meal. I’m not saying you should sit there and count until 30 for every bite of food you chew. That would be weird. But just tell yourself to eat slower by chewing a little longer. 

Are you going to try this tip? Do you usually eat in front of something distracting, like the TV? Would you ever want to work on your eating habits? Tell us in the comments!

Do guys care about body image just as much as girls do?

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This video is a must-watch for a few reasons, and here are the things I love (and by love I mean sort of hate but mostly love) about it. As the top commenter on the YouTube video page so accurately sums it up, “how did I get here??“:

1. The narrator’s voice is oddly soothing.

2. The fact that the woman’s body shown is totally blank, just a human-shaped blob, with no hint of breasts or a vagina, but meanwhile it’s a sex ed video, so… it doesn’t make any sense.

3. According to this video, our Fallopian tubes are not connected to our ovaries. Hm, that’s interesting.

4. I enjoy the way the narrator pronounces “maturing” like “matooring”. So old-fashioned! I love.

5. The cartoon girls sort of look like Snow White.

6. This video reminds me that there was once a time when people thought girls couldn’t shower or bathe during their periods (this video reassures girls that “not only can you bathe, you should bathe!”). OMG, just imagine if people still thought that. We’ve come so far.

7. The completely sexiest attitude towards women in this video is just something you look at and shake your head for a very long time about. After letting girls know that it’s totally fine to exercise during your period, the narrator reminds girls that “when you come to think of it, most of your daily routine is on the mild side” and then shows an image of a girl carefully dusting the couch. I mean, obvs, that’s what we do all day.

8. I also love the ridiculous advice for getting over our annoying PMS symptoms: “Once you stop feeling sorry for yourself and take those days in stride, you’ll find it’s easier to keep smiling and even-tempered.” Girls, remember, even if your cramps are so bad you feel like you’re birthing an invisible baby, keep a smile on that pretty little face of yours. You wouldn’t want to look angry, now would you?

Watch it for yourself to see this stuff in action:

In all seriousness, though, it’s pretty cool that Disney put out this video, which was honest and straightforward for that time period. Remember, this was the 1940′s… things were totally different back then than they are today. In 1946, girls weren’t walking around clutching their stomach and whining about cramps (what, like you’ve never done it?). Periods and sex education in general were not discussed as much as they are today. So it’s nice to see that a huge company like Disney was willing to talk about it and educate young girls.

But still… there is a reason I love the Internet, and the fact that it can dig up old stuff like this is one of those reasons.

What do you think of this video? Would you take this advice? Do you think it’s way too sexiest? How did you learn about your period? Tell us in the comments!

 Find out what guys really think about your period

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