Drinking Water to Lose Weight

The healthy and natural weight loss happens by increasing the intake of pure water. You require drinking water to lose weight. If you do not drink sufficient water then digestive system has lessenes the capability of absorbing nutrients. Food cravings are chiefly the outcome of deficiency of enough nutrients. When your food is not rightly digested then nutrient absorption is not enough and you end up having food cravings, though you are already full. There is a great connection between water and weight loss.

In order to attain the required nutritional value from the food, you should eat supplements and should drink plenty of pure water. As sugars as well as carbohydrates are absorbed more rapidly than protein, fats, a little dehydration means calories without nutrition from foods that you eat. It is a waste of your attempt. Raising the water amount you drink will organically speeds up your metabolism as well as permits your body to best absorb the nutrients from foods and even supplements. Result is healthy weight loss. Drinking lots of pure water aids your body in rinsing out toxins, which cause water weight gain. Water that you drink also affects your energy level. Drinking water is also one of the pregnancy weight loss tips given to the pregnant women by most of the dietitians.

Only a small drop in the body fluids can cause a great loss of energy in average person and how you will have the power to attain the exercise you know you require. Water is what your body makes use for metabolizing stored fat into usable energy. Drinking plenty of pure water will surely aid you in metabolizing and processing stored fat, resulting in raised energy and low fat. The quality of water also hugely affects the ability of your body for maintaining the optimum weight. By making use of water, liver performs these all significant activities by balancing act with kidneys as a joint attempt. When the water you drink includes chemicals like chlorine and lead to industrial pollution then much of the energy of your liver is spent on breaking down toxins rather than turning fat deposits into energy. A number of people like to lose many pounds. In the event you wake up in the morning and find that it is tough for you to fit into your denims then you must begin to drink water to lose your weight.

Water works as something like a lubricant for almost each process in your whole body. If you begin giving your body more water than it craves then all of the processes in your body will begin to work effectively. Your heart will also do the best job in providing oxygen to muscle tissue and to brain. It can even trigger you to be in a general best mood. People, who drink water, become healthier. Consuming more water will aid you in getting extra energy. If you have extra energy then it becomes possible for you to train more. Your body burns calories and fat more efficiently when you drink sufficient water. Several dietary and weight loss consultants advise that you only drink at least 8 cups of water on regular basis. It means you should drink 4 bottles of water every day. You should not make mistake about it, all the weight lose programs are based on lessened caloric intake as well as increased metabolism. Both these things happen organically if you drink sufficient water to lose your weight.

Soece : fastestwayloseweight

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Why Look After Your Toothbrush?

We all know or should do that it is very important to take care of your teeth, but why do we need to look after our toothbrush?

Your toothbrush needs to be cleaned and stored correctly otherwise it will have a negative effect on your teeth cleaning routine. An uncared for toothbrush may cause your teeth more harm than good if the bacteria that can grow

on it builds up, no matter how many times you brush your teeth.

When you have finished brushing your teeth, always wash and rinse it under the tap, this is to ensure you remove any bacteria, any food that may of been stuck in-between your teeth and any remaining toothpaste. This needs to be done each time, whether that be two or three times a day.

Store your toothbrush in an upright position, some people have may have a pacific toothbrush holder or you could use an unused cup or beaker as the holder. Your toothbrush needs to dry naturally, so it needs to be kept in a well ventilated area. You should not cover it over until it has fully dried, if covered over before drying bacteria may grow due to the moisture remaining on the toothbrush.

Relating to toothbrush storage, make sure if your brush is shared with others, that they are not touching and kept in separate compartments. This will then eradicate the contaminating of each others toothbrushes therefore leading to healthier teeth and gums for the whole family.

The positives of looking after your toothbrush are that you are preventing against bacteria build up, the brush head itself will be in better condition, therefore it will clean your teeth more efficiently than say and old uncared for toothbrush, and it will last longer. If you do not look after your toothbrush, it could only last for a few weeks, whereas a well looked after and hygienic brush will easily last up to three months which is the recommended time to then replace it.

It is simple take care of your teeth, and your toothbrush.

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20 Things You Didn't Know About... Sex

1.Life emerged on earth about 3.8 billion years ago, but sex did not evolve until more than 2 billion years later. Dirty limericks emerged only quite recently, geologically speaking.

2. Sex—what is it good for? Scientists are not sure, since asexual reproduction is a better evolutionary strategy in some important ways.

3. For those who refuse to commit to one strategy: The hermaphroditic earthworm Dendrobaena rubida has both male and female genitalia. If it cannot find a partner, the worm doubles up so that its female bits and male bits can go to town.

4. Although famously monogamous, female Adélie penguins slip away from their mates occasionally to couple with unattached males. They exact a fee (pdf) for such a dalliance—stones to bolster their nests—not unlike certain people.

5. Some talented penguin teasers can get a gift even without putting out. Again, not unlike certain people.

6. Barbary macaques have a distinctive way to get their mates to make a sperm donation: yelling. If the female does not shout, the male almost never climaxes.

7. How do we know this? German primatologist Dana Pfefferle watched a group of macaques, counting the females’ yells and the males’ pelvic thrusts. She says this work is “quite weird, but it’s science.”

8. Here in the US of A, that kind of stuff ends up on YouTube.

9. Because Barry White sounds terrible underwater: Fish can produce a variety of noises with their bones,teeth, and gas bladders. Grant Gilmore of Estuarine Coastal and Ocean Science Inc. says that male fish probably use some of these sounds to woo females.

10. The spiny anteater, an egg-laying mammal native to Australia and New Guinea, has a penis with four heads, but only two fit into the female at once.

11. The tiny male paper nautilus, an octopus, impregnates the much larger female by shooting his penis (a modified tentacle) into her—and leaving it there.

12. Homosexual behavior is found in at least 1,500 species of mammal, fish, reptile, bird, and even invertebrate.

13. My two dads: When a male goose courts another male goose, a female sometimes slips in and mates with both males. Later, the male partners share paternal duties.

14. Some seagulls practice lesbian mating, although the eggs that result from their liaisons are sterile.

15. Biologists at the University of California at San Francisco have found that male fruit flies exposed to high levels of alcohol become hypersexual and try to court practically anything with wings, including other male fruit flies. Eventually the revelry turns into a dysfunctional orgy, with “a chain of males chasing each other,” says one insect expert (subscription).

16. As the flies get increasingly tanked, their chance for mating success keeps dropping. This is one more reason why the fruit fly is a great model for studying humans.

17. Only a few vertebrates besides humans copulate face to face. Among those that sometimes do this: hamsters, beavers, and some primates, such as bonobos and orangutans.

18. French kissing is rarer still. The only other species known to do it as a prelude to mating is the white-fronted parrot. After the birds open their beaks and touch tongues, the male spews his lunch onto the female’s chest.

19. It is here that the mating habits of the white-fronted parrot and Homo sapiens diverge.

20. Size really does matter: People tend to choose mates of similar race, education level—and chubbiness. A recent British study indicates that obese people usually select partners with comparable levels of body fat.

 Source: http://discovermagazine.com

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Yoga Classes Help Lower Back Pain

People who is were assigned to take yoga for two the months experienced a 29 percent reduction in functional disability and a 42 percent reduction in pain, the authors reported in the September one edition of the journal Spine. Yoga was also associated with a 45.7 percent decrease in symptoms of depression over conventional therapy alone.

"Yoga improves functional disability, pain intensity, and depression in adults with [chronic lower back pain]," Dr. Kimberly Williams of West

Virginia University and colleagues concluded. "There was also a clinically important trend for the yoga group to reduce their pain medication usage compared to the control group."

Lower back pain is a major public health issue, the authors noted, with studies suggesting that 70 percent to 85 percent of the population experience one or more episodes during their lifetimes. Directly-related medical costs exceed $34 billion per year, they wrote.

Yoga classes helped people with chronic lower back pain improve their mood and ability to function, and it eased their pain more than conventional treatment alone, according to a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health. Close

"Complementary alternative medicine utilization has increased nearly 10 percent in recent years, with back pain as the most commonly reported reason for its use," the authors noted. "One of the most common complementary alternative medicine activities is yoga, with participation reported at approximately 14.9 million in the United States."

Previous research on Hatha yoga -- the physical form of the practice -- showed a decrease in pain and improvements in function and mood, but the studies lacked statistical power or clinical significance. A 2005 study of viniyoga -- a theraputic branch of the discipline that emphasizes breathing -- found a significant improvement over standard therapeutic exercise.

A previous randomized controlled trial of Iyengar yoga, which stresses alignment of the body and is the most prevalent style practiced by Yoga journal subscribers, found a significant reduction in pain intensity, functional disability and use of pain medication after 16 weeks.

In this new study, Williams and colleagues extended the treatment time to 24 weeks to compare the outcomes of people participating in Iyengar yoga and those receiving conventional medical treatment alone.

The study included 90 participants who were either assigned to a group that performed yoga or a control group who did not.

Patients assigned to the yoga group participated in 90-minute yoga classes twice a week for two months. The classes were led by a certified yoga instructor and two assistants with experience in yoga therapy for people with lower back pain.

The participants were given props, a DVD and an instruction manual. They were asked to practice yoga for 30 minutes on days when they had no formal class.

People in the control group continued self-directed standard medical care, with no instructions to change the treatment previously prescribed by their physician. They were put on a wait list to join yoga classes after the study was completed.

At 12 weeks, 24 weeks and six months, the researchers assessed participants' functional disability, pain and depression with self-administered questionnaires.

The yoga participants saw improvement after 12 weeks of classes compared to the control group, but the difference was even greater after two months.

"Despite the fact that significant improvements at 12 weeks were found in the participants adherent to the study, we believe that a 24-week period of yoga practice for [chronic lower back pain] is superior since this time period can better prepare participants to sustain the benefits by improving posture, helping to retain the musculoskeletal system, and building the skills needed to decrease the rate of relapse," the researchers wrote.

Yoga participants also reported a reduction in their pain medication use, although this finding was not statistically significant.

Six months after the completion of the study-directed yoga classes, 67.9 percent of the people in the yoga group reported that they were still practicing. The improvement in their outcomes were slightly lower compared to controls than seen at 24 weeks, but this improvement was still statistically significant.

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The 10 Best Weight-Loss Tips Ever

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.

 Read more: 10 Best Diet Tips - Tips to Lose Weight - Cosmopolitan

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More Teen Males Using Condoms When They First Have Sex: Survey

Four out of five boys between the ages of 14 and 19 are using a condom the first time they have sex, according to the results of a new federal survey of teenagers’ sex lives.

According to the National Center for Health Statistics’ (NCHS) National Survey of Family Growth, which features data collected between 2006 and 2010, the number of teen boys using condoms during their first sexual encounter increased 9%, from 71%, in 2002, Sharon Jayson of USA Today reported Wednesday.

The survey also found that 42% of boys and 43% of girls reported that they had had vaginal sexual intercourse, a decrease from 60% and 51% from 1988, she said. Results regarding oral sex habits are scheduled to be released at a later date

Of the 2,284 girls surveyed, 78% said that they used a contraceptive the first time they had sex, and 86% reported using one during their most recent sexual encounter.

Similarly, of the 2,378 boys surveyed, 85% said that they used a contraceptive the first time they had sex, and 93% during the last time that they had intercourse, USA Today also reported.

The surveys did ask the teens who didn’t have sex why they avoided it. The most common reason was that it was against their religion or morals; 41 percent of the females in that group said that was their most important reason, compared with 31 percent of males.

There wasn’t much difference compared to 2002 in the percentage of teens who said they’d be at least somewhat pleased if a sexual encounter resulted in a pregnancy: 13 percent of females and 19 percent of males said they’d be a “little pleased” or “very pleased.”

The findings suggest that the dip in sexual activity that began in the 1990s hasn’t reversed itself, said Jennifer Manlove, a senior research scientist with Child Trends, a non-profit research organization that focuses on children and families. On the other hand, she said, “we’re no longer seeing the big declines in sexual activity that we saw in the 1990s.”

Researchers speculate that the big dip in sexual activity that occurred in that decade may have had something to do with the AIDS epidemic or an increased focus on abstinence in sex education, she said.

She said that while the new numbers about contraceptive use are promising, “there’s still room to improve,” especially when it comes to consistent use of birth control. Considering the role of the Pill and other medical devices, she said, “doctors need to focus on finding the right method that works for females, and keep them on the more effective methods [once] they are sexually active.”

SOURCES: Gladys Martinez, statistician, U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, Md.; Jennifer Manlove, Ph.D., senior research scientist, Child Trends, Washington D.C.; Teenagers in the United States: Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing, 2006-2010 National Survey of Family Growth report

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How to Get a Personal Fitness Trainer & Nutritionist for Less Than $10 a Week

With so many people looking to lose weight, get into better shape, and eat healthier, it’s little wonder that Americans spend billions on diets and health clubs. And yet, most still report that they are not achieving their goals.

With distractions like work and family (as well as other temptations), it’s simply too easy to fall off your exercise or meal plan.  It’s one of the driving forces behind the explosive growth in the number of personal fitness trainers.  Having a fitness expert design a customized program just for you, and then practically hold your hand to make sure you exercise and eat correctly, can make all the difference between your success and failure.

No wonder celebrities and the wealthy flock to personal fitness trainers.  But, for most Americans, hiring a personal fitness trainer (with an average cost of over $700 a month) or a nutritionist (with an average cost of $300 a month), is simply not feasible.

However, a new online company is now starting to change all of that.  It’s called FitOrbit,and they’ve developed a way to deliver all of the benefits of both a personal fitness trainer and nutritionist, without the need to physically get together with them, and without the insane costs.

Watch how this FitOrbit member succeeded & gets a special surprise

FitOrbit is the brainchild of Jake Steinfeld, who has built several fitness empires, and with whom you may be familiar with as the founder of “Body-By-Jake.”  This innovative company uses the power of Internet technology to allow you to work with your very own personal fitness trainer, on your schedule, at a price that makes sense for anyone.

How It Works

When you sign up with FitOrbit, the first thing you do is complete a detailed personal fitness and nutritional profile. This allows the company to understand your current situation and goals, as well as your lifestyle, schedule, and your eating preferences. 

FitOrbit then matches you to one of their personal fitness trainers (or you can select one after viewing their in-depth profiles).  This pre-screened and qualified trainer/nutritionist develops a personal fitness and meal plan specifically for you, based on your profile and lifestyle.  The exercises start out simple and are designed to be done at home or at the gym.  The food plans are affordable, easy to prepare, and loaded with delicious, healthy ingredients. 

And, because your personal trainer monitors your progress daily by reviewing your meal logs and workout activities online, you are far less likely to get off the plan.  Just like a high price personal fitness trainer coming to your home, they provide immediate feedback on how you can better meet your goals by adjusting your food and fitness choices as you go along.  FitOrbit provides instructional videos and detailed instructions on how to perform every exercise in your workout, as well as how to prepare your meals.  Best of all, you can instant message your trainer any time you have a question, or are in need of a pep talk.

FitOrbit has a variety of plans, starting at less than $10 a week.  And, they also have plans that don’t involve any long term commitment or cancellation fees. Best of all, the company is now offering 30% off all plans for HowLifeWorks readers through the link below.

If you’re one of the many people who have dreamed about finally getting in shape with the help of your very own fitness and nutrition coach, but assumed the costs were just too much, think again. FitOrbit means that being fit, trim, and healthy is not just for the rich and famous. 

Source:-http://www.howlifeworks.com/health_beauty/How_to_Get_a_Personal_Fitness_Trainer__Nutritionist_for_Less_Than_10_a_Week_105

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Tips for Engoying a Healthy Sex Life as you age.

Sex can be a powerful emotional experience and health-improving tool, and it’s certainly not only for the young. Sex matters throughout your life, and can actually take on an increased importance in your senior years. For older men and women alike, the benefits of good sex can be extensive: it can increase circulation, reduce anxiety, release painkilling endorphins—and help to relax and satisfy.

Naturally, senior sex can present challenges, and you may feel discouraged

by physical or emotional issues in your way. But these problems are not insurmountable; with better understanding

and an open mind, you can enjoy a gratifying sex life well into your later years.

Good sex at any age

The need for intimacy is ageless. And studies now confirm that no matter what your gender, you can enjoy sex for as long as you wish. Naturally, sex at 70 or 80 may not be like it is at 20 or 30—but in some ways it can be better. As a senior, you may feel wiser than you were in your earlier years, and know what works best for you when it comes to your sex life. Older people often have a great deal more self-confidence and self-awareness, and feel released from the unrealistic ideals of youth and prejudices of others. And with children grown and work less demanding, couples are better able to relax and enjoy one another without the old distractions.

For a number of reasons, though, many seniors worry about sex in their later years, and end up turning away from sexual encounters. Some older adults feel embarrassed, either by their aging bodies or by their “performance,” while others are affected by illness or loss of a partner. Without accurate information and an open mind, a temporary situation can turn into a permanent one. You can avoid letting this happen by being proactive. Whether you’re seeking to restart or improve your sex life, it’s important to be ready to try new things, and to ask for professional help if necessary. There is much you can do to compensate for the normal changes that come with aging. With proper information and support, your later years can be an exciting time to explore both the emotional and sensual aspects of your sexuality.

Tips for better senior sex: Accept & celebrate who you are

Sex in later life may not be the same as it was in your youth—but that doesn’t have to be a bad thing. In fact, sex can be more enjoyable than ever. As you find yourself embracing your older identity, you can:

•  Reap the benefits of experience. The independence and self-confidence that comes with age can be very attractive to your spouse or potential partners. No matter your gender, you may feel better about your body at 72 than you did at 22. And it is likely that you now know more about yourself and what makes you excited and happy. Your experience and self-possession can make your sex life exciting for you and your partner.
•  Look ahead. As you enter your senior years, try to let go of expectations for your sex life. Do your best to avoid dwelling on how things are different. If you enjoyed an active sex life in your younger years, there’s no reason to slow down with age, unless you want to. A positive attitude and open mind can go a long way toward improving your sex life, especially in your later years.
• Love and appreciate your older self. Naturally, your body is going through changes as you age. You look and feel differently than you did when you were younger. But if you can accept these changes as natural and hold your head up high, you’ll not only feel better, you’ll also be more attractive to others. Confidence and honesty garner the respect of others—and can be sexy and appealing.

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From virtual to real: sex for everyone

Types of Virtual Sex

There are many types of virtual sex that individuals can participate in. While some use common technologies, others may use more obscure methods to sexually arouse others or themselves. Here are just a few of the many types of methods for engaging in virtual sex.

Internet Chat – Many people started using AOL specifically to chat with others in hopes of meeting a friend or even a virtual sex partner. As opposed to Internet chat rooms, which offer a group of people the ability to communicate with everyone at once, private chat rooms allow two or more persons to communicate

only with each other. Individuals using these private chat rooms can send sexually explicit chat messages to flirt with and arouse others. Besides chat rooms, standard IM (instant messaging) is also used for virtual sex.

Phone Sex – Phone sex is another common way to engage in virtual sex. While many individuals have engaged in phone sex with a spouse or girl/boyfriend, others use fee-based phone sex services to flirt and engage in sexual conversation. Phone sex is perhaps the most popular method of engaging in virtual sex.

Webcam – Web cameras are more than just a way to talk with parents or friends from college. They are also one of the most popular ways to participate in virtual sex. Using a webcam, users can become aroused from visual stimuli, audio stimuli, and even communicate through text on a computer screen. Webcams are extremely affordable and use the Internet to communicate. There are even pay webcam sites that allow users to interact with others via webcam. Webcams are extremely popular and many individuals have set up a webcam in their home to stream images of their daily habits, including their sex life. Anyone can log on and view the streaming images. With the advent of YouTube, many individuals have recorded sexually explicit video with their webcam and uploaded it for anyone to view.

Viewpoint 1: Virtual Sex Is Real Sex

Those who answer yes to the question point out that people have very "real" responses to things that happen online, and that sex is no different. We can feel joy and sorrow, arousal and disgust, anxiety and calm all while we sit in front of our computer. We also have physical responses (from butterflies in our stomach to physical arousal and orgasm and from full belly laughs to uncontrollable sobbing). We build meaningful relationships and break ups -- and these experiences have repercussions in our real life, thus crossing the line from virtual to real. So if "real sex" includes a psychological, emotional, and physical response to erotic stimulation, then virtual sex would have to count.

For those who argue that real sex requires a human connection or relationship, this too is present for many people who engage in virtual sex as part of their experiences online.

Researchers and therapists who talk about "problematic online sexual behaviors" (usually referred to as things such as watching "too much" internet pornography, engaging in erotic or sexual chat without their partner's knowledge, etc…) also seem to consider virtual sex to have real sex-like implications for relationships. In this case, they might not think virtual sex is "healthy" sex, but they treat it as real, or at least as a real problem.

Viewpoint 2: Virtual Sex Is Not Real Sex

Usually people who say that virtual sex isn't real sex point to the absence of physical contact in virtual sex. It's true that while virtual sex currently engages many senses it doesn't include immediate human touch. No matter how complicated and deeply felt the sexual communications are during virtual sex, if you want to feel touch you have to touch yourself. The field of teledildonics is beginning to address this, but so far the results have been disappointing.

Some people who engage in virtual sex while in relationships say that it's not the same as real sex, which would be cheating. A similar argument has been made in a very different arena by people who look at violent or coercive pornography (whether it involves real people pretending or computer generated images). These people have suggested that virtual interactions stop them from engaging in real interactions that would be harmful to others. This is a highly contentious point with researchers on both sides arguing that virtual experiences either relieve the desire to do something in real life or fuel that desire.

You Can't Compare Virtual Sex To Offline Sex

You may have noticed that both answers to this question are based on comparing "real sex" to virtual sex. There are problems with this approach.

First, it presumes a universally agreed upon understanding of "real sex". This doesn't exist. Indeed we not only lack a full understanding of online sexual interactions and what they mean for people, we don't fully understand offline sexual interactions and their meanings (it's hard to get into the bedrooms of the nation, the doors are usually closed and locked when researchers come knocking). If we are trying to answer this question by comparing off line sex to online sex we're still missing too many pieces to make a fair comparison.

We can also wonder about the logic of using offline sexuality as the standard of "real sex." It's possible that people who grow up with easy access to virtual spaces and new technologies may have a different experience of sexuality both on and offline than those who don't. In this case we aren't comparing apples to apples, and when we try to do so we may miss much of the richness and complexity of online sexual development.

The Bottom Line

If this question is ultimately about individual experience, the bottom line is that for many people virtual sex is real sex. These interactions are meaningful and can impact aspects of their whole lives. Like all sexual interactions, they can be both healthy and unhealthy. And for others, virtual sexual interactions may be more like playing a video game, a temporary amusement that doesn't carry deeper meaning or impact other aspects of their life.

If you are trying to come up with a social or cultural answer, the results will be less clear. Technologies, and our uses of them, are so new and most public discussion, even when framed by professionals, is far from objective. Media engagement with these issues tends to be superficial and sensationalist.

So where does this leave us? Well, we need to begin by acknowledging that the way we answer this question for ourselves has as much, if not more, to do with our values and beliefs about sexuality than it has to do with technology or what any individual is actually doing online. It also means we have to talk to each other and share those values and beliefs as well as live with the uncomfortable fact that some questions will never have neat answers.

Other Forms of Virtual Sex

While most forms of virtual sex rely on visual or audio stimuli, new sexual arousal and masturbation methods have been created. For instance, devices that are connected to a computer via USB and can be controlled remotely from the Internet have been created for masturbation. These devices include USB dildos and USB pocket pussies. These devices can enhance virtual arousal between individuals through tactile sensation. These devices are the first in a possible long line of devices that will simulate the act of intercourse and other types of sex between individuals over communications equipment.

Less popular types of virtual sex include interactive video games and DVDs. In interactive games such as Video Strip Poker, the player must win games in order to remove a piece of clothing. With interactive DVDs, a porn actress can be controlled to engage in sex acts by manipulating the DVD menu or selecting scenes.

Advantages of Virtual Sex

Obviously, one of the many advantages of participating in virtual sex is that it is generally safe. There is absolutely no risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease and no transfer of bodily fluids.

For couples in a relationship who are unable to meet each other in person, virtual sex offers an interesting and exciting way to arouse one another sexually and maintain a sexual bond. It is suggested that the average virtual sex participant is engaging in virtual sex with a romantic partner (e.g. spouse or boy/girlfriend).

Virtual sex is also an easy way to engage in sexual arousal. For those with a busy schedule or those who are too shy to meet others in person, virtual sex is a great way to meet new and interesting people and arouse each other.

Virtual sex is usually very affordable and convenient. Participants do not have to go out on a date or spend a long amount of time with someone in order to engage in virtual sex.

Risks of Virtual Sex

One of the biggest problems with virtual sex is that it can be easy for adults to prey on minors. Child predators are a very real danger, especially on websites with lots of underage traffic. However, for most adults, virtual sex is safe and harmless.

Virtual sex methods such as fee-based phone chat and webcam services can be extremely expensive. It is common to spend $1 or $2 per minute to engage in phone sex or webcam sex.

Virtual sex can be detrimental to some adults by making it easier to have a virtual sex life than to create emotional bonds with people in the real world.

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Couples Counseling Boosts Sex Lives After Prostate Cancer

The side effects of prostate cancer treatments, including surgery and radiation, can seriously disrupt a couple's sex life.

But a new study finds that counseling helped married men and women figure out what sorts of treatments for erectile dysfunction worked for them and how to incorporate those methods during sex. In doing so, they returned some luster to their love lives.

Researchers enrolled more than 200 men who'd been treated for prostate cancer and their wives into one of three groups: one received three face-to-face counseling

sessions; the other was offered Internet-based counseling; and the third was put on a wait list.

At a six-month follow-up (about three months after counseling), men who received either the face-to-face or web-based counseling reported an improvement in sexual function and satisfaction with sex. When the man reported his sexual function improved, his wife's reports of sexual function and satisfaction did as well.

Those in the wait-listed group experienced no improvements, suggesting that "time alone doesn't heal the issues," said study author Leslie Schover, a professor of behavioral science and a clinical psychologist at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

The study is published in the Sept. 26 online issue of Cancer.

Despite nerve-sparing surgery, prostate cancer treatment still causes significant erectile dysfunction, experts say. Other problems may include difficulty reaching orgasm; decreased intensity of orgasm; pain and leaking urine at orgasm.

Many men who have prostate cancer are older, and their erectile function may have already been compromised due to the cancer itself or other underlying vascular or nerve disease, explained Dr. Bruce Gilbert, director of reproductive and sexual medicine at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System's Smith Institute for Urology.

"Before nerve-sparing prostatectomy [surgical removal of the prostate], 100 percent of men would have erectile dysfunction afterward," Gilbert said. "That has come down quite a bit. But you are dealing with a population of men who are generally not 30 or 40 years old. They're older and may already have an underlying problem with erectile dysfunction."

Most men have some level of erection difficulties after prostate cancer surgery, experts said.

In addition to dealing with that, "the counseling program focused on the woman's right to pleasure in sex and on fixing problems like postmenopausal vaginal dryness or loss of desire related to poor sexual communication," Schover said.

"We educated both partners about available treatments to restore erections and had them complete a 'decision aid' to figure out what treatment to try, based on mutual opinions," she said. "If that treatment did not work well for them, we encouraged them to try another choice."

After prostrate cancer, many men try pills for erectile dysfunction, experts said. But those may not be enough. Other options include penile injections, vacuum pumps and or penile implants, but Schover said she suspects many men throw in the towel when they don't get the results they want and don't pursue the other alternatives.

Men and women were given questionnaires that asked about a wide variety of measures of sexual function and sexual satisfaction, including their erectile function (for men), ability to achieve orgasm and their level of desire.

"Every subscale improved except desire, which we weren't surprised by because very few had low desire to begin with, so there wasn't that far to go on that," Schover said.

Men's ability to achieve "near-normal" erections also improved after counseling. Before counseling, about 12 percent to 15 percent of men reported few erection difficulties. That increased to between 36 percent and 44 percent for those who underwent counseling.

At one year, men who reported that they found a successful erectile dysfunction treatment had scores on the sexual function and satisfaction scale that were about the same as healthy men.

One limitation of the study is that about 34 percent of couples enrolled in the counseling dropped out for unknown reasons, said Dr. Bruce Gilbert, director of reproductive and sexual medicine at the Smith Institute for Urology at North Shore LIJ Health System.

Still, he added, "a study like this is very important and highlights that there is a lot that happens if you engage couples or the patient in some type of counseling," Gilbert said.

Couples and physicians should also never forget that while prostate cancer is frightening, so is the worry that even if it's cured, "they may not be the same after a procedure than before," Gilbert said. "That's a real fear for men."

Ideally, patients should start "penile rehabilitation" even prior to having the treatment, which has been shown to improve outcomes.

Urologists should be able to suggest methods of improving erectile function, experts noted. They suggested that if you're not getting all the help you need from your urologist, ask for a referral to a urologist that specializes in sexual medicine, or a mental health professional that treats issues related to cancer treatment, often found at large teaching hospitals in major cities.

Dr. Elizabeth Kavaler, a urologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said "the idea of providing Internet-based counseling to couples experiencing sexual dysfunction after prostate surgery is excellent."

"This study proves that patients and their partners respond to instructive sex therapy. Since insurance coverage for psychotherapy is sparse, it is encouraging to know that web-based help is available to these couples," Kavaler said.

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