A sports bra may not create the most flattering silhouette but it does its job, which is to keep you comfortable and to prevent your breasts from experiencing strain when moving. Some studies suggest that wearing a sports bra during exercise can reduce bouncing by approximately 74%, which will keep you feeling comfortable and supported. There are specially adapted sports bras for such activities as yoga and pilates, so that you only have to wear the bra layer and not overheat.

Summary: Wear a sports bra when exercising.


Although your family doctor can help rule out some other causes of abdominal pain and chronic diarrhea with blood tests and a stool sample, it's best to get a referral to an intestinal specialist called a gastroenterologist. These specialists will use diagnostic equipment to look directly at the lining of the colon to see if any ulceration is present.  A blood test can confirm anemia (reduced red blood cells), which infers some sort of internal bleeding due to ulcers of perforation.  A blood test can also show elevated white blood cells, which indicates some sort of bacterial or viral infection instead. A stool sample that shows blood and pus (dead white blood cells) indicates some sort of IBD, whereas lots of bacteria or parasites indicates an infection. A colonoscopy allows your gastroenterologist to look at your entire colon by using a thin, flexible tube with a camera attached to the end of it. The "scope" is inserted into the rectum and takes pictures of the lining of the entire large intestine, so any ulcers are visualized. During the procedure, a small tissue sample (biopsy) can be taken and looked at under a microscope.  As an alternative, a flexible sigmoidoscope can also be used to be visualize the last part of the colon called the sigmoid. Sigmoidoscopy is a better choice over colonoscopy if your large intestine is severely inflamed. Scoping the colon can be somewhat uncomfortable, but usually not painful enough to warrant anesthesia or strong pain killers. Lubrication and muscle relaxants are usually enough. If your symptoms are severe, your gastroenterologist may take an abdominal x-ray after you've swallowed a thick "barium shake" in order to rule out a perforated colon. The doctor may also order an abdominal CT scan in order to see how much of the colon is ulcerated and how deep it is. A CT scan is great for distinguishing between ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease.  Magnetic resonance (MR) enterography is a more sensitive test for finding inflammation and ulceration in the colon and doesn't involve any radiation. Chromoendoscopy is used by specialists to rule out colorectal cancer. It involves spraying the inside of the colon with a special dye that highlights cancerous tissue.

Summary: See a gastroenterologist. Get a colonoscopy. Have other visual diagnostics taken.


Research shows that spending time with loved ones makes people happier than focusing too much energy on acquiring money, power and possessions. When it comes to making big life decisions, consider that arranging your life to be more family-focused may make you feel happier in the long run.  Look for ways to spend more time with friends and family. Schedule it in if you have to so you get in the practice of seeing people more often. Remember that close friends are just as important as family. If your biological family is dysfunctional or hostile, you can still find happiness by spending time with your best friends. Giving back to strangers also helps to boost happiness. Find a way to help people each week by volunteering in your community. You’ve heard it before, but this is a very important way to increase your happiness. If you're a "grass is greener" person, you're hurting your chances at happiness. Think about times when you made the choice to switch jobs or move cities, only to realize that the grass has brown spots no matter where you land. Instead of wishing for something different, focus on loving what you have.  Make a list of things you’re grateful for. Writing it all out can help you realize just how much you have going for you. Post the list in a place where you'll be reminded of the good things in your life every day.   If you have trouble finding things to write down, find ways to add more positive elements to your life. Go out of your way to make a new friend, or learn a skill that brings you pleasure. Cultivate the positive and don’t dwell on the negative. If you carry anger around with you everywhere you go, realize it’s affecting you much more than it’s affecting the subject of your ire. Even if you have a very good reason to feel angry and bitter, holding a grudge isn't going to make you feel better. If there’s nothing you can change about the situation, let it go, no matter how hard that might be. You’ll be a much happier person for it.  Be a more forgiving and open person. Try to let small things like negative comments roll off your back instead of dwelling on them. Let go of feelings like envy and jealousy as well. You can’t control other people, but you can control your reactions to situations you face. While the occasional bout of negative feelings is inevitable, keeping them stored up inside you for long periods of time is going to get you down. Emotions are infectious. If your friends are dreary and negative, it’s going to be hard to stay happy around them. That’s not to say you should ditch your friends, but it’s important to find people who make you feel light and happy, too. If there's a person in your life who tends to make you feel bad more often than good, consider having a frank conversation about the problem. If that doesn't work, it's OK to give yourself permission to end the relationship, for the sake of your own health and happiness. Not everyone gets to make a living doing what they’re most passionate about, and even those who do have job dissatisfaction sometimes. When it comes to your work, the important thing is that you feel as though you respect your employer, your work is worthwhile and you’re getting adequate credit for your efforts.  Even if it’s not your dream job, you can still be content. Your work, like other areas in your life, is not going to be perfect. Take the negative with the positive and learn what you can live with and what you can’t, and make changes if necessary. If you’re having trouble finding work that meets your needs, consider seeking career counseling.
Summary: Invest in people instead of things. Appreciate what you have. Don’t hold grudges. Surround yourself with people who are happy. Make sure your job is working for you.