Give love a chance by tweaking your mindset, body and look before valentine's. Sowmya Rajaram tells you how getting off Facebook, playing pictionary and taking a can of beer to the bathroom, can work wonders
Give love a chance by tweaking your mindset, body and look before valentine's. Sowmya Rajaram tells you how getting off Facebook, playing pictionary and taking a can of beer to the bathroom, can work wonders
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Your 10 day hair, skin, body makeover plan
For Hair: Don't drink beer, apply it
Dermatologist and beauty expert Dr Jhoomer Kulshrestha recommends a simple home skincare and hair regime that'll have you glowing in no time. "Deep condition your hair. Use beer, curd and eggs everytime you wash your hair for the next ten days or sou00a0it's great for lending your hair sheen, and keeping it tangle-free.
If you are single
If love ain't coming for you, maybe it's time you went looking for it... 
Sign up for a trip with strangers
We're not suggesting you act desperate. But if your communication with people outside your friend circle is limited to telling the liftman which floor you want to go to, it's time to look beyond. There are dozens of travel groups that organise treks and weekend getaways. Sign up for one. And don't take a friend along. Enjoy the experience of the wild outdoors with a bunch of strangers.
Check out www.odatiadventures.com, www.strawberryoutbound.com and www.thebackpackerco.com to begin with.
Get off Facebook, get face-to-face
You're addicted to Facebook, and have no less than 600 contacts whose pictures you comment on. But when was the last time you actually met any of them outside the virtual world? You know that friend's friend's brother's cute cousin who "liked" your status message yesterday? He/she could be the best date you ever had if you actually made the effort to meet in the real world. You'll never know if you don't try.
Let Larry King teach you how to break the ice
If you find yourself tongue tied everytime you have to strike up a conversation with someone new, worry not. Check out How to Talk to Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere u2013 The Secrets of Good Communication by Larry King. The TV host with the gift of the gab puts his years of experience to good use and gives you various techniques, skills, and ice breakers for those awkward first few moments. And his personal stories about the best and worst communicators he has met and interviewed, from Richard Nixon to Bob Hope will give you the confidence that you can do it too.
If you are single
Join a weekend charity
Always complaining that you can't seem to meet interesting people? On your next weekend, instead of couch surfing, get out and volunteer at a charity. Pick a cause that interests you and is close to your heart. Passionate about the environment? Look up the Internet or the yellow pages for an organisation that you can work with on tree planting drives. Litter in your area? Voice your opinion at the next resident's welfare association meeting. You'll be making the world a better place and who knows you might just meet that intelligent, socially aware, like-minded partner you've been looking for!
Have fun while you stay fit
Your daily workout doesn't have to be about sweat and calories alone. A gym, yoga class, or even a morning jog by the beach is a great opportunity to meet people. Keep yourself open to the idea, and next time, instead of staring down at the calorie counter on your treadmill, look around and see if there's someone you think you'd like to know better. Chat them up, bond over the music on your iPod, or just exchange workout notes.
Swap your interests
You are not going to make interesting conversation on a date if your contact with popular culture is restricted to endless re-reruns of Friends on TV. Jazz things up a bit. For a week, ditch your favourites for channels you never thought you'd stop at. If stock market updates confound you, take the bull by the horns and make sure you catch an hour of business news every day. Obsessed with sports? Watch a Travel & Living show instead of catching Sachin's century against Sri Lanka for the nth time. The pay off? A smarter, more attractive you that people will be surprised to encounter, and enjoy
talking to.
The celeb valentine's plan
Will lip-lock
Julia Roberts, A-list Hollywood staru00a0 Roberts has promised to have an intense lip-lock session with husband Moder all through this Valentine's Day. "We're just going to be making out," Roberts said when asked about her February 14 plans. "For the full 24 hours."
Won't send cards
penelope cruz, Hollywood actress
Penelope Cruz has revealed that she doesn't like to celebrate Valentine's Day and she has never sent or received any cards. "Valentine's Day cards mean nothing to me. I have never sent one and never had one," she said.
If you are attached
Yes, you're one half of a couple now, but that hardly means that the intoxication of your first date can't be re-lived in this season of mush.
Play a game
Sharing a bed and fighting over a remote isn't all couples are meant to do. If things have got a bit stale lately, now's a good time as any to rekindle that heady rush of your first kiss. Remember good ol' Twister? Bring it out and make a game of it with your partner. It may seem like a silly idea at first, but as you go along, you'll discover that the contortions and crazy positions you have to assume to win the game will have the two of you rediscovering physical intimacy. Of course, the fact that you'll end up dissolving into a fit of giggles, is just a bonus.
Do the Salsa
Nothing sets the heartbeat racing like busting some sexy moves on the dancefloor. And it's even better when those moves are with your partner. Scour the yellow pages for a dance class nearby, sign up for the two of you, and surprise your girl/guy with it this Valentine's Day. There are plenty of options; just pick a style that you think will suit you both best. 
Expert says play Pictionary, smash stereotypes
Varkha Chulani, clinical psychologist and psychotherapist recommends shared activities to keep your relationship fresh. "It's very easy for monotony to set in to a relationship. One of the best ways to avoid it is to do things that require the two of you to verbalise your feelings and emphasise companionship. Instead of catching a movie every weekend, stay in and do something fun like playing Pictionary. Break stereotypes. Men can get more involved with cooking, while women can decide to take over the repairs for a change."
Your 10 day makeover plan
For Face: Tighten skin with aloe
For your skin, make a homemade oatmeal scrub. If your skin's oily, add milk. If it's dry, use curd. Grind the mixture to a fine paste and apply it to your face. Leave it on for about 15 minutes ever evening. Before it dries out completely, gently massage your face so that dead skin is scrubbed off. Wash with water. Don't use apricot scrub; it has large granules that can damage your skin. If possible, combine this with application of Aloe Vera gel on your face for 15 minutes every morning. It will tighten and rejuvenate your skin. But read the label on the product and make sure it contains at least 80% Aloe Vera.
For Body: run for your life
It'll be hard not to attract the right kind of attention if you're feeling better about your body. If you want to see quick results, celebrity fitness expert Deanne Panday recommends watching your diet and doing high-intensity cardio-based workouts. "There are no shortcuts to a great body. Starving yourself and going to the gym for four hours every day, won't work.u00a0 Instead, be smart. Make sure you get about 1,300 calories every day, and start something intense like running, martial arts, kickboxing, swimming or spinning." Stick to the
Basics: Eat 5-6 small meals a day, read food labels religiously and educate yourself on what's going into your body. If you train in the evening, cutting out carbs at dinnertime does not make sense. So, make sure you eat complex carbs (vegetables and wholewheat bread) after your evening workout. Always keep safety in mind, wear the right shoes, drink plenty of fluids. You'll see results soon. Most importantly, don't stop eating right and working out just because you drop a dress size before Valentine's Day. Keep at it, and the results will keep improving.
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