Monday, August 31, 2009

Supplements



If you eat the right foods as recommended by the food guide pyramid, why add supplements? You hear of people adding creatine or protein powders as part of the daily intake in addition to meals. Being in good physical condition, I'm often asked, "Dude, what are you taking or what do you eat?" My response is, "I eat right and I do not take supplements." Sure, years ago I used to dabble with supplements, but they did nothing for me. My theory is this:

Our creator gave us a finely tuned body, designed to process food we eat into fuel needed to function properly. Whatever the body does not require will be flushed as waste. We should, for the most part, trust our medical professionals telling us to adhere to the recommended food guide pyramid. Why? Medical research is put forth to its validity. Using unnecessary supplements may throw off the body's natural ability to process properly. Most supplements have not been proven to work as supplements manufacturer's claim, potentially causing our body to overwork in order to compensate for too much of a good thing.

Fitness enthusiast are well known for standing behind the use of creatine as a common supplement. Creatine is scientifically proven to enhance the performance of the skeletal muscles, though the amounts recommended by the companies who process the supplement form is not substantiated by research. Creatine is a derivative of meat. Not just the red kind. Any animal protein contains creatine, however some in larger quantities, like red meat. Consuming a balanced amount of animal proteins will supply the body with the adequate amount of creatine it requires. Unless you are vegan or a vegetarian, there's really no need for this particular supplement. If you do not eat animal proteins, are doing so by choice, yet you are an omnivore, your body is not designed to function properly without some form of animal protein derivative and you most likely require supplements.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Crotchety


One of the traits of getting older my least favorite is potentially becoming or being accused of becoming crotchety. Years ago I imagined what to look forward to in terms of growing older and jokingly telling friends, "The ability to sit in a rocking chair on a large porch, drink beer with my hound dog at my side, slingshot on hand targeting the little punks in the neighborhood." This partially was my true aspiration for retirement life... until recently.

While talking on phone with a friend I witnessed children climbing a fence in order to pick fruit from my neighbor's tree. I yelled at them for trespassing. My friend over-heard me yelling and accused me of being crotchety. Never hearing the word before, I knew immediately it was not a compliment and was quite miffed over him using such a word to describe me. I told him to eat shit. After finding word in the dictionary, by definition I was being crotchety to the children as well as with my response to my friend.

It's important for me to take steps to avoid exposing this trait in the future. It's my belief by not recognizing such traits now, I become oblivious to them in the future and will appear to be a mean old man. My goal is to blend with society for as long as possible.

My suggestion to avoid falling into the category of crotchety is to always keep an open mind. These children were from less fortunate upbringings and I should have assisted them in the event they might hurt themselves since it was easier for me to pick the fruit off the neighbors tree. My frame of mind then did not allow me to think these children might be hungry. Sadly my original actions may be embedded into these children's minds forever. They might even use the same tactic later in life because I taught them how.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Cardio



There are many ways to reach an adequate (aerobic) level to maintain healthy cardiovascular conditioning, and I choose to run. In my 20s, running was the only way to clear my mind of all thoughts allowing an end result of a more balanced way of processing my daily intake of information as well as conditioning my heart. In my 30s somehow I forgot this concept and felt if I looked healthy on the outside then it must be a reflection of my overall health, and running was no longer a priority it was years earlier. In my 40s the lack of cardiovascular exercise combined with years of bad habits inherited me a heart attack.

Finding an activity to get the blood moving and the heart pumping on a regular basis is one of the most beneficial things we can do for our health. The idea is not to over exert yourself but to try to keep an adequate and moderate type of energy level while performing this type of exercise. There are many ways we can achieve this aerobic level. Swimming, running,walking, hiking, running and even riding a bike are some great examples. The best way to gauge whether you are at an "adequate" level of activity is your ability to have a conversation while performing that activity. If you cannot, you are at a level called anaerobic. This is not a good level for the beginner or novice. As with any exercise, always consult with your physician about what kind of aerobic activity is right for you.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Smoking



Many of us in our 40s grew up before the risk factors of smoking were grilled into our heads through magazines, newspapers, or even television. I remember being in car with my parents while they puffed away with the windows closed and us kids sat in the back seat choking. We did not know the damage was already being done. We did know we hated it yet these were our parents and we just thought it was part of the parent thing to do. In fact, as we grew up, we felt more like an adult if we did smoke. Recently I joined a "Ban Smoking" group on a popular social networking site. One of my friends, a nurse, felt it necessary to tell me she was against this type of group because smokers keep her employed as a respiratory therapist. Evidently some of the taxes on cigarettes are used to fund clinics needed to treat diseases caused by smoking. I asked her if it would be better if I lived my life as unhealthy as possible in order to keep our medical professionals employed? Pretty strong argument for National Health Care don't you think?

Smoking causes heart disease, cancer, neurological complications, respiratory issues, forest fires, house fires, waist of our tax dollars, and death to name a few. Is that not enough to ban the filthy habit? Evidently not. Does the simple fact smokers are hurting others around them give them cause to at least consider quitting? If they are unselfish and compassionate, maybe.

I was a smoker for 25 years. I own up to being a selfish, stupid, and non-compassionate smoker. Ignorant to the fact whether or not spraying deodorant, chewing gum, or washing my hands after smoking, people could still smell it. Guess what? I had a heart attack, cancer, and still do not know what other damage will surprise me from my history of smoking. Am I bitter there are people who still smoke? You bet! But not because I want one, it's because they are not listening.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

The Workout



For about 12 years I've been very religious about fitness. In the beginning my workouts were intense since my goal was to be bigger and stronger than the guy next to me at the gym. Normally this is good competitive nature. What was not normal, as a result of my not so well planned ambition, were injuries. Shortly after entering my 40s this desire to be big and strong seemed less appealing. Living a long and healthy life is not my main agenda and exercise is the part of the process.

A good routine is important in any exercise program. In order for us to actually see results we need to change up the order we workout our sets each month. "Sets" is a word to describe the number of times you do a particular exercise whether it be a machine, dumbbell or a floor exercise. Try breaking body down into components. Example: Day 1 - Back and shoulders; Day 2 - Legs; Day 3 - Chest; Day 4 - Arms. You might consider three sets of 10 -15 reps with a weight providing, not heavy, but adequate resistance. Abdominal, lower back and obliques may be worked with the same, adequate, resistance and doubling the number of reps with each gym visit. Note: Using heavy weights on the abdominal region will build the muscle and is counterproductive because it will increase the waistline. Always remember, if we are able to rise up from our beds each day, we already have abdominal muscles. However, if we want to see them, proper nutrition and a cardiovascular program must be included with each workout.

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Sleep


Just in: USA TODAY 8-27-09

It seems like I rarely achieve a full nights sleep. They say 8 hours is adequate, yet I only get 6-7 of this peaceful experience. I do feel rested after my typical shorter than suggested amount, but I wish I could just roll over and sleep more. It amazes me when my significant other has the ability to doze until almost noon on occasion.

Eating well, exercising mind and body are key to a healthy life, yet nothing is more important than rest or even more to the point, sleep. The body does not repair or rejuvenate without going into a rem-cycle. A lot of medical professionals who prescribe sleep aids do not tell you some drugs block your body's ability to enter the rem-cycle. Most recently in our news we hear about Pop Superstar, Michael Jackson's battle with sleep deprivation. Though this is an extreme measure, it may bring to light the importance of getting proper rest without the assistance of medication. Eating well, and exercise will give way to a good nights sleep.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

The Change of Life

When I was a kid, I remember my grandmother complaining about the temperature being too hot, when I was wearing a jacket. She would tell me it was all about the change in life. She said this happens to women as they get older and it was difficult at times for her to adjust to climate change. Additionally, I work as a flight attendant and I always notice when I work with more mature woman, the temperature on the plane is much colder.

Men and women together experience signs of aging. Our difference in physiology present us both with different types of physical changes. While men tend to slow down and notice their units become less reliable, woman have a process where their ability to be fertile stops. This is a condition called either peri menopause or menopause. Peri is the Latin/medical term for "around" or in the "vicinity" of the object or condition you attach it to and in this case, it's used to describe the beginning of menopause. These are phases in life where women have a tough time adjusting to climate, their moods, as well as physical change. Many women are assisted with these changes with medications or hormones prescribed by their doctors. This is a time in life where women need to be really in-tune with themselves and make the decisions which will project the outcome of the menopause phase. There are many conflicting studies regarding the use of hormones during this time in a woman's life.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Daily Rituals


Some of us have some sort of routine we follow on a daily basis. Whether is be brushing before bed or stretching upon waking, it keeps us sane and on a balanced frame of mind. Some of us who don't, seem to never complete goals or accomplish the ones we aspired in the beginning. Perhaps we have our routines because tasks within our routine are to be completed so we can make time for what we enjoy most during the day. Sort of a reward at the end of the task. Then there are those who just go right to the reward and the rest of the world could go to piss as far as they are concerned. Most will identify with these two concepts because most of us have significant others. We often get into relationships with people who are the polar opposite of ourselves. The Yin and the Yang. Daily rituals can be tweaked from time to time to either make them less boring or to help you achieve efficiency. At this stage of your life, it is very helpful to have some sort of plan.

The Empty Nest


Many drastic changes happen as we get older. Not being a father myself, I can only imagine one of the hardest transitions would be when your offspring leave for college or move out on their own. What stage in life this happens varies for everyone and which stage it happens will have a profound effect on how one deals with this change. For the young parents, (my assumption) this can be an adventurous beginning while the more mature parents find it to be a great loss. I'm sure as I look for links for this Topic I'm bound to be enlightened as I do every time I blog. For me, I have dogs. As they age, and it seems to be happening quite fast these days, you see their disposition begin to change. Their physical appearance changes and you do think, what's it gonna be like when they are not around. I guess the only difference for me aside from parents with offspring is my kids to no grow up and go to college. My dogs however do eventually leave the nest.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

The Male Ego


As a man, do you ever notice, like myself, how you feel inclined to open doors, or walk on the dangerous side of the street for the opposite sex? Did our parents teach us this courtesy? Or are like me when you are at the gym, and try to out-perform your male counterparts? What causes us to either sustain what we've been taught as manners, or in many cases, be naturally competitive? Most likely this is a trait of our male ego.

One of the most difficult and complex obstacles men face during this life changing period is our ego. They say women are a complex machine and very hard to figure out because they are comprised of many levels of consciousness. Yet men are just as complex although our emotional levels are not as sensitive as our female counterparts. As men we are born and bred, mentally, to be the provider, the enforcer, and the backbone of most situations. This translates to the physical as well. We do man things, we play ball, wrestle, lift weights and are very competitive. As we get older, we start to see the younger, more evolved male generation tackle the same issues, but with more ease. At times we are jealous of this when actually we should be more observant and learn from our younger generation. They are figuring it out for the better. The younger generation is less conservative and are allowing themselves to grow beyond the masculine mold - The Metro Sexual. This makes life less stressful. Seeing and implementing their way of thinking will simplify our lives and be less damaging to our egos in the future.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Causes of Impotence



A very touchy and embarrassing subject for most men. Many factors can be the cause of this potentially ego destructive dysfunction. Medical insurance does not cover the fairly expensive drugs which can help with inadequacy, nor does your physician ever feel it's feasible for them to take a closer examination to find out what could be the culprit. When was the last time your doctor asked you, how is your sex life? Are we to believe at some point of our lives we need to just give up on a very important aspect of our maleness? Whatever your particular issue is, it's important to find out the root of your problem. There are many benefits to having an active sex life. To name a few: Stress reduction, improves your immunity, burns calories, better cardiovascular health, self esteem boost, less prostate cancer risk and the most important for us all, better sleep.

Thursday, August 20, 2009

What is the Crisis?


One of the best ways to deal with Midlife Crisis is to actually identify the characteristics of this unavoidable period in our lives. This period is part of our physiology and it's not a matter of if, but rather, when and to what degree. These characteristics can be divided into two categories, unavoidable and the avoidable. The unavoidable characteristics are the actual physical symptoms of the aging process. The avoidable are the behavior symptoms. Both men and woman experience this period in life and each have common traits when going through the midlife process. Just for example, here are a few:

Male Midlife Traits:

Known as "The Manther" will borrow from life saving to buy the "Special Edition" convertible sports car in order to drive himself to the nearest tattoo parlor to decorate the painstakingly accentuated bicep with a tribal band. From there proceed to the nearest jewelery counter at the mall to have his ear pierced with a large diamond stud which will look groovy with his newly dawned pony tail. Not to forget he will clad himself with age inappropriate $300 pair of designer jeans worn with very shiny dress shoes - without socks.

Female Midlife Traits:

Found at the nearest Cougar Den (Any casual dining restaurant chain, with bar) and will be suffering later in the evening with a sore back due to sitting with her boobs erect, in the right light, facing entry door, waiting for "any" hot young buck, who is legally blind, to walk through the door and sweep her off her feet.

These are two small examples of what I've observed in my everyday life. A good suggestion is to be a people watcher and learn what to avoid during this almost careless period in your life. Observing others will most likely teach you not to look entirely like an ass, really.

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Defying the Effects of Aging through Strength Training



While being a heart disease survivor, cardiovascular exercise is essential to my health. However along with cardio, which at times takes a lot of motivation, there is also strength training, otherwise known as "Lifting Weights." The entire concept or motivation of lifting weights as a teen or in our 20s was mainly to look hot for our partner. While this may be a poor excuse to develop the habit of strength training, anything our minds do to create a desire to do positive things for our health is not so bad in the long run. As we get older and out of shape, also known as the aging process, the desire to do healthy things for ourselves becomes less a focus because life happens. However, never forget, no matter how healthy you are, life is short, and your chances for making it even shorter are greatly reduced by taking care of yourself. Will strength training increase your life expectancy? Probably not. Will the combination of strength training, cardio, eating right and feeling good about yourself because you made the effort to be healthy increase your life expectancy? I guarantee it!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

7 Day Dietary Challenge.


It's important for me to to convey a common sense approach to any ones dietary needs. Unless you've been living in a cave for the last 30 years, you know through the media what different foods cause diseases - particularly heart disease and obesity. We could go to the extremes and say if you are gonna begin to eat right, go all the way and go organic. If your budget allows you to go this route, by all means. There's plenty of literature to educate us on the benefits of organic foods. In order to feel the immediate effects of eating smart using common sense are these simple rules on foods to avoid:

1. No fried foods (be very careful when ordering Asian foods as they have vastly fried menus).

2. Cut out fast foods chains entirely (Main source of fried food and red meat for most).

3. For a while, cut out red meat until you learn other ways to achieve you protein needs.

4. Avoid table or processed sugars, and only use fruit as your sweet fix.

Seems easy enough? It's really not when you think about how you feed yourself on a daily basis. Non the less, give it a 7 day trial period. In the beginning I was religious about these rules, honestly, I've indulged from time to time since. It's important to get your body use to being fed correctly. The by-product is you will feel better. Combine eating right with an exercise regimen will deliver you some amazing results. People have asked me whether I compete in bodybuilding and what supplements I take. While this is a major ego boost, my answer is no and none to both and also tell them I look the way I do is because I follow my own set of rules using common sense. But first things first, do the 7 Day Nutritional Challenge.

Monday, August 17, 2009

What age is Midlife?


Some will argue whether 40 is the benchmark to midlife. According to CDC.gov the average life expectancy for a white American male at age 40 in 2004 is 77.9 years. Given this data, my calculation on when actual midlife begins for the same subject would be age 38.9. These numbers are not meant to make you feel old nor are they the purpose for this blog, but rather to help you put into perspective what stage of life you are in today.