Modern Men's Health

Vaginismus: A Female Problem that Affects Men

2009-07-21T05:12:00.000-07:00

The following post and link is just to bring to everyone's attention a pretty good site that pertains to a problem that is inherently female, but which can have repercussions for men, either by affecting our sex lives or simply by virtue of reducing the quality of life for the women we care about.

The following site discusses Vaginismus and Dyspareunia, which in short is the medical name for when a woman can't have intercourse without experiencing pain.

VAGINISMUS-DYSPAREUNIA.COM

So, while ours is a Men's Health site by nature, the fact that this condition pertains to sexual health and will affect men either by limiting or eliminating their sex lives with their partners (or putting their partners in the position of having to experience unnecessary pain), hopefully the website above can be of help if you or someone you know is being affected by the condition.

It discusses some of the current and emerging treatments and even talks about how Botox is being used to prevent women from experiencing painful vaginal spasms that impede their sex lives.

Modern Men's Health Around the Web

2009-05-06T09:33:00.000-07:00

Modern Men's Health is being selected for inclusion in a handful of online blog carnivals.

In particular, Gynecomastia: Are You Wearing Two Undershirts? has appeared in both the Athletic Alley Blog Carnival and the Fitness and Bodybuilding Review at ColinTimberlake.com.

Also look for the article to appear in the Hardgainer Blog Carnival.

Visit these sites to learn more about sports, fitness and health.

40 Great Workout Songs

2009-05-01T10:58:00.001-07:00

Over at Colin Timberlake, where Colin is in the midst of some pretty rigorous bodybuilding training, he has put together a playlist of 40 great weightlifting songs (in two posts of 20 each). If you're looking for some tunes that will motivate that extra bench press or get you through a painful set of legs, allow me to refer you to:

20 Songs for Lifting Weights

and...

20 More Songs for Lifting Weights

Inspirational Role Models for Training

2009-04-03T08:57:00.000-07:00

This is just a quick note to let you know that a pretty incredible list of role models you can look up to in your own training has been compiled by Colin Timberlake over at ColinTimberlake.com.

He began compiling these role models as motivation for his daily training in a weightlifting and running event and has continued the trend as he maintains his training for other endeavours.

In addition to describing his fairly grueling training regimen, he has found motivating and inspiring people that we can all look up to, and provided these examples at the following link:

INSPIRATIONAL ROLE MODELS FOR TRAINING at ColinTimberlake.com

Hemorrhoids: They Can Happen to Anybody!

2009-03-29T15:42:00.000-07:00

Ouch! Painful and embarrassing. You have a medical problem where?

Yes, the fact of the matter is that hemorrhoids do happen, and they can happen to anybody. The healthiest of us all. You might be surprised to learn that hemorrhoids have hit some of the last people you would ever expect to have...errrr, anal problems.

And one of the most troublesome complications with hemorrhoids and other problems "below the belt" is that sufferers can be so squeamish and embarrassed that they will hesitate to consult a doctor (or anyone else) unless the problem escalates to severe levels of pain or risk. Quite often, a consultation at the early stages would have completely avoided such an escalation.

THIS IS A WEBSITE that deals with the issues associated with hemorrhoids, as an example of a supposedly embarrassing condition that people can be hesitant to seek help with. It discusses these psychological blocks, as well as some of the physical symptoms, causes and treatments.

Hopefully, if any such issues arise -- anywhere below the belt -- you won't hesitate to consult your physician. But even if you do hesitate, there are some useful resources on the web that can at least give you a handle on the situation while you work your way up to dealing with the professionals!

Gynecomastia: Are You Wearing Two Undershirts?

2008-12-14T07:32:00.000-08:00

Are you wearing two undershirts right now? Do you avoid the beach and the swimming pool? Or walk with your shoulders hunched forward?

If you suffer from gynecomastia, then chances are you have attempted these and other tactics to cope with a condition that has afflicted a great many men...men who often suffer in silence and under the mistaken impression that they are alone in their ordeal.

Gynecomastia is the development of feminine breast tissue on a man and can occur at several points in a man's life, often during puberty or in late middle age, when the body's testosterone production dips. At these times, feminine hormones can become dominant in the body and unlock the potential that exists in both men and women for breast tissue to develop.

Especially given this site's focus on fitness and exercise, it is worth noting that one of the leading causes of gynecomastia is the improper and uneducated use of anabolic steroids. Before you start boosting yourself with testosterone, be warned that the body has a mechanism to convert excess testosterone into female hormones and if you don't know what you're doing, you are likely to end up with man-boobs, moobs, bitch-tits or whatever unsavory slang term has developed for gyno.

If you are even remotely considering dabbling in steroids, or if you have been living with gynecomastia and it has been affecting your life, you should check out the following site:

GYNECOMASTIA.ORG

This website was designed by a man who spent his early years allowing gynecomastia to ruin his social life. He opted for surgery and now, through his site, has developed a support network that helps other mean deal with this condition.

GYNECOMASTIA-GYNO.COM

...is another website that contains some pretty good information on the condition, how it develops, how it can be treated or solved, and also its link to steroids and hormones.

Considering a Vasectomy?

2008-12-14T06:14:00.000-08:00

Once a man reaches a certain age, has a certain number of children, or simply decides that however many he has (or doesn't have) is how he wants it to stay, then chances are a specific minor surgical procedure has crossed his mind.

At any rate, if you are considering a vasectomy, it is worth noting that there have been several advancements in the techniques involved since your Dad's vasectomy. Modern vasectomies now involve no scalpels, no incisions, and sometimes even no needles for freezing.

It's worth taking a look to see how the field has advanced and also to look at some of the pro's and con's of the process.

You can learn more about the current state of vasectomies at...

VASECTOMY-INFO.COM

...or visit the site of one of the nation's experts, Dr. Barry Rich, at...

NO-SCALPELVASECTOMY.COM

...where you can read his official "NSV BOOK" and also watch a video of the surprisingly quick and painless procedure.

Dexter Jackson: Mr. Olympia 2008

2008-09-28T21:56:00.000-07:00

Yep, that's the guy right there. You don't want to challenge him to a lat pull contest. The results are in and Dexter Jackson has been crowned the latest Mr. Olympia, once again relegating Jay Cutler to the silver medal position.

Jay Cutler became extremely familiar with 2nd place at Mr. Olympia, finishing as runner-up to Ronnie Coleman for many years before finally dethroning him in 2006 and enjoying a 2-year run as the champion. Now second again, it will be interesting to see if Jay is still driven to push that last inch to take down another champion. We certainly know the man is not lacking in drive.

Congratulations, Dexter.

Congratulations, Jay.

And congratulations to the 17 other contestants in this ultimate display of focus, dedication and just a little bit of biochemistry...

FINAL RANKINGS:

1. Dexter Jackson
2. Jay Cutler
3. Phil Heath
4. Dennis Wolf
5. Toney Freeman
6. Melvin Anthony
7. Silvio Samuel
8. Dennis James
9. Mo Elmoussawi
10. Gustavo Badell
11. Darrem Charles
12. Johnnie Jackson
13. Craig Richardson
14. Ronny Rockel
15. David Henry
16. Kevin English
17. Fouad Abiad
18. Sergey Shelestov
19. Leo Ingram

Fitness STAR Model Search

2008-09-27T04:49:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note to let everyone know that the Fitness STAR search for Fitness Models is currently underway. The official competition date is in April 2009, but people are presently able to submit photos from their portfolio and, of course, begin their training for the day.

Anyway, I know a couple of the people involved and they are top notch. The fitness modeling industry can be a bit shady at times. But generally speaking, the participants I know only get involved if everything is ethical, honest and top quality.

If you're interested, feel free to visit their OFFICIAL WEBSITE or their FACEBOOK GROUP.

Do Professionals Have Time to Stay Fit?

2008-09-26T04:50:00.000-07:00

This article does not refer to professional bodybuilders, but rather the swelling population of overweight, undermuscled, or simply unfit individuals whose health has suffered as a result of demanding work schedules. Today, nobody is in greater need of proper attention to and instruction for maintaining good health than the white-collar workforce.

Oddly enough, it is often this population that has the greatest means at its disposal to pursue and afford proper nutrition and health-promoting activities. Office workers, professionals and executives today are the most susceptible to the two greatest contributors to poor physical health, obesity and related illnesses. These two factors of paramount importance are poor diet and sedentary lifestyle.

This ever-growing group of workers today includes lawyers, bankers, consultants, doctors, secretaries, administrative assistants, and any professionals whose work commitments and timetables make it difficult to take the time to eat properly or provide the body with the focused physical activity it requires in order to be convinced it must maintain itself in a functional form.

The fact that most of their work is done seated at a desk, or that they are often traveling contributes to the physical inactivity and poor eating habits that, over time, lead to the downfall of the human body.

The problems of poor diet and sedentary lifestyle are not limited to the corporate environment, however. Any occupation or lifestyle in which people find themselves inactive or in which it can be difficult to eat properly is a situation that can be improved by thinking critically about its details.

Even minor changes in activity and eating, whether at home or at work, can bring immeasurable benefits to individuals regardless of whether they spend their days at home, in an office, in transit, or anywhere else.

If you have been neglecting your body, chances are it is slowing down from years of disuse and abuse - like an automobile that has missed tune-ups and oil changes. Once the body is running optimally, results will be seen not only in the way you feel, on the scale, and in the mirror, but also in your productivity at work and your mental acuity.

You owe it to your body. Your firm owes it to you to look out for your health. Your business and career will benefit from your increased productivity. Fitness is always a high-return investment.

PITFALLS OF THE PROFESSIONAL LIFESTYLE

It is from working in corporate environments with high expectations that I am fully aware of the difficulties one can face in meeting the commitments required by a position of responsibility in a top-tier corporation and also to meet the commitments inherently required by your own body.

In satisfying the expectations of demanding clients and also maintaining a vigorous training regimen, experience has provided ways in which any professional can maintain the highest caliber of work product and output, and also take realistic steps to promote his or her own health, and both look and feel his or her best. Several of the most pressing problems that are fostered by the typical professional schedule are considered here.

Ergonomics:

While advances in ergonomics have led to the development of body-friendly chairs, keyboards, and other office paraphernalia, even the most carefully designed tools cannot entirely cure the problems of long periods in unnatural positions and the stress of constant repetitive motions such as typing.

The results that often accrue from years spent in an office environment and in commuting to and from work can include carpal tunnel syndrome, computer-related vision strain, and excessive periods in a seated position can contribute to poor posture and lower back pain.

Inactivity:

As deadlines approach, workdays can involve long hours where the activity level rarely extends beyond typing, shuffling papers and picking up the phone for sixteen hours on end. When compensation and bonuses are tied to billable hours, incentives can be created to borrow or steal from the minimum amount of time required to maintain good health and applied instead to raising billable time.

The losses incurred from inactivity may impair the quality of your work product or the efficiency of the hours billed. Ultimately, there may be a point reached where the marginal gain to both yourself and your company or clients would be higher if an additional hour were spent on pursuing good health.

The resulting improvements in focus and efficiency would more than outweigh the lost billable hour of only moderate efficiency.

Business Travel:

Traveling for business is one of the most challenging situations one can face in attempting to maintain a fit body and healthy lifestyle. The vast majority of one's time is bound to be spent in boardrooms, hotels and commuting. Business trips may involve a great deal of work to be done in a short time frame, leaving little excess to be spent on exercise or seeking quality sustenance.

Cocktails and social functions to celebrate the closing of a deal can contribute to the lack of available time and nutritional deficiencies that can be the hallmarks of a business trip. Still, these problems can be partially countered by the convenience of a quality fitness rooms in hotels, limited as some may be, and some cursory research of the surrounding neighborhood may reveal top-notch exercise facilities with reasonable drop-in fees.

Work-related airplane travel itself can be an impediment to promoting fitness. The inactivity and prolonged sitting involved in lengthy flights can be compounded by the lack of quality sleep to be had on airplanes and possible sleep disruptions and energy loss due to subsequent time zone adjustments. Furthermore, airplane meals are typically infrequent and not known for their nutritional value.

Poor Nutrition:

It can be difficult enough to properly sustain the body even without the rigors of a demanding work schedule. If meals are provided in the office or lunch room, they are quite likely of substandard quality from a nutritional perspective, as tasty as the donuts may be.

Likewise, if workmates are ordering a meal in or heading over to a favorite spot for a group lunch or late dinner, the group consensus will quite often be a meal virtually devoid of nutritional value. The typical workday can make it difficult to adopt a healthy pattern of frequent smaller meals rather than the classic large breakfast-lunch-dinner model.

The constant availability of coffee and sugary soft drinks can combine with inactivity to produce hypertension. Effects on body composition can extend well beyond lost muscle tone and love handles to outright obesity. Packing a lunch and snacks that are based on sound nutrition is one means of promoting your own health and quite probably saving money as well.

Time Management and Exhaustion:

Not everybody has the time to be a professional bodybuilder, even if they have the drive and motivational fortitude, traits that indeed characterize many professionals. Most will complain that the limiting factor is availability of time. Developing quality time management skills extends beyond pigeonholing work projects into different slots in a day planner. Workout management is a skill in itself.

Finding the right time for your workouts can be a critical element of getting you into the gym and staying active, particularly during busy seasons at work. In time, physical training will no longer have to be wedged into the schedule, but will rather be a welcome complement to job commitments.

Experimenting with different times will produce results that are best for you, whether it means an invigorating lunch time workout, or exercise to start or finish the day.

MOTIVATION

In the end, it all comes down to you. Anybody who tells you otherwise is a liar. Nobody can do the running or the lifting or the stretching for you. Nobody will knock the French fries out of your hand before you put them in your mouth.

Many people employ personal trainers or enter weight loss programs in which they are diligently supervised and actively motivated and encouraged. These programs can be extremely effective, and I have personally trained many individuals to better health.

One thing I always advocate, however, is that any client take responsibility for motivating himself or herself. Workout partners can be an excellent means of augmenting, but not creating, motivation.

Relying entirely on your trainer or anybody else can create a motivational dependency that becomes evident when separation from the source of inspiration occurs. As a result, many people put the weight back on shortly after cessation of the weight loss program.

Likewise, when the personal trainer exits the picture, the workouts can cease entirely and the body returns to the form that inspired the need for a trainer in the first place.

It all comes down to whether or not you are ready to take charge of your own life and your own health. A good fitness professional can arm you with the knowledge you need to bring your health and body to where they should be, when you are ready to make the commitment to yourself.

Knowledge is power. Understanding the value of the knowledge and the incredible benefits that can be reaped with even a little bit of consistent effort serves as the strongest motivator of all. Being healthy and fit provides its own motivation to individuals who care about themselves.