The new year is a time many men rethink their lives and make plans to get their health back on track. Are you one of them? At least 40% of adults make one or more resolutions each year, and at least two-thirds of them vow to change something unhealthy about themselves, according to a small study conducted by John C. Norcross, PhD, professor of psychology at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. The popular resolutions concern weight gain, fitness, and smoking.
WebMD examined these common objectives and added a couple more that men might want to consider in their pursuit of good health. We then asked health experts to offer advice on how best to approach the resolutions for maximum success. Consider their suggestions, and see what works for you. Good luck!
New Year’s Resolution No. 1: Get Fit
When men want to get fit, they tend to aim for weight loss in the stomach area and muscular definition in the biceps, chest, and abdominals, says Cedric Bryant, PhD, chief exercise physiologist for the American Council on Exercise. To achieve these goals, men do little cardiovascular exercise, and a lot of resistance training – a strategy that Bryant says is not ideal.
“Men need to participate in a balanced exercise program where they are involved in strength training that is for all the major muscle groups. They need to participate in some aerobic exercise, because that’s going to help them to expend energy and burn calories,” says Bryant, who also notes that good nutrition is crucial to fitness success. “You need the whole package if you want to get optimal results.”
To get rid of the flab and pounds, Jean Bonhomme, MD, MPH, a member of the board of directors for the Men’s Health Network, suggests choosing an enjoyable physical activity, even if it is not a traditional workout. The idea is to move the body, doing anything from running, hiking, walking, or martial arts.
With any new or renewed activity, it is important to start slowly, gradually raising intensity. Starting out at a level that is too aggressive could cause pain, injury, and a sense of dejection.
New Year’s Resolution No. 2: Watch What You Eat
Meat and potatoes have somehow been associated with manly men. “For some men, it’s a macho thing to eat a lot of red meat,” says Bonhomme. “We’re supposed to be the hunters, and we bring home the deer and the elk.”
There is certainly nothing wrong with a juicy piece of steak, but overindulgence can be a problem, says Bonnie Taub-Dix, RD, a spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association. “Diets that promote large amounts of protein and fat, like the low-carb diets, are really not the way to go. Men have a tendency to do that more,” she says.
Experts are still waiting for long-term data on low-carb diets. Critics fear the diets will have negative effects on the heart, particularly since fatty foods have been shown to raise risk of heart disease. Many of the restricted foods on the low-carb diet, such as whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, have also been shown to prevent cancer, and lower risk of heart disease.
To lose weight, Taub-Dix recommends a well-balanced diet, with emphasis on whole grains, fruits and vegetables. She says three servings of low-fat dairy can also be beneficial. Besides improving bone health, some studies show calcium may make it easier to shed pounds. Instead of a beefsteak, try tuna or salmon steaks. A turkey burger could replace a beef burger. There are also vegetarian meat substitutes.
New Year’s Resolution No. 3: Go to the Doctor
Do you have a twisted ankle, back pain, blood in the urine, an enlarged mole, or unexplained sadness lasting more than a couple of weeks? These are all good reasons to see a physician. Yet plenty of men simply don’t do it.
Men make 130 million fewer visits to the doctor than women do, and that’s not including childbirth visits, says Armin Brott, author of Father for Life. He says men tend to discount pain and see themselves as indestructible, especially at younger ages. He says this general thinking stems from ideas promoted in childhood – that big boys need to be tough and they don’t cry. As men grow up, they are raised to think of themselves as providers and protectors.
Promise yourself that if something doesn’t feel right, you’ll go to the doctor, Brott tells men.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends the following screening tests for men:
- Cholesterol Checks. Have your cholesterol screened at least every five years, starting at age 35. Have it done at age 20 if you smoke, have diabetes, or have a family history of heart disease.
- Blood Pressure. Have it checked at least every two years.
- Colorectal Cancer Tests. Begin testing at age 50.
- Diabetes. Have a test done if you have high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
- Depression. Talk to your doctor if you’ve felt sad for two weeks straight, and have had little interest in normally pleasurable activities.
- Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Ask your doctor whether you should be screened.
- Prostate Cancer Screening. Talk to your doctor about the risk and benefits of performing the prostate-specific antigen test, or the digital rectal exam.
Brott says it’s also a good idea for men to give themselves a regular visual exam, taking inventory of how they feel and look.
- New Year’s Resolution No. 4: Quit Smoking
Giving the nicotine habit the boot is one of the most popular resolutions for both men and women. It is a difficult task, and for some people, success does not come until after multiple tries. Experts say the best way to deal with the problem is to get help. “You get no extra points for being macho,” says Brott.
There are a number of resources for support. You may visit your primary care doctor and/or join a smoking cessation program in person, online, or by phone. You may consider medication, or nicotine replacements such as patches, gums, sprays, inhalers, and lozenges. Or you may contact groups such as the American Cancer Society, the American Lung Association, and the CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health for help.
A relapse is a real possibility, but it’s important to look forward and avoid negative thinking. “Don’t give up,” says Stenander. “Don’t get yourself in a defeatist attitude that you can’t do something. Let’s talk about what you can do.”
Don’t forget that you can also enlist the support of family and friends. Many former smokers have found loved ones as a vital source of encouragement.
New Year’s Resolution No. 5: Ease Stress
Got stress? Who doesn’t? Men have their lion’s share partly because society hasn’t given them the freedom to process pressures that well, says Bonhomme. “A lot of times men will hold things inside … they won’t talk about them.”
The pent-up negative feelings can cause feelings of anger and hopelessness, promote destructive behavior, or manifest themselves in physical ailments. Research shows stress can have adverse effects on the cardiovascular, nervous, immune, and digestive systems.
Bonhomme suggests exercise as a “masculine” way of relieving tension: “If you’ve had a stressful day and you work out, you burn off stress hormones.”
It also helps to identify what is causing the stress, and try to deal with the issue, says Brott. Sometimes, he says this may mean talking to your girlfriend, wife, or a minister. If none of these methods work, talk with your doctor, or a psychologist.
Article taken in part from www.men.webmd.com
Disclaimer
All content on this website is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional. Always consult your own GP if you’re in any way concerned about your health.
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