by Rupe | Jan 1, 2012 | Fitness, Health-Wellness-Sex
About 10 years ago, a friend of mine—who was a strength coach for a Major League baseball team—told me about an all-star outfielder who was absolutely crazy about fitness. So much so that the player did barbell squats in the locker room. While standing on a Swiss ball. Buck naked. Which isn’t just crazy—it’s scary.
Thank goodness naked Swiss-ball squats never went viral. But I’ve found three current fitness trends that are just as scary. (If you don’t count the nudity.)
Source: Men’s Health
My Comments:
Jumping for heavyweights….that is some scary crap. Â I am tracking on all these outrageous trends.Â
by Rupe | Dec 19, 2011 | Health-Wellness-Sex, Mentoring
The evidence of America’s obesity epidemic is all around us. But the problem is particularly acute among African-American women.
About half of African-American women in the U.S. are obese, compared to 30 percent of white women. Black women not only carry more weight, but they start piling on extra pounds years before their white counterparts.
So when does it begin, this excess and unhealthful weight? Research suggests the problem starts early, and it may have a lot to do with when girls give up regular exercise.
Source: NPR
My Comments:
O boy…this is one that is near and dear to my heart and falls squarely in my lap. Â As father of a little Nubian Princess, I have to really keep a vigilant watch for this. Â My daughter, Cheyenne, is the consumate girly-girl. Â She likes to dress up and the slightest idea of exertion sends her in the opposite direction. Â Being someone who is very health conscious, I have to make sure I set the proper example for this little girl; it is not as if she won’t have enough challenges in life to contend with already.
by Rupe | Oct 31, 2011 | Health-Wellness-Sex
Like a lot of companies, Veridian Credit Union wants its employees to be healthier. In January, the Waterloo, Iowa-company rolled out a wellness program and voluntary screenings.
It also gave workers a mandate – quit smoking, curb obesity, or you’ll be paying higher healthcare costs in 2013. It doesn’t yet know by how much, but one thing’s for certain – the unhealthy will pay more.
The credit union, which has more than 500 employees, is not alone.
In recent years, a growing number of companies have been encouraging workers to voluntarily improve their health to control escalating insurance costs. And while workers mostly like to see an employer offer smoking cessation classes and weight loss programs, too few are signing up or showing signs of improvement.
Click source link to continue…
Source: Reuters
My Comments:
There are no secrets about my feeling with regards to people who routinely abuse their bodies; I have written about it on few occassions here. Â I absolutely believe that those who overeat to obesity and smoke or do both jointly or separately should pay more for healthcare. Â I do understand some social implications of this move, and support a case by case review, but for the most part this would be justified.Â
by Rupe | Oct 27, 2011 | Health-Wellness-Sex, Mad Musings
I have not been able to do much over the last few day, save take pills and drink ginger tea. Â I have been down with what seems to be influenza, or flu for short, since this past
Saturday.
Typically, I get over these things quite quickly, but this is the worse case I can remember every having. Â Not really sure why it decided to stick around this time, but it has really done me in.
No fever, but I do have some muscle aches which got pretty intense yesterday. Â It is quite possible that the muscle aches are a result of loosing fluids.
At any rate, I am trying to get as much rest as possible. Â I have not worked out in nearly a week now, but that’s ok, I need a rest period anyway. Â I hope to get back on my feet in the next couple of day, enough of this sickness already.
by Rupe | Oct 13, 2011 | Health-Wellness-Sex
Everyone knows there are certain practices so harmful to our personal health they cut short our lives. Being overweight. Smoking cigarettes. Not getting enough exercise.
But these aren’t the only ways you can cut your time on this earth short. Worse, you are likely to be unaware just how much you are hurting yourself. By making a few simple changes, you can improve your overall daily health and extend your life span.
These are the Top Ten Bad Habits that can steal years off your life.
1. Not Enough Sleep. Scientific research points to lack of sleep as the catalyst for many other health-related problems. Without an adequate amount of sleep your metabolism slows and you can gain weight. Fatigue also leads to eating for energy to compensate. Your immune system is lowered and you are less able to fight off disease and infection. Your ability to focus, concentrate on important tasks such as driving and your memory all suffer without enough sleep. Aim for eight hours every night, and add naps when necessary.
Click source link to contiue…
Source: Washington Times
My Comments:
This is really good information. Â I certainly need to do a better job heeding them. Â Â
by Rupe | Oct 12, 2011 | Health-Wellness-Sex
Experts say that men could benefit greatly by being alert to certain cancer symptoms that require a trip to the doctor’s office sooner rather than later. But when it comes to scheduling doctor visits, men are notorious foot-draggers. In fact, some men, would never go to the doctor if it weren’t for the women in their life.
Leonard Lichtenfeld, MD, is deputy chief medical officer for the national office of the American Cancer Society. According to Lichtenfeld, men often need to be pushed by women to get screened for cancer. That’s unfortunate. Routine preventive care can find cancer and other diseases in their early stages. When cancer is found early, there are more options for treatment. That means there are also better chances for a cure.
Some cancer symptoms in men are specific. They involve certain body parts and may point directly to the possibility of cancer. Other symptoms, though, are vague. For instance, pain that affects many body parts could have many explanations. It may or may not be a sign of cancer. But you can’t rule cancer out without seeing a doctor.
Click source link to continue…
Source: WebMD
My Comments:
In the wake of Steve Jobs recent passing the topic of cancer looms high on most minds.  I, for one, have found myself doing a bit more reading on the topics than I did before. This article from WebMD is a pretty thorough run through of some of the cancers that we men should look out for based on  the given symptoms.  We must remember that it is not manly not to go to the doctor…these are necessary things.Â
About 10 years ago, a friend of mine—who was a strength coach for a Major League baseball team—told me about an all-star outfielder who was absolutely crazy about fitness. So much so that the player did barbell squats in the locker room. While standing on a Swiss ball. Buck naked. Which isn’t just crazy—it’s scary.
