Some informally dub it “grumpy old man complex.” British author Carol Wyer labels it “irritable male syndrome,” a spike in the outward crankiness of guys of a certain age.
As more baby boomers hit 60 — the age when male grumpiness seems to kick in — be ready for a growing chorus of grouchy flare-ups, like a Donald Trumprant set to explode.
The condition isn’t just a stereotype represented by the proverbial fist-waving shout, “Get off my lawn!” Testosterone levels generally fall as men age, according to the Mayo Clinic. Such hormone drops are known to dampen male moods, says Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh, head of the International Society of Men’s Health and a urologist in New York City. Continue reading →
The FDA not only bans gay and bi men from giving blood, they actively discourage them from donating sperm.
BY CAMILLE BEREDJICK
In August the Lifetime showDrop Dead Diva devoted an episode to the so-nicknamed “sperm ban,” a Food and Drug Administration policy meant to keep men who have had sex with men (MSM) from donating to sperm banks. The episode prompted an inevitable comparison of the sperm ban to another FDA policy targeting gay men — the ban on blood donation — and gave the issue a push back into public debate.
The FDA policy barring MSM from donating blood is infamous, sparking protests nationwide and even inspiring a movement for repeal led by members of Congress such as Sen. John Kerry and Rep. Mike Quigley. In comparison, the ban on gay sperm donors is relatively unknown. Continue reading →
Understanding your drunken stupor from the brains perspective. Find out how alcohol molecules alter your brain, ultimately resulting in a night that you…hopefully remember.
Written and created by Mitchell Moffit (twitter @mitchellmoffit) and Gregory Brown (twitter @whalewatchmeplz).
Billy Bush tackles the taxi obstacle at Men’s Health urbanathlon
Use common sense and don’t actually run across the tops of taxi cabs.
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. – Healthy Hollywood’s good friends at Men’s Health magazine are challenging folks to the ultimate fitness race. Guys and girls nationwide are invited to compete in Men’s Health Urbanathlon. “It is like a triatholon that uses the streets and landmarks of the city as part of the race. The 9.5 – 11 mile course incorporates obstacles like hurdling over yellow taxi cabs, crawling under Subarus, tire-stutter stepping, over-under traffic barricade obstacles, chain link crawls…and stadium stair climbs,” reveals the Men’s Health team.
Access Hollywood’s own Billy Bush is the host of these fitness fests. So far, the races have been held in Chicago, New York and this weekend in San Francisco. Billy’s job is to warm up the over 5 thousand Urbanathletes. Let’s go, Billy!
But, if you can’t make it to the race, but still want to train like an urban champ, Men’s Health shares with Healthy Hollywood a do-it-yourself guide. Continue reading →
About 67 million adults have high blood pressure. More than half (36 million) have uncontrolled high blood pressure. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, the first and fourth leading causes of death in the United States, leading to nearly 1,000 deaths a day. The majority of people with high blood pressure are being treated with medicine, yet their condition is still not under control. Millions more are either aware they have high blood pressure but aren’t getting any treatment with medicine or don’t know they have high blood pressure. The September issue of CDC’s Vital Signs highlights the importance of awareness and treatment for adults with uncontrolled hypertension. Adults with high blood pressure can gain control by taking their blood pressure medicine. Find out why you should know your blood pressure numbers and what to do about it…
The experts on the U.S. Preventative Task Force, a government-backed panel of scientists and medical professionals, are now recommending that every American between the ages of 15 and 65 be tested for HIV. Since the Affordable Care Act requires insurers to cover the preventative services that are recommended by the task force, regular HIV testing will now be covered under Obamacare as a routine part of a check-up.
Dr. Carlos Del Rio, an expert in AIDS research in Atlanta, told ABC News that the task force’s announcement is “very exciting” because it will help ensure that her patients are routinely screened for HIV, just as they are already tested for their blood pressure or cholesterol levels:
“People are terrible at knowing their own risk,” said Del Rio, adding that people may be unaware of the HIV status of their sexual partners. “And doctors are terrible at asking them about risk. It can be difficult to discuss sex and drugs with our patients.”
The task force recommendations are used by Medicare and other insurance companies to determine what laboratory tests should be covered. Other important task force recommendations included screening for breast and colon cancer, as well as high cholesterol.
“I don’t have to ask my patients if they eat hamburgers before ordering a cholesterol test,” said Del Rio. “Now I can do a routine HIV test when patients come to clinic.”
The task force first indicated they were considering updating their recommendations on HIV testing in August. Their previous guidelines on HIV screening — which hadn’t been changed since 2005 — left the decision to test for HIV up to each individual doctor, and only strongly recommended testing for the adults who were considered to be at “high risk” for contracting the virus after having multiple sexual partners. But according to researchers, since 20 percent of HIV-positive Americans are currently unaware they have the virus, regular screening could help identify more people who could benefit from early treatment.
Although gains in HIV treatment still remain somewhat stratified by race and class, Obamacare does represent an important step forward for HIV-positive individuals. Guaranteed coverage for HIV testing isn’t the only way that the health reform law will help combat the virus; Obamacare also increases resources for HIV research and prevention, helps ensure that the drugs for HIV treatment are more affordable, and prevents insurance companies from discriminating against Americans simply based on their HIV status.
Anyone who’s tried to stick to a workout routine knows what it’s like to have those days when you just don’t feel like it—when you feel like you haven’t gotten any results from your exercise, and you wonder why you even bother. That can be depression (or laziness, depending) talking, and a surefire way to push through that fog and get your running shoes on is to focus on how you’ll feel when you’re finished.
Even though it seems counter-intuitive, you’ll feel energized after even a short walk or workout, and the emotional benefits will make themselves known to you long before the physical ones will. Most people try to focus on inches slimmed or pounds lost—since they’ll come later, consider honing in on the emotional benefits instead to hit that need for instant gratification you may have. In addition to preparing for those depressed days by remembering how good you’ll feel, the folks at BodyHack suggest making a running schedule you’ll want to stick to as a kind of carrot to stay motivated.
The idea itself isn’t new—we’ve mentionedrewarding yourself immediately as a way to keep exercise interesting, and the idea is definitely sound—if the feeling of accomplishment and the endorphins aren’t enough to get you up and onto the treadmill or exercise bike, maybe treating yourself to something nice when you’re finished will do the trick. How do you stay motivated to work out on those down days? Share your tips in the comments below.
My oh my, my mind runs wild with that title. So many dirty thoughts. Read on…
Formerly lived the amish lifestyle and now training people everyday to take control of their lives physically, mentally and holistically.
A Little About The Amish Trainer’s Training Philosophy form his website:
Fitness is not just hitting the gym for an hour to lift weights or run on the treadmill. It’s also about how you use your mind and your body … how you understand the ways nutrition can energize your lifestyle … and how to harness your positive energy to be healthy and strong.
“I am often asked about my abs and what I do…the secret…I do planks everyday…and I hold them as long as I can!!”
As a personal trainer certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), I have combined the mechanics of training with a holistic approach to fitness that I developed from my Amish roots. That’s right, I grew up in Pennsylvania’s Amish country. And if you think that means I just know how to make furniture and bale hay, you’ve never seen me work out. Many of the exercises in my regimen are derived from motions and movements quite familiar to Amish men and women at work.
My philosophy is simple. I believe that a fun, challenging workout will result in weight loss, more muscle, and a stable core. I believe that incorporating yoga, breathing, and stretching techniques can help clear your mind and focus your positive energy on your workouts and on your relationships with others. And, finally, I believe that eating the right foods at the right time is essential in helping you stay active and burn calories throughout the day. It’s really quite easy: If you put bad stuff into your body, you will get bad stuff out.
More about me… I went to the University of Pittsburgh for Education and earned a Master’s degree in Organizational Development from Trinity University. Not only am I certified by the NASM, but I am also a Corrective Exercise Specialist. I balance my workouts with salsa dancing, hiking, cooking, reading and theater. I’m inspired by many people, famous and familiar. One of my greatest inspirations sums me up best:
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” -Mahatma Gandhi
Tis the season to check in with your esthetician to discuss possible damage done over the summer and to prepare your skin for the season to come. Accidental Bear, Mike Enders checks in with his skin go to guy, Medical Esthetician Brandon Doyle at 360Skin in San Francisco, CA. Together they come up with a game plan and agreed to microdermabrasion and with a little more arm twisting a back waxing!
As a special gift to Accidental Bear readers, Brandon is offering 20% off your first visit, for those who drop the name Accidental Bear. Awesome!
Be sure to follow Brandon’s 360 Blog where he gives straightforward skincare advice and tips!
Microdermabrasion is a non-surgical, non-chemical, non-invasive method of skin resurfacing that utilizes a diamond-tipped wand with suction to provide effective exfoliation and rejuvenation of the epidermal layers of the skin. This increases the blood supply providing nutrients necessary for skin regeneration, repair, and increased collagen production which helps keep your skin soft, plump, and youthful. Additionally, it improves the skin’s elasticity and overall texture, as well as balancing the pigment.
Microdermabrasion can reduce the appearance of acne scars, fine lines, wrinkles, and sun damage by exfoliating the top layers of the skin leaving it smooth and fresh. No chemicals are used.
What do I wear to my treatment?
When you are coming in to be waxed it is important that you wear nothing that is overly tight. You don’t want to irritate your skin after the procedure. Wear something loose and preferably cotton; the key is comfort and breathability.
Does it hurt?
This answer depends mainly on your pain threshold. For most men, yes it is uncomfortable. Some men take two Tylenol 30 minutes before their treatments. I strive to make the experience as quick and seamless as possible. Will my skin stay red for long?
No. Redness resulting from waxing goes within a couple of hours. If it doesn’t, see your physician. How often should I wax?
In order to maintain the desired results we recommed every 4-6 weeks. Your therapist needs at least 1/4″ of hair for the wax to adhere properly. Some men go every 3 weeks for a back wax. Others every 6 weeks. The more regularly you are seen the better; young hairs come out much easier. Does the hair ever stop growing?
In some people hair growth may eventually stop or slow to such a degree that it is negligible. After a few years of consistant waxing many men see a noticable change in hair growth and texture. Can I sun tan before or after waxing?
Never get waxed after you’ve been in the sun too long. A higher temperature of the skin can make it difficult to completely remove the hair from the follicle. Afterwards, please wait 48 hours before sun bathing.
(StatePoint) This year, millions of New Year’s resolutions will be made – and then broken soon after. But there is one resolution that all men should keep: to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Prostate cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in America, affecting one in six men, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. In addition, heart disease killed 26 percent of the men who died in 2006. And half of the men who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
There are many simple ways men can reduce their risk for life-threatening health conditions. Make a New Year’s resolution to improve your health and better your life with these easy tips. Continue reading →
