Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

14 MEN'S HEALTH Hey, Superman, You Wonw Be Invincible Forever L . By Ted Mitchell, MD, USA Weekend You’re on top of the world. Great. It’s time to start planning for wellness that’ll last a lifetime. A strange thing happened the other day. I was in the garage working on a project, twisting a screwdriver, when a realization hit: My hands look like my dad’s. The fine wrinkles, a few “sunspots,” slight cracking of skin around the knuckles, a banged-up thumbnail. For the first time it struck me that I am not 21 I am 39. If I am to enjoy good health, I can no longer rely on youth. I’ll have to work at it. Lots of men just don’t pay attention to their health. In fact, research suggests that macho attitudes and an aversion to seeking medical attention contribute to a widening gender gap in life expectancy. Did you know that in 1920 women lived, on average, just one year longer than men, but by 2000 they had a six-year lead? Understanding male behavior toward health and health care is the first step in improving our long term outlook. Appreciating our natural tendencies can help us change those that are unproductive. Learning to partner with a physician for medical checkups lays The Health Benefits Of BioLean Did you know that there is a safe, natural way to lose weight? The BioLean Weight Management System can help you regain control of your appetite and be healthy. ~~ sshti - For maximum results we recommend that you also use: r~p hi LipoTrim Reduces the of carbohydrates as fat, helps b<»dy maintain healthy glucose levels while promoting optimal weight loss. T?OMNDj gENTRfi EORt ft. REffIVENiMTOM liGf 1719 RasseD Pkwy., Bldg 300 • Warner Robins, GA 31088 • (478) 923-0106 www.TolandMD.com ( , “ t sA < ACCELERATOR Has your weight loss reached a plateau:' Accelerator extends and accelerates the positive results of BioLean II and Biol .can Free. For more information, call us at a foundation from which we can direct our specific care. Finally, knowing what lifestyles are healthful and which are detrimental gives us power to control our own health destiny! (Now, if that isn’t macho, I don’t know what is.) RISKY BUSINESS All you guys out there, think about it: As a boy, how many of you wanted to be Clark Kent? Always meek, mild-mannered, polite, somewhat awkward in his interactions with those around him ... you get the idea. Nah, we all wanted to be Superman! Self-assured, helping others while not needing help, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive,saving the world from annihilation —all the little things that make life worth living. That basically defines the male psyche. While some of it is certainly due to the way we were raised (“big boys don’t cry,” “take it like a man”), another part is the way we are made. It is called testosterone. For us, life is about competition. Whether it is competing in sports as a child, in love as an adolescent or in business as an adult, our nature is to strive for guPt..- £££&■ - * .. Saiiete Helps to improve mood, enhance' sleep quality, curb appetite and reduce cravings for sweets. sjtcjp us wmm SHOP 53218 1544 Watson Boulevard Warnef,Robin^^^^^^S A Bj «NK ** a * SUPPLEMENT TO THE HOUSTON HOME lOtWMAi K * ■ Hi success, even at the expense of other things. While a drive toward healthy competition is a good thing, being blinded by an exaggerated sense of self reliance is not. Such an attitude not only keeps us from getting appropriate medical attention, but also makes us neglect our bodies and engage in risky behaviors. In fact, the leading causes of death for men under age 40 continue to be road accidents and homicide. This doesn’t mean we need to sacrifice our masculinity to preserve our health. It does mean we need to See MEN'S HEALTH, pg. 16 153221