“Hahaha, that’s nasty, but what are those stats again?”

Remember your teenage years?  It was such an endearing age, and for many of us, it seems so long ago.  However, some of our fondest memories come from that awkward, yet self-discovery, stage in life.

Here’s an even better trip down memory lane.  Remember health class (or Sex-Ed.)?  Ah, got you on that one, huh?  Those memories are even more interesting because even if you wanted to ask a question about STDs, you quickly recanted for fear of humiliation in front of your peers.  You may have even said aloud, “That’s nasty” after seeing a graphic image on the screen, but in the back of your mind wondering if the last person you “fooled around with” had something.   Teenagers can relish in the luxury of being young and adventurous.  However, as adults, we must speak to the next generation on the importance of making careful and responsible adult decisions.

I had an opportunity to mentor a group of gentlemen at a local high school in metro Atlanta.  I spoke to them during a speaking engagement called Project Manhood.  The group comprised of male high school students from grades 9 through 12. Working in tandem with Mario Hairston, a biology professor from Morehouse College, the discussion was around the importance of good hygiene, nutrition, public presentation and the significance of making good decisions.

The gentlemen were provided visual aids demonstrating how junk food and processed food can be switched with fruits, vegetables, peanut butter and nuts.  To keep the conversation relevant towards the demographic, discussion on why energy drinks might not be the best option and how eight glasses of water will help to maintain a good attention span (because they’ll be hydrated).

The young men were given great examples of how to dress and conduct themselves on a regular basis (no sagging pants) and were also given exercise tips (high cardio rather than lifting all the time) and mobile applications to help them keep track of their progress.  Lastly, the discussion steered towards making adult decisions.

Rather than the mundane exhibits that show the male and female reproductive organs, Mario Hairston started the conversation by showing an image of a beautiful, young lady.  As fine as the woman was, in this instance, her name was Chlamydia.  Of course, there were grimaces across the classroom, but Mario took a direct approach to explain to the young men, that no one is immune to STD’s unless they are 100% abstinent.  

Throughout the conversation, there were outburst of “not me,” but staggering statistics were shown that the State of Georgia is ranked 3^rd in the nation for the number of STD cases and 6^th for the number of HIV cases! The discussion closed with providing pamphlets, but more importantly, toll free hotlines and online resources were provided.

Discussions on sexual education are never easy; however, such discussions are critical because sexual activity is occurring with young people.  As a matter of fact, I recently saw a statistic that 6^th graders are participating in unprotected sexual activity.  To say that is not your child is rather ignorant (my opinion).  My hope is your child holds out as long as possible, but please provide them with an atmosphere where they can pose questions about sex without feeling like they are going to be severely reprimanded.

The more our kids ask and the more they learn from responsible adults, the better off they will be.

More to come…

– Don’t ponder who you are, think about who you will become

Why are the initial images we burn in our minds, of ourselves, often times benign?  Being mentally and physically sedentary restricts the opportunities that await us.

Take Dr. Martin Luther King for example.  Dr. King was in his mid-twenties when he was called upon to lead a nation of Americans to fair and equal treatment.  What would the U.S. be like today if Dr. King remained complacent and satisfied with only his educational and professional accomplishments?  Of course Dr. King was only human, so one can imagine there were moments when Dr. King wanted to throw in the towel, but he realized that there was a greater task and reward at hand.

Consider your workout or how you treat your body when you become “satisfied.”  It’s understood within the fitness community that conducting the same exercise routine repeatedly will lead to little or no change.  Your muscles will become accustomed to the same regimen and will not grow.  I would venture to say the same holds true with your mind.  Honestly, I love running, but after awhile, I mix up my cardio with swimming or intense cardio for my own sanity.

Take a moment and consider how you see yourself today.  Are you satisfied with running a mile under 11 minutes?  Cool.  Then push for 10 minutes!  Are you going to reward yourself three times a week with a cigarette if you are trying to quit?  Push for two a week!

Frederick Douglas said it best, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” 

-Keep struggling my friends!  All the way to the top!

More to come…

You were the man....in high school.

Remember that freshmen girl in college who couldn’t make the transition from high school?  Yeah, you know the one.  She wore her high school soccer T-shirt emblazoned with the words ‘State Champs from 1993-1997.’  Or what about that dude who wore his high school lettermen jacket with 10,000 tomahawks on it (the backstory: it represented the number of receptions he had as a wide receiver).  C’mon, you know the folks I’m talking about and you so badly wanted to say, “For real man?  Who gives a ….!”

 

Sadly, in my early thirties, I still see these folks at the gym.  Attention all Billy Madison-esque gym-goers:  It’s ok to grow up, let your high school gear go and get some new duds for the gym.  Seriously, do yourself a favor, cus you are being talked about.

The latest fashions in workout gear tend to be expensive.  But there are plenty of places to find reasonably priced athletic gear.  Throw that ‘1997 Lacrosse Conference Champions’ T-shirt in the rag bag and consider this suggestion.  Wicking material.

It’s true that cotton is “the fabric of our lives,” but consider using shirts, shorts and undergarments in wicking material while working out.  Wicking material pulls moisture away from the body to keep you comfortable while you’re sweating it out.  I treat my sweat-doused shirt as a badge of honor, but let’s be real, sweat on your shirt and other articles of clothing feel nasty after a while.  Not to mention if you’re a runner who chafes easily, wicking products are definitely for you. 

Popular brands that offer wicking products are Nike, Under Armour and Adidas—which can be pricey.  But, recently I’ve discovered quality wicking products at Old Navy, Marshalls, Target and Wal-Mart.  The material is of the same quality compared to Nike, but less expensive.

The only drawback to wicking products is since these garments remove moisture, they will eventually begin to stink.  You can wash them with special detergents to rid of the smell like WIN Products or even a special formulation of Tide.  But honestly, who wants to consistently wash their workout clothes separately.  My suggestion:  When your dog stops responding to your calls while wearing your workout gear, it’s time to toss the old stuff and buy something else.  Just consider it an additional incentive to work out.

Next discussion, get rid of the Fabulous 5 shorts.

“Ditch the workout. Join the party!”

I’m on the third cycle of the same workout and although I can see results, I JUST WANT TO GO TO SLEEP!

For you avid fitness buffs (or those aspiring to be) don’t you get bored with the same ‘ol routine?  What are you waiting for then?  Now is a good time to try something different.  You should check out Zumba!

OK Fellas… I get it.  I understand that this type of work out doesn’t fit into our machismo repertoire.  But dag, how many more bench presses can we honestly do as we get older?

An article taken from the Dayton Daily News lists the 10 Hottest Fitness Trends of 2012.  And guess what?  Zumba is at the top of the list.  This high energy, Latin inspired workout not only provides great cardio, it a far cry from your current mundane workout.  

Just think about it.  We’ve all hung out at night clubs and spent hours on the dance floor.  Fellas – back in the day it was nothing for us  to scoop the cutie by the bar and start jammin’.  And Ladies—rumor has it that you like looking good not just for us guys, but because you know other women are watching too.  Remember all those nights you spent dancing your cares away with your girls?  By the time the lights came on we all were sweated out and looking at hot mess!  Those calves were killing you, but you got a great workout!

The same goes for Zumba—except it’s not the club and you’re wearing the latest from Nike).  But you get my point.  Listen, if I can get my heart rate up and sweat (get your head out of the gutter!); I’m going to try it. 

Now, who’s with me?

More to come…