Your New Year’s Resolution: Get Tested for Testosterone.

Cranky lethargic old men are cranky and lethargic because they have lost the ability to produce testosterone in the same quantities they once did naturally, which leads to all kinds of unhappy consequences, most egregious of all, depression.

A blood test at your doctor’s will determine if you are a candidate, medically speaking. Some doctors are inexplicably reticent, especially if your test levels are borderline, yet some of these same docs will happily prescribe Propecia for hair loss or Viagra for erectile dysfunction in a heartbeat. Go figure.

There are plenty of up-to-date educated, non-threatened doctors who understand the full value of robust testosterone levels in men who will be happy to make you happy, because that’s what doctors LIVE for — making their patients feel better.

If your doc discourages testosterone supplementation (Hormone Replacement Therapy) for reasons other than immediate medical concerns, research in your area for an HRT specialist or HRT-friendly doctor. Your testosterone levels should not have to be at rock bottom for you to qualify. Some family physicians and GPs are well behind the curve when it comes to HRT, which is why an HRT specialist is recommended. Every older man will benefit no matter what his current testosterone levels.

Most men will find the changes brought about by HRT nothing short of miraculous.

Ross Edgley Is The Real Deal

Being a life-long magazine contributor as writer and photographer and graphic designer, I keep a close eye on the medium. I love magazines—paper magazines and digital both. 

It’s interesting that various international versions of GQ will sometimes share some fascinating articles—but usually not. American GQ has a fitness contributor in a person named Jay Willis while British GQ has Ross Edgley. One difference is we never see proof of what Willis has accomplished for himself physically, to back up his qualifications to be advising anybody, while Edgley is pictured in all his physically-fit glory on a regular basis, as in the photos borrowed here from British GQ. American GQ relegates Fitness to the bottom of the splash page, revealing their lack of respect for self-care as well as not “getting” the number one rule of Men’s Fashion: Clothes only look their intended best on a fit body.

It's exhausting just reading about Ross Edgley’s challenging of himself, always upping the ante and finding unusual ways to push the fitness envelope to extremes. For me, Edgley is commendable for not just looking amazing—he’s built for himself the best body in the business— but for using the muscle he has built to test himself strength and endurance-wise. After all, building large and abundant muscle should be synonymous with strength, endurance and vitality, but somehow that equation has been minimized, or even lost, along the way.

Take a few minutes and have an inspiring read of the latest Edgley-authored piece describing his latest strength and endurance feat which led to an unintentional world record HERE in British GQ.

WHAT YOUR CHOICE OF PERSONAL TRAINER SAYS ABOUT YOU.

All PTs have at least one story of the odd reasoning behind a client’s choice to either hire them or move on to another alternative.

In my case I’ve had potential clients demur due to my being “too muscular,” “too serious,” and “too old.”

OK, let’s begin with “too muscular.” The inference here is that the client him/herself would be in imminent danger of becoming “too muscular” if they hired me, obviously believing that I possess the wizardry necessary to visit upon them such an unwanted outcome overnight, and that the condition is irreversible.

As far as “too serious,” the inference there is that our workouts would not be entertaining, or that I might dare to encourage them to challenge themselves.

Finally, “too old” makes perfect sense, because as we all know, everyone naturally loses all their accumulated knowledge, wisdom and experience once they hit 40. Undoubtedly, 22-year-olds have all the insider knowledge on the newest trendy moves and eating regimens, because long months of experience. And apps.

In a New York Times video published earlier in 2017 a middle aged woman who had been a contestant on Biggest Loser gained back all the original weight she had lost on the show and yet is now working as a 300 lb. personal trainer. Yep, you read that right. They showed her training a client of normal weight, and the first question that came to mind upon seeing that mismatch was, why would someone who’s already in fine shape hire a personal trainer who is in terrible shape?

A number of male friends of mine have hired female trainers because again, they were afraid a male trainer would work them too hard and act in a dominant manner. For men who want to start slow and whose primary goal is to lose weight and begin the process of getting in shape, this does make sense. But for others who have dreams of building a kick-ass beach body in 6 months time, nope.

I tend to think that many clients’ decisions are based on their fear of being pushed beyond their comfort zone. This explains the success of chatty and fun trainers who physically aid the client to move the weight on every rep, or trainers who themselves are in poor physical condition, usually dressed in head-to-toe baggy sweats to disguise that fact. Clients timid or apprehensive about what for them is uncomfortable uncharted territory do not equate a trainer’s ability with his or her own physical condition and achievements. These are often the people who utilize terms like “unattainable body standards” and the like to lay the groundwork for their upcoming failure. Their bizarre choice of personal trainer is akin to their turning over their investment portfolio to the guy begging for spare change outside the 7-11 store.

RETHINKING YOUR BELIEFS

Are you aware that “your” foundational beliefs are not yours at all?

All of us were born absolutely devoid of belief. For the first eight or ten years or more of our lives we were not sufficiently mature or capable or intellectual to form any of our own beliefs. Every belief we absorbed up until we had our own awakening originated with someone else—parents, teachers, religious leaders, older children.

We were programmed by others fearful that we might turn out different than they, frightened we might believe other than what they believed. An ongoing incessant unrelenting program of mind control was inflicted upon us from day one by every person we came into contact with. This, any thinking individual already knows.

Adults who justify themselves by reciting the deplorable phrase “that’s the way I was raised” are telling the rest of us they are too inept, fearful or both to think critically for themselves, to think as an individual with functioning brain cells, and the self respect to question rather than follow blindly.

Whoever said “Whether you believe you can or believe you can’t, you’re right.” hit the nail on the head.

Allowing fearful people into our lives who manipulate and control as a method of coping with ideas and ideals bigger than their own is personality suicide. So called “friends” and “loved ones” who are demanding you follow their lead are capable of neither friendship nor love. Staying silent to “keep the peace” in any gathering of loud-mouthed, angry, contrary individuals, whether it be your own family or society at large, will only end in the further breakdown of the situation.

Disallow people any place in your life who are out to discourage, mock or sabotage your fitness efforts, not just as a New Year’s Resolution, but as a rule—a law that goes into effect immediately. 

IT’S NOT A NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION CHOICE: IT’S A LIFESTYLE CHOICE

Richard Sullivan @ age 52

Involuntary eyerolls are already beginning as they tend to do around this time of year with people, especially Facebook people, boasting that soon there will emerge a whole new person in place of the old them, because New Year’s Resolutions.

If you’re waiting until January 1st to change your ways it is well proven you will not change your ways. If you’re truly serious about NEW, you will start today.

Fitness is not temporary. It’s not something you work at for a few months or weeks so you can look good for wedding pictures or a class reunion. Fitness is about not getting old, weak and destabilized long before your time. Fitness is every day, like brushing your teeth.

People who are bound and determined not to exercise or eat healthfully do not respond to the avalanche of information supporting the basic horse sense for doing such, but they will always ask for “prayers” on Facebook when the damage that never had to happen in the first place rears its ugly painful head.

Tick-tock.

MAN BOOBS: GYNECOMASTIA

Living in Hawaii with its year-round summer and flocks of tourists, we are daily subjected to cringe-worthy displays of droopy bouncy man boobs. The disconnect that so many people have with their own body is fascinating—obese women packed into skinny jeans or short-shorts, fat old guys wearing tiny speedos and proudly and shirtlessly displaying female breasts are an everyday sight here.

Man boobs primarily are due to a low level of the male hormone testosterone and an overabundance of the female hormone estrogen. One might think those who consider themselves to be “manly men” would be horrified to be producing estrogen in such copious quantities that they have literally grown female breasts, but apparently this is not the case.

A secondary culprit is, of course, diet—the food and drink choices these men make on a daily basis. Youthful muscle being replaced by fat is yet another intentional contributing factor.

Yes, I’m shaming these men, if only for the humorous way they’ve convinced themselves that their breasts are not womanly rather than just fixing the obvious problem. It’s the same level of denial that causes giant-bellied guys to appear on a public beach proudly wearing a speedo.

HRT is essential for the majority of older men and they should consult with their doctor as to their candidacy based on a simple blood test. This condition is known as gynecomastia and in most cases surgery, such a liposuction, is the only treatment. But unless the individual also changes his diet and begins a challenging workout routine, the feminine condition will return.

IT’S NOT YOUR FAULT!

The popular press sure knows where the money lies. It comes from those who, rather than thinking logically, acting responsibly and doing the right thing by themselves spend all their time and energy justifying their current state of inaction.

That’s why stories such as this one in Men’s Health are such a popular fixture. They draw eyes and rack up views on which to base advertisers’ rates.

No, it’s not the crap you’re eating, or the oversized portions that are making you fat. It's not your intentional ignorance of basic nutrition available to everyone within seconds simply by googling. Rather, it’s a gene—yeah—an unfortunate, unfair, insurmountable roll of the dice completely out of your control. Poor unlucky you.

There's No Truth In Broadcasting

Don’t fall for the lying bullshit contained in this video:

http://mashable.com/2017/11/17/david-harbour-hellboy-workout/?utm_cid=hp-n-2#GADA0te.OZqE

The images of the jacked Hellboy in the video make it appear they represent this David Harbour dude, when in fact they are of a laughably phony-looking rubber body-suited and CGI-enhanced Ron Perlman, not Harbour.

The video further misleads by claiming Harbour, who is in training for this role, “has abs for days” —which is embarrassing for him as the video clearly shows: this puffy dude has a LOOONG way to go to uncover whatever abs he might have under all his fat. Harbour - if he had any honor at all - should be livid over this amateur fabricating performed in his name. It’s a disservice to all the impressionable uninformed young fans who despair at their physiques not looking like the cheezy rubber-suited CGI Perlman creation seen here. The PR assholes behind this garbage need a good kick in the balls for stooping this low.

As someone who lived in LA for 35 years, let me say—fuck Hollywood.

POSTURE IS EVERYTHING

Nothing ruins all your workout effort than the easiest exercise of all: standing straight and tall, no matter what your height.

We all know the drill—stomach pulled in, abs tight, chest pushed high and forward, shoulders held down and back, knees flexed—but to keep all this in mind throughout the day is a true challenge, especially if sloppy posture has become a bad habit.

The older we get, the more our negative habits become ingrained. Young people are fresh and new, and great posture for many of them is just natural, with little effort of awareness required. Yet gravity is pulling ALL of us down, and the older we get the weaker our resolve to fight gravity and poor posture, and the more attention we need to pay to presenting ourselves in our best light.

Look at any photo of any man of any age that presents an impressive physique, and every last one will have something you may not notice right off: straight posture. Watch as people climb stairs: most pivot their upper body forward as they climb, rather than stand straight and tall. This needlessly and destructively puts pressure on the knees.

Resolve to be aware of your posture both standing and sitting, and walk proud: our body language reveals more than people realize.

WHAT OUR FOOD INTAKE SAYS ABOUT US

Are you eating recreationally rather than nutritionally? In other words, are you choosing to eat foods that benefit your body and health—or choosing foods that degrade your body and health?

Everything we choose to eat throughout the day does one thing or the other. It is possible to have the best of both worlds by making a list of all the foods you love that are actually nutritious and healthy. Go online and search for the most complete compilation of foods with calories, fats, and/or carbohydrates listed. Especially valuable would be one that lists brand names, such as Snickers, McDonald’s, California Pizza Kitchen, etc.

You will find all kinds of foods will fit your “tastes great” nutrition vs. calorie-fat-carbs criteria. Delicious non-nutritious foods might include crunchy salty potato chips, for example, while delicious nutritious foods might include a ripe juicy mango.

The greater percentage of nutritious favorites we take in, the quicker we will see improvements in our bodies, our energy levels, and our mood. The more junk and fast foods we take in, the quicker we will see and feel a degradation in these same things.

Make your list of all the healthful nutritious foods that you personally love and take it to the supermarket so that the majority of your food purchases include these great-tasting choices.

Monday Inspiration

Get Out Of Your Own Way

Humans have always hopelessly complicated simple things as a strategy to avoid dealing with the obvious.

Fat? “Stop eating so much” is the simple solution, but wait! Pretending one knows nothing about portion control, or has no inkling what a calorie is, or is under a lot of stress right now, etc., etc., are just a few of the many ways to avoid the obvious, simple uncomplicated solution: If you’re overweight you have to change your relationship with food. Simple.

Wishing to be fit and attractive rather than simply taking charge over one’s current situation and habits is self-defeating. We all have 168 hours in our week. Don’t balk at devoting just 5 of those 168 hours to a challenging workout routine of choice. 

Abe Boshes, President Woodrow Wilson's Personal Trainer.

Bodybuilder Abe Boshes: This is what a personal trainer looked like 100 years ago.

HRT Risk Vs. Obesity and Smoking Risks

Does Age Erase A Lifetime Of Wisdom and Experience?

That’s what people believe overall, and not just the young. Older people buy into this belittling mindset even more strongly, as evidenced by their willful self-destruction and numerous “what’s-the-use?” justifications for their doing nothing to remain vital.

When the olds work toward their own diminishment so enthusiastically, as they certainly do, who’s to blame young people from judging? After all, the image of the old man sitting in front of the blaring TV smoking and drinking for hours on end isn’t just some made-up unfair caricature. I’ve know quite a few of those people.

Because the overwhelming majority of older people—more than 90%—do nothing to preserve their health and strength, much less improve their health and strength, it would follow in people’s minds that the generation that intentionally goes to pot and declines physically would decline mentally as well. 

Young people seem genuinely surprised when older people express wise words of advice or well-founded words of caution, as if that is wholly unexpected—when the exact opposite should be true. Old people have themselves to blame for their image and for how society treats them by the negative way they conduct themselves. Giving up on life is nothing to be admired, much less supported. But as a society, support it we do. And it’s costing us a fortune.

Sandow

In His Mid-Fifties: Dean Colfax

Very impressive Dean Colfax works out in his very impressive  home gym. Visit YouTube to see all his videos.

A Dose Of Inspiration:

HGH: FACTS RATHER THAN RUMORS

I’m personally troubled by the number of people who buy drugs off the street, what with so much news out of India and China about counterfeit pharmaceuticals even making their way onto US hospital pharmacy shelves—never mind into the hands of body building teens.

Nothing dissuades people from getting their muscle building substances from illicit suppliers, which is a primary argument for the legalization of drugs. The illegal status of muscle building drugs is absurd to begin with since these drugs do not get anyone high and people do not OD on muscle building pharmaceuticals.

Nevertheless, since millions purchase muscle building substances off the street, it’s best to acquire an education in the form of even-keeled science-based information about them. Australian Men’s Fitness has just such an article that makes for an interesting read even if you have no personal interest in pharmaceutical muscle builders. The subject is HGH, or human growth hormone, in which is revealed HGH’s storage and handling requirements, in short, refrigeration and protection from shaking or jostling, two things a drug dealer might not give a damn about, which render the HGH useless.

The article can be found (HERE)

MATURE INSPIRATION

THE ART OF DEFLECTING

Have you ever wondered why certain people get so wrapped up in inconsequential subjects? They do this as a way of deflecting from what is really important so that they don’t have to confront and deal with those other important things. People for example rage over supplements, their convoluted claim being their use is “cheating” or “unfair.” This despite supplements being a billion-dollars-a-year industry and the majority of westerners taking at least one supplement. The critics present know-it-all disinformation gleaned from the internet in which they pick and choose only those sources that support their favored views and avoiding those that disprove their beliefs.

In many other areas of life as well, deflecting allows people comfort from having to recognize, and then FIX, what is truly wrong. In the USA one reliable deflection surfaces reliably every few years—flag burning. People get all emotional and enraged about the propriety of burning the American flag because they can get away with it. Opposing flag burning for them is a safe issue for which they believe they will not be shamed or appear foolish (except by those who see through their deflection). It is human nature to not want to deal with that which makes us uncomfortable, but pressure nevertheless builds up as we avoid dealing, and ”safe” issues like flag burning allow people to let off steam safely with few if any negative blowback.

An interesting article appears in Australian Men’s Fitness HERE that dismantles the history of criticism pertaining to creatine supplementation, and how even when disinformation is proven wrong, the need-to-believers continue disseminating the same falsehoods over and again as this provides them comfort and a feeling of control amid the tumult and chaos of their lives.

Indeed this is the whole explanation behind trolling: uneducated, willfully ignorant, insecure and emotionally unstable personalities lashing out at others rather than fixing themselves. Trolls never see themselves as the problem or as being at fault, much less in need of education, which in itself is a mental disorder.

It’s up to the individual to research any fitness method that appears promising, whether it be a novel workout technique, foods promoted as “muscle-building,” so-called “dangerous” exercises, supplements, hormone therapy, anabolics, and the like. Keep in mind that people only scream and get angry when they are frightened, so the next rant you see online filled with caps and exclamation points, understand that for what is.     

The True Psychology Behind “Steroid” Trolling.

It’s interesting how many online fitness comments are freak-outs by people emotionally opposing “steroids.”

The word steroids is in quotes here because so many of the ignorant wrongly believe that substances like 516, testosterone, human growth hormone (HGH) and the like are also “steroids.” They are not.

Beside the fact they don’t know what they’re talking about, or maybe because they don’t know what they are talking about, we have the question of why they are so emotionally invested in this subject. 

Any YouTube video featuring a well-built man will always be followed by a flurry of freak-outs and put-downs by people too dumb to realize what the rest of us are laughing at them about: their obsession with watching endless videos featuring beautiful men entirely cancels out their “no homo” disclaimers. It is understandable that those who have failed to achieve a desired level of physical perfection are angry at themselves yet unwilling to blame themselves for their lack of effort. Rather than take any personal responsibility, insecure humans who fail cope by searching out scapegoats. In this case their rule of thumb is, “anybody who looks better than me must be on steroids,” because none of these underachievers want to admit they just don’t have the impetus, willpower or dedication to carry through with their own dream of creating for themselves an awesome physique. Yet there they are, day after day watching hours of videos featuring beautiful men. Hmm.

The reason why one’s physical failings with regard to attractiveness is such an emotional hot-button issue in our society is because no one but ourselves stands in the way of maintaining a healthy weight or achieving a physical transformation for the better. Our failures in business or relationships can always be scapegoated as being the fault of others, but since we alone decide our level of physical activity and food intake, the results of those personal choices are entirely on us. The trolls disagree, claiming they have no say in the matter. Their way of coping with their refusing to take responsibility for their own failures is to deny proper respect and due credit to others for their success, usually by claiming some “unfair advantage.” They fail to learn that putting others down not only never elevates the critic, but instead exposes the critic to scorn and ridicule.

That’s just how society’s biggest failures have always operated.

Stop Locking Your Knees

Photo courtesy Therapydia, Kona Hawaii

Locking your knees is killing them.
During a leg workout is the most destructive time to make this mistake: people doing heavy leg presses, hack squats, and standing calf raises tend to lock their knees at the top of the exercise. Considering the heavy poundages used for these gym exercises, it is crucial to be aware of knee-locking.
Everyday people, especially those who spend a lot of time on their feet, stand with knees locked because their leg muscles are so weak and depleted that the muscles can’t do their rightful job of holding them upright. Muscles can be strengthened and enlarged to counteract this misuse of the knees, but the knees themselves cannot be strengthened. Knees are not designed to bear weight: that’s what the surrounding muscles, and to a lesser degree tendons, are for. Knees are nothing more than hinges: this is their one and only function.

Locking your knees is destroying them. When performing weighted leg exercises at the gym, keep a slight bend in the knees at the top of the exercise. Others who stand should do so with knees slightly bent and unlocked. This alone will force the muscles to do their job and strengthen somewhat. But building new muscle in the quads, hamstrings, butt and calves is the only real solution.

You’re not weak because you’re old, you’re old because you’re weak. Strength training: it’s the only way to counteract aging. Tick-tock.