Annual Medical Exams: Prevention is Better Than Cure.

As I do every year, I have just undergone my annual medical exams for 2015. In the process, I went through a battery of tests for prostate, colon, liver and heart cancers. In addition, a sample of my blood was taken for various tests on my blood pressure, cholesterol level, diabetes, cancer and several other ailments.

The objectives of these tests are to prevent, detect and promptly treat possible discovery of a disease or ailment. Incidentally, there are some diseases that are best treated through an early detection and prevention. A lot of women have lost their lives to breast cancer, cervical cancer and related diseases. In the same vein, too many men have died unnecessarily from prostate cancer, colon cancer and some other diseases. All of these deaths could have been prevented through early detection of diseases. And this can only be done merely by undergoing annual or periodical medical examinations.

I am therefore appealing to men and women (especially those in their 40s and above) to act on this issue as a matter of urgency. "A stitch in time saves nine". Make an arrangement to see your doctor or health care professional as soon as possible.

7 Post-Workout Mistakes You're Probably Making.

Mistake No. 1: You Skip the Cool Down: Taking the time to let your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal levels cuts your risk of injury, according to experts. Lee Boyce, owner of Boyce Training Systems in Toronto, suggests finishing up your workout with some light aerobics--like walking on a treadmill--to let your vitals return to their resting levels.

Mistake No. 2: You Forget to Stretch It Out: Performing some stretches post-workout can help reduce soreness the next day, says Jordan Metzl, M.D. And less soreness isn't just more pleasant for you--it also means you're likely to hit the gym again sooner. Win-win!

Mistake No. 3: You Don't Snack Afterward: Food fuels you up before you start sweating, and it also helps your muscles repair themselves after your workout. Ideally, you'll want to take in a combination of carbs and protein (like Greek yogurt with blueberries or a handful of nuts), suggests fitness expert Ben Greenfield.

Mistake No. 4: You Don't Change Out of Your Clothes: As comfy as that pair of Lululemon leggings feels, you need to put on some clean clothes ASAP. Sweaty workout gear retains moisture, and wearing it after you're done at the gym could lead to yeast infections, say experts. So hurry up and slip into some fresh garments when you get home.

Mistake No. 5: You Treat Yourself to a Celebratory Drink: Sorry, but a vodka-soda doesn't count as a post-workout snack. Drinking alcohol immediately after a workout slows muscle recovery, dehydrates your body, and ups your risk of blood clots, says exercise physiologist Ellen Breeding. It's best to drink water for at least 30 minutes afterward--and then you can hit the bar if you'd like.

Mistake No. 6: You Try to Get Away With Not Showering: Yeah, skipping your post-workout shower will probably make you the least popular person in the room. But there's another reason to rinse off after you exercise: Letting perspiration sit on your skin encourages bacterial growth, which may cause rashes, say experts. Now we know why coaches always tell athletes to "hit the showers" after practice.

Mistake No. 7: You Skimp on Sleep: Sleep is essential for your body to recover after an intense workout. Why? Because that's when your body really begins to heal and build stronger muscles, says fitness expert and Women's Health advisory board member Rachel Cosgrove. Having trouble snoozing? Find out how to get more sleep.

Culled from Women’s Health Magazine.

Reactions to "Accept me as I am"

I have been getting e-mails in reaction to "Accept me as I am" published here on May 17, 2012, Most of the mails are coming from women who are either against or in favor of the thrust of the article. And there are those who completely misunderstand my point in the whole thing. To them, it's another demonstration of an insensitive attitude on the part of men to the travails of women. Below are two of the e-mails that I decided to publish today because the women insisted I did.

(i). The first time I read Accept me as I am on your blog site, I wanted to curse you out. I was upset. Okay, I guess I took it a little too personal. But after a while, I took it that you were only responding to the shared personal experience of your lady friend or colleague. Poor woman, her husband had the nerve to ignore her in bed! Do you guys think us women want to be shapeless by choice? For god's sake, the woman lost her figure because of the couple's child whose pregnancy she carried. Do you guys think it's easy to carry a pregnancy for months before going through delivery and then be able to look like one used to?

In my situation, I had my baby last year through a caesarian section. Now, how could I go to the gym or do anything to take off the weight I gained? Besides, some medications I took made me pile on more weight. If my boyfriend dares open his mouth to say I no longer look like I used to, I'll curse the hell out of him because he made my body what it is now.   

(2). I enjoyed reading what you wrote about the need for women to take care of their bodies but I felt I should let you know that men also need to do same. I never cared about workouts until I met my ex-husband. Actually, it was his sexy body, six pack and all that attracted me to him. He was also the person who encouraged me to get in good shape. Right now, no one will ever know I've got two kids because of my great body shape. 

Now guess what? The same guy that taught me to take care of my body is himself now in very bad shape. The last dumb thing that came out of his mouth before I decided to dump his black ass was that he was too old to continue with daily workouts. Too old at 38? But he has never been too old to eat a big box of large pizza and top it with a gallon of soda at just one sitting? Now, he has a pot belly that keeps expanding everyday with a fat, wobbly body. He is a big mess. The last time I saw him, he could not even tie his own shoe laces. Isn't that crazy? So, tell me what use is such a guy to a woman in bed and anywhere? I just wanted you to know that this issue cuts across men and women.