How (and Why) To Take Charge of Your Health

There comes a time in every man’s life when he has to decide whether or not he actually wants to take control of himself. Maybe you’ve already had that moment. Maybe some kind of crisis pushed you out of your complacency. Or maybe you’re still waiting for the universe to reach down a big cosmic finger to give you a push.

At some point, you’re faced with the decision to either grab your life by the horns or to keep coasting along doing the bare minimum. Let’s be honest; it’s hardly a complicated choice. If you want to become someone that accomplishes goals rather than daydreaming about them, then you’ve got to be able to take action. Dreaming is great, but it’s only hot air without action to back it up.

If you’re like me, you’ve been just daydreaming about getting in shape for too long. But like they say, no pain, no gain. This goes for the mind as well as the body. If you don’t take care of the old “meat suit for the soul,” you’re going to have a hard time taking care of the rest of your life. So the time has come! Consider this the poke with the big cosmic finger! Here are a few ways you can finally take charge of your health.

Pay Attention to What You Shovel In

The Food of the Gods?

Look, we all love to gorge ourselves every once in a while. Nothing’s more delicious than literally anything smothered in bacon.

But the human body isn’t designed to handle constant barrages of greasy foods. It’s time to start thinking more carefully about what you’re putting into your body. If you’re not sure where to start, speak to a dietitian who can recommend a smarter, more well-rounded diet.

But the obvious points are always going to apply: less processed food, more fresh fruit and vegetables, less saturated fat and more protein.

These things might seem obvious but the time has come to actually start transmuting that obviousness into action!

Start Going to the Doctor

Hello…nurse?

If you’re young, you can get away with avoiding the doctor’s office. But as a grown man, it stops being cute and starts being stupid.

Stop making excuses for not going to the doctor, guys! There is no good reason to keep putting off taking your health seriously. If you think something is wrong, make a doctor’s appointment right away. In all likelihood, it won’t be anything that can’t be treated with a prescription or some lifestyle changes.

If your work schedule doesn’t allow you to easily take time away for appointments, there’s even online doctor apps like http://www.babylonhealth.com/ you can use to simplify the process.

Yeah, it’s cliché time: better safe than sorry!

Adjust your Workout

Don’t just be a dumbbell…

If you work out already, that’s great! It shows you’re taking a genuine interest in your health.

But one thing you need to understand is that working out should always go beyond your appearance.

Far too many guys only ever work out with the aim of looking as good as possible, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The problem is, too many of us never go any further than worrying about how ripped we are.

You need to start thinking about the impact your workout will have on your overall health. This means you’re probably going to have to start thinking about that dreaded word: cardio.

A lot of guys ignore cardio, focusing exclusively on weight training. While lifting is important to overall fitness, cardio can have some serious positive benefits to your general health. By incorporating even a little cardio into your workout, you’re sure to see a real difference.

So, get started with just one of these areas this week. Take it slow and steady, don’t overwhelm yourself. Make it a process with some baby steps, until you’re finally taking care of yourself like a man!

—

A version of this post was previously published on LiveTheHero.com and is republished here with permission from the author.

—

◊♦◊

Have you read the original anthology that was the catalyst for The Good Men Project? Buy here: The Good Men Project: Real Stories from the Front Lines of Modern Manhood