Men's Fitness: Why Our Men Need Their Workouts

by Heather Long | More from this Blogger

29 Nov 2006 08:00 AM

This is another one of those topics that may seem like a no brainer, but it's important to get into it. When we think of men, we think of strong, physical presences and sports. But there's more to being a man than just the image, there's the biological issues including how stress affects men and how it affects their health.

Heart Problems

Cardiac problems in men often outdistance the same issues in women because men tend to internalize their stress. Problems with ulcers, chronic heartburn or acid reflux and more can really leave a man feeling under the weather. Exercise is one of the best ways to cope with stress issues if you insist on internalizing them.

It's important to remember that stress ignites the fight or flight response in your body. It floods the body with adrenaline, instructs the heart to pump more, empties the bowels and increases respiration. When your body is constantly barraged with the fight or flight response, but you don't use it or burn that energy off physically - it can begin to eat away at your stomach lining, your heart muscle and more.

This is how stress can be a source for so many chronic health conditions and whereas women will reach out to other women and express their stress verbally and get it off their chests so to speak - many men will not. They need their workouts to help give them an external outlet for their stress.

Regular Workouts

You don't have to be in training for the body of Atlas or Arnold Schwarzeneggar, instead you work on the premise of keeping in shape. This means 3 to 5 days of cardiovascular workouts per week and at least 2 sessions of weight training per week. Regular workouts can help you boost your immune system and reduce the effect stress will have on your overall health.

Here's another note, men are less likely than women to get their yearly checkup and physical with their physician - don't be one of those men. Regular physicals can help in the early identification of potential health problems and the earlier something is identified, the better your chances are for treatment and recovery.

So don't let yourself skip those yearly appointments and develop a regular workout plan that helps you maximize your overall health.

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Learn more about Heather Long

Heather Long is 35 years old and currently lives in Wylie, Texas. She has been a freelance writer for six years. Her husband and she met while working together at America Online over ten years ago.

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