Reproductive Function and Obesity

Recently, a great deal of attention has been given to the obesity epidemic that is taking its toll on the health of most industrialized countries; at the same time, there has been a push by public service agencies to celebrate people of all sizes and shapes and to promote a healthy body image for all. While their efforts are admirable, and it is true that self-worth should not be rooted in physical appearance, the truth is that being overweight just is not good for the body. The negative health effects of obesity are far-reaching, impacting everything from mental well-being to physical stamina, and even to reproductive function. Men who are overweight are at risk for male health issues, and developing a weight-loss and fitness strategy can be critical to overcoming problems with male organ health.

Here are just a few of the ways that men's reproductive function can be affected by being overweight:

• Circulatory issues - good cardiovascular function is critical to male health for a number of reasons. Most obviously, the ability of the heart to pump blood throughout the body has everything to do with the ability of the male organ to fill with blood and become hard; being overweight puts a strain on these systems, meaning it is much more difficult for the male organ to fill with blood. 

• Diabetes -  Type 2 diabetes is a common effect of obesity, and it has multiple effects on many of the systems of the body. Men who are diabetic are at an increased risk for male dysfunction, in part due to its degenerative effects on the nerve tissue that serves the male organ. In essence, obesity can lead to loss of male organ sensation and a corresponding inability to enjoy intimate contact. 

• Stamina - Men who are carrying too much extra weight may find it difficult to stay the course in bed, often running out of steam before they are able to complete the act. 

• Hormones - Abdominal fat works to produce the hormone cortisol, a so-called stress hormone. Elevated levels of this chemical can decrease androgen levels, which can in turn decrease a man's drive and ability to respond to sensual stimulation. 

Taking steps for better physical and reproductive health

Losing weight is difficult, and it takes time and patience - as well as a lot of effort. But the lasting health benefits are enormous. A commitment to losing weight can make a difference in nearly all aspects of a man's life. Before embarking on a nutritional or exercise program, it is very important to talk to a doctor about any health concerns and about an individual's weight loss goals. Professional advice can help men to avoid missteps that can derail their weight loss efforts and even cause further health problems.

However, the keys to improving health and quality of life include eating foods that are nutritionally sound - in the right proportions - and engaging in regular physical exercise. Many men will find that losing even a few pounds will help them feel more positive mentally, as well as having more physical energy - both important factors in the ability to function in the bedroom.

As part of this program of transformation, a little self-pampering is also warranted; a man who takes extra steps to care for his body will tend to experience greater self-esteem and lower levels of anxiety. Taking time to rest, relax, and care for the body - including the male organ - is a big part of this effort. After a warm bath or shower, applying a male organ health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil) to the manhood can help to improve the overall appearance and feel of the manhood. Vitamins and antioxidants in a specially-formulated male organ cream are designed to stimulate healthy skin and nerve growth, and they can go a long way toward repairing the cellular damage caused by ongoing health issues. Adding a cream like this to the daily personal care regimen is an excellent way to boost male organ health and pave the way to better reproductive function.

Positive Affirmations for Weight Loss

Can positive affirmations really help to control weight loss and obesity? There is a lot of discussion on the topic, but this article hopes to answer the question and show how affirmations actually can help.

Obesity is a serious problem that affects millions of people. People tend to eat in order to get their mind off the depressing idea that they are not attractive. This form of escape leads to more weight issues and gets them caught in a vicious cycle that is almost impossible to break. Positive affirmations for weight loss can help to liberate you from this cycle of low self esteem and overeating.

Through communicating the affirmations to your brain, they can help you to overcome stress and depression, It leads you to have better control of your tendency to overeat. Affirmations will increase your affirmative thoughts and make you have a better handle over your emotions. Being more positive will help you to learn to love yourself more and take better care of your body.
By helping you to believe in yourself you can be more confident that you can become lighter. It will prevent you from being discouraged from getting healthier. With continuous therapy and a consistent effort to overcome your eating compulsions, you will experience powerful changes not only in your body, but in other aspects of your life as well.

Affirmations for weight loss will provide dramatic life changes for you - but only if you take them seriously, and strive to use tem every day.

A healthier body also translates into a healthier mind and better emotional quotient. These improvements will carry over into your relationships and career advancement. A healthy mind allows for ideal decisions and emotional stability allows you to have more control even in stressful times. Make your life easier and more satisfying with the help of positive affirmations- but make sure you are still following your goals and putting in the daily effort required.

Myths, Lies and Propaganda about Eating and Weight Loss

Throughout my career in the military I have come across a variety of tall tales about eating and exercise. The extent of misinformation is so great that you'€™d think we were dealing with Cold War propaganda. If a lie is told frequently enough it is treated as the truth.

Seven Myths about Eating and Weight Loss

Eating Myth #1: Eating fat is bad for you.

The Truth: Eat fat, Soldier! It's good for you. Just don’t eat too much, and stay away from bad fat. If you want to be healthy, you must have body fat, and you must eat fat. Don'€™t eat too much, and make sure that the fat you eat is the good stuff. Eliminate the bad fats first. Trans fats and hydrogenated fats are bad news for the body. Stay away from them. Trans fats and hydrogenated fats are almost exclusively found in processed foods. Read the labels and you will quickly learn about the sources of these bad fats. Saturated fats can also be a source of artery-clogging and cholesterol-increasing fats. So where do you get those good fats?

You get them from plant products (plant-based oils and nuts). Your best bet is to look for plant-based fats that contain predominantly monounsaturated fats and a lesser amount of polyunsaturated fats. Olive oil fits this description. No more than 30 % of your daily caloric intake should be made up of fat (example: one tablespoon of olive oil has 120 calories). Some athletes, like professional soccer players, actually consciously increase their fat intake to as high as 40% due to special athletic needs.
Let'€™s take a quick look at what fat is used for in the body:
Stores energy.
- Gives shape to your body.
- Serves as a protective cushion to your skin.
- Insulates the body to reduce heat loss.
- Is a part of every cell membrane in the body.
- Is essential to brain and nerve cells function.
- Serves as a protective cushion around your internal organs.
- Is an integral part of many hormones and other biochemicals, such as Vitamin D.

Eating Myth #2: The best way to lose weight is to cut back on the calories.

The Truth: Exercising and eating right are the best ways to lose excess weight.
The best weight-loss is one where you watch the quantity and quality of food you eat and exercise regularly. If you just reduce calories, especially without exercising, your metabolism will slow down to compensate for the reduction, and your weight-loss strategy is out the window. (See the chapter on Six Keys to Permanent Weight-loss€).

Increased stress can even cause your body to store more fat. That’s right. Your body has a protective mechanism when it's stressed by dieting. Merely cutting back on calories without eating healthy or exercising will cause you to lose good, lean, muscle mass. This means that your body has practiced cannibalism on itself and is €œeating your flesh. As you can see, you will actually create a whole array of health issues if you listen to the enemy on this one.

Eating Myth #3: You can eat as much as you want, if you are eating healthy foods.

The Truth: No! Even if you are healthy and exercise regularly, overeating healthy food choices lead to poor performance and reduced energy. After trampling through all the other land mines (= myths) above, this should be an easy one for you. This myth focuses on the quality of food while disregarding the quantity. Truly healthy eating focuses both on the quantity and quality of food.

Eating Myth #4: You can eat whatever you want, if you work out regularly.

The Truth: No! Unhealthy food choices reduce energy and physical and mental performance. Would you ever hear a race-car driver say, I'€™m going to put low-octane fuel in that gas tank. After all, this car gets worked regularly.€ Performance and energy would suffer and races would be lost. It is no different with the human body. Put low-octane fuel (= unhealthy food choices) in your body, and your performance will suffer. You will have less energy and more health issues. Poor food choices will impact your mood, compromise your immune system, and get your hormones out of whack. Need I say more? Occasional indulgence in food and drink, even if it may be low-octane fuel, will probably not negatively impact your overall health. Occasional means no more than once a week.

Eating Myth #5: Eating late at night will cause you to gain extra weight.

The Truth: Eating a regular meal after 8:00 PM does not cause weight gain. If you are hungry and are considering missing a meal because it's late, by all means, eat something. Weight gain is caused by eating too much and/or not exercising regularly. We all do not have the same schedules, so we have to design our own eating plans. Eat at least three times a day with one or two (unprocessed) healthy snacks, if necessary. We generally want to avoid eating less than an hour before bed only to prevent digestive sleep interruptions, which may result in some very interesting dreams.

Eating Myth #6: Skipping meals is a good strategy to cut back on calories and lose weight.

The Truth: Skipping meals is a one-way ticket to weight gain. Intentionally skipping meals is the fastest way to gain weight and possibly get sick. Your body is smarter than you are and will protest your skipping a meal by slowing that metabolism down so that you won'€™t lose one single pound of fat.

Eating Myth #7: Eating less than 1200 calories will speed up your weight-loss.

The Truth: Here we go again. This is a myth and will slow your metabolism making you more susceptible to weight gain. See our Intel on Eating Myth #2.