I just finished the book and I definitely think there are some strong takeaway points to put wellness into practice. On the whole, I found the book to be a little hokey at times but generally well worth a read, especially if you are new to exploring daily consciousness in this way.

For me, the book starts off kind of rough but ends up really hitting its high points at it’s close.  While the Law of Present-Moment Living is great, the principles involved in the Spiritual Laws show Anderson at this finest.  And then there’s “The Greatest Law” on unconditional loving, which is a horse of a different color.

The one thing that sticks out about this book are Anderson’s application of the laws in his own life.  Most striking are the discussions on his health and his anecdote on forgiveness…very powerful stuff.

How’s everyone else doing on their reading challenge? Are there any books I need to add to my list?

Lately, I’ve become more concerned with my health and not really for any particular reason. I knew that I had become overweight and was carrying a little extra around but to be honest, it didn’t bother me all that much.  But somehow, someway, something in me changed recently and I’ve even started to do somewhat regular exercising.  Gasp!

You see, I have never been the type of person who enjoyed working out  and I generally have difficulty getting motivated. I think it’s just one of those personality traits that I have.  But, once I get going, I usually do well.  I’m not going to lie, I’m a little proud of myself.

Even more impressive is the amount of self control I have had when it comes to food. I have realized that I had been eating entirely too large of portion sizes so I’ve made big changes there.  But another thing, aside from cutting out calorie-laden coffee, I have adopted what I like to call the 5/2 method to healthier living.  So what does that mean exactly?

Well, basically every week is a challenge to eat cleanly Monday-Friday.  What does that mean?  It means mostly veggies and very little meat and bread.  It means lots of soy, meat substitutes and mostly vegetarian (and even some vegan) options.  It means instead of having a pint of ice cream for dessert, I opt instead for greek yogurt with fruit or a pudding cup.  Oh, and it generally means little to no alcohol.

So that’s where the 5 comes in, what about the two?  Well, you guessed it.  That means Saturday and Sunday are full on splurge days.  Pizza, fries, a cup of coffee or two and maybe even a soda.  The result?  I’m down a good twenty pounds, but I have to be honest and say this also started with a few days of fast/liquid diet to kick off.

Generally, I feel lighter and better. I have more confidence in my ability to manage my splurges and boy do I really enjoy the fatty weekend food.  It’s actually almost as if everything tastes that much better because I get to miss things a bit. How funny is that?

What about you?  What tips do you have for leading a healthy lifestyle?

Let’s keep the conversation going!

Along with it being National Stress Awareness Month, April is also Sexual Assault Awareness Month which is a cause that I’ve been passionate about for years. While risk reduction strategies are helpful they are absolutely not the end all be all way to prevent sexual assault (i.e. people need to stop sexually assaulting people).  But, human trafficking is also a HUGE issue worldwide so I’m all about anything that promotes safety.  And with many men and women being subjected to these sort of horrible crimes everyday, I thinks it’s all our responsibility to keep our loved ones safe in whatever way we can.  That being said, I find it important to spread the word about this app called bSafe that could potentially save your life.

The bSafe app is a tremendous tool for personal safety.  First off, it’s free to download.  But most importantly,  the app includes a digital SOS alarm that when pushed sends out your GPS location to a “guardian” and automatically contacts 911.  With the free version of the app, you can set 1 guardian who be notified when your SOS is triggered.  I did a test run myself with a friend and it completely freaked her out how accurate and thorough the app is.

Let’s say you’re in trouble and not able to speak to your friend after you trigger the alarm, no problem.  bSafe also alerts 911 and places a phone call to your guardian automatically, all the while recording evidence (with the paid version).  It also comes with an audible SOS alarm (and flashlight via your camera’s phone) which may help deter criminal activity when it’s triggered.

In less pressing situations, you can decide to send yourself a fake phone call (10 minutes from now, for example) from anyone to get out of an uncomfortable situation before it goes bad.  And what if you’re walking home late at night and want to let someone know? You can send the guardian a note that you want them to track you and once you’re safe all you have to do is hit the “I’m here” button.  Seriously, this app is legit.

Right now, for $30 you can get an unlimited number of guardians for a whole two years, which could help you feel more comfortable traveling alone no matter who you are. The paid versions include the real-time tracking and evidence recording that I previously mentioned, proving that this app really just might save your life.

I use to think that addiction specialists overstated the addictive nature of caffeine, but that was before I realized I had, myself, become a caffeine addict!  It wasn’t until early this year that I really noticed how caffeine was a necessary part of my daily routine: Wake up, get coffee, go to work, sip coffee, finish work, go home.  And this happened for several months without fail.  If I was out on the weekend with friends or attended a sangria-filled brunch (don’t judge), we would have to make a special Starbucks stop afterward for fear that a severe headache would set in.  I thought to myself, this is bad.

I’m not sure what changed for me, but about a few weeks ago I decided I was going to see if I could really go without coffee for an extended period of time. Could I really do it? Could I last through that dreaded 2 PM after-lunch lull? I wasn’t so sure.  But, I gave it a shot and here’s what happened:

Day 1: 2-3 Hours after missing my daily dose I start yawning.  As the day drags on, I can’t keep my eyes open.  I’m talking sitting-at-my-desk-eyes closed-fake staring-at-my-computer screen tired.  It’s possible I even dozed off for a few seconds (shhh, don’t tell anyone). 2 hours later, the headache creeps in…and then attacks.  We’re talking full on forehead pouding cranial crush.  A small Tylenol stash gets me through the rest of the workday.

Evening of day 1: Difficulty sleeping…ironic, isn’t it?

Day 2: After missing my dose for day 2, the headache creeps back in but is less intense. That’s progress! I’m a little irritable.

Day 3: I’m grouchy, like seriously grouchy.  Irritability is even higher. Leave me alone.

Day 4: Good sleep, very sound sleep.  I think I like this.

Day 5: I did it!  Caffeine detox complete.  Wait, does this mean I can never have caffeine again?!

Truth be told, a long night out for a birthday celebration led to a very satisfying relapse, but since that day I haven’t had another drop.  No more daily coffee fix for me, café will be reserved solely for special occasions.

But why quit, you ask?  Well, for me I ended up with a more even energy level throughout the day (no big rushes or crashes due to sugar and caffeine), I sleep better at night and I’m convinced that cutting back on the sugar and half and half has helped me lose a few pounds too.  Not too bad, huh?

Have you tried to caffeine detox?

What was your experience like?

For more information on caffeine addiction and withdrawal check out the links below:

Caffeine: How much is too much? (Mayo Clinic)

Caffeine Withdrawal Symptoms: Top 10 (Energy Fiend)

Beware the Perils of Caffeine Withdrawal (CNN)

1. Do you miss Loveline and Dr. Drew’s sage advice? Since the early 1990s, television has greatly ignored sex ed programming leaving a generation without direct access to fun and educational entertainment.  That Sex Show is bringing it back full force.

2. The panel. That Live Sex Show features features a panel of “sexperts” which include a psychic, an ex-porn star and a licensed psychotherapist. And the host? A self described lesbian next door with a quick wit. Not a bad squad for progressive edu-tainment.

3. It’s inclusive. Whether you identify as gay or straight (or anywhere in between), you can relate to the variety of callers/tweeters who ask for the sexperts’ advice in everything from romance to “vanilla” sexcapades to fringe kink stuff.

If this floats your boat, you may want to watch LOGO’s That Sex Show every weeknight at 11 PM.

With that said, here are seven scents for healthy living that can either improve your mood or help your health!

7. Lavender.  Widely known to help reduce stress and alleviate depressed mood, lavender also aids in restful sleep.  It’s definitely a personal favorite of mine. Spray your pillow or sheets every so often to help with your daily slumber.

6. Sandalwood.  This one is also a personal favorite as it has a strong earthy and woodsy scent.  Rumor has it that increases concentration, reduces anxiety and also promotes sexual arousal (wink, wink).

5. Peppermint.  With a clean and refreshing scent, peppermint is great for activating the senses and improving alertness.  Also, spray some around your home to ward of insects and mice as a natural pesticide.

4. Bergamot. This oil is hugely common in men’s and women’s perfumes and aids in digestion and helping a depressed mood.  Reportedly, it also helps restore  confidence which you might need for that next presentation at work!

3. Ylang ylang.  Also popular in perfumes, ylang ylang is also known to function as an afrodisiac (yep, I did it) and helps lower blood pressure.  Apparently, it also has anti-septic properties to reduce bacterial and fungal growth.  Not bad, eh?

2. Vanilla.  Almost everyone is familiar with this one as its common in a lot of bath and body products.  Vanilla is widely thought to have calming effects but my problem is that it always reminds me of sweet treats baking in my home as a child.  But, I guess it’s never a bad thing to use scents to help trigger positive memories as well. It can’t get much more calming than that!

1. Bamboo. I was recently gifted a bamboo and jasmine candle and found it both relaxing and mentally stimulating at the same time.  Apparently, bamboo also helps in reducing skin irritation and has other medical benefits as well.  It certainly has become a welcome addition in my home, so maybe it may fit into yours as well.

 What are some of your personal favorites? Did your favorite scent make the list?

These days being a man can be difficult at times, especially if its hard to find your place in the world.  Lately, I’ve seen more and more news of men with emotional difficulties  (such as Delonte West and the late Freddy E) and I think it’s more important than ever that men start paying attention to their mental and emotional health.  We all know what self-awareness and expression of emotion can be difficult for men but it seems to me that we have to start taking a closer look at ourselves if we want to be healthy and meaningful parts of our families’ and significant others’ lives.

Not too long ago, I came across an article written by Josh Bowman of the Good Men Project (which talks about these sorts of issues a lot) and I would encourage anyone to take a peek at the material.  Bowman took what I can only call a disturbing event, while at a seemingly otherwise benign relationship retreat, as inspiration to a series of posts called The Four Types of Men.  This event prompted him to explore manhood by looking at the types of men that have existed throughout time.  I found the series insightful and it inspired me to write this post and take stock of how I see myself as a man.

My own personal reflection helped me realize that the majority of the time I walk around as a “Monk”: peaceful, passive and focused.  But what I also realized about myself is that at times I have functioned as some of the others, depending on what was going on in my life at the time.  I guess the overall take-home point I am trying to make is, having the knowledge of these “types” has helped me remind myself that there are plenty other guys out there that don’t fit the mold of what a stereotypical man is. It also helped me understand how my positive and negative attributes have both helped me and held me back in both social and business settings.  And I think the key to success begins with that sense of self-awareness.

We can’t all be Warriors and it’s probably better that we’re not.  Without these differences maybe we miss some of our most prized and unique attributes, and in my opinion, there’s not much worse than that. So I ask, are you a “Monk” or a “Warrior”?  Are you the kind of guy who takes time to know himself and create his own path?  Are stretching yourself to fit in to what you’re “supposed to be”? What kind of man are you?

Suggested reading: The Four Types of Men by Josh Bowman via the Good Men Project

I started Movember 1st with a completely bare face and immediately felt that I had regressed a good 10-15 years.  I turned into a bashful teenager again and found myself counting down the days until my stache made a come back.  These days, I’m feeling a bit more like my usual self, but shaving off my stache and goatee taught me how facial hair, for guys, really is a symbol of adult/manhood.  I remember being younger, looking at my father and thinking, what will I look like when I grow a moustache?  Will I be cool then?  Will I look “old”?   It’s funny how big a difference a little razor blade and shaving cream can make.

The goatee is slowly making its way back (woo hoo!) and I’m starting to feel like a grown man again, thankfully.  I have to say that Movember was an enlightening experience as it made me more conscious about health issues affecting men around the world.  It also gave me impetus to continue to monitor my health as I get older as well the other guys in my life.  So, I guess Movember serves it’s purpose after all, huh? Plus, the Mo Gala was pretty fun too!

Movember fundraises year round for men’s health issues and you can visit their U.S. page here for more information.  Finally, check out this video from Movember CEO & Co-Founder Adam Garone as he wraps up another successful Movember campaign.

Happy Monday all!  This past month I have been raising money for men’s health initiatives through the Movember campaign.  Thanks to everyone for your donations.  To date, MANE MAN has raised $255 surpassing my goal of $200!  This past Saturday the month of fundraising concluded with the infamous Mo Gala at NYC’s Roseland Ballroom. Having never been to a Mo Gala before I was a bit nervous as I didn’t really know what to expect.  It turns out that the gala is as hilariously entertaining as the official Movember videos seem.  There were lots of costumes (Freddie Mercury and Frida Kahlo were among my favorites) and I had a great time even though I had to scold a few mo’s after their uninvited petting of the fro.

On the other hand, I met some fun people and danced to mostly 80′s music for the majority of the night.  I got the pleasure of meeting Movember Founder Adam Garone, who incidentally complimented my stache!  I even convinced a friend of mine to slip my MANE MAN card in his pocket but that’s neither here nor there.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get good photos of the costumes but I must tell you, if you get the opportunity to go, you should give it a go at least once. Plus, it’s for a good cause!  It is a bit of a circus but only in the best way possible.  I definitely think I’ll be back next year! Check out some pics below!

Anything worth doing…

There were even customized fortune cookies to nibble on.

There was a pretty good turnout…

Anyone up for an impromptu game of soccer? Ok, why not?

Me with Movember Founder, Adam Garone.

A hilariously awesome stache.

See you next year Mos!

As Movember is all about spreading awareness, here are a few quick facts about men’s health taken from us.Movember.com:

• 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime
• Testicular cancer is the most common cancer in American males between the ages of 15 and 35
• Four times as many men commit suicide compared with women
• In 2012, an estimated 13 million or 11.8% of all adult men over the age of 20 in the US have diabetes
• 24% of men are less likely to go to the doctor compared to women

I’m also pleased to announce a new giveaway sponsored by our friends at Dreadnought Shaving.  One lucky winner will be awarded a full-sized (100 ml) tub of Dreadnought’s Luxury Shaving Cream, a unique product that reduces facial hair with every shave.  Pretty cool, huh?  Just enter using the widget below.  The giveaway will run from today (November 26) to December 2 with the winner being announced on December 3.  Good luck!

Dreadnought Giveaway!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don’t forget to head over to my Movember donation page.  We’ve already hit the $100 mark, so let’s get to $200!

Happy Movember everyone!  As I stated in my previous post “It’s Almost Time for Movember!“, every year men around the world start off on November 1st freshly shaven to serve as walking billboards for men’s cancer research. This year I’ve decided to participate and my fundraising page is now live!  Help me reach my goal of $200!  Take a look at some of the pics from my Movember shaving session!

Hi everyone! I’m writing you all with a quick announcement. This year I will be participating in Movember! Don’t know what Movember is? Well, let me tell you!

Every year thousands of men engage in some serious moustachery to raise money for testicular and prostate cancer research. The month of moustachery goodness kicks off on the night of October 31 when men across the country shave off all their facial hair to start the month of November super smooth and freshly shaven. Over at my personalized Mo page (http://mobro.co/manemanblog) you will be able to see regular updates and donate funds directly to the cause! Rest assured that I will not receive any of your donated funds.  Movember will distribute the funds directly to the Movember Foundation, Prostate Cancer Foundation and Livestrong Foundation.  I’ll be updating you regularly on my progress and hope to see you commenting on my page. Help me reach my goal of $200 along the way and there may a surprise in it for you too!