Self Improvement Journal For Men
Photographers take on the theme ‘feeling sexy?’ in this photo contest: some results aesthetically pleasing, some unquestionably hot and sexy and others just plain hilarious. Warning: may contain traces of nipples and a nice set of gluteus maximus … but the cake has to go to the little hairy guy in the first photo …
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I was not surprised by the news that I was to be the best man at my best friend’s wedding, nevertheless I was terrified. You see, I have always had a fear of public speaking. I had a speech class in high school it was absolutely humiliating. I forgot my speech when it was my time to go up in front of the class, and everyone laughed at me. Since then, I have been unable to speak in front of groups of more than three or four. Simply writing a best man speech would be difficult for me. Reading one out loud would be impossible!
I was so scared, in fact, that I couldn’t even start on my best man toast. I looked at websites filled with best man speeches, but not a single one popped out to me. Every best man speech I could find on the Internet seemed depressingly awful. They were insincere, vague, and boring - which was not surprising since they were meant to be used by anyone who wanted them. I wanted to have a killer best man speech, but I did not know how to go about writing one.
So I bought a guide to writing a best man speech book that I found on the Internet. I downloaded it an started into it right away. It ticked off everything important that a best man has to remember, some speech examples to use as a template, some funny wedding toasts for ideas on best man speech humor and the etiquette the best man is expected to follow (well, is supposed to follow). There was even some public speaking advice. Reading it gave me a lot of confidence, and put me on the right track.
Then I sat down, took a deep breath, and got to work. I knew that I would make the most perfect, humorous best man speech ever, or I would not leave that chair. Even using the template speeches for a running start it took me a few hours, but finally I was done. I revised and re revised that best man speech until my head was spinning, and finally I had it perfect. Now the only problem was how to read it!
When it came time to read my best man speech, I decided to just go in there blind. After all, no matter how much I practiced, it would not make me comfortable. I figured that if I just went in there with a head full of steam, I would be able to give my best man toast and have it all over with before I even noticed. It turns out that I was right! Much to my surprise, that best man speech went perfectly. I had no problem at all giving it, and everyone thought that some of the jokes that I cracked were downright hilarious. I suppose that part of the reason was that it was such an important moment. I knew that I had to get it right, and so I did.
Let’s talk about your physical condition. Are you currently overweight and out of shape, or are you a prime specimen of the human form? This is a crucial concern! Well, it is for you anyway. And not just for health reasons either. I was thinking more along the lines of your confidence, energy levels and happiness as well. Most folks forget about those aspects. Don’t just get in shape because your doctor said you’d die if you don’t. Do it for an improved quality of life. Now, the first thing you must focus on is coming up with a stellar workout routine. One that truly suits your body and goals.
Sometimes it’s about weight training, sometimes it’s about cardio, and other times it’s about a balance of both. Consider the current shape you’re in. If you’re looking to lose weight, but have no desire to increase muscle mass, then you’ll probably want to begin with a cardio workout routine. Start with your diet. It’s high time to focus on healthy foods like fish, poultry, vegetables, fruits and water. You may be used to fatty carbs, but it’s time to ditch those and pick up whole grains, oatmeal, rice and beans. These are healthy carbs that supply your body with sustained energy for great cardio workouts. For a great source of nutrition and fitness advice on how to burn fat you should read Tom Venuto’s Burn The Fat Feed The Muscle (you can download and read it now).
Okay, back to the fitness aspect. If you don’t have any exercise equipment, look to the closest gym. Get a membership and begin going an hour each day, five days a week. Spend your time on the elliptical machines, treadmills, recumbent bikes, and pumping out crunches galore. This is how calories are burnt. If you’re sticking to a low-fat diet, you’ll see progress in no time.
For most men, a decent workout routine consists of weight training. You’ll probably want some cardio mixed in there as well, especially if you’re overweight, but most men love the benches and dumbbells. We want lean muscle mass. Try two days of heavy cardio and three days of weight training each week. With weights, you should focus on doing sets with 75 percent of your max. It’s great if you can bench 200 pounds once, but that’s not the way to build mass. An effective workout routine with weights should consist of 4 sets per exercise with 8-12 reps per set. So get to that gym and get started today! Here are some great body building exercises and tips from a leading expert.
Every morning men across the globe face the blade. Not the vampire guy! I was thinking more along the lines of a Mach 3 or Schick Tracer. These are a couple contemporary tools of the trade. Many of us prefer their closeness over that of an electric model. I have to say that I’m one of them. I did the electric thing for a couple years in the beginning, but definitely prefer the blade now. It shaves closer and cleaner if you ask me. Certainly there are plenty of these to choose from. As long as you don’t go with the disposables, you’re probably fine. Now, what do you find troubling or irksome about this daily ritual? Wait; let me take a wild guess. You get nicks, cuts, razor bumps, ingrown hairs and/or razor burn? I think that pretty much covered it all. Yep, those are the typical pangs of shaving.
No man has to accept the foul and painful aftermath of shaving with a blade. Not anymore at least. There are too many great products on the market now days, and I’m going to let you in on some. I don’t care if you’re grappling with razor bumps or razor burn; there is something out there for you. First, let’s address razor bumps and ingrown hairs. These are the worst in my book. If you get them regularly, you should really do something to prevent them. Tend Skin for Men and Women 8 oz. is a great product for dealing with these unsightly burdens. A few other companies like Anthony Logistics and Baxter of California also offer treatments for this dilemma. Give one a
shot and see what you think.
Then there is razor burn. This is fairly easy to deal with. You want to make sure you have a sharp razor and a good shaving cream, gel, or foam. Don’t buy the mass market garbage and don’t use a blade more than 5 times. They get dull. If you can afford it, I would only then three times each. Gillette Mach3 Cartridges (Pack of 12) These will make a great difference in your shave. Try it in the shower and the whiskers will be much softer. This will prevent razor burn. And lastly, it comes down to your aftershave. Avoid alcohol! This does nothing to aid razor burn issues. It only makes things worse.
Try an aftershave that’s rich in moisturizers. A couple I strongly suggest are Baxter of California After Shave Balm, and Kid Glove’s aftershave gel. These are ideal for banishing any signs of razor burn. Use them only once, and you’ll never go back to the drugstore stuff.