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Expert advice you can
trust—from Men’s Health!

Men’s Health is committed to offering responsible, practical advice for

the intelligent man—supported by professionals and legitimate scientific
research. The information here is designed to help you make informed
decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for any
treatment prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect that you have a
medical problem, please seek competent medical care.
Contents
Before you undertake a new health program or fitness regimen, we
encourage you to discuss your plans with your health care professional, By the Numbers 4
especially if you have not exercised for several years, are over 35, or are Health
overweight.
50 Ways to Beat the Reaper 5
Where trade names are used, no discrimination is intended and no
endorsement by Rodale Inc. is implied. Mention of specific companies,
4 Pains in the Body 11
organizations, or authorities in the book does not imply endorsement by 5 Ways to Psych Out Sickness 12
the publisher, nor does it imply endorsement of the information by those 5 Beneficial Drinks 13
companies, organizations, or authorities. Internet addresses, product
information, and telephone numbers were accurate at the time this book Mind
went to press. 6 Gut-Wrenching Decisions 14
©2010 By Rodale Inc. All rights reserved. 6 Steps to Positive Thinking 15
Heighten Your 5 Senses 17
This publication is only for the personal use of Rodale customers. For
any other purpose, no part may be reproduced or transmitted in any Muscle
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, 5 Best Strategies
recording, or any other information storage and retrieval system,
without the written permission of the publisher. for Explosive Gain 18
The 5-Minute 6-Pack 20
Sex
5 Ways to Split or Commit 23
The 5 Women She Hates 24
6 Ways to Bust Out of
a Romance Rut 25
Looks
Project editor K. Strauss | Copy editor Patricia A. Sinnott Top 10 Cosmetic
Cover designer Lauren Vitello Procedures for Men 28
Book designer Maureen Logan | Photo editor Jim Gallucci | Photography
Beth Bischoff, p. 20–22 ; Brand X Pictures/Jupiter Images, p. 28; Digital 6 Tips for Great Hair 31
Vision/Getty Images, p. 10; Hilmar, p. 3; Hilmar Meyer-Bosse, p. 7;
Image Source/Getty Images, p. 17; Masterfile, cover; Photodisc/Getty
Images, p. 16, 31; Stockbyte/Getty Images, p. 27, 32
Back to Contents
 Health
By the Numbers
Moses came down from Mt.
ver since
Sinai with the original Top 10 List, men
50 Ways to
have obsessed over numerical rankings.
We don’t do well with fuzziness and
uncertainty: We like things clear, concise,
Beat the Reaper
and (as with the 10 “thou shalts”) set in It’s simple: Employ these scientific strategies now,
stone. We’re each on our own quiet march and add years of good living to your future
to greatness, and that march puts us ahead
of—or behind—all other men in the universe. Indeed, here are
the three top reasons men love lists. We’ve been told that the only sure things Untreated heartburn can lead to a
are death and taxes. But just as creative heart attack, according to a study in the
[1] accountants have helped many men triumph International Journal of Cardiology.
Lists give the illusion of control. over their 1040s, we can help you outrun Scientists discovered that as acid levels in
And as our world continues to buzz louder and louder, rankings the reaper. Maybe it’s a game you can’t the esophagus rise,
and ratings become even more important to our sense of sanity. ultimately win. But by following these the incidence of Untreated
Whether it’s knowing the six best exercises for six-pack abs or 50 50 tips, you sure as hell can send it into blocked bloodflow heartburn
ways to avoid death, having a ranking of quality and quantity is the overtime. to the heart also can lead to a
psychological equivalent of having a club in your hands: It allows you
to stride through the information jungle with confidence. Lists are
1. Drink at least five 8-ounce
glasses of water a day
rises by 20%. A
natural remedy:
heart attack,
blunt instruments, but sometimes a blunt instrument is all you need Scientists at Loma Linda University found Analyze your diet. according to
to tame the beast. that men who drank this amount of H2O Don’t make a a study in the
were 54% less likely to suffer a fatal heart habit of drinking International
[2] attack than those who drank two glasses or wine, juice, or Journal of
Lists set us apart from women.
With their greater capacity for emotional juggling, women are
less every day.
2. Take a laugh break
carbonated
beverages, all of
Cardiology.
much more adept at understanding and adapting to shifting Watching 15 minutes of funny video can which are highly acidic and may trigger
landscapes—which is why they keep us so off balance all the time. improve bloodflow to your heart by 50%, heartburn, say South Carolina researchers.
We like solid, orderly rules, because they help define a man’s place report researchers at the University of 5. Indulge your chocolate craving
in the world. Maryland. “This may reduce blood clot In a 15-year study, Dutch scientists
formation, cholesterol deposition, and determined that men who ate just 4 g of
[3] inflammation,” says study author Michael cocoa a day had half the risk of dying from
Lists come to an end. Miller, M.D. heart disease than those who ate less. That’s
Nothing else really does. Relationships fade, careers slow to a 3. Don’t go to work sick the equivalent of two 25-calorie Hershey’s
trickle—even The Sopranos signed off with a “Hmmm. . . .” But lists Over a 3-year period, men who clocked Kisses—an amount that can fit into any diet.
stop and let us move on to the next thing. So here’s where this list in despite feeling under the weather had 6. Say no to Froot Loops
stops and the next thing begins—our tips for 2009, packed with double the heart attack risk of guys who In a review of 53 studies, Australian
more than 100 ways to look, feel, and live better. So, take out your stayed in bed, according to a U.K. study. researchers found that regularly eating
No. 2 pencil, and start checking them off. 4. Put out the fire in your chest cereal made from refined grains raises

4 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G Back to Contents w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m
HEALTH
insulin and C-reactive protein and lowers
HDL (good) cholesterol—all factors that
boost your odds of developing heart disease.
A better choice for your morning bowl: Post
Shredded Wheat cereal, which is made from
100% whole grains and contains no sugar.
7. Take a magnesium
Constant supplement
worrying Over an 18-year period,
shortens researchers determined
your life that men with the
span by highest blood levels of
magnesium are 40%
16 years. less likely to die of any
cause than those with the lowest levels.
Magnesium can make multivitamins too
bulky, so add a 250-mg pill from iherb.com
or GNC to your daily regimen.
8. Burn 1,100 calories a week
Duke University scientists have discovered
that this amount of exercise prevents the
accumulation of visceral adipose tissue—the
dangerous belly fat that causes arterial
inflammation and hypertension. Falling
short? Join a league: A British Medical
Journal study reported that people who
exercised in groups boosted their average
calorie burn by 500 a week.
9. Take a daily multivitamin
Researchers at the University of California
at Berkeley have discovered that this helps
prevent the DNA damage that causes
cancer. We like Centrum Silver.
If you think you’re having a heart attack…
10. Plop an Alka-Seltzer…
It contains 325 mg of aspirin, the same as a regular aspirin, and begins fighting blood clots almost
3 minutes faster than a pill, according to a study in the journal Thrombosis Research.
11. ...and call a ride.
Walk-in patients wait almost twice as long in the ER as those who arrive by ambulance, according
to a University of New Mexico study.
6 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G
12. Hit the weights
University of Michigan scientists found that
men who completed three total-body weight
workouts a week for 2 months lowered
their diastolic blood pressure (the bottom
number) by an average of 8 points. That’s
enough to reduce the risk of stroke by
40% and heart attack by 15%.
13. Set a three-drink limit
Harvard researchers have determined
that downing more than three drinks in a
24-hour period increases your risk of atrial
fibrillation, a condition that may boost your
odds of a stroke fivefold during that time.
An important note: When the average man
pours himself a glass of wine, it’s typically
twice the size of a standard drink (4 ounces),
report researchers at Duke University.
14. Treat a killer bee sting
You may not know if you’re allergic to
the venom of a bee, wasp, or hornet until
you’ve already been stung. But if you start
to experience the symptoms of a life-
threatening reaction—hives, wheezing, and
abdominal cramping—you can save yourself
in three steps:
Step 1 Call 911.
Step 2 Take a Benadryl.
Step 3 Lie on your back and elevate
your legs while you wait for help, says Steven
Kernerman, D.O., an allergist at the Spokane
Allergy and Asthma Clinic. An allergic
reaction can constrict your blood vessels,
m
have found that hostile, aggressive
men often have low blood levels of
DHA—one of the main omega-3
fats found in fish oil. We like
Nordic Naturals Ultimate Omega
(nordicnaturals.com). Take
1,000 to 2,000 mg every day.
19. Try a natural remedy
According to Israeli scientists,
eating one red grapefruit a day
lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol by
20%, even in people who don’t
respond to statins.
20. Have breakfast within
1½ hours of waking
A University of Massachusetts
study found that men who
waited longer than that were
and our three-step strategy counteracts that 50% more likely to become obese. And
by improving bloodflow to your heart. U.K. researchers determined that increases
15. Eat produce at every meal in body mass were directly proportional
If you consume more than five servings of to the likelihood of dying of gut cancers—
fruits and vegetables per day, you have a specifically, rectal, bladder, colon, and liver.
26% lower risk of stroke than people who 21. Vacuum for 30 minutes
eat fewer than three servings, according Doing 150 calories’ worth of chores a day
to a U.K. study. can lower high blood pressure by 13 points,
16. Monitor your blood sugar according to Medicine & Science in Sports &
Johns Hopkins University researchers Exercise. The reduction lasts only 8 hours—
have determined that people with the but make it a daily habit, and you can lower
highest blood-sugar levels have twice the your BP in the long term. (Helping out
risk of heart disease as those with the lowest. with housework
A warning sign: fasting blood sugar that’s may improve your Reaching
greater than 100 mg per deciliter. sex life, too.) for an
17. Think positive
Purdue scientists have discovered that
22. Eat berries
The antioxidants
unsecured
constant worrying shortens your life in cranberries, blue- object as
span by 16 years. berries, strawberries, you drive
18. Keep your cool and raspberries have makes you
eight times
Men who frequently express anger been shown to offer
outwardly are more than twice as likely to
have a stroke than guys who control their
protection from a
stroke, keep you
more likely
tempers, according to the journal Stroke. If mentally sharp as
to swerve
you have anger-management issues, try fish you age, and ward into a road
oil. National Institutes of Health scientists off cancer. barrier.
Back to Contents w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m
HEALTH m

screws into a ceiling light socket and feeds glue, and sidewalk salt away from gas
off your home’s electricity. appliances. The chlorine or fluorine in these
Make sure you don’t end up as fish food 33. Sip on mint tea products breaks down into ionized gas, which
It contains the powerful antioxidant can eat holes in the pipes that deliver the fuel
Most shark attacks occur at dawn 23. Dive with a partner
and dusk, when sharks feed,
hesperidin, which reduces the inflammation for your furnace, range, or dryer. Think you
This cuts the chance of a shark attack by 50%, say Australian scientists.
says Alan Henningsen, a marine and oxidative stress associated with smell fumes? Don’t call for help from inside
24. If you’re attacked, hit the
biologist and shark researcher diabetes by 52%, according to a study at the your house; using your phone could create an
shark in its eyes or gills
at the National Aquarium, in
These are its most sensitive areas. The snout might work as a target,
University of Buffalo. And despite its lack of electric spark and set off an explosion.
Baltimore. You can watch the
but this tactic often results in a bitten arm, according to a University of caffeine, mint tea also increases alertness. 40. Add curry to vegetables
sky for clues to their location:
Seabirds eat the same fish as
Maryland study. 34. Don’t jaywalk Rutgers University scientists have
sharks. Here are three more 25. For God’s sake, don’t pee in the ocean This is particularly good advice if you’ve discovered that a combination of turmeric
ways to avoid a grisly death. Bodily fluids attract sharks. had too much to drink, because 77% of (found in curry powder) and phenethyl
pedestrians killed while crossing the isothiocyanate (a compound in broccoli,
road aren’t at intersections, and 53% of brussels sprouts, and cauliflower) helps fight
26. Drownproof yourself diabetes, and restless sleep increases your those killed at night have blood-alcohol prostate cancer. The researchers believe
If you’re dumped in the water without odds of a stroke. concentrations at or above .08%, the legal that dusting your vegetables just once a
a life preserver, the keys to survival are 29. Live life in a smoke-free zone limit in all 50 states. week will provide protection.
staying warm and conserving energy. Use Secondhand smoke, besides boosting your 35. Douse your salad 41. Be a career coach
the method taught to U.S. Navy pilots: risk of lung cancer, raises your diabetes risk with oil and vinegar A man married to a woman who is upset by her
Float facedown in the water with your by 40%—nearly the same as smoking does. European scientists have determined that work is 2.7 times more likely to develop heart
knees tucked against your chest in the 30. Dodge a deadly lightning bolt unheated olive oil reduces cancer risk. disease. If your wife won’t find a new job, help
fetal position. (This slows the drop in body Stay off the toilet during severe As for vinegar, eating it prior to a high- her practice her negotiating skills. A Harvard
temperature.) Exhale bubbles slowly, thunderstorms. If lightning hits within even carbohydrate meal (like pasta) slows the study found that due to anxiety, women don’t
turning your head to one side only to 60 feet of your house, not only can it jump absorption of carbs into your bloodstream. initiate money talks at work as often as men
inhale deeply. Repeat until help arrives. through phone and electrical lines, but it can This prevents the spikes in blood sugar and do, especially when the boss is male.
27. Sleep on your side also run through plumbing, according to the insulin that signal your body to store fat. 42. Stash a cinnamon
This can halve the number of sleep-apnea- National Weather Service. 36. Don’t get blown to bits air freshener in your car
related wake-ups you experience during the 31. Put your iPod on a mount Keep bleach, paint stripper, fabric softener, The strong, spicy smell can help you stay alert
night. Such interruptions make you up to six Reaching for an unsecured object as you
times more likely to be involved in an auto drive makes you eight times more likely to
accident, due to residual fatigue, according swerve into a road barrier, according to the
to researchers at University Hospital in Mayo Clinic. Improve your outlook, save your life
Bern, Switzerland. To keep from rolling over 32. Check your smoke alarms
Scandinavian 37. Find time to exercise...
onto your back as you sleep, stuff a small, The most likely reason a house fire ends in a researchers have People who exercise at any intensity for 2 hours a week—an average of about 17 minutes
firm neck pillow down the back of your fatality: no early warning. While just about observed that a day—are 61% less likely to feel highly stressed than their sedentary counterparts,
T-shirt before dozing off. every U.S. residence has smoke alarms, a deep depression according to researchers in Denmark.
28. Light a jasmine-scented candle Morehouse School of Medicine study revealed (and its spinoff,
38. ...then take it outside
suicide) is often
Scientists at Wheeling Jesuit University that the devices were nonfunctioning in one- British researchers found that people who exercised outdoors reduced their depression
caused by job
found that men who did this for just third of homes due to dead or absent batteries. stress. Here’s how
by 71%, while indoor exercisers’ depression decreased by only 45% after their workouts.
1 minute before bed fell asleep faster, tossed If you’ve ever let the juice in any of your to lower stress, 39. Cut out the sweet stuff
and turned less, and felt more refreshed in detectors dwindle—or removed the battery boost your mood, Tufts University researchers found that men on low-sugar diets had lower levels of
depression and anxiety than those who consumed all types of carbs. The happier people
the morning than those who didn’t inhale simply to disable the beep indicating low and improve your
overall health. also limited their total carb intake to 40% of total calories.
the aroma. That’s important, because power—consider installing at least one DuPont
insufficient sleep boosts your risk of self-charging smoke alarm (target.com). It

8 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G Back to Contents w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m
HEALTH m

as you drive. Researchers at Wheeling

Jesuit University found that a whiff
increases alertness by 25%. Sucking on
a cinnamon Altoid may work, too.
43. Test yourself for HIV
A British study has confirmed that
early detection is the key to extending
your life. You can order an at-home
HIV test online (homeaccess.com),
mail in your blood sample, and receive
your results in the mail just 7 days later.
44. Fall on your butt
If you feel yourself losing balance on
the stairs, crouch so that your butt
hits first, says Robert Nirschl, M.D., a
spokesman for the American Academy
of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Don’t be
afraid to bounce down a few steps—it’ll
make a fatal blow less likely.
45. Design a colorful menu
Colorado State University scientists have
discovered that men who eat the widest
variety of fruits and vegetables gain greater
cancer-fighting benefits than those who
eat more total servings but choose from
a smaller assortment. That’s because the
plant chemicals that protect against disease
vary among botanical families. Mix it up
by choosing one
Brooklyn serving from each
College of the five different
researchers color groups: blues
have and purples, greens,
It reduces stress that can damage your heart.
Even a short nap once or twice a week was
found to decrease the risk of early death.
47. Steep your tea for
at least 3 minutes
Any less than that lowers the amount of
disease-fighting antioxidants.
48. Use watercress in your salad
A study from the American Journal of
Clinical Nutrition reveals that eating
3 ounces of watercress every day increases
levels of the cancer-fighting antioxidants
lutein and beta-carotene by 100% and
33%, respectively.
49. Enjoy your joe
Brooklyn College researchers have
4 Pains in
the Body
A simple symptom may need a second look
A headache is usually just a headache, not
an aggressive brain tumor. But persistent or
recurring pain could signal a more serious
problem lurking within your body. Suspect
something ominous? Consult this list, and
then see your doctor.
Your Foot Hurts
Secondary symptom: Mild pain in the back of
your thigh
One hidden cause: Herniated lumbar disk
Diagnosis: Even if your back feels fine, pain
in your foot can mean your sciatic nerve,
which snakes from your lower back to your
foot, is pinched by a herniated disc. “It
can be coupled with feelings of pins and
needles in the leg,” says Loren Fishman,
M.D., an assistant clinical professor at
Columbia University.
Prevent it: Work your abs. Hunching puts
your lower back at risk of wrenching, says
Fishman. Strengthening the abs boosts your
ability to maintain good posture.
migraines due to the onset of meningitis.
Prevent it: Swallow garlic. In one study,
soldiers who took 1,200-mg capsules daily
repelled ticks significantly better than those
who didn’t take garlic.
Your Jaw Hurts
Secondary symptom: Audible clicking sound
when you open and close your mouth
One hidden cause: Temporomandibular joint
disorder (TMJ)
Diagnosis: The key symptom of TMJ is acute
jaw pain when you open your mouth, says
David Hellmann, M.D., of the department
of medicine at Johns Hopkins.
Prevent it: Put your jaw in neutral. Instead
of clenching your teeth when stress strikes,
place your tongue behind your upper front
teeth, as if you’re going to say “N.”
Your Biceps Hurt
Secondary symptom: Loss of balance
One hidden cause: Parkinson’s disease
Diagnosis: Chances are slim that you’ll

discovered whites, reds, and discovered that drinking 4 cups of coffee Your Neck and Shoulders Hurt develop Parkinson’s. Fewer than
that drinking yellows and oranges. a day lowers your risk of dying of heart
disease by 53%. If you like Starbucks,
Secondary symptom: Severe, throbbing
headaches
40,000 Americans are diagnosed each
year. But a clear—and confounding—early
4 cups of
46. Take a
noontime nap choose a Caffè Americano: A grande counts One hidden cause: Lyme disease indicator is long-term pain in both biceps,
coffee a day Breaking up as 4 cups and contains just 15 calories. Diagnosis: Chances are good you won’t says Gordon Gilbert, M.D., a professor of
lowers your your day with a 50. Ask for the heel know if a pencil-point-size tick latched physiology and molecular pharmacology
risk of dying 30-minute snooze Bread crust has up to eight times more onto you this summer. That’s why many at the University of South Florida.
of heart can reduce coronary pronyl-lysine—an antioxidant that fights cases of Lyme disease are reported Prevent it: Hit the gym. A Harvard study
mortality by 37%, cancer—than what’s in the center. Similarly, in the fall and winter, when serious has found that men who work out regularly
disease report Greek the skin of produce is loaded with healthy symptoms set in. Early indicators are 40% less likely to develop Parkinson’s.
by 53%. researchers. Why? nutrients, too. of Lyme include neck stiffness and

10 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G Back to Contents w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m
HEALTH m

5 Ways to Psych 5 Beneficial

Out Sickness Drinks
Heal your body with brainpower Catch a healthy buzz from these cocktails

You may not know it, but you have a doctor study in Archives of Internal Medicine. A spoonful of sugar [2] [4]
who’s always on call—and he’s right between Your therapy: Start by taking a weekly helps the medicine go Blue The Rabbit Hole
your ears. Here are five ways you can inventory of what you’re grateful for— down, but then so does 1 Tbsp whole blueberries 1 oz Square One
harness your mental medicinal powers. friends, family, anything—and avoid feeling a shot of organic vodka. organic vodka
½ oz fresh lemon juice
1. Laugh away allergies resentful about what you still don’t have. If you’re going after the 2 oz Ty Ku, an Asian-inspired
3 oz fresh carrot juice
Queue up the gut busters when allergies Focusing on gratitude increases optimism, buzz, why not fill the drink liqueur made with sake ½ oz fresh cucumber juice
strike. Participants in a Japanese study according to a study in the Journal of with ingredients that carry 2 oz pomegranate juice ½ oz Cynar, an Italian
herbal liqueur
were less affected by allergens after Personality and Social Psychology. some benefits? Here’s to 1 oz limoncello
1 sprig fresh sage
seeing a funny film but sneezed more after 4. Imagine muscle strength your health.
In a rocks glass, combine the blue-
viewing a serious one. Laughter revs your To boost recovery from a muscle injury, berries and lemon juice, and muddle Combine the liquid ingredients
parasympathetic nervous system, imagine a workout. Just visualizing lifting [1] the berries to extract the juice. Add in a shaker with ice. Shake, and
preventing allergens from taking hold. weights can actually build muscle, speeding Pepper Delicious ice until the glass is half full, top with strain into a cocktail glass. Top
the remaining ingredients, and stir. with the sage sprig.
Your therapy: Rent a sidesplitting DVD, such healing, say Cleveland Clinic researchers. In 3 rings sliced red
bell pepper The benefit: Lutein, which is
as Superbad, The Simpsons Movie, or Hot their study, men who visualized working out The benefit: In a Preventive
found in carrots, can reduce your
Medicine Research Institute study,
Fuzz (the Collector’s Edition). their biceps saw a 13% increase in muscle 6 –8 leaves fresh mint
risk of cancer, says an American
heart patients’ health improved
2. Do good for cuts and bruises mass—without lifting a single weight. 2 oz Aviation gin
after they drank antioxidant-rich
Journal of Clinical Nutrition study.
A Good Samaritan act can speed your Your therapy: For 15 minutes a day, imagine 1 oz fresh lime juice pomegranate juice.
recovery by at least a day. “Healing is exercising your injured muscle. Imagine every ¾ oz simple syrup [5]
delayed an additional day by hostile detail—the pressure, the range of motion, (equal parts sugar [3] Beet Sangria
and water
interactions,” says Janice Kiecolt-Glaser, and the muscle flexing and stretching—says Avocado Daiquiri 4 oz sugar
2–3 ice cubes
Ph.D., a professor of psychiatry at Ohio sports psychologist Trent Petrie, Ph.D. 2 oz silver rum Pinch of salt
State University. “But a positive inter- 5. Listen away office fatigue In a shaker glass, combine 2 oz gold rum 11 oz beet juice
action boosts cytokines—chemicals that Just like listening to the radio when you’re two pepper rings and the mint 2 oz simple syrup 3 oz fresh OJ
leaves, and press firmly with
recruit cells that are needed for making red-eyed on the road, tuning in to music at (equal parts sugar and water)
oz fresh lime juice
a muddler to pulverize the
repairs—in the area around the wound.” your desk will help you focus on the task peppers. Add the gin, lime
½ oz half-and-half
8 oz red wine
Your therapy: Surprise your mate with at hand, say Japanese researchers. Music juice, syrup, and ice. Shake, ¼ oz fresh lemon juice
oz brandy
(or lime juice)
dinner, or send a card to your grandma or triggers a relaxation response, muffling and strain into a chilled glass.
3 oz ginger beer (or ale)
a check to your favorite charity. Pay it unproductive temptations and letting you Garnish with the remaining ¼ medium-ripe avocado
pepper ring. 1 oz Cointreau
forward, and you’ll be cured in no time. tackle your work, says Larry McCleary, The benefit: A diet high in
1½ cups ice cubes
3. Be positive for your heart M.D., author of The Brain Trust Program. vitamin C, carotenoids, and Combine the ingredients in a
Dissolve the sugar and salt into
Purging pessimism can help your ticker. Your therapy: When you feel a dip, plug lycopene (all of which are amply blender until smooth.
the nonalcoholic ingredients.
Add the alcohol, and stir.
Men who scored high on an optimism into your iPod or call up pandora.com. supplied in red peppers) reduces The benefit: Researchers at Ohio
the incidence of chronic disease The benefit: Folate in beets
test were 55% less likely to die of It doesn’t matter what type of music you State University have determined
has been shown to lower the risk
and death, according to a that avocados protect against heart
cardiovascular disease than those listen to, as long as it’s something you Spanish study of 41,000 people. of coronary artery disease.
disease.
with defeatist dispositions, says a choose, research shows.

12 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G Back to Contents w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m

MIND
6 Gut-Wrenching
Decisions
Know when to trust your intuition and when to doubt it
Your brain is telling you she’s hot and
available, but your gut is urging you to zip
up and run. Which will it be? You can, in
fact, trust your gut with some big choices,
but your rational mind has its strengths, as
well. This handy guide shows exactly when
your heart or your mind should have the
upper hand.
Go with Your Gut
When You’re...
Making a Moral Decision
Why: If you’re good friends with a married
couple and one of them is having an affair, do
you tell the other spouse? “Moral judgments
are a combination of intuitive gut reactions
and reflection. Without your gut, you’d make
arbitrary decisions,” says Fiery Cushman,
Ph.D., a researcher at Harvard.
The strategy: When faced with a moral
conundrum, weigh the practical facts, but
heed your inner monologue for the right
decision.
Second-Guessing Your Doctor
Why: Doctors often overlook symptoms that
don’t fit the usual model of a disease and
often dismiss fears as paranoia, especially in
healthy young men, says John Amory, M.D.,
14 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G
an associate professor of medicine at the
University of Washington.
The strategy: You’re the only person who
can “listen” to your body. If it’s telling
you that something’s lurking, then find a
specialist outside your primary doctor’s
group, recommends Amory. It just may
save your life.
Playing a Game
Why: In a Michigan State University study,
expert chess players performed as well in
“blitz chess” (a 5-minute version of chess)
as they did in the traditional game. The
takeaway: Overanalyzing won’t improve
your performance.
The strategy: On a test or in a game, the
choice that feels right is often correct, says
Paul Slovic, Ph.D., president of Decision
Research, a nonprofit group that studies
human judgment and risk analysis. “That
feeling you have is your intuition checking
up on your analytic thinking.”
Go with Your Brain
When You’re...
Hiring a Job Candidate
Why: If the potential hire is agreeable and
funny, your instincts are wired to choose
him over an aloof candidate who’s more
qualified, says David Myers, Ph.D., author
of Intuition.
The strategy: You can’t completely avoid
your impression bias, but you can control
it with structured interviews. Set questions
and scaled ratings are three times better
at predicting on-the-job success than
informal talks are, according to a study in
Psychological Bulletin.
Investing
Why: When it comes to money, your gut
is often influenced by the herd mentality,
says Myers. Take equity funds backed by
subprime loans. By definition, these are
investments in borrowers who are poor
risks, yet plenty of people raced to buy
in—and now they’re paying for it.
6 Steps to
Positive Thinking
Negative self-talk can ruin your day.
Well, we think it can, but maybe we’re wrong
We all talk to ourselves. It’s the way the
mind works. And it’s terrific when it makes
like your own personal Laker Girl. Who
doesn’t like hearing, Smart move…she
liked that. Or, when you start a new job,
I have great ideas. Positive self-talk
bolsters confidence and boosts energy.
But sometimes our inner cheerleader
changes sides. The boss looks your
way—is he frowning?—and you think,
I’m gonna lose my job. Or thoughts like
I have nothing interesting to say become
Back to Contents
m
The strategy: Reason and analysis should
guide most of your investing, leaving only
a small window for hunches. (Economists
agree some intuition is wise.) But ignore the
frenzied pack—and all things subprime.
Judging Her Sincerity
Why: You want to believe her when she says
she’ll never cheat on you again. But studies
show that past performance is the best
predictor of future behavior, despite what
your gut is telling you.
The strategy: When your girlfriend says she’s
finished catting around, or a flaky friend asks
for yet another loan, pack up and walk away.
Your intuition to trust them in the past was
faulty, so fight your gut, and don’t repeat the
mistake, says Gary Klein, Ph.D., author of
The Power of Intuition.
self-fulfilling prophecies. Self-doubt
shows in your facial expressions, your
tone of voice, and even your posture. You
become so focused on how you’re coming
across that you can’t keep up with the
conversation. Bye-bye, playful banter;
hello, strained silence.
At work, negative self-talk has a similar
effect. “If you focus on how difficult a task
is—how you won’t do a good job—you’ll find
it tougher to start,” says psychologist James
Pretzer, Ph.D., director of the Cleveland
w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m
MIND
Center for Cognitive Therapy. “You’re
likely to procrastinate, which will turn
the task into a real ordeal.”
So what are you going to do? Here’s
your battle plan.
1. Know
the Enemy
Zeroing in on
your negative
mind chatter
isn’t easy, but
with a little
practice, you’ll
be able to pick
out the sentence
fragments that
constitute a
sort of lingua franca between you and your
limbic system—phrases like Blew it, as usual,
or names that are fraught with personal
meaning: Dad all over again. Sometimes it’s
just images, like the face of an old girlfriend.
You’ll see it coming.
2. Respect Their Power
Don’t try to eliminate negative thoughts.
“The more you fight them, the more they
come back,” says clinical psychologist
Gregory Markway, Ph.D., author of
Painfully Shy. “Instead of trying to
suppress negative thoughts, let them stay
as background noise.”
3. Argue with Yourself
Identify the put-downs you typically say to
yourself, and then jot down a rebuttal for
each. Your goal isn’t to pump yourself up
with false optimism; it’s simply to recast
unrealistically negative thoughts in a more
positive light. The rebuttal to I sound like an
idiot isn’t I’m as smooth a talker as Bogart,
but rather If I say something dumb, she’ll like
me anyway.
16 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G
4. Put On an Act
Imagine yourself in a stressful situation, first
with the negative voice-over and then with
the good stuff. Run mental rehearsals until it
feels natural. Or simply act like everything’s
copacetic, and positive thoughts will follow.
Just putting a smile on your face reinforces
the notion that all is well (while telling the
other person, I’m glad you’re here).
5. Slap Another Label on It
Another good way to reverse a downward
spiral in your thinking is to give it a positive
spin. If you relabel Uh, oh. I feel nervous
as I’m psyched! your brain automatically
shifts from take-cover mode into let’s-roll
mode. That helps rechannel adrenaline into
positive action.
6. Sing Some Sense into Yourself
Discouraging words that keep coming back
call for a special strategy. “It’s easier going
toward these thoughts than going away,” says
R. Reid Wilson, Ph.D., a psychologist at the
University of North Carolina and director of
www.anxieties.com, a self-help site.
Wilson says you can blunt the sting of
endless self-reproach by putting it to music
(in your mind, please). I lost the only woman
I’ll ever love, because I was a jerk sounds
pretty silly once you sing it like Merle
Haggard.
Too nutty for you? Studies suggest
you can ease negative self-talk simply by
rapidly sweeping your eyes from side to
side about 25 times. “It stimulates both
sides of the brain and briefly disrupts your
thinking patterns,” says Matthew McKay,
Ph.D., clinical director of Haight Ashbury
Psychological Services, in San Francisco,
and author of Thoughts and Feelings: Taking
Control of Your Moods and Your Life. “It
makes it hard to hold onto a disturbing
thought.”
m
Heighten
Your 5 Senses
Use these simple tricks to get the most from your senses
Touch
Look at the body part that’s doing the
touching. A British study has found
that looking at the body part increases
activity in the area of the brain that
controls sensation. The reverse works,
too: Look away when receiving a shot.
Hearing
Simply smile. The muscles that turn
your frown upside down also tense your
middle-ear muscles. In turn, this softens
low-frequency noises—the hum of an air
conditioner, the din of traffic, or office
chatter—by as much as 20 decibels.
Taste
Take a good whiff of your food before
you eat—90% of taste is smell. Alan
Hirsch, M.D., a neurologist in Chicago,
says, “The more odor molecules hit
receptors in your nose, the more robust
your sense of taste.”
Smell
Run the hot water. Before odors reach
your smell receptors, they first pass
through a membrane. Warm, moist air
helps odors dissolve into that membrane.
But hurry, your heightened sense will
last only a few minutes.
Sight
Position your computer monitor so
you’re looking slightly down at it. Your
eyes won’t be open as wide, so they won’t
be exposed to as much cornea-drying air.
That means less eyestrain and blurring
and better vision.
Back to Contents w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m

MUSCLE 3. Balance Your
Movements
Strength requires balance. “If you’re bench-
pressing 3 sets of 10, you also need to be
doing some exercise, such as horizontal
m
bias,” as dos Remedios calls it, often results
in a dominant limb negotiating more of the
weight than its weaker counterpart. This can
lead to physical imbalances, performance
flaws, and eventual injury.

5 Best Strategies pullups or standing cable rows, where you’re

pulling for 3 sets of 10,” dos Remedios says.
“If you’re not, structural problems develop.”
“Say you can bench-press 400 pounds,”
says dos Remedios. “You probably think
you’re pretty strong. But I guarantee

for Explosive Gain He has identified eight key movements that

are fundamental to strength, sports, and
everyday living. They are listed next to their
you won’t be able to lift two 200-pound
dumbbells the same way. That’s because
each arm is now required to work
To become bigger, you must first become stronger counterparts below. Perform the exercises independently.”
with their complements. You don’t have to Training with one arm or leg at a time
do all of these movements every time you creates instability. Muscles, especially those in
America’s top strength coach, Robert You won’t To build strength, step into the gym, but they should be equally the core, compensate by firing. So you’re not
dos Remedios, bases his program on five
bedrock strength-training principles .
make much it’s smarter to
alternate 3-week
represented across your entire training plan. only working to move the weight, you’re also
working to stay balanced.
progress cycles within Dos Remedios has his athletes work
doing 3 sets
Horizontal Push Horizontal Pull
12-week training from an extensive menu of exercises. For
1. Strive for of 10 reps periods—an
Bench press Bent-over row
example, he may have them bench-press on
Strength, Not Size for the rest approach called Pushup Horizontal pullup Monday but then do different horizontal-
If you’re doing any of the single-joint of your life. periodization. Dip Standing cable row pushing exercises (say, a single-arm
exercises listed below, try replacing them Say, for example, dumbbell incline press, or pushups) for the
with the corresponding compound exercises. you’re accustomed to bench-pressing Vertical Push Vertical Pull next two workouts. “When we finally get
For example, if you’re doing 25-pound 150 pounds for 3 sets of 10 in every chest Shoulder press Chinup/pullup around to bench-pressing again, everybody’s
biceps curls, you’ll probably be able to workout. Your periodized plan might look stronger because of the carryover,” he says.
Push press Lat pulldown
handle 50s for bent-over rows. You’ll build something like this. To apply the same principle to your workout,
strength and burn more calories, and the Knee-Dominant Hip-Dominant use this chart for occasional substitutions.
Weeks 1–3: Three sets of 10 with 150 lb,
extra weight will create added muscle stress
for a total volume of 4,500 lb (3 × 10× 150) Squat Good morning Bilateral Unilateral
and trigger more testosterone production.
The result: Your biceps will grow faster than Weeks 4–6: Four sets of 5 with 175 lb, Lunge Back extension Barbell squat Forward lunge
they would with simple curls. for 3,500 lb
Rotational Core Stabilized Core Dumbbell
Bench press alternating
Weeks 7–9: Three sets of 8 with 160 lb, bench press
Russian twist Plank
Single-joint Compound for 3,840 lb
Windshield wiper Side bridge Pushup Side-to-side pushup
Biceps curl Bent-over row Weeks 10–12: Five sets of 4 with 185 lb,

Calf raise Clean pull

for 3,700 lb Cable woodchopper Barbell rollouT
Lat pulldown
One-arm lat
pulldown

Leg extension Lunge or stepup

Notice how the weight you’re lifting and 4. Do More Unilateral Good morning
Single-leg Romanian
your total volume both cycle and progress Exercises deadlift

over time, while your muscles are allowed In life, we usually reach or step with one Single-leg back
Back extension
2. Cycle Your Workouts plenty of time to adapt. This produces arm or one leg at a time. Then we hit the extension

You won’t make much progress doing more strength and size as the load on your gym, and we immediately plant both feet or Shoulder press Dumbbell one-arm
3 sets of 10 reps for the rest of your life. muscles keeps increasing. grab a bar with both hands. This “bilateral push press

18 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G Back to Contents w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m
MUSCLE m

5. Do It All Explosively • Body-weight squat jumps Stand with your

To dos Remedios, it’s not enough just to
lift a weight. He wants you to explode with
it—that is, raise it as fast as you can while
still retaining control. This is also known as
speed-strength conditioning, and it has
great influence on power, endurance, and
metabolism. Be forewarned: This training
style will gas you like never before. To light
the fuse, try Olympic barbell and powerlifting
exercises, such as squats, clean-and-jerks,
and snatches. These are the best moves for
explosiveness. Here are some alternatives.
hands behind your head, squat until your
thighs are parallel to the floor, and jump as 2. Side Plank
high as possible. Rest 3 to 5 seconds, and Lie on your left side, and prop
repeat 10 to 12 times. your upper body up on your
• Dumbbell squat press Stand with your feet left elbow and forearm. Then
shoulder-width apart, holding dumbbells raise your hips until your body
at your shoulders. In one continuous forms a straight line from
movement, squat until your thighs are shoulders to ankles. Brace
parallel to the floor. Stand while driving your abs for 30 seconds. Then
the weights overhead. Lower back to the repeat on your right side.
squat position, and repeat for 2 to 3 sets of 8
to 10 reps.

3. Swiss-Ball

The 5-Minute
Crunch
Lie on your back on a Swiss
ball so that your hips and your

6-Pack lower and upper back rest on

the ball. With your fingers
placed behind your ears, raise
If you do only crunches, you’re shortchanging your abs your torso as high as you
can by crunching your chest
toward your hips, then return
In addition to flexing your trunk—as you do in a crunch—your core muscles also allow you to the starting position. Do
to flex your hips, rotate your body, and stabilize your spine. So for the best results, you need 15 reps.
to target each of these functions. To hit them all in about 5 minutes, do 1 set of these six
exercises in the order shown, with no rest between.

4. Reverse Crunch
1. Plank Lie on your back on the floor,
Assume a pushup position, with your knees slightly bent.
but place your forearms on Raise your knees to your chest
the floor. Brace your abs by lifting your hips up and in.
as if you were about to be Lower your legs to the starting
punched in the gut, and hold position. Do 15 reps.
for 30 seconds.

20 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G Back to Contents w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m
MUSCLE

5. Cable
Woodchopper
With your right side toward
the weight stack of a cable
station, grab the rope handle
of a high pulley with both
hands. Pull the rope down and
across your body until your
hands are just outside your
left knee. Reverse the move
to return to the start. Do 15
reps. Then face the opposite
direction, and do 15 more.
6. Reverse Cable
Woodchopper
Now attach the rope handle
to the low-pulley cable. Bend
over and grab the rope with
both hands, your arms nearly
straight and just outside your
right knee. Pull the rope up
and across your body until
your hands are in line with
your left ear. Reverse the
movement. Do 15 reps. Then
face the opposite direction,
and do 15 more.
SEX
5 Ways to Split
or Commit
Not sure whether to stay or go? Watch for these
warning flares when deciding if she’s a keeper.
Sometimes you have a moment of clarity She “Wuvs” Baby Talk
about a woman—like when you find Stay or go: Go
her indexed, 7-year collection of Brides Why: “Hey, baby” isn’t so bad, but the
magazines. Other times, the signals are coochie-coo stuff, especially in bed, is just
harder to read. Here’s help. creepy. “She may be trying to avoid adult
She Hand-Feeds Her Dog issues in the relationship, like problems
Stay or go: Stay or sex,” says Tiger. It’s also a mark of high
Why: She may seem like a coddler, but dogs maintenance. “She wants to be treated like
can lower stress and blood pressure, making a baby, like a precious princess plaything,”
her a healthier and more stable person. “Dogs Tiger says. She’ll throw a tantrum when
make you more extroverted and outgoing,” you drop her, but you’ll feel good back in
says Katherine C. Grier, Ph.D., author of Pets the adult world.
in America. Even if the dog fits in your pocket She Overquotes Hegel
and has a name like Tinkerbell, playing puppy and Other Dead Guys
papa will improve your health, too. But when Stay or go: Go
you walk it, remove the bow first. Why: Aside from the obvious fact that
She’s not She Can’t Make
a Decision on
the know-it-all act is annoying, she’s not
comfortable in her own skin if she’s cloaking
comfortable Her Own herself in book smarts. Now, if she talked in
in her own Stay or go: Go movie quotes, that’d be different.
skin if she’s Why: Her insecurity She’s an Out-of-Work Bohemian
cloaking means she tells Stay or go: Stay

herself in everyone about the

finer points of your
book smarts. relationship. “She
doesn’t know who she really is, so how can you
know who you’re really with?” asks Caroline
Tiger, author of How to Behave: Dating and
Sex. If she’s constantly on her BlackBerry, make
her put it away for a day. If she freaks, move on.
Why: Even if she’s never had a steady
paycheck, the arty vibe hooked you. It’s not a
huge leap to help her turn that creativity into
a career. Plenty of companies need creative
minds. “Tell her she’ll bring art into everyday
life, not limit it to the occasional gallery
visit,” says Rachel C. Weingarten, author of
Career and Corporate Cool.

22 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G Back to Contents w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m
SEX
The 5 Women
She Hates
Here’s how to manage all the women in your life
Jealousy on the part of your significant
other can sabotage your best female
friendships. Here’s how to smooth over
your relationship.
1. The Leggy Coworker
Why she’s worried: Your sexy office gal pal
has unfettered access to half of your
weekday, and your girl fears this face time
may spark a cubicle romance.
Ease her fears: Play show-and-tell. Give your
girl a guided tour of the office, introduce her
to your coworkers—including Legs—and end
at your desk, where she’ll find a prominently
displayed picture of herself. It’s a talisman
that wards off flirty office coworkers, says
Dorian Solot, author of I Love Female
Orgasm. “It shows her she’s on your mind
while you’re on the clock.”
2. The College Cohort
Why she’s worried: You spent 4 boozy,
sexually charged years with this girl, who
knows the secret handshake and dated half
of your fraternity. What’s more, unlike your
girl, she has a standing invitation to game
day and poker night.
Ease her fears: Paint the friend as a mascot,
not a romantic interest, says Susan F.
Benjamin, author of Perfect Phrases for
Dealing with Difficult People. And invite
your gal to a few college game parties so
she’ll see that the cutie sits squarely in
your “like-a-sister” category.
3. The Matriarch
Why she’s worried: Your woman feels
24 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G
resentful about her own need to impress
your mom.
Ease her fears: Ship your ladies off to a wine
tasting together. (Find one in your city at
localwineevents.com.) Each wants to win the
other’s approval, which can lead to insecurities
and false perceptions, says Gini Graham Scott,
Ph.D., author of Disagreements, Disputes and
All-Out War. A retreat with some vino will
melt away any hangups.
4. The Facebook Fox
Why she’s worried: You’ve dutifully declared
you’re “in a relationship” in your MySpace or
Facebook profile. But she worries it means
nothing to the harem of cybervixens on your
friends list.
Bump Ease her fears: Let her plant
her up aIfflag in your digital world.
they’re not online, too,
to the girlfriends and wives place
top of these sites just a notch above
your porn. Help her create her own
friends page, and bump her up to the
list. top of your friends list.
5. The Gym Goddess
Why she’s worried: Your trainer is single and
oozes sexuality from every pore. You may say
her postworkout chats are harmless, but your
girlfriend knows better (and so do you, playa).
Ease her fears: Play matchmaker, and set the
goddess up with a friend. Face it: You’re taken,
and she’s a temptress. So try this underutilized
brushoff, which will allow you two to still chat
at the gym. The move will take her off your
gal’s worry list.
6 Ways to Bust
Out of a Romance Rut
Jumpstart your sex life by breaking
these six relationship routines
1. Sex Is a Race
Break it: Explore her. Focus on her thighs
and lower belly. Make a mental circle
2 inches around the outside of her vagina,
and don’t cross the line while you kiss, lick,
and caress, says Gloria Brame, Ph.D., author
of Different Loving. You’ll ignite her nerve
endings and bring her close to her red zone.
It makes sex about discovery, not some
destination. “Goal-oriented sex isn’t sexy,”
Brame says.
2. Same Time, Same Place
Break it: Relive the past. Take her to the
garage, and reclaim the space you long ago
ceded: Seduce her in the backseat of the car.
It feels a little public, it’s steeped in
testosterone, and there’s a throwback,
high-school quality to it. Make it a quickie,
which has its place in the sexual diet; having
lots of sex begets more sex, because you
stay connected, says Laura Berman, Ph.D.,
director of the Berman Center in Chicago.
3. Predictable
Having Foreplay
lots of sex Break it: Work out
begets together. Think of it as
more sex, fat-burning foreplay. It
will raise her dopamine
because levels, easing her
you stay anxieties. “She’ll feel
connected. the sex is about her and
not some random need
she has to accommodate,” says Pepper
Schwartz, Ph.D., a professor of sociology
Back to Contents
m
at Washington University. Bonus: Your
postrun sweat has androstadienone, a
testosterone derivative that spikes her
arousal when she smells it.
4. Lopsided First Moves
Break it: Tie her hands. It’s now up to her
to figure out how to remove your shirt,
tie, cuff links, and pants. You’ll share a
few laughs and marvel at her ingenuity.
Whether you tie her up or she binds you,
the game will break your predictable,
first-move habits. The bonus: “It acts as
an automatic foreplay extender,” says
Berman.
5. TV, Then Sex
Break it: Read to her. It doesn’t have to be
erotica. It’s an intimate activity that makes
her focus on your voice. The deeper,
the better. Low voices are a sign of high
testosterone, which ups her attraction
to you, according to a Scottish study. To
dip an octave, read lying in bed with your
head up; it forces you to push air with your
diaphragm instead of your lungs.
6. Habitual Hand-Holding
Break it: Caressher neck. Sure, holding
hands can work as an aphrodisiac: It
shows her you’re devoted and proud
to tell the world. But after a while, its
poignancy wanes. A stepped-up PDA will
deepen her connection to you, so she’ll be
more willing to really give herself to you
in the bedroom, says Schwartz.
w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m

LOOKS
Top 10 Cosmetic
Procedures for Men
Custom nips and tucks have become more routine for men. See if
you’re a good candidate and which procedure may be right for you
These days, you have as many options
for upgrading your looks as you have for
upgrading your computer. And the number
of men availing themselves of a nip here
and a tuck there keeps growing: The
American Society for Aesthetic Plastic
Surgery reports a 47% increase in male
procedures in 6 years, from 640,000 in
2000 to 940,000 in 2006. Why the jump?
Cosmetic surgery has grown into a precise,
often pain-free way to slow the visual
effects of aging or simply add the final
detailing on a body you’ve worked hard to
build through diet and exercise. Still, there
are people who should pass on the surgical
solution. With this primer, you’ll be able to
decide whether a cosmetic fix should be in
your future.
Note: Price ranges reflect differences
in the amount of work performed, your
geographical location, and the experience
of the doctor.
1. Wrinkled Forehead
Cosmetic fix: Botox
A man can feel happy, calm, and rested,
but “a wrinkled brow will make him look
angry, tense, and tired,” says Patricia Wexler,
M.D., an associate clinical professor of
26 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G
m
How it works: This is a simple, safe, and
effective procedure. That’s because the laser
Fine points: You may still have a few stray
hairs even after several treatments. And a
light is fine-tuned to the specific pigment word of warning to men with blond locks:
of your follicles, allowing the heat energy to Laser hair removal doesn’t work well on
eliminate the hair without burning a hole
in your surrounding skin. “It usually takes
several treatments to see permanent hair
blond (or gray) hair, simply because there
isn’t enough pigment for the laser light to
affect the follicles.
reduction,” says Choucair. Price: $200 to $600
3. Balding Head
Cosmetic fix:
Hair transpl antation
Even though Rogaine and
dermatology at New York’s Mount Sinai Propecia sometimes slow
School of Medicine. “Botox produces a more hair loss or regrow some hair,
relaxed and likable look.” transplantation is the only
How it works: The doctor injects diluted way to restore your naked
botulinum toxin into your wrinkle zone. pate completely.
In about 4 days, the Botox begins to How it works: After injecting
temporarily block nerve transmissions a local anesthetic, the
to the muscles that create the wrinkles. surgeon removes a narrow
As a result, your skin smooths out strip of scalp from the strip
dramatically. Brief side effects, such as of permanent hair around
bruising, swelling, or headaches, are possible the sides and back of your
but uncommon. You’ll need new injections head. The surgeon divides
every 4 to 6 months to stay smooth. this donor strip into sections
Fine points: Avoid the “mask effect” by going containing one to four hairs,
to a doctor whose Botox practice includes at which he then inserts into
least 10 to 15% men; the doc will be sure to tiny scalp incisions made at
leave some expression lines on your face— the same angle and direction
especially the crow’s-feet. as the original follicles. These
Price: $350 to $1,200 hairs will fall out within
the first 3 weeks but will
permanently grow back about
2. Hairy Back/
Shoulders/Neck
Cosmetic fix: L aser hair removal
This is the only permanent hasta la vista to
Pick a top doctor
hairiness. And while the neck and Find a specialist by asking your regular doctor for a referral—don’t rely on ads or the Internet. Next,
make sure the surgeon is board certified in the procedure. Also, insist on meeting with the doctor first,
back are the areas men usually want blasted
not a “consultant” who’s really just a sales associate trained to sign you up for procedures. Finally,
bare, treatments on the chest and the front look for promotional material that touts science over salesmanship. (“Miraculous results” and “latest
of the ears are also popular, says Ramsey technology” are red-flag phrases.)
Choucair, M.D., a Dallas plastic surgeon.
Back to Contents w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m
LOOKS m

3 months later, with the full effect taking
about a year.
Fine points: You’ll have to avoid strenuous
exercise for 7 to 10 days. (Heat and sweat
increase the odds of infection, plus the
physical exertion can tug on the donor-
area wound and result in a wider scar.) You
should also resist the temptation to have
“megasessions” of 3,000 or more grafts
transplanted all at once or too densely.
That’s because every microincision severs
blood vessels and reduces bloodflow to the
area. With too many incisions, not enough
blood can reach the transplanted hair for the
follicles to survive.
Price: $6,000 to $18,000
4. Love Handles
Cosmetic fix:
Liposuction
Fat men need not apply. The best candidates
are normal-weight men who can’t shed
specific fatty deposits. “There are limits to
what exercise and diet can
do,” says Daniel C. Baker,
M.D., a professor of plastic
surgery at New York
University.
How it works: You’ll be
awake but numb to the
sucking, thanks to an
anesthetic. The surgeon
will insert a metal,
strawlike device into the
target area and literally
vacuum out the fat. And
that includes the fat inside
man-boobs—liposuction
is an option for about
90% of men with enlarged
breasts.
Fine points: Liposuction
is safe and effective—in
the hands of a qualified
surgeon. (See “Pick a Top
Doctor” on p. 30.) It’s also
important to remember
that while lipo sucks out
fat, it can’t tighten loose
skin. Nor is it generally
recommended for the
face, because of the many
small nerves and blood
vessels in the area.
Price: $3,000 to $15,000
5. Tired Eyes
Cosmetic fix: Eyelid surgery
Your eyelids play a subtle yet powerful role
in your overall appearance. Specifically,
saggy upper eyelids and puffy lower lids send
everyone the message that you’re overtired,
over the hill, or both, says Joel Feldman,
M.D., an associate clinical professor of
surgery at Harvard Medical School.
How it works: The sagging and puffiness are
caused by excess fat and skin. To remove
the fat, the surgeon will make an incision
on the inside edge of the lower lid, both to
avoid leaving a visible scar and to reduce
the risk of damaging surrounding muscles.
Then it’s just a matter of scraping out the
fat. To remove excess skin, the surgeon
makes incisions on the outside of the lid.
Most people need to wear dark sunglasses
for up to 2 weeks after surgery, although
some swelling and discoloration may
remain for several months.
Fine points: Eyelid surgery may not
completely eliminate those circles under
your eyes, and there’s a danger that
the surgeon will remove too much skin
and fat, creating a somewhat feminized
appearance.
Price: $3,000 to $6,000
6. Droopy Nose
Cosmetic fix: Rhinopl asty
Like other body parts, the nose droops over
time, and the only way to rescue it is with
rhinoplasty. “If done properly, people will
think a man lost weight or that his hair is
different, rather than notice that it’s his nose
that’s changed,” says Alan Matarasso, M.D.,
a clinical professor of plastic surgery at
the Albert Einstein College of Medicine of
Yeshiva University.
How it works: In order to reposition your
proboscis, the surgeon needs to sculpt the
cartilage (the soft part at the bottom of the
nose) and bone (at the upper part). This can
be accomplished through a small incision
either at the bottom of the tissue that
separates your nostrils or up through the
inside of your nostrils, which helps minimize
scarring.
Fine points: Not every schnoz can be saved.
A surgeon can’t change the thickness of
the skin on a person’s nose—a problem if
you have a bulbous nose and want to have
it trimmed down. Also, find out how he’ll
handle the tip of your nose: The tip might
not have enough cartilage to create a strong
appearance, in which case the doctor can
bolster it by working with a piece of the
septum (the cartilage that separates the two
cavities) as a graft.
Price: $5,000 to $10,000
7. Sagging Face
Cosmetic fix: Facelift
The stereotype of the facelift being only
for ungracefully aging women is history.
Men are now turning to lifts, because they
think they look older than they actually
are and want to remain competitive in the
workplace. Others simply want to look
younger.
How it works: Think of making a bed: The
more of the sheet and blanket you can pull
under the mattress, the tauter the top will
be. During a facelift, a surgeon pulls tight
and tucks in your skin and the deeper layers
responsible for reshaping the face. In order
to do this, he makes incisions in front of and
behind your ears while you’re under general
anesthesia. Surprisingly, the surgery is not
generally painful, because the surgeon is
working in layers of the face without many
nerve endings. Men usually look good in
2 weeks (1 week sooner than women), because
their thicker skin hides the bruising better.

28 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G Back to Contents w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m
LOOKS m

Fine points: Even a facelift isn’t forever.

“The face sometimes loosens over time,”
says David Hidalgo, M.D., former chief of
says Sherrell Aston, M.D., a professor of plastic
surgery at New York University. “Raising the
eyebrows opens up the eyes and face.”
6 Tips for
plastic surgery at Memorial Sloan-Kettering
Cancer Center. In addition, it’s important
that the surgeon make the incisions as
How it works: After first making small incisions
in the scalp, the surgeon slips tiny, camera-
guided instruments under the skin to separate
Great Hair
inconspicuous as possible, because men the muscle attachments and reposition the You’ve suffered silently for too long. Coach any
can’t hide the evidence under makeup and eyebrows. The procedure isn’t painful, and you barber through your haircut with these six tips
long hair the way women can. can be back at work in 10 days. For a preview
Price: $10,000 to $20,000 of the result, stand in front of a mirror, and use
your thumb and index finger to raise the skin
on your forehead. 1. Quiet
8. Turkey Neck Fine points: Ask about incision placement. If the Buzz
Cosmetic fix: Neck lift you go in for a lift at, say, age 40, the incision “Electric clippers create carpet,” says
If you are or were once overweight, no scars may begin to show down the road as Kurt Kueffner, director of education
amount of diet and exercise can take away your hairline recedes. for Aveda. “But your scalp isn’t flat
a turkey neck. Fortunately, a little scalpel Price: $4,500 to $10,000 like a floor.” A clipper cut will look
sculpting can give you back a chiseled, clean, but your locks will start growing
youthful look. in on uneven ground, and each day
How it works: A neck lift is similar to a facelift 10. Skin Folds you’ll wake up to a new hair shape. A
in that a surgeon makes incisions and pulls Cosmetic fix: Tummy tuck scissors cut allows for the nuances of
your skin up to create a tighter appearance. This procedure is for those who’ve lost a your scalp, so your hair grows evenly.
The difference is that with a neck lift, lot of weight and are suffering from a key “You have to keep going back every
excess fat is removed before the tightening. collateral effect. “Abdominoplasty is usually 2 weeks to a buzz barber,” says Paul
According to Feldman, it’s also important for men who have a lot of excess skin from Cucinello, creative director at Chris
that the surgeon tighten the muscle in the weight loss or aging,” says Gerald H. Pitman, Chase Salon in New York City. “A
neck to prevent sagging. Expect soreness M.D., a clinical professor of plastic surgery good scissors cut lasts more than a
and tightness the first week, and some at New York University. month. Your hair lengthens, but the
swelling for a month or two. How it works: This is major surgery. The shape remains intact.”
Fine points: Talk to your surgeon about scar surgeon will not only open you up to remove
placement. Scars behind the ears can be excess fat and skin but also tighten the
noticeable on men. Also, discuss whether any muscles of your abdominal wall. Don’t Know Thy Own Face
skin needs to be removed. “You can recontour expect to be back at work for 1 to 3 weeks.
If your face is...
the fat tissue, and the skin will often adapt to Also, an abdominoplasty usually requires an
the new contour,” says Feldman. incision that leaves a long, hip-to-hip scar, Square Round Diamond/Heart Oval
Price: $7,000 to $10,000 though it can be hidden in a skin crease or Avoid the blockhead Ask for tapered sides, Go too short, and Your face will look
covered with a pair of shorts. look by telling the to create a squared you’ll look like a narrow if the sides
barber to texturize look. The top and conehead. The key are cut too close.
Fine points: Keep in mind that
the temple lines, sides should blend is to keep some Leave them long
9. Angry Face abdominoplasty isn’t for men who want to cutting from but stay angled. extra length at enough so that you
Cosmetic fix: Eyebrow lift lose weight everywhere; it’s for men who multiple angles so This will balance the crown. This can still control
Even eyebrows can use a boost if they’re are already in good shape but have just your hair blends but out your round face lengthens the head your hair with a
still holds a round and sharpen your and elongates the comb.
headed south. “Drooping eyebrows cause an one problem area—like the belly—to shape
shape. features. face so it appears
aged look. They make the eyes more closed or flatten. proportioned.
and can even give an angry look to the face,” Price: $9,000 to $15,000

30 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G Back to Contents w w w. M e n s H e a l t h . c o m
LOOKS
w e lc o m e to

m
4. Head Off
the Helmet
Poor cuts can morph into
a mushroom shape soon
after a chop-shop haircut.
That’s because the temple
line—where the top
blends with the sides—
grows up and out and
rounds your cut into a
Your absolute satisfaction is guaranteed.
bulbous button. To avoid Your satisfaction is important to all of us at Men’s Health. If you experience
this, tell your cut man to a problem with your subscription, please use one of these options:
thin the area. “When he’s
finishing, even if your hair
is dry, ask him to blow-
Online Subscriber Service
dry your hair to remove
the trimmings,” says
Mala, a stylist at Serge
2. Spot Shortcuts Normant in New York City. “Then he can see
■ Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week E-Mail
Even if a barber brandishes a pair of and feel how much weight needs to come out ■ Check your subscription status hlhcustserv@rodale.com
$3,000 Japanese scissors (they do exist), of the temple line. Left too dense, it’ll sprout
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ask him if he does “single-section pulls.” If up and begin erasing the shape you had.”
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True to its name, the technique involves perimeter—the back, the sideburns, and an e-mail message
trimming sections of hair from only one around the ears—softened. Ask the barber to
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angle. Skilled stylists trim sections from cut “scissors over comb”: pressing the comb
multiple angles so the hair lies evenly on flat against your hair and cutting along the Men's Health Fitness Newsletter
your knobby scalp. comb. “It prevents ‘whitewalls’ [bare scalp],
and the line looks natural,” Cucinello says.

3. Lop the Top Last

Ask your barber where he starts his
shearing. “If he says he starts on the top,
walk out,” says Cucinello. A haircut is
essentially a “head reduction.” The best
way to determine the volume that should be
lopped off to best shape your head is to start
in the back, gradually move to the sides, and
then finish with the top and front. “The back
dictates the cut, whether it’s a preppy banker
cut or a surfer shag,” says Cucinello.
32 T H E H O N E S T M A N ’ S G U I D E T O C H E AT I N G
6. Cut Out the Product
Great cuts start at home. Present your hair
totally clean so the barber can see how it
truly sits. Waxes and clays remain even after
soapy showers, so strip them by lathering
shampoo into your dry hair. “If you wet the
hair first, water coats the product, blocking
the shampoo from penetrating,” says Mala.
“Shampooing dry, before jumping into the
shower, will cut the product.”
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