Over the last few years we have been hearing more and more about the month of "Movember". "Movember" is to remind us all of men's health issues through the entire month of November. You will see a lot of guys who shouldn't, try to grow a moustache or beard to remind us all of being alert to men's health issues. We men need to take care of ourselves but we can be the most stubborn 'there is nothing wrong with me' type of creatures on the planet. We need to be proactive guys.

We are just a week away from the start of the month and here are a couple of things that I have done that you should consider doing for your well-being and the well-being of those you love. I have made my health my number one focus this year and it has been the greatest thing I have ever done in my life. The first step to good health for me was SLEEP! We need to make sleep a priority. I have found that many of my physical and mental health issues were related to my lack of sleep. I would wake up exhausted every day and start my day in tears trying to figure out how I would get the strength to make it through the day. I battled this for decades and then someone finally suggested that I check out the sleep lab at MCR and it was the first step to the new me. I found I was having nearly 90 apnea episodes an hour and was never falling into the restorative sleep your mind and body need.

I was a new man after one night of getting on a  CPAP - sleep apnea machine. I started making sleep a priority and went to bed earlier every night. What a difference it made in my life. My anxiety and depression have become much less of an issue and I was able to get the rest I needed to get my mind and body strong enough to do something about my weight. I was finally feeling strong enough to move and start losing weight. It was that sleep test that propelled me to this 100+ pound weight loss. It all started with a sleep test.

I have also scheduled a colonoscopy that I will do this week. I am now in my 50's and that is the time when all of us men should have this done. C'mon guys. There is a lot depending on you and your health. Don't let pride or lack of knowledge keep you from the doctor. Make an appointment today to make sure you are around to annoy your family, friends and coworkers for years to come. Let's take care of us!

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