Father’s Day – Looking After Our Men

Father’s Day is fast approaching in Australia and in a few weeks, millions of Dad’s all over the country will be inundated with socks, electrical appliances and of course, a multitude of vouchers.

It is a time when we remind our Dad’s, husbands, granddads and the significant men in our lives that they are special and that we appreciate them.

The thing is, these men of ours actually need a little bit more than knick-knacks and $50 to spend at Bunning’s.  They need a few more quality years tacked onto their lives.

It is true that men’s overall life expectancy in Australia and other western countries has improved substantially over the past 50 years, but their average life expectancy still remains significantly lower than that of women’s.

Not trying to brag or anything BUT I happened to snag a husband who is younger than me, so we just might be on par in the long run.

Cougar jokes aside, the leading causes of death we are dealing with in Australia in men are heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, chronic lower respiratory disease, adult onset hearing loss and lymph, blood, lung, prostate and colorectal cancer.

Of course, we could and ideally do appreciate father’s every day but Father’s Day is a short 24-hour celebration. There are some constructive actions that men can take (with their women and kids supporting them) to enjoy many more.  If you are a male reading this, I’m talking to YOU and if you are female, please feel free to apply to any male you care about.

Use Your Measuring Tape 

While it is easy to jump on the scales to assess your weight situation, the weight you see on the scales includes fat, muscle, blood, bone and every other little bit of you. Measuring your waist circumference is a better way to tell if you have too much body fat and where it is situated on your body. For most adults a waist measurement of greater than 94cm for men and 80cm for women is an indicator of the amount of internal fat deposits, which can cover the heart, kidneys, liver and pancreas and increase the risk of chronic disease. Make sure you measure at the point between your hipbone and the bottom of your ribs and use the same place every time. Aim to be under these measurements for a healthier amount of body fat. Might be best not to suggest doing these measurements on Father’s Day, especially if the day has involved a little overindulging.

Choose Your Drop on Father’s Day (And On Other Day’s Too)

The reality is that for most of us, alcohol is part of our social lives. For men, this can be a big part of their work lives too.

It is interesting when we consider the comparison of beer, wine and spirits.

100ml wine                                                  295kJ

100ml beer                                                  149kJ (600kJ for a stubby)

30ml vodka, whisky, bourbon                260kJ

250ml soft drink mixer                             420kJ

Things are looking good for beer.  However, can you imagine drinking 100ml beer from a stubbie and then stopping or passing it onto your mate for their 100ml serve? I think it is fair to say that no one drinks only 100ml beer.

An average restaurant size serving of wine is 180ml or 1.8 standard drinks and the average serving size of a full strength beer is 375ml or 1 middy/can/stubby, which is equal to 1.5 standard drinks.

Beer, wine and other drinks can weaken resolve and many people reach for high fat snacks after a few drinks.  Combining fatty foods with alcohol is the worst combination of all for weight gain, so it is a good idea to eat before drinking alcohol to lessen the temptation to reach for the chips and peanuts. And yes, the sneaky late night kebab is part of this deal too.

Some lower kilojoule choices include spirits plus a no sugar mixer or soda water and lime.  You could add ice to a glass of wine but please don’t share that thought with any wine experts if you want to make it out of that conversation alive.

More than two drinks per day increase brain shrinkage and there is a lot of research that shows even smaller amounts can have the same effect. This doesn’t mean feeling guilty about drinking alcohol but being mindful about what and how much can be illuminating.

Make A Date 

We all know that date nights are crucial to relationships right? Well, it’s not just our other halves that are important as research shows that men who maintain their own social groups are healthier and recover from illness more quickly. Spending time with friends is also considered a key part of combating depression. In Australia, the statistics are grim. Suicide is the leading cause of death in men aged between 15 and 44 with men less likely to get the help they need. ABS data shows that only 27 per cent of men seek professional help compared to 40 per cent of women. Women are often the social coordinators in relationships and perhaps we need to be encouraging male bonding time a little bit more.

For professional help, please make use of the wonderful services available at MensLine, Lifeline, Beyond Blue.

Check It Up

When was the last time your man had a check-up with his GP? No offence to the men reading this but males are not known for being proactive in this department and may need a not so gentle push to get there. Choose a month in the year and make it an annual gala event – the types of markers that should be checked include fasting blood glucose, full blood lipids, liver and kidney function, cortisol, thyroid, full iron study and hormones. A good GP will be all over this and most likely will have other suggestions as part of the check-up. Being an ostrich with health and wellbeing has short term appeal but knowledge is undoubtedly power, you can’t change something if you don’t know about it.

Fruit And Vegetables

Australians are still behind the eight ball when it comes to fruit and vegetable intake and men lag behind women. Most people tell me that getting enough fruit is the easy part of the equation but the vegetable bit can be trickier. We need two serves of fruit each day with one serve being equivalent to 1 medium sized piece of fruit such as an apple or pear and five serves of vegetables with one serve being ½ cup of cooked vegetables or salad. It can be fairly difficult to face all of your vegetables on your dinner plate at the end of the day, so why not take some to work to include in lunch and snacks?A punnet of cherry tomatoes, a Lebanese cucumber, a handful of crisp snow peas, or strips of red capsicum are easily transportable, can all be eaten at your desk and are super low in calories.

Father’s Day is a mixed feelings kind of day for myself and our family now that Dad is not physically here. You can read my thoughts on this here. 

Please enjoy spoiling the men in your life on Father’s Day and let’s help these precious people of ours live their best lives.