Nutritional Assessment

 Maintaining muscle requires energy. To build a lean healthy body requires eating right. Depriving yourself of food does not result in weight loss. When you starve yourself, your body catches on, and quickly compensates by slowing down your metabolism. Energy is then mobilized from lean muscle, the same muscle you have worked so hard to gain. The result is a tired, weak body that has a suppressed immune system as a result of inadequate nutritional intake. In addition, hungry people are very cranky. The best way to lose weight is to maintain a healthy diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are like Chinese food. They are delicious, addicting, and in twenty minutes you want more. Protein requires more energy to metabolize and asa result it sustains you for longer periods of time.

Protein-rich foods include chicken and turkey; fish, such as salmon, tuna, and snapper, are also high in protein, except when deep- fried. The number one source for protein is egg whites, which are very popular for weight trainers; however, avoid the yolk, which is high in cholesterol. Red meats are also a good source of protein. Contrary to popular belief, lean cuts of sirloin, round, and chuck have less then 7 percent fat.

Since most people argue that their diet is adequate, try keeping a food journal for twenty- four hours. Write down everything you eat and the time at which it was consumed. Afterward, review the journal with your doctor to see exactly what your diet consists of.

Maintaining a routine diet and exercise regimen is a great way to keep in shape. Do not get obsessed with weight itself. It’s better to rely on how well your clothes fit then an actual number.

Finally, no gay health assessment would be complete without a thorough review of how you envision yourself. Gay men are particularly prone to issues concerning body image. Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) is an unhealthy preoccupation with one’s appearance that can interfere with daily life, creating anxiety and depression. The result is a compulsive concern over the slightest defect in one’s own appearance. This can lead to eating disorders, anabolic steroids use, and plastic surgery.