Ask Davey

Every week, Davey Wavey answers fan questions about fitness, nutrition or general health. If you have a question, send it to Davey at [email protected]

Myth: Healthy Outside = Healthy Inside?

Hey Davey,

I’m an 18 year old guy and I eat pretty much whatever I want. My diet consists mostly of chips, pizza, soda and other crappy food. Even though I have such a bad diet, my body looks great. I have a six pack and look really athletic. Do I really need to change my diet if I already look good?

From,
Ben

sixpackHey Ben,

Congratulations! You are one of those people who is blessed with a high metabolism and good genetics.

But keep in mind, what’s happening on the outside is really only part of the equation. While many people eat smart and work out to look a certain way, the best benefits of a healthy lifestyle happen on the inside. And just because someone looks healthy on the outside doesn’t mean they are healthy on the inside.

Decades ago, autopsies for U.S. military personal killed in the Korean and Vietnam wars revealed that many of these bootcamp graduates had plaque and fatty deposits in their arteries. Despite looking healthy and fit on the outside, many of these young people were severely unhealthy on the inside. On the outside, you might see an athletic 20 year-old man. But on the inside, his arteries looked like those of an overweight, 50 year-old heart attack victim.

Yes, a healthy lifestyle of eating smarter and moving more will transform your body. But transforming your body is about more than just your outward appearance. It’s like the difference between getting a car wash or a tune-up. If you want your car to be in good working condition, you need to maintain what’s under the hood! The same goes for your body.

But fear not: Having a healthy lifestyle and improving your diet isn’t difficult. And though it might not include a whole lot of chips or soda, it will include plenty of delicious foods that will energize and invigorate your body! If you need help or guidance, download Davey Wavey’s Insanely Easy Guide to Eating Smarter. It will give you all the tools you need for a complete transformation.

I hope that helps!

Love,
Davey

I’m 11 And Want To Diet.

Hi Davey,

My name is Carter and I’m 11 years old. I think that I’m maybe gay or bi. I think that I’m overweight and want to have a boyfriend some day. I want people to like me. What can I do to diet and be more hot?

From,
Carter

article-2580812-1C49546200000578-160_634x408Carter,

Even as grown ups, it can be difficult to find the right words to answer a question like yours.

Discovering whether you like boys or girls or both (or neither!) is a real adventure. It’s going to be a journey that’s sometimes confusing, sometimes scary but always exciting. You have a very long time to figure out who you’re attracted to (many of us adults still don’t know!) so there’s no rush.

As an 11 year old, your body is still growing and developing. While that’s happening, you need a whole bunch of food to make sure it keeps growing properly. If you start skipping meals or eating only certain foods, you might actually hurt your body or your health.

If you really feel like you are overweight, you can ask the doctor about it during your next checkup. If the doctor is concerned, then he or she will help you gain weight more slowly or help you maintain your current weight by changing some of the foods you eat or recommending more time outside or playing sports.

When it comes to having a boyfriend (or girlfriend) down the road, the most important thing is finding someone who loves and celebrates you for who you are. And because you sound like a very special person, I have no doubt that you’ll always be surrounded in love.

I also think there’s an important lesson for us grown ups. When I read your question, I couldn’t help but ask myself if this is really the world that we’re leaving to the next generation? And it’s a reminder that we need to do our part to ensure that the world - and our community, in particular - values people for the awesome, unique and beautiful human beings that we all are.

Carter, thank you for your email and I hope this will give you some answers.

Love,
Davey

Help: I Get Hard In The Gym Shower!

Dear Davey,

I need your help with something really embarrassing. Because of my work schedule, I need to shower at the gym. My gym has one big open shower for all the men to use. The problem is, I often get hard taking a shower even if I’m not attracted to the other guys. I don’t know what to do!

 

From,
Luke

men94showerHey Luke,

Thank you for the very honest question.

Much like you, I have a penis. And also like you, that penis sometimes gets hard. The reasons for this vary, but it’s a pretty long list and it sometimes happens during inopportune moments. And yes, it’s definitely happened in a communal shower.

It’s interesting that the simple act of getting a boner can elicit such embarrassing and shameful feelings. Especially when getting a boner is often involuntary and a very standard part of the male experience. I sleep. I breathe. I eat. I shit. And sometimes I get hard. When you strip away the layers of guilt, there’s nothing really notable about a boner.

You’re not the first guy to get hard in a shower and you’re not the last. Because most of the people in the communal shower will likely have a functioning penis, they’ll probably understand your predicament. If not, that’s their issue and not yours; don’t take on their baggage.

When it comes to sexual orientation, I’m not sure how you identify. But being a gay man (like myself) in a communal shower with a raging boner adds another layer to the situation. But the truth is, boners don’t imply sexual attraction. Sometimes, they just happen. And even if you are sexually attracted to the other guys in the shower, most would probably be flattered. If they’re not flattered, hopefully they realize that boners aren’t dangerous - and that they’d probably be doing the exact same thing if women were around.

The bottom line is this: Boners just aren’t a big deal. No pun intended.

Love,
Davey

P.S. Of course, you can always avoid the shower altogether by working out at home with Davey Wavey’s Bootcamp Workout! It includes three instructional videos that you can use without any gym equipment!

Should I Wear A Jockstrap To The Gym?

Dear Davey,

I’m new to the gym and, quite frankly, I need all the help that I can get. When I was a young guy in sports, I remember that a lot of my teammates would wear jockstraps. Since I’m working out again, is there any advantage to exercising in a jockstrap?

From,
Bill

598652510_tpHey Bill,

I couldn’t be more excited for an excuse to talk about jockstraps!

But first, let’s have an educational moment.

As best I can tell, jockstraps were invented in the mid 1870s by a Chicago sporting goods company. They were popular among the bicycle jockeys that rode the cobblestone streets of Boston. With an open backside and a pouch in the front, jockstraps provided an element of safety and support, and kept things nicely in place for the jockeys. Over the years, jockstraps became more popular with athletes and were often fitted with a cup for extra protection.

In essence, men wear jockstraps for the same reason that women wear bras.

7be5fb77ded9eb430161ad3f3c7b47b4But times have changed, and there are more modern options. For those of us not engaging in high-risk sports, simple compression shorts or athletic underwear are a more supportive and comfortable choice. Today, there are hundreds of brands and underwear styles specifically designed and engineered to help you get the most out of your workout.

So are jockstraps a relic of the past? Not exactly. Some men still opt for jockstraps because, let’s face it, they’re sexy. And the open backside is convenient for other, non-gym activities. Wink, wink.

So while modern athletic underwear may be a more functional choice, wearing a jockstrap just might give you that extra boost of confidence and pep in your step. If that’s the case, more power to you.

And send me a picture.

Love,
Davey

P.S. For a core workout that you can do at home (with or without a jockstrap), download Davey Wavey Six Pack Program and receive a free gift!

Is Masturbation Healthy: How Often Should You Do It?

Dear Davey,

I have a really embarrassing question to ask. I know that you’re not a doctor, but is masturbation healthy? Does it impact my workouts and how often is too often?

From,
Joe

holdhandsbillboard

Someone spent money on this?

Hey Joe,

This is probably my favorite question. Ever.

As it turns out, a lot of people rub the nub. One national survey found that 95% of men and 89% of women reported masturbating; the other 5% and 11%, respectively, reported lying. In other words, a little hand to gland combat is a very common and normal part of the human experience.

First things first, masturbation is actually quite healthy. Despite antiquated medical assumptions to the contrary, science has shown that masturbation is a good thing. Benefits range from sleeping better to stress management and improved brain health. Apparently, orgasms are better for your brain than crossword puzzles or Sudoku.

As to the impact of masturbation on athletic performance, the research is also clear. Back in the day, coaches would steer their athletes clear of sexual activity including self pleasure; the assumption was that getting your rocks off decreased testosterone - a hormone that many believe boosts athletic performance. But science is a beautiful thing! In actuality, regular sexual activity increases testosterone. Myth busted!

So when it comes to draining the dragon, how often is too often? According to Logan Levkoff, PhD, a sexologist and sex educator:

It’s not how many times you masturbate in a week (or day) that really matters. It’s how it fits into your life… If you masturbate many times a day and have a healthy, satisfying life, good for you. But if you masturbate many times a day and you’re missing work or giving up on sex with your partner because of it, consider seeing a sex therapist.

What is harmful, on the other hand, is the shame and guilt that many people feel because of the views that their culture or religion impose on this healthy and natural human practice.

As if you needed another reason for some five knuckle shuffle. Enjoy.

Love,
Davey

P.S. If you want to give your forearms a break and train another muscle group, give Davey Wavey’s Six Pack Workout a try. It’s five, 12-minute ab workouts that you can do just about anywhere.