We Love Our Sol Men
What is a Sol Man? He is a father, husband, lover, brother, son, friend and colleague. He is one of the men we care about and want to see live his best life.
Some of the guys we love are in the gym impressively lifting weights and getting strong. Others are taking up cycling, swimming or joining a pick up basketball game with their buddies on the weekends. Others still, are... on the couch (insert sad face here). Which one best describes the men in your life? If your favorite guys are already out there running circles around you, taking their kids to the ski slopes, or golfing with their clients, they deserve a standing ovation. If, however, your Sol Man refuses to work out and he's planted on the couch with a Michelob Light in his hand, debating with his buddies about whether LeBron, his "friend" in his head, can be stopped during the NBA finals, then Houston, we have a problem. If he can't find a reason to get his sweat on or take his health seriously despite all of the warnings of illness and disease associated with an inactive lifestyle, here are a few things you can do:
“If your Sol Man refuses to work out and he’s planted on the couch with a Michelob Light in his hand, debating with his buddies about whether LeBron, his ‘friend’ in his head, can be stopped during the NBA conference finals, then Houston, we have a problem.”
1) Couples That Work Out Together, Stay Together (Well, Hopefully...)
Invite your partner or spouse to walk or bike with you on the weekends. Sometimes our Sol Men, no matter their age, need a little nudge.... or a gi-normous push! And getting him active will benefit you both. Researchers at University College London found that couples who adopted a new and positive health behavior together were more successful than those who tried to change on their own. Sixty-six percent of women whose partner got on an exercise kick also started working out compared with 24 percent of those whose partners didn't get off the couch, researchers revealed. When you're both working toward the same goal, you always have each other as a source of encouragement and reinforcement for why sweat is worth the effort. On the other hand, if you're dreading your workout and he's kicking back with a beer it's going to be a hell of a lot harder to resist the urge to quit.
2) Get The Competitive Juices Flowing
Register to run a race and invite your dad, brother or best guy friend to come out and support you. Let's be honest, most men are UBER competitive. Your Sol Men may love the idea of being out there to cheer you on and provide moral support. For most, their machismo kicks in and they'll get competitive when they see for themselves the adrenaline-filled experience you're having (and their NOT having). Inevitably, some will get hyped and decide in their own heads that if they just trained just a little bit they could get out there and crush this running course, just to prove something to themselves and the world. (Trust us, we've seen it happen many times.) So, encourage their involvement and get them out there to train with you for the next race.
3) There's Value In A Little Give And Take
It's all about compromise, right? If there's something your Sol Man has wanted to do for a while, your participation and enthusiasm will go a long way in getting him to embark on this healthy living adventure with you. Has he been dying to go to a Pitbull concert? Does he enjoy braving the crowds at a Major League Baseball game? By all means, hang with him... then discuss with him a few activities you'd like him to try with you. A healthy cooking or tennis class, anyone?