MNN - Mother Nature Network

Dads, your big day is right around the corner. And while all your beautiful kids are focused on being good to you on Father's Day, why not take a few minutes to be good to yourself? And no, I don't mean you should go buy yourself the latest gadget or splurge on a big steak (although you may want to do that, too.) I'm taking about being good to yourself by making sure that you're in tip-top shape health-wise so you'll be around to watch those beautiful kids grow up and have beautiful kids of their own. Here's what you need to know: 

Get movin': If you're not already exercising, now is the time to start. Put it on your schedule to make sure it happens. Exercise will raise your metabolism, helping you control your weight and improving your attitude. Surely that's as important as any meeting or errand you might attend to during the day.

 

Check in for a checkup: A recent study from Rutgers University found that men who consider themselves "macho" are 50 percent less likely to seek preventative health care. But regular checkups can help you catch (and correct) a whole array of physical ailments that may not present symptoms until it's too late. At a minimum, here's what you need to get checked: blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, thyroid, prostate and colon.  

 

Eat right: You don't need fad diets or expensive exercise programs to tell you that when you eat healthy meals, you feel better, inside and out. Make an effort to sneak more fruits and veggies into your diet and stop sneaking in all of those sugary drinks and coffees and overly processed snacks. Check out the USDA's MyPyramid site for a customized food pyramid based on your height, weight, age and gender.  

 

Letting go: Dads are much less likely than moms to take care of their emotional selves, yet men face just as many work, family, and finance stressors as women do. So make an effort to do things that help you unwind and let go of the day's pressures: connect with friends, take a yoga class, go out on a date with your partner, or read a good book. Think of it as a solid investment in your overall good health.