By Branden Lee
The gay stereotype is that gay men are obsessed with their appearance and constantly in the gym. But that stereotype has also caused many gay men to feel pressured to use steroids, develop eating disorders, and push their body to unhealthy limits. Add to that binge drinking, drug use, and wild sex and what seems like a healthy lifestyle may not be so. Luckily, it’s never too late to take control of your narrative and start to live a healthier lifestyle. Here are some ways to improve your wellness for not only the rest of 2018 – and for the rest of your life.
Fitness Is a Lifestyle, Not a Fad
Just because swimsuit season is over, that doesn’t mean it is time to stop going to the gym. Winter does mean wearing more clothes and being covered up, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care about what you look like with your clothes off anymore. Stop with the crash diets or only going to the gym before the big event. Make working out part of your weekly routine. Losing weight and gaining muscle isn’t about making it happen as fast as possible. It’s about slowly, steadily, and consistently working towards your body goals and maintaining them once you achieve them. So, make up your workout routine and stick with it.
PREPare Yourself Against HIV
Atlanta is still in the top 5 of cities where new HIV infections are the highest. Truvada has been on the market a few years now, so there’s no excuse for ignorance when it comes to preventing HIV. There are many affordable ways to acquire Prep so that you can prevent yourself from becoming another statistic. Millions of gays lives were lost during the height of the AIDS epidemic. Thankfully, HIV is no longer a death sentence, but we owe it to our fallen gay ancestors to protect ourselves. Find out how to get on Prep ASAP.
Mental Health Is Just as Important as Physical Health
Queer people are still more likely to commit suicide than heterosexuals, which is a startling statistic. Now is the best time to be gay in terms of laws, protections, and equality, but there’s still a long way to go. Many gays are still dealing with rejection, discrimination, homophobia, and a plethora of other problems. It can really get you down. Being gay isn’t easy, but we can never give up the fight. Take care of yourself mentally. Whether that means picking up a new creative hobby to channel your stress. Taking a vacation. Going on a break from social media, or even sex. Do what you need to do to keep your mind clear, and thoughts in order.