Mens_HealthUSA_December_2016

14 MensHealth.com | December 2016

FITNESS

Is it true that some guys can’t get abs that

show? If that’s the case, how do I know if I’m

wasting time aiming for that six-pack?

MATT, MEMPHIS, TN

A six-pack requires two things: low body fat and adequate muscle mass. But genetics

plays a role too. “Two guys with the same body fat and diet and exercise program rarely

look exactly the same,” says Christine Mermier, Ph.D., director of the exercise physiology

lab at the University of New Mexico. You might not shed fat easily or you might store it

around your belly. So blame your DNA, age, stress, or the lighting. Still, most men can get

their abs to show if they hit on the right diet and exercise and are extremely disciplined.

GUY KNOWLEDGE

I’m up for a promotion at

work. Know any Jedi mind

tricks to convince the

deciders that I’m the guy?

TRAVIS, HARTFORD, CT

Look the part you must, Pada-

wan. Show them you mean

business, and by “show,” we

mean business: Wear a shirt in a

bold color, like cobalt blue. “That

exudes confidence and leader-

ship,” says fashion stylist Jacqui

Stafford. Your shoes should

be polished—it shows that you

know you’re representing the

company. And don’t forget body

language. Step forward when

you’re presenting, which con-

veys fearlessness and establishes

territory, says body language

expert Patti Wood. In your office,

sit up straight. Slouching may

seem cool but could be seen as

disrespectful; and hunching over

your computer brings your head

down and saps your power.

HEALTH

I’ve been seeing little dots

and other shapes in my field

of vision lately. It’s not all

the time and seems random.

What’s up with that?

GEORGE, SANTA FE, NM

Sounds like classic floaters.

These black flecks are collagen

fibers that clump together and

dart around in the jellylike

substance at the back of your

eyeball, casting shadows on your

retina. Floaters tend to show up

with age and don’t come and go.

They just seem more obvious

when you look at something

like a white wall or a blank Word

doc. You can’t do anything about

them, except take comfort in

knowing that you’re not alone—

three out of four people see

them, according to one study. If

you notice an unusual number

of new floaters, have your eyes

checked. “Occasionally, floaters

can signify an inflammatory

eye disease or damage to the

retina, including the possibility

of a sight-threatening retinal

detachment,” says John Mason

III, M.D., an associate professor

of ophthalmology at the Univer -

sity of Alabama.

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