Question:  I have rolled and sprained both of my ankles. During my football season what can i do to prevent another sprain since both of my ankles are now weaker and more prone to a sprain.

Answer: The best way to “bullet-proof” your ankles from ankle sprains is to do some exercises on an unstable surface.

Start with simply balancing on one foot. Then do the same on a pad like an Airex pad. Then you can stand on both feet on a wobble board.

Again, anything where the foot is on an unstable surface will help.

Best,

Dr Clay

Question: I have a.. I guess problem. Every since I was like 8 I started developing fatty tissue around my chest…and now I have more than I want, so yeah kinda like man boobs I guess.

And its pretty embarassing u know, to have to take my shirt of and all that. The thing is I have done martial arts for more than a year now, I do pushups and lift weights and all that.

SO is it just my diet that I need to change, or something else?  Please help me get rid of my man boobs!  Thanks.

Answer: You’re certainly not alone.  Many, many men (teenagers especially) have fatty deposits (aka man boobs) around the areola and lower chest.

This typically occurs as a result of a slight hormone imbalance, often due to puberty.  As testosterone levels elevate in young men, some end up converting too much of the “excess” testosterone into estrogen.  This estrogen leads to fatty deposits around and under the nipple area.  Clinically, this is called gynecomastia.

Many people outgrow the condition when the sex hormones return to normal.  But in some men the man boobs persist.  If this is the case, they usually have to be surgically removed.  The surgery is fairly simple and typically has a quick recovery time. 

Before you opt for surgery, however, get as lean as you can.  This will get rid of as much fat in the chest area as possible.  This often eliminates man boobs (gyno) or at least reduces the severity.  But if you’re still not happy with the shape of your chest, then I would begin looking for an experienced surgeon.

~ Dr Clay

The following question was posted on bb.com - my reply follows. 

Question: Hey so honestly, can someone tell me if it really is good or bad to work out every day with maybe one day off? Some say it doesn’t allow your muscles to fully recover and some say its a myth? Can someone please say why it is good to workout everyday or why it is bad?

Thankyou!!

Answer: Any routine will work if:

1) your CNS (central nervous system) is allowed to ‘recuperate’ between workouts
2) each muscle is allowed to ‘recuperate’ before it’s trained again
3) not so much times passes between workouts that the training effect has passed (i.e. the muscle atrophies)

Any program that fits these basic parameters will work. But the catch is that an infinite number of factors affect these parameters.

So, could you train every day and make progress? Yes, if the program is adjusted accordingly. Could you tan every day and get darker but not burn? Sure, if you didn’t tan too long or too intensely - same with exercise.

~ Dr Clay

Question: Hi i just subscribed to your vids … i’m a 20 male 5′7″ and about 130 lbs I’m just wondering what are your views on extra virgin olive oil… I take 3 flax seed pills (1 tbsp each) a day as the bottle recommends. How much or how little extra virg olive oil should I be eating and how often?
Thanks for your help
-Will
 

Answer: There’s really no specific amount that we know that people should consumer per day.  However, I think that most people would benefit from consuming one tablespoon per day. 

This would be enough to get some of the benefits but without adding too many calories to the diet.  However, many people could certainly consume more, especially if their diet were slightly lower in carbs (to compensate for the additional - although healthy - calories in the extra virgin olive oil).

Your in health,

Dr Clay