Have you seen the latest installment of the American Pie series: American Reunion? There’s a moment at the end of the movie where Stifler calls out his boss, saying something like: “at the end of the day, you’re still a nerd and I can still kick your ass.”

This begs the question, who is the alpha male in today’s society? Is it the boss, the guy with a few extra dollar bills? Or is it the guy who everyone flocks to at parties, the guy who’d win any pissing contest… the athlete?

Although society and human interaction has changed immensely within the past 10,000 years, the alpha male is and always will be the same guy: the leader of the pack. He’s not the guy giving wedgies. He isn’t the bully, or the meat-head. It isn’t a matter of brawn over brains, but brawn, brains and personality wrapped up in one man.

Today’s alpha male still beams with testosterone. He has broad shoulders and commands respect. But he also has a mind. He can handle himself in conversations. He can make people laugh, defuse a confrontation, or end one with one swift blow. This article kicks off a series that will give each of us the tools to become the alpha male. We’ll look at training, nutrition, how to strengthen our body, but also our mind.

In today’s article we’re looking at one very specific aspect of being the alpha male: how to naturally raise testosterone levels.

Why is testosterone so important to becoming an alpha male?

Testosterone is ‘the male hormone’. It’s precisely what makes men, men. Healthy levels result in the ability to repair tissue much faster than we could with lower levels – important for building muscle, and if you want to heal like the Wolverine. Higher natural testosterone levels also result in us releasing powerful pheromones. Pheromones that attract women.

The ‘pheromones benefit’ dates back to our earlier existence as a species. When the man with the higher testosterone levels would be the one women are attracted to. The one they mate with. Studies are still showing this to be true today. The men with higher natural testosterone levels are able to attract women much easier. Assuming they don’t completely ruin it when they open they open their mouth, they SHOULD be much more successful with the opposite sex.

Below are two testosterone protocol’s you can use to naturally raise testosterone levels. Animal fats (saturated + monounsaturated) help raise our testosterone levels. We need them. We’ve been surviving on them a lot longer that we’ve been consuming grains.

Our testosterone levels are also at their peak from 4am – 6am. Making the best time for fats to be right before bed, and upon rising.

The Testosterone Protocol’s

Shake 3x a week

12 oz whole raw milk, 4 tbsp raw almond butter, 2 raw egg yolk, 3 tbsp chia seeds, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1/2 tsp cinnamon

Before bed & upon rising snack

Cod liver oil. 3,000-5,000 IU vitamin D3, 3 Brazil nuts + a source of fats (food). I threw this in on my own. It was usually a couple whole eggs, an avocado, or a grass fed beef burger paddy.

Bonus: cold showers also raise testosterone levels. Start and end your day with a 10-minute cold shower to naturally raise your testosterone levels. Make it as cold as possible.

Next time: How to Build Alpha Male Muscle

How to Be an Alpha Male Part 1 is a post from: TheRugged

The Rugged knows a lot of guys work for The Man, and God only knows how miserable that can be. Luckily, most of us around here are now doing something we love, but for so many, the 9-to-5 grinds on and on and on. Our sympathies. We feel you, and want you to know you’re not doing it in vain.

Except for when you are.

To clarify, we believe most of our readership will eventually use their life experiences to find success and happiness in work, if they’re not there already. So in that sense, nothing you do is in vain. But in another—like, say, punching a clock for 40-50 hours per week—you very much are whittling away youth and productivity.

A number of recent productivity studies have even told Corporate America to lighten up on the extra-long work weeks and the regimented time schedule. But do they listen? Some do, yes. But most businesses still have a long-ass way to go. So What is the Ideal Work Week, and what can you expect as a business owner if you don’t honor it?

The 50-Hour Myth

A recent productivity poll, reported by that bastion of journalism Yahoo, stated productivity falls with each hour over 40 you work, becoming counterproductive by the time you hit 50. Now, as a business owner, I’ve got to call BS. I don’t think everyone should work 50 hours, but I do think you should be prepared to work more when you are a serious stakeholder in the company, and you’ve yet to reach sustainability. When faced with mounting expenses and a need for cash flow, the 50-Hour Work Week is a necessity. And maybe even a minimum.

Okay, so maybe it takes you two hours to accomplish something that could be done in one, but deadlines don’t always afford the luxury of putting something away and coming back to it later, and if you did, any productivity accrued could easily be blotted out by angry and disappearing clients or sluggish cash flow that won’t allow you to meet payroll. So in one sense, maybe 50 hours is too much, but in another, it’s not always possible to simply step in and say, “Cut it, we’re going to 40.”

Why the 40-Hour Week Doesn’t Work

So we just told you 50-Hour Work Weeks aren’t necessarily a bad thing. Now we’re going to bash the traditional 40, and tell you to work harder, longer hours, right? Wrong.

The reason why the 40-Hour Work Week doesn’t work has less to do with employees not working hard enough, and more to do with employees having their time wasted. It is a business owner’s job to know what the top priorities are for his organization and assign those tasks accordingly.

If it’s a bigger organization, then the business owner’s job is to hire managers, who can do those things, while giving them the resources to accomplish company goals. We believe whether it’s a 50-, 60-, or 100-Hour Work Week, you need to be doing whatever it takes to make your business profitable. But if the business is sustained, then you need to think less about how long your employees are at the office and more about what they’re doing with the time they are “on the clock.”

Most companies that hold their employees to a 40-Hour Work Week with set hours, are missing big opportunities because they are communicating to their employees that productivity takes a back seat to showing up.

Drumming up busy work—those things that will not grow the bottom line or help the company to meet its Mission Statement—are profound wastes of time, and they’re a large part of why your people zone out at their computer screens and forget where they are for 60 minutes at a time. Sure, cleaning the bathroom may need to be done, but if it doesn’t affect you meeting payroll and it doesn’t drive forward future growth and success, outsource it.

The 4-Hour Work Week

Writer Timothy Ferriss, author of “The 4-Hour Work Week,” has been featured in magazines like Fortune and Fast Company for his approach to minimalist work weeks, which consist of heavy outsourcing.

While few have the financial means to pull this off, Ferriss has some good ideas and you could learn a lot from him about stripping away things that don’t directly relate to the good of your business or to your employees’ productivity.

For employees to perform their best, you have to make them feel like a valuable part of the company. If they’re not, then why did you hire them in the first place? You’re wasting their time, and your own time and money.

Populate your business with people, who can really make a difference. Make them feel like they have a stake in the company, and the results will far exceed anything they could accomplish just “showing up for work.”

Brain-Dead Clock-Watchers

So what is the ideal work week? Wrong question. If you’re a business owner you should instead ask, “What do we need to accomplish to move the business forward? How productive are my employees? And what can I do to motivate and help them feel integral to my business’s success?”

If you’re an employee, ask, “How can I accomplish more work in less time? What can I do to add value to the company beyond what I’m adding now? And if this were my business, what could I do to improve it?”

In either case, you each become more important to the other and actual partners in a mutually beneficial relationship, rather than a couple of brain-dead clock-watchers. Time moves fast. You’ll accomplish more by measuring what you’ve done with it than how much of it you’ve missed.

What is the Ideal Work Week? is a post from: TheRugged

Warning: there is no glittering vampires, no pouty teenage angst, no overblown descriptions of paranormal romance, and no Robert Pattinson, in the words that follow. 

1. Let the Right One In

The Swedish horror film received a respectful English-language remake in “Let Me In,” but for our money, you still can’t beat the original. This flick tells the story of a bullied young boy, who learns to stand up for himself thanks to a friendship with a girl living next door, who is in reality a more-than-100-year-old vampire. At times touching, at times terrifying, this one breaks free from the standard vampire formula and gives viewers something that is simultaneously brutal and beautiful. A rarity in the sub-genre, and in the medium of cinema as a whole.

2. Daybreakers

Nice, rowdy fun, Daybreakers does allow you to turn off your brain while enjoying some boo-ya’s along the way. Set in the not-too-distant future, vampires rule the world and humans are a rarity. A vampire scientist finds a cure for his population’s affliction, only to later discover that the powers-that-be don’t exactly view their bloodsucking states as the by-products of a curse anymore, and they will now do anything to silence his research and keep things the way they are. Lot of good blood and gore with vamps that are not for the squeamish—you know, the Twi-hards?

3. Near Dark

Good modern day western-romance-vampire mashup is much darker than what you’ll see at the Cineplexes of today. The bad guys—featuring Lance Henriksen and Bill Paxton—are no-nonsense and quite vicious. One of their number has fallen in love with a good-ol’ boy, who helps his father with their Texas farm and with raising his younger sister. She infects the good-ol’ boy, who finds out too late what a horrible bunch she’s mixed up with. Together, they try to break free from the clutches of the evil Civil War-era vampires, but are they too outmatched? Hell of an entertaining flick.

4. Bram Stoker’s Dracula

Francis Ford Coppola’s last great film, and the very best adaptation of Stoker’s legendary creation ever assembled. It is a full-blooded horror film with all the spooky nighttime elements of bats, green mists, slashed arteries, and even werewolves, to welcome ye lovers of all things horror. Also known to be the most faithful adaptation of the book. Gary Oldman plays the title character, and is joined by a supporting cast of Anthony Hopkins (as Van Helsing) as well as Winona Ryder, Keanu Reeves, and Bill Campbell (the Rocketeer himself). If you like a little excess with your horror films, if you like the legendary Hammer Films, and if you like hot lesbian triple teams, then you could do a lot worse than Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

5. House of Dark Shadows

The original Dark Shadows soap opera ran from 1966 to 1971 on ABC. With 1,225 episodes, it was something of a cultural phenomenon, particularly when it brought Barnabas Collins (Jonathan Frid) onto the scene. Collins was a sympathetic vampire—a good man driven to do horrible things, while always longing for a cure. The show is still enjoyable for its camp value and frequent on-air bloopers. It was revived in the 1990’s as an hour-long drama, and then again this year with Johnny Depp in the Collins role and Tim Burton directing. But for a great film that succinctly encapsulates the meatier parts of the original series, using the original cast and superb production values, you should check out House of Dark Shadows. Word of warning to those of you meeting Collins for the first time through Depp and Burton’s incarnation—this is not a comedy. It’s a solid 1970’s-era horror film that ranks among our favorites. Was followed by a non-vampire “sequel”—“Night of Dark Shadows.”

5 Vampire Flicks You’ve Gotta See is a post from: TheRugged

A business is an organism. If it’s not growing, it’s dying. At least that’s true for the 21^st Century. There are so many changes in technology and innovation that it’s only a matter of time before someone comes along, who can do what you do more efficiently. And with the Internet creating a global market place for all, you can’t afford to be complacent. That’s why you always need to grow. Whether that means finding new clients or ditching ones that are a drain on your time and resources, the eyes must stay on the prize—increasing revenues and decreasing expenses, while never losing your passion or vision for the business. In this spirit, The Rugged gives you 5 Essentials for Taking your Business Beyond Where it is Now.

1. An Evolving Mission Statement

Whether you sell a product or a service, you have to know what you’re working towards. Perhaps you have horror stories related to this item, and that’s keeping you from articulating the goal of the business. After all, many of us have experienced those time-sucking meetings, where a higher-up feels he or she has to waste our time beating around the bush in order to develop a superfluous statement that is a lot of words that say nothing at all. These people do that to justify their jobs. But if you run your own business, survival is your job justification. If your mission is to earn $100,000 in revenue, then you have a good handle on the business goal. The only thing you need next is an overview of how you will accomplish said revenue growth. Is it by adding 3 to 5 new clients by the end of the year? If so, then say that. Your Mission Statement may not be “intellectual,” but it will be effective. Just revisit it often, and don’t be afraid to make alterations as needed.

2. A Complex Plan of Action

If “adding $100,000 in revenue by picking up four new clients by the end of the year” is your mission statement, then your Action Plan is how you will make that happen. Action Plans are more complex than Mission Statements, but they share the commonality of being dynamic. Technology, social networking, growth in revenue resources—all these things can be used to get your name out there and attract business, and all are constantly changing. Your Action Plan should make use of these elements and describe in detail how you will engage customers and/or potential clients for business growth. If the Mission Statement is the destination, then the Action Plan is the car that gets you there.

3. An Eye on the Competition

Don’t ignore your competitors. If you’re in the newspaper business, then you need to look at what New Media is doing to shrink expenses and grow revenue. (Unfortunately, as an aside, most newspapers haven’t gotten this message yet.) Sure, you may get envious. Sure, you may hate the bastards. Sure, you may think they’re “ruining your industry.” Maybe they are. Maybe your industry needs ruined. Just don’t let personal feelings get in the way of business. If someone has good ideas, take note, and see how you can apply them to your business. By the same token, watch what your competition is doing wrong. This can offer encouragement as well as spur innovation to expand the lead that you possess.

4. A Platform

Question: what do you do with a platform? Answer: you stand on it, so people can see you. The best platforms allow visibility from all directions, as far as the eye can see. Remember this as you move into social networking and balance that with other forms of marketing. Your platform must expand your footprint as far as possible, while reaffirming branding initiatives—both online and off. In other words, the idea isn’t Facebook, Twitter, or Print? It’s not a question at all, in fact. It’s a statement: Facebook, Twitter, Print, and then some. Whatever market you can reach, do so.

5. Knowledge of How to Serve Your Clients Better

It’s easy to get caught up in watching the competition. It’s also easy to get distracted by all the technological innovations and the various tools at your disposal. But in the end, it’s all about the client/customer. Don’t forget that. Communicate with your customers. Listen to their praise and their criticisms. Ask them what they need to thrive in the new economic climate. By expanding your knowledge of what they want, you can add services or products, which can in turn help take them to the next level and boost your business to a new level of growth.

5 Essentials for Taking your Business Beyond Where it is Now is a post from: TheRugged

For now, we’re going to focus on these 5 Bad Movie Ideas (that Actually Got Made), and we’re going to limit ourselves to summer blockbusters, one bad B-movie, a wacky Hollywood couples project, and quite possibly the worst remake idea ever. Let’s go.

1. Battleship

It opens May 18, and features the ridiculous site of Rihanna in an aqua-camo outfit, but the very concept is much worse than any creative decisions that may exist within its framework. What you’ve got in Battleship is Hollywood looking at a board game quickly coming up on its 70^th Anniversary (in 2013) and thinking, “Hmmm, we should make a movie spending hundreds of millions of dollars to celebrate.” These types of ideas almost never end well, though they do give us some nice comic relief in the form of that hilarious Hungry Hungry Hippos summer movie poster that’s making the rounds online. Unfortunately, it’s not enough to make up for the almost-guaranteed use of the line “You sank my Battleship” within the movie itself, and that is unforgivable. It also fuels the need for lame joke attempts by Internet writers like me to ask, “What’s next, Hollywood—Operation: The Movie?”

2. Face/Off

Okay, so not every movie on this list actually sucks, but can you imagine the pitch summit for this flick? “Yes, we want to take the concept of two men switching faces and try to devise a plausible action movie around it.” Well, they failed in that regard. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the hell out of Face/Off, but it’s quite possibly the dumbest idea in action movie history, and you do have to forcefully suspend your disbelief to get behind it.

3. Night of the Lepus

A serious film about giant killer bunny rabbits starring Dr. McCoy from TV’s Star Trek (DeForest Kelley). Just goes to show you what can happen when you let arty Hollywood types with an environmentalist message run amok in the horror genre, or any industry for that matter. Hey, I’m all for improving how we treat Mother Earth, but not at the expense of seeing furry Easter bunny types hop hellishly through the Cineplex. The movie was poorly reviewed at the time, and has since been referred to as the most ridiculous concept for a horror film ever conceived. Can’t argue there.

4. Made in America

What’s a worse idea than Whoopi Goldberg publicizing her love life? How about Whoopi marrying Ted Danson (the womanizing Sam Malone from Cheers)? If that’s as bad as you think it can get, think again. How about getting the two of them together in a movie project? Made in America, the story about a woman (Goldberg), who uses a sperm donor (Danson) to mother her daughter and then crossing paths with him later in life, only to find he’s a sleazy incorrigible used car salesman, whom she will eventually fall in love with, does just that. Not only is it a horrible idea because Whoopi is second only to Rosie O’Donnell in her boner killing powers, and she’s presented here as the lead in a rom-com, but it also gives Danson a chance to play a role other than Sam Malone, which he never did very well, like, at all. Oh yeah, and then there is the horrible script. Still, it made a profit, grossing $104 million worldwide. (Shame on you, world.)

5. Psycho 

If you read the whole article, I bet you expected this when I mentioned “the worst remake idea ever.” Listen, I’m not going to pretend that Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho is scary. I never found it scary because by the time I watched it, I’d also seen hundreds of other horror movies, of varying degrees of quality, that took all the elements of that original classic, and amplified them. Still, it is a classic, and many objected to the remake idea on that reason alone. Not me. I objected to it because director Gus Van Sant’s idea was to make the same exact movie, adding only color and an implied masturbation scene to the mix. Everything else is shot-for-shot, as if to say, “Here, New Generation, let me introduce you to one of cinema’s most classic films by doing the same thing the original did, in the same exact way, with less skill and innovation. Sure, you could go rent the damn thing, or perhaps the studio could save money on a new production and just rerelease the old one to theaters as part of an Anniversary tribute. But where’s the pork barrel spending in that?” When directors do this, they do not pay homage to the original. They bastardize it, and thus discourage new audiences from seeking the old ones out. When doing a remake, it’s far better to bring something new to the table, so when a new audience does go back to rediscover the classic, there is still a sense of surprise and discovery. (See Fright Night.)

Dishonorable Mention

The Avengers (2012)

Just kidding.

5 Bad Movie Ideas (that Actually Got Made) is a post from: TheRugged

Since we’re looking at Strikeforce for predictions this week—Heavyweight Grand Prix final, anyone?—we won’t be predicting the UFC on Fuel show Tuesday night. After all, there is only one of me. But in honor of the Featherweight main event, we decided to turn our attention to that division for this week’s divisional power rankings. Without further ado, The Rugged gives you MMA Top 10: The Featherweights.

10. Patricio Pitbull (17-1, Bellator Season 4 Featherweight Champion)

Patricio Pitbull debuted at Bellator 15 with a 12-0 record and then proceeded to fight his way into the finals before losing a narrow split decision to Joe Warren at Bellator 23 in June 2010. Since then, he’s regrouped, started a dominant three-fight winning streak, and captured the Season 4 title. Clearly, he’s next in line for a crack at Pat Curran, and a win there could slingshot him into the top 5, and a possible UFC run.

9. Charles Oliveira (15-2, 1 NC)

Oliveira has managed to hang on to his UFC shot for two years now, but after two losses and a no-contest at Lightweight, the future was in question. However, he’s since gotten back on the winning track with a move to Featherweight and a Submission of the Night victory over Eric Wisely at the first UFC on Fox in January. Considering he started his career at Welterweight and then moved down to Lightweight, the experience fighting at larger weights could set Oliveira up for a title run.

8. Diego Nunes (17-3)

Nunes has an impressive record and more name recognition than a lot of the guys on this list, but lately, his career’s been facing a downward turn. Since making the jump to UFC from WEC, he’s gone 2-2 with lackluster decision victories against Mike Brown and Manvel Gamburyan and two losses against a washed-up Kenny Florian and a virtually unknown Dennis Siver (both by way of unanimous decision). At one time, Nunes could have made the case for a top 5 slot, but not anymore.

7. Dustin Poirier (12-1)

Poirier made the move to Featherweight at just the right time. Losing a unanimous decision to Danny Castillo at WEC 50 could have been the beginning of the end for the young fighter, but he bounced back with a TKO victory over Zach Micklewright and then a division debut at the same time of the UFC/WEC merger. Since then, he’s been dominant, scoring four wins in a row, including a Submission of the Night win in his last outing against Max Holloway at UFC 143.

6. Jimy Hettes (10-0)

Since fighting his way to the UFC after scoring big wins in other fight promotions, Hettes is finally ready for his time to shine as one of the world’s Top 10 Featherweight Fighters. Hettes has fought ten times, scoring nine submission victories and one unanimous decision win (against Nam Phan in his second UFC fight). He’s one or two high-profile victories away from a shot at Aldo in our opinion, and the only unbeaten on this list (the Champ included).

5. Pat Curran (17-4, Bellator Featherweight Champion)

Since making the move down from Lightweight, Curran has found his rhythm at 145. His last four fights with the Bellator promotion were convincing victories with two knockouts, one submission, and one lopsided decision. On March 9, 2012, he used his fists to put away Joe Warren and capture the promotion’s Featherweight Championship. Since Strikeforce has no Featherweight Division, Bellator’s carries a bit more weight, and as such, its champ deserves a slot in the Top 10 Featherweights. Curran should think about making the jump to UFC soon.

4. Yuri Alcantara (26-3)

Alcantara has won 13 straight fights, making him a natural for the Featherweight Championship title picture. A former WEC guy, this Brazilian fighter has tied up with foes from numerous organizations and, for the most part, came out on top. He’s shown striking ability, kayoing Ricardo Lamas at WEC 53 in 2010. He’s shown grappling ability, submitting Francisco Drinaldo at Jungle Fight 22 the same year. Since coming to the UFC in 2011, he’s scored two unanimous decision victories, proving his stamina and his ability to control the action.

3. Chad Mendes (11-1)

Mendes was the division’s fastest rising star until the knees and punches of Aldo put an end to that. Prior to his devastating loss at UFC 142 earlier this year, Mendes had amassed an 11-0 record, including a unanimous decision victory against Aldo’s next opponent, Erik Koch, at WEC 47. Despite the recent setback, he’s still staked his claim to a Top 10 Featherweights slot.

2. Erik Koch (13-1)

Koch’s only loss was a unanimous decision to Mendes. Before that, he was a 9-0 wunderkind, skilled in the art of the choke, but not above using his fists either. Since the loss, he’s fought his way up to a title shot with four consecutive victories, where he’s been a little more willing to mix it up striking—two of the four victories have been knockouts. Momentum dictates Koch is ranked above Mendes in the pecking order, though if you go head-to-head, you’ve got to give it to Mendes. We’ll call this one a tie for now.

1. Jose Aldo (21-1, UFC Featherweight Champion)

Aldo’s foray into the Lightweight Division didn’t go too well. He was submitted by Luciano Azevedo. But that was in 2005. Since then, he’s been a human wrecking ball, logging 14 straight victories, mostly by KO and TKO. Even those fights that have gone the distance were largely one-sided. There’s little doubt he’s the best in the world at 145 pounds. The question: how far behind is the competition lagging? We will find out when he faces Erik Koch at UFC 149 in July.

MMA Top 10: The Featherweights is a post from: TheRugged

There also seems to be a lot more fluid fighting mechanics allowing you to stream kills ala Arkham City giving the game a more frenetic pace which will help out tremendously when you are fighting against numerous soldiers with muskets and getting into bigger battles than we have ever seen in the Assassin’s Creed Series. With E3 just around the corner expect some more news on Assassin’s Creed 3 very soon.

Assassin’s Creed III Gameplay Trailer is a post from: TheRugged

We here at The Rugged love us some stand-up comedy. Which is why we’re excited to team up with Paramount, Comedy Central and the folks at The Syndicate PR to give away four – oh yeah, you heard right, FOUR – copies of Patton Oswalt’s latest special, Finest Hour, on DVD.

It’s an extended cut from the TV version and 100% uncensored.

So, how do you win? Oh, it’s pretty easy. Just shoot me an email with your name, age and mailing address (U.S. residents only – sorry rest of the world) along with your favorite Patton Oswalt bit. You can type it our word for word, just make a reference to it or even send me a YouTube link. I’ll pick four entries at random and you’ll have your very own copy sent right to you.

Good luck!

Want a FREE Copy of Patton Oswalt’s “Finest Hour” Special on DVD? is a post from: TheRugged

This Mother’s Day, understand why Mom is number one, and why the mother of your children, or future children, deserve respect.

The Symptoms

In the beginning, many women feel fatigue. Imagine yourself staying up all night, the next day playing a contact sport for two hours, and then lifting weights. Fatigue can feel like when you attempt lifting those weights.

A freshly pregnant woman might appear okay, but her body is doing its thing to prepare for a new inhabitant. Along with body tissues replicating, there is often nausea, swollen or tender breasts that hurt when touched, feeling gassy, having to pee continually, and mood swings caused by the multiplying of the amount of progesterone in her body.

The prospective mom’s body makes more blood for the new person; her heart has to do extra work; and her uterus thickens. The extra blood can make her body swell and cause symptoms including heartburn, congestion, dizziness, nosebleeds, bleeding gums, and worse – hemorrhoids.

In the second trimester fetus is about the size of a lemon. Some women find it difficult to bend over and will be less able throughout the rest of her pregnancy. Imagine have a baseball in your abdomen and not able to take a dump, bend over, or breathe well. By this time a woman who likes sleeping belly down probably has to sleep on her side. A lot of women also get constipation.

By the third trimester, a woman’s center of gravity has shift up, and it’s easy to lose balance. Her belly starts stretching so much that, unless copious amounts of cocoa butter or the like is used, stretch marks become permanent. The growth of the baby pushes its mother’s organs up. Her stomach, intestines, bladder, get compressed, making it harder to eat, pee, and dump.

During this time, the uterus has “practice” contractions. Imagine getting kicked in the balls. In addition the weight of the baby puts pressure on its mother’s spine making it difficult for back sleepers. The baby can block a major vein that supplies blood to itself and to its mom’s lower body.

At this point, a woman has gone through months of chronic stuffy nose, sleep deprivation from discomfort while lying down which leads to chronic exhaustion, and crazy mood swings from the excess hormones produced to prepare her body for birth. In fact, most women fail to get full REM sleep throughout their pregnancies. Talk about a right to be cranky.

The Joy of Birth

Without going into detail, since birthing seems to be the only thing everyone already knows about, let’s leave it at it’s painful. Thank God for epidurals. Oh, an epidural by the way is injected into a pregnant woman’s spine and basically paralyzes her. At least the pain isn’t as bad.

So, remember this next time you talk to your mom, or current or future baby mama. If you’ve made it this far in your lifespan to be able to read this, you have more to be grateful about. Remember what all moms go through, and share some joy on Mother’s Day.

Love Your Mama: What Women Go Through During Pregnancy is a post from: TheRugged

And the Inside:

I know what you’re thinking: “Jeff, you just got lucky. There’s no way I’ll get such a perfect card with the 30-second rule!” Well stop being a moron about it. The whole thing is getting a card. Then we’ll move on to…


STEP 2: Card adjustment.
Look, she just wants a card. She loves cards. What else does she love? Crafts. Needless to say, you don’t have time to make another God’s Eye or hand print clay thingy. She still has your old ones anyway. So this card is your craft! Are you stuck searching for inspiration? Search no further! Here’s what I did with mine:

Whoa! Is that even the same card?? It got mother’s day-ed! Now your mom will be all impressed and shit. And, most importantly, she’ll know that your crafting skills never really left you.


STEP 3: Personalization.
What’s the worst thing about those sappy mother’s day cards? You’d never say that stuff to her! So you want to add a message in the card. I lucked out on the one I got. The pre-printed message says “It’s time to get your wish on!” And that’s pretty much what I would’ve said anyway. I always want my mom to get her wish on, regardless of the day. But you still gotta add that touch of personality to the card. Here’s what I did:

What a cute kid! What a cute cat! And what a cute Jeff!! Wanna know the secret? We don’t even HAVE a cat. But I told her to tell the cat I said hi. What does that say to my mom? It says “You raised a thoughtful and friendly son who anticipates possible change and adjusts for it.” I can’t think of a better present. Can you? No. You can’t.


Congratulations! You just learned my three easy steps to getting the perfect mother’s day card. Just remember to give it to her and you’re set. I know that this will make her so happy that she’ll want to thank me personally. Just tell her not to send me a card. I don’t want crap like that. Unless it has money inside.




(Editors Note: This article is from Jeff’s blog Jefferything You Need to Know)

Jeff Helps You Buy a Mother’s Day Card is a post from: TheRugged