Get your summer on!

Men's Fitness, June-July, 2004 by Tamar Schreibman, Allison Winn Scotch, David Scott

SPF 55? CHECK. BlueBlocker clip-ons? Yup. Shamu inflatable lounge floater with beverage holder? Uh-huh. But are you up on the kindest way to slay a lobster? Or how to hit a wide-out in touch? Or how about the best strategies for having sex in the sand? Here, the buzz (see: "Bee stings") on all things Summer 2004.

Bee stings, treatment of

The first order of business is to remove the stinger, either with a pair of tweezers (preferably sterilized with a match) or your finger, or try scraping it off with the edge of a credit card, says Hilary L. Reich, M.D., a New York City-based dermatologist. If you experience shortness of breath or difficulty swallowing, call an ambulance--you might be having an allergic reaction. Otherwise, sterilize the area with soap and water, and apply antibiotic ointment.

Bike seat, height

Feel pain in your hip or thigh as you peddle? Make sure your bike seat is at the proper height. At the bottom of your pedal stroke, your leg shouldn't be perfectly straight; there should be a slight bend in the knee.

Bodysurf, how to

Maui's "first lady" of surfing, former world champion Nancy Emerson, has also been bodysurfing since age two. Her advice: Find a sandy shoreline ("Rocks hurt," she notes--but you already knew that), then swim to where the waves break. When you see a good rolling wave approaching, turn toward shore, get on your belly, and start swimming with your head up looking forward. Kick your legs to propel yourself (fins will give you great power and speed). Bring your arms to your sides as you ride the wave to reduce drag and hang loose--tensing up like a board adds 25 to 100 pounds of dead weight to your body.

Bug bites, treatment of

When a bug attacks this summer (and no doubt one will), reduce the itching and swelling with hydrocortisone 1% cream (available over the counter). Also, an oral anti-histamine like Benadryl (look for diphenhydramine on the label) can provide additional rapid relief. For mosquito bites, a lotion containing camphor and menthol will soothe the itch. For more painful fire-ant bites, go with a topical anesthetic like benzocaine 20%.

Burgers, how to grill

Bobby Flay, author of Boy Meets Grill, offers these suggestions:

1. Buy fresh, coarsely ground chuck. If flavor is top priority, don't get extra lean beef. Buffalo meat offers a beefy flavor with less fat.

2. Factor in shrinkage: "Meat shrinks due to loss of moisture and fat when being cooked," says Flay, who prefers the 80% lean variety. "That's just enough fat to keep the meat moist but not so much that your burger disappears on the grill." Generally use about five ounces of meat for each patty.

3. As you form patties, add a coarse salt like kosher and grind on fresh black pepper. "Pre-ground doesn't have the vibrancy of flavor."

4. Cook on high heat: four minutes on each side for medium-rare, five minutes for medium, and six minutes for well-done.

Dog, care of

Where you go, the dog goes, right? But your best friend doesn't fare as well in the heat as you do. Annemarie Lucas of the Animal Planet network's Animal Precinct suggests shaving your dog's hair to one-inch length to prevent overheating; completely shaving him down will rob him of sun protection altogether (and make him look pretty goofy). At the beach, limit his time in the surf. Not only will saltwater irritate his skin, but it'll also dehydrate him quicker if he drinks enough of it.

Exercise outdoors, best time to

Schedule that pick-up game or bike trek for early morning or late afternoon. You will fatigue faster between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m, when the sun is at its peak. Midday activity also puts you at risk for dehydration and heatstroke.

Flings, rules for summer

The key to keeping a summer affair just an affair is to limit the amount of time you spend alone with the woman, says Rick Solomon, fledgling porn auteur and co-star of The Paris Hilton Sex Tape. "It's tough for her to tell you those three scary words--'I love you'--if you're constantly surrounded by your buddies, loud music, and an open bar." Solomon also suggests withholding your true intentions until Labor Day. "It doesn't matter how liberated she thinks she is. No woman just wants to be some guy's summer fling."

Haircut, best summer "The harsh look is out," says Losi of New York City's John Frieda Salon, who's styled the hair of Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Luke Wilson. For summer, Losi suggests growing your hair, especially your bangs, below your nose, then tucking it behind your ears. Can't go long-haired at work? Try what Losi calls "mussed," which means cutting your hair about two inches all over, then running hair paste through to spike it up or push to the side for work.

Hangovers, prevention of

If you drink at the beach, you'll feel pretty bad once the buzz wears off, since both alcohol and the sun leave you dehydrated. The best way to prevent a wicked summer hangover is to drink water before, during, and after you imbibe, or roughly one glass of water for every drink.