When the average person looks at a professional MMA fighter on fight night, they likely see a ripped physical specimen hovering somewhere around an ultra-lean 7% body fat. This image of body perfection may seem like an unattainable ideal to the millions of desk jockeys out there whose most strenuous daily physical activity likely consists...Continue reading
Category: Fitness
Why Heat Beats Ice for Workout Recovery & Healing
Ice is to physical soreness like alcohol is to emotional ailments. People are quick to resort to it as a band-aid for pain or discomfort. Yet, just as a bottle of wine will only make a person feel better temporarily, ice is also a security blanket that doesn’t get to the root issues of healing....Continue reading
Ouch! My Muscles Hurt! 6 Tips to Remove Lactic Acid Faster
When we work out strenuously, our muscles compensate for lack of oxygen by producing lactate, a.k.a. lactic acid, which allows the muscles to utilize glucose for energy. Once lactic acid is produced, it can remain in the muscles, causing pain and soreness that usually peaks between 24-72 hours after the vigorous workout. Unfortunately, anyone who...Continue reading
Overcoming Cardio Boredom
Cardio is one of the least glamorous and appealing aspects of exercise and physical fitness. Why? Because it’s boring. Being confined to a treadmill for an entire hour five times a week does help you lose weight, but it’s dreadfully uninteresting. Maybe watching TV helps (which most gyms will allow you to do now while...Continue reading
Swordplay for Modern Self-Defense? More Likely Than You Think
If you ask most people what the predominant weapon of today’s age is, the answer would likely be ‘the handgun’. They’re right, of course; since about the 17th century we’ve moved away from using swords, daggers, and assorted other close-combat weapons in any meaningful capacity. Sure, they still float around in people’s houses, or you...Continue reading
How Much Exercise Do We Really Need?
Over the years, we’ve done a number of posts on this blog about how much exercise we (and our children) should be getting. The general consensus is at least 30 minutes every day (or a total of 150 minutes per week). Unfortunately, about 80% of us aren’t coming anywhere near that target. So, in what...Continue reading
Tri-ing too Hard Could Kill You
Whether you’re working out for hours or you’re just doing mini workouts, there’s no question that exercise is good for you. But, according to cardiologist, there may actually be a point where too much exercise becomes dangerous—especially for men 40 and older who are competing in triathlons. The biggest risk is sudden cardiac arrest, which...Continue reading
Dr. David Samadi on the Dangers of Excessive Weight
Being overweight poses a very real health risk and should be an issue taken seriously by everyone. As a general guideline a person’s waistline should be their height (in inches) divided by 2, and should be less than 35″ for women and 40″ for men.
The Politics of Men’s Fitness
It’s well known that being in good physical shape has amazing health benefits. But a recent study has found that men who are strong (especially in the upper body) are more likely to be politically conservative than physically weaker men (interestingly, there’s no similar connection between women’s physical strength and their politics. A second study...Continue reading
The Secret to a Longer Life? Follow Directions
It seems that there’s a new study out every day proving that eating certain foods (like more veggies and less meat) or doing certain things (like getting enough exercise and sleep) can improve and/or extend your life. Reading—and thinking—are a good first step. But they’re not much unless you actually do something to make some...Continue reading