Healthy Life Guide

Cardio: From easy questions on how much you should do, to the harder ones like how much will actually burn fat, guys have long-hated cardio but have also seen it as a necessary evil. So, with the help of certified personal trainer Raphael Konforti, MS, we've compiled the biggest myths and cut out all the BS by debunking the half-truths and old non-truths. And maybe, just maybe, cardio won't seem so bad at the end of it. You can thank us later. Before we get into the myths, let’s get a few basics straight. For the uninitiated, cardio is moving the body in order to increase the heart rate. How much cardio should you do? Great question! Konforti advises "Anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes is effective at producing results and the focus should not only be on the amount but also the quality and intensity." He went on to tell us that you should strive to do cardio at least twice a week to stay healthy and in shape. To see noticeable improvement, aim for at least 3-4 sessions ...

Behold the trendiest foods of 2019! Sure, we’re less than a month into the new year, but that doesn’t mean we can’t start looking ahead to the food items you can expect to see more of at the farmers market, on restaurant menus, and on supermarket shelves in the coming months. To find some of the trendiest eats of the year (we’re looking at you, celtuce!) AskMen analyzed data from Pinterest, Facebook, and more. Make some room in the refrigerator and scroll down to see which foods made the cut! RELATED: Best High Energy Foods Mighty Mushrooms GettyImages Nutrient-packed mushrooms are bursting with flavor and make the perfect main, side dish, or appetizer for any dinner. That’s probably why they are springing up everywhere from coffee drinks to chocolate bars. According to Pinterest’s list of the top food trends for 2019 , searches for fungi-focused recipes were up 64 percent year over year. Worldly Breakfasts GettyImages According to the National Restaurant Association’s a...

You want a strong and defined back but no matter how much you workout, your back is still the size of a light post. Sound like you? Not for much longer, my friend. Here are five mistakes you’re probably making with your back training, and how you can correct them for newfound muscle mass. 1. Not Mixing Things Up You’ve probably been taught that the best way to build a huge back is through the deadlift. There is only one problem: It doesn’t work for everyone – and it’s not working for you. If you’ve read this far, you likely need to switch things up and get a little freaky with your back training. Here's how: a) Add New Exercises Ever heard of a Reeves deadlift? It is a great exercise that not only tests your lats and upper back, but your arm and hand strength as well. The Reeves deadlift is not that different from a classic deadlift. However, the Reeves Row – a modified version of it – is. And it is great for getting that back width. Load the bar with lighter plate...

“Great, when can I start? I forgot to mention, I train in my basement and only have a barbell and weight plates.“ I paused for a moment, leaning back in my chair and pondering the possibilities. Every other online client of mine owns a combination of tools -- barbells, kettlebells, dumbbells and bands -- or has access to a gym, but not Todd. Instead, Todd is an entrepreneur, working out of his spare bedroom and crushing workouts three to four days a week at home. He’s old-school. No thrills, no gimmicks -- just the tools he needs to build a healthy, strong, and athletic body. And while training with a variety of equipment is more popular, most men miss the boat and never get strong by playing with too many exercises and techniques. What they really need is more barbell training – weight-training in its purest form. Master this tool and you’ll have all the strength, power, and muscle you could ever ask for. Bow to the Barbell Barbell Training Allows the Highest Workloads Prog...

If you want to start off your day on the right foot, it’s a good idea to get in a workout right off the bat when you wake up. Why? Not only does it help jumpstart your morning, but it can also give you the energy you need to help tackle meetings, conference calls or the endless string of emails stacking up in your inbox. We know what you’re thinking. Ain’t nobody got time for that in the morning. But what if there was something quick and effective you could do right in your own bedroom or living room? We chatted with Amanda Butler , instructor at The Fhitting Room in New York City, who came up with this 12-minute high intensity routine that will spike your heart rate and get your muscles working. “This workout has short intervals—only 30 seconds—for each exercise, so your goal is to get as many reps as possible in those quick thirty seconds, says Butler. “You need to push yourself and max out your effort. Ready to rock? Think of it as your morning cup of Joe. 12-Minute Mo...

It’s brutal. It’s ugly. And it’s the truth. You know how you’ve been struggling to lose fat since high school? Well, your genetics could be to blame – just like you always thought. Let me explain… You know that mate of yours who stays lean no matter how many beers he drinks? When he decides to drop 10 pounds, he finds some free diet program online and strips the weight off in a few weeks. But you down a single low-carb beer and grow a spare tire. It sucks, doesn’t it? But there is a reason for it, and science is starting to reveal the perils of a slow metabolism. More importantly, it's also starting to show you ways to defeat your fat kid genes once and for all. 1. Something About Your Saliva? Researchers recently found a correlation between obesity and a person’s ability to make amylase, an enzyme that helps break down starch (carbohydrates) in your mouth. The gene responsible for the production of amylase, AMY1, varies in number from person to person. The more o...

Running 100 miles is hard, and you need to be strong, but doing a muscle-up may be harder. I didn't even know what a muscle-up was a year ago. This super tough pull-up variation aligns itself next to other pure strength-testing bodyweight exercises such as the flag, handstand push-up and pistol squat. All of these bodyweight exercises test your strength at inhumane levels. I had run 100 miles, but could not perform even one rep of any of these exercises. My obsession with push-ups, pull-ups and dips started early on in life. These three basic exercises are like the trinity of bodyweight strength training, and with them alone, a person can be strong. Of course, there is more involved in pure strength. Even though I have never had any interest in lifting weights or hitting the gym, I have a rabid interest in getting stronger. Getty Images As a rock climber and serious boulderer, strength was my focus for many years. I spent day after day training to climb stronger. Weights were not ...