Never Grow Up Completely
I heard a man a few days back speak about the roles we play in life as adult, parents, and children. Bottom line: often we get out of order and loose the child in your heart. He final though you ask? You’re never too old to dream without details.
Simple Truth
I found this online today and had to share. Its so simple, but so true.
Great Gift Idea
This cubes keep drinks cold without the extra water. This is perfect for any man in your life.
Movember
We do not always support not shaving, but with a cause like this we give men’s a thumbs up during the month of November.
“During November each year, Movember is responsible for the sprouting of moustaches on thousands of men’s faces, in the US and around the world. With their Mo’s, these men raise vital awareness and funds for men’s health issues, specifically prostate and testicular cancer initiatives.”
You can visit http://us.movember.com/ for more information.
A Treatise on the Mustache
by brett & katie McKay
Read more from this article here.
“I have found in this current age, men generally fall into two camps: those who tote and understand the mustache, and those who do not tote and do not understand the “hirsute appendage of the upper lip.” The latter community perceives the mustache to be an arcane ornament, a male accessory that is often displeasing to the common eye. This is a group that also believes in the clean-shaven status quo of modernity, subsequently casting the mustache into the dark abyss of the past. The former community, however, can naturally delineate the je ne sais quoi importance of the mustache, which has everything to do with manhood, and nothing to do with fashion”
Will Ferrel’s Breakdown on Conan
Will Ferrell broke down on Conan Thursday night. The star of the upcoming film “The Campaign” was preoccupied with another set of movie starts, Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson… Despite Conan O’Brien’s repeated attempts to calm the unusually unflappable funnyman, Ferrell could not be consoled, proof that Dyewart’s affair has hurt not only those involved, but those who loved the unmatchable love, too.
This clip is typical Will Ferrell, FUNNY!
http://fox411.blogs.foxnews.com/post/28628688520/will-ferrell-broke-down-on-conan-thursday-night
Day 10: The Best Photos of the Olympics
From Cnn.com
You may have your favorite sports that you follow, but trust me these are ALL worth looking through. Even if you’re not a sports fan, you can find beauty in this art.
Photos: Behind the Scenes on Instagram with USA Men’s Hoops
Photos: Behind the Scenes on Instagram with Team USA Men’s
On Cnn.com
To see the rest of the pictures click below.
http://www.cnn.com/2012/08/01/tech/gallery/olympics-hoops-instagram/index.html?hpt=hp_c2
7 Lessons Learned As a Trainer
By Ethan Boldt For Men’s Life Today
I like to think I know it all when it comes to training. After all, I’ve been a workout fanatic for 25 years and was certified as a trainer (NSCA-CPT) in 2004. My clients depend on me to know what the best program is for them and what their results will be. But the truth is, my recommendations have evolved over time, as I’ve experimented with my own workout routines and noticed certain things in the field (and in the gyms).
I can’t guarantee my advice won’t keep evolving, but for right now, these are the seven most significant lessons I’ve learned over the years. Incorporating them into my own workouts has made a world of difference. I hope they can do the same for you.
1.
Abandon the straight set.
Life is too short to do a set of exercises, rest for 30 seconds to a minute, repeat the set, rest, repeat. You’re much better off coupling that exercise with one or two more exercises for different muscle groups. This allows you to: 1) use your time more efficiently; 2) burn more calories; 3) stimulate more muscle fibers in the body; and 4) have a more interesting workout.
This is the favored approach of NBA athletes because it keeps their muscles in top gear during the season and saves time. A “combination set” might involve using a squat rack to do 10 pull-ups, then 10 squats, then 10 chest presses, then 10 stiff-leg deadlifts, with nary any rest in between — then resting 30 seconds before repeating two to three times.
2.
Lose the old-school training routine.
In related news, the standard old “chest/shoulder/triceps” and “back/biceps” workouts should be dead and buried. Both your shoulders and triceps are already too pre-exhausted from blasting your chest to get an effective workout. The same goes for the “back/biceps” routine. Instead, go with a routine that works your agonist and antagonist muscles — for example, chest/back on Day 1, quads/hams on Day 2 and biceps/triceps and shoulders on Day 3.
3.
Cheap dumbbells beat any machine.
If you value your wrist, elbow and shoulder joints, and want to access the deepest fibers in your muscles, use dumbbells instead of machines. The average exercise machine locks your joints into a prescribed motion pattern that might not be natural for your body. It also removes the requirement to balance the weight and thus takes away one of the beneficial aspects of weightlifting.
For even more total body benefit, switch out that bench for a Swiss ball — for DB bench presses, for example, and even the DB back row.
4.
Do abs early and often.
Abs used to get worked like all other muscles, two or three times a week. The problem is that they’re not like other muscles: They’re mostly fast-twitch and thus, recover very quickly, so you can work them practically every day. And if you’re like most men and it’s the muscle group you care about most, you should do them at the beginning of your workout to make sure you train them effectively.
5. Stop isolating your abs.
If you’re still doing crunches and sit-ups for your abs, it’s time for an upgrade. First, start calling it your “core” routine and invite other muscles into the mix. Your goal now is to: 1) develop the entire midsection, including all parts of your abs as well as the lower back; and 2) create the powerhouse that will both improve performance in any sport and keep you from injury.
Do moves like burpees, mountain climbers and supermans that hit a lot of muscles, with the core at the center of it all.
6. More is not better.
We’re still in the age of “no pain, no gain,” but as this recent compressed NBA season demonstrated, too much exertion too often can result in injury. Plenty of guys still think they have to live in the gym for two hours a day and do an insane number of sets and reps in order to grow muscle. Those kinds of workouts are really only appropriate for steroid users, to be honest. For strength training, your workout should never go beyond 45 minutes to an hour.
7.
Bodyweight moves can be enough — for more muscle and less
fat.
Common wisdom used to be that weights were essential to build a muscular physique. That has changed big time. The guys in the popular exercise DVD series “Insanity” prove that bodyweight moves can be all you need to both build muscle and get lean. In other words, gym memberships that give you access to all that expensive equipment aren’t necessary for muscle, and intensive cardio isn’t crucial for fat-burning. A workout composed of pull-ups, push-ups, jumping exercises, core moves, speed maneuvers and a big mixture of all that can give you a seriously athletic body.
Photo: @iStockphoto.com/P_Wei
Ethan Boldt writes regularly on fitness for Men’s Health, SELF, Maximum Fitness and Men’s Life Today. The co-author (along with celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak) of 5-Factor Fitness, he is currently writing a book with Derrick Rose’s trainer, Rob McClanaghan.
