It’s not just abs that are made in the kitchen. All muscle-building requires hard training paired with healthy eating. And the harder you train, the more emphasis needs to be placed on nutrition. In order to give your all in…
If you have tight iliotibial (IT) bands, stretching seems like the logical solution. But dealing with IT band syndrome, which accounts for 22 percent of injuries to the lower extremities, is not so simple; most “IT band stretches” don’t even…
There are plenty of reasons why everyone eats bananas to recover after a workout. They come with a built-in wrapper, they’re inexpensive, you can eat them with one hand, and they’re 100 percent free of weird ingredients or additives. Oh,…
Every body needs a strong foundation. That’s why you should regularly include in your workout routine, says sports performance coach Cody Braun, CSCS. Lower body exercises can be highly effective at improving overall fitness, and incorporating movements such as and…
Taking your own body measurements can help you track your fitness results better than relying on the bathroom scale — especially true if you’re trying to lose fat and gain muscle. Why? Well, the scale only measures your weight —…
Most people have a love-hate relationship with leg day, and for good reason: It’s not easy to work the largest muscle group in your body. But Arnold Schwarzenegger didn’t become the Terminator by passing on squats and Dwayne Johnson didn’t…
You may have heard of the whoosh effect. This buzzy weight-loss term supposedly describes a phenomenon in which fat cells fill with water, feel “squishy” for a bit, then — whoosh! — release all that water so you drop a…
Squats are popular for a reason. No matter which variation you choose, they not only help build a stronger lower body, but also fire up your core and increase range of motion when performed correctly. Jumping jacks, too, deserve the esteemed reputation they’ve had…
Most healthy living advice boils down to a few basic tenets: Exercise, stay hydrated, and eat nutrient-dense foods. Physical activity recommendations are readily available, and eight glasses of water a day is the universally accepted standard. But amid competing philosophies on…
Thinking about attending — or entering — a bodybuilding show? There’s a lot more to it than random sweating, straining, and standing around looking crazy-fit. You need to know your bodybuilding poses. To the average viewer, everyone on a bodybuilding stage looks…