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Showing posts from June, 2025

Closing the Gap Between Wellness and Fitness

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What’s the difference between wellness and fitness? Is there a difference? Is one more important than the other? Can you focus on both at the same time? Let’s start with the first question—what’s the difference between the two? To paint a clearer comparison, let’s make the analogy to auto racing—NASCAR, Formula 1 , doesn’t matter, reader’s choice. Wellness and fitness are like the pit crew and the race car, respectively-both are essential, but play different roles. Fitness is the high-speed car soaring around the track, built for power, speed, and performance. It’s the “wow factor” that everyone sees — the visible strength, the endurance, the force. But wellness is the pit crew behind the scenes, making sure the engine is running smoothly, the tires are aligned, and the fuel is clean. Without wellness—proper sleep, recovery, nutrition, and mental clarity—even the fastest car will crash, burn out, or stall. By prioritizing BOTH fitness AND wellness, you will not only drive forward to...

Best Kettlebells, Landmine & Sled Workouts To Break Workout Plateaus

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Let’s face it, sometimes training feels like déjà vu. Bands, bodyweight circuits , and dumbbell presses day in and day out can start to feel a little stale. If you’re an avid gym-goer ready to shake things up, it’s time to change the stimulus and utilize some underrated but incredibly effective tools: kettlebells, landmine setups, and sleds. These pieces of equipment aren’t just fun; they’re functional. They challenge your coordination, conditioning, and strength in new ways while helping you bust through plateaus. Even better, they’re available in most well-equipped gyms and aren’t as intimidating as they might seem. Let’s break down why these tools are worth your attention and how to use them to build a complete full-body training session. Paul/Adobe Stock Kettlebells: Power, Precision & Flow Kettlebells are more than dumbbells with a handle. Their offset center of mass makes them ideal for ballistic and flow-based movements like swings, cleans, and Turkish get-ups. They a...

Hugh Jackman, 56, Shows Off Jacked Physique with Impressive Trap Bar Deadlifts

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Hugh Jackman is still looking jacked at 56-years-young thanks to the Wolverine star’s love of working out. Recently, the Aussie actor shared footage showing his progress with the trap bar deadlift, and fans were seriously impressed. The video, shared via Jackman’s official Instagram account, gave his 34-plus-million followers an inside look as the star, who is currently wowing audiences with his string of live shows at Radio City Music Hall in New York , proved that he’s intensely working out between shows, making the time to perfect his trap bar deadlifts. Full-Body Exercises Here’s Why the Trap Bar B-Stance Deadlift is an A-... When balance is a problem, this staggered-stance deadlift is an ideal option. Read article What are Trap Bar Deadlifts? This deadlift variation uses a trap bar, also known as a hex bar because of its shape. Unlike a regular barbell, the trap bar has raised grips on either side. Instead of standing behind the barbell, you actually position yourself i...

Blessing Awodibu Dissects Disappointing Legion Pro Result on ‘TMP’

—Dennis James, Milos Sarcev, and Chris Cormier were joined by special guest Blessing Awodibu on Episode 236 of The Menace Podcast. Blessing is returning to bodybuilding following an almost two-year absence, but he failed to qualify for the 2025 Olympia at the recent Legion Sports Fest Pro with a disappointing sixth place.In a frank discussion, the “Boogieman” joined the TMP gang to figure out what he needs to do next. During the show, Blessing told the gang that his family had been in attendance in Reno, NV, for the Legion Pro, so he felt extremely disappointed with the result, but he noted that bodybuilding is all about the journey . “I know what I gotthe potential is there. I know the amount of work that I’ve put in the gym, when it comes to work, honestly, I put in that work.” There’s no doubt that this Irish man-mountain has the size to dominate the stage, so what went wrong? “I tell you the truth,” offered the straight-talking TMP host, Dennis James. “All the updates that I sa...

Want to Enter a HYROX Race? Follow These Training Tips

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If you keep up with the fitness industry or strength sports, then you are likely aware of HYROX. For those who are new to it , athletes compete in a fitness race that includes a variety of challenges with a run in between. Eight rounds in total take around an hour to complete, depending on the fitness level of the athletes in the competition. There are beginner and non-competitive workouts for those that simply want to push themselves, but if you are considering entering a race at some point, then you need to take the training up a notch. Fortunately, former HYROX world champion Hunter McIntyre took some time during his prep for the 2025 World Championships, which will be held in Chicago, IL, on June 13-15, to share his guidance on how to get ready for a HYROX event. Workout Routines HYROX Simulation Workout You Can Do at Home You can prepare for the hottest fitness event virtually anywhere. Read article Run on Hills… a Lot There is a lot of running in a competition, but t...

Could Low Iron Be Slowing You Down? What Every Female Runner Should Know

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What if you were doing everything right—training hard, eating well, staying consistent—and still not feeling your best on the run? For a lot of endurance athletes, especially women, it’s easy to chalk that up to stress or overtraining. You might even blame yourself for not being motivated enough, tough enough. But what if it was something else entirely? Ascend Agency/Sponsored Low Iron, Big Impact You’re logging the miles, sticking to your plan, and still feel like your legs are made of lead. It’s frustrating and confusing. But iron could be the missing piece. Iron plays a crucial role in carrying oxygen through your bloodstream and producing energy. When levels dip, performance suffers. And for endurance athletes, iron deficiency is surprisingly common. High training volume increases iron demands. Add menstrual blood loss or a diet low in heme iron (the type found in animal products), and even strong, consistent runners can fall behind. There’s also a lesser-known factor: foo...

Jess Evans Is Showing Others How to Create Their Own ‘Cinderella Man’ Story

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Jess Evans has earned an inspiringly successful career teaching thousands how perfectly execute a knockout right cross or uppercut. Chances are the majority of her students will never step into the ring against a live opponent. However, fighting to keep beating the 10 count when life keeps nailing you square on the chin may be the FightCamp trainer’s most valuable education she can offer. The L.A.-based fitness instructor can share this life lesson to her students based on her own long list of personal battles she’s battled back from. Evans has overcame an abusive relationship that broke her down physically and mentally. From that triumph came another seemingly overwhelming obstacle—bouncing back from a stroke at age 31. She’s trained to no longer flinch—literally—even if she knows there’s a haymaker waiting to land at any moment. And when it does, rest assured, she won’t stay down long. Not just for herself, but for the countless members of her boxing community who’ve come t...

4-Week Outdoor Workout Plan to Burn Fat and Build Muscle

Gym workouts are fantastic, and hitting the gym to chase pumps under fluorescent lights is where gains happen. However, if you’ve been stuck in the gym all winter and spring, it’s time to think about taking your training outdoors and breaking a sweat in the sunshine and fresh air. This workout isn’t just about burning fat and building conditioning; it’s about getting lean, moving better, and reconnecting with your inner athlete . No machines, no mirrors, just your body, a suspension trainer , a resistance band, and the world outside your front door. This four-week plan combines bodyweight strength, metabolic conditioning, and functional movement into fast-paced workouts that you can do almost anywhere. Here’s what you’ll get: 30-minute workouts, 4 days a week. No gym required, just a few tools and outdoor grit. A plan to burn fat and boost athleticism. The world is your gym, and this summer, it’s time to put it to work. What You Need For the 4 Week Outdoor Workout Plan Forge...

Marijuana Use Among Older Adults Hits Record High, Says NYU Study

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A new analysis led by researchers at New York University’s School of Global Public Health has found that marijuana use among older adults has reached a new “high” with 7% of adults aged 65 or over now taking a hit in the United States. While the demographics that are driving this record usage may come as a surprise, there are reasons to believe that this trend will continue. Often thought of as an experimental drug for students and young people, cannabis usage has been steadily growing in popularity with older users , due to its association with pain relief and the alleviation of anxiety in the short term. In fact, the profile of marijuana users has morphed considerably in recent times. With the drug now being increasingly legalized from state to state, access to cannabis either for medical or recreational use has never been greater. To get a clearer picture, researchers from NYU examined data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health from 2021-2023, looking specifically at ca...

The Best Upper Body Mobility Drills for Golfers to Improve Swing Power and Prevent Injuries

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If you want to swing smoother, drive farther, and avoid those annoying tweaks that keep you off the golf course, you need to make these top upper body mobility drills for golfers a non-negotiable part of your golf routine. While grip and stance often take center stage, a fluid and powerful golf swing starts with freedom and control through your shoulders, thoracic spine, and upper back. In my experience coaching golfers of all levels over the last decade, whether in private sessions or with teams, one thing is clear: Poor upper body mobility is the silent killer of swing mechanics and long-term performance. Stiffness in your thoracic spine, shoulders, and lats can compromise your power and disrupt your sequencing, while also putting your joints at risk . And let’s be real, if you’re injured, you’re not playing, and no golfer wants to miss a tee time because they couldn’t move well. Below are six of the best upper-body mobility drills I use with golfers to help them move better, swi...

Nick Walker’s Training For Olympia 2025: Weighted Tricep Dips

Nick Walker is on a mission to win the 2025 Mr Olympia, and in a recent Instagram post, “The Mutant” demonstrated some intense triceps dips as he forges his path to Las Vegas . The big man says that this is one of his favorite muscle-building moves, so here’s how to try it for yourself. “Dips are truly one of my favorite overall exercises,” wrote Walker in a recent Instagram post for his 1.5 million followers. “Basically, targets everything and the pump is always huge when I’m done with these.” The New York Pro winner explained that he likes to perform triceps dips at the end of a push session to make for a great finisher. Of course, to really tax himself, Walker also added a 25 pound weight plate to his approximately 280 pounds of body weight to really destroy those dips. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nick "the Mutant" Walker (@nick_walker39) How to Perform Weighted Triceps Dips The first thing to recognize here is...