On The Inside
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How I got over my fear of the gym
Everyone is talking about resolutions, working out, and eating right. It’s that time of year. But what you won’t hear about is a fear of the gym. For the longest time when I had first started, I was afraid of the gym. If you’re a complete beginner, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about. “Where do I start?” “Where is all the equipment?” “Am I going to get in someone’s way?” “Am I going to look like a complete idiot?” Those were just some of the actual things I had racing through my head. It didn’t matter if it…
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6 ways you’re making weight loss even harder
All the junk food is out of the house. You’re in the gym 3, 4 or 5 days per week. But the damn scale won’t budge and you’re seeing the same reflection in the mirror. Here’s what could be going on: 1. You cheat before even knowing the rules yet Grabbing a beer here, eating a small piece of cake there, nibbling on a little this and a little of that actually adds up. It takes a while to learn what works and doesn’t work for your body. And until you’ve gotten that formula figured out, it’s best to stay…
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Apolo Ohno’s competitive evolution
If we were to rewind time nearly tens years, Apolo Ohno would be warming up, stretching out, eating a carefully-portioned meal, and clearing his head. Then, he’d repeat that exact process day-in and day-out. Clearly his system worked. Ohno finished his career as the most decorated winter Olympian in US history with a total of 8 medals: 2 gold, 2 silver, and 4 bronze. While his time on the ice may be over, he’s been far from finished—and in more ways than one. Let’s also not forget, in 2014 he competed in the Ironman World Championships and finished in 9:52:27. These…
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Meet the man who took on a 153-mile challenge that changed the lives of 153 children
Alex Anyse (@onemileonesmile) is a former U.S. Military Intelligence and Clandestine Service Officer with the CIA. He’s operated in the Balkans, Middle East, and South East Asia and has received various military awards including a Bronze Star Medal for his work in Afghanistan. Anyse is also the co-founder and partner of The MASY Group, LLC where he’s a subject matter expert in leadership and security. He works with the Defense Department and the Intelligence Community. In September of 2017, Anyse competed in a 153-mile race from Athens to Sparta called the Spartathon. His inspiration was the non-profit, Smile Train (@SmileTrain)…
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Body Resets: I like tough weekend workouts on an empty stomach
My diet is simple. It’s been the same cycle of foods for the last however many years it’s been at this point. Five to seven meals per day. Various sources of protein are the base to every meal, carbohydrates in the mornings and after workouts, and fats typically joined up with proteins when there are no carbohydrates present. (I have a theory on the fat+carb combination, but that’s for a later blog post) This basic formula has worked for me. I’m 5’11, about 165-175 pounds. I’ve been as low as 4% body fat, but not really much higher than 9%.…
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Body Control, Power, and Flow with the Red Bull Flying Bach
Breakdance is not only a mesmerizing display of unique talent, skill, and rhythm—It’s also physical fitness in one of its most raw forms. While you may not find these dancers in the gym for hours on end or pumping heavy weights, they do take the conditioning of their bodies very seriously. For them, it’s just maintained differently. Their training is natural, organic, and as environmental as it gets. (Or, on the floor to be more accurate.) “You use every muscle in your body,” says Benny Kimoto (@BennyKimoto), a member of The Flying Steps (@redbullflyingbach), and an athlete credited with being a true…
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Joe Naufahu: Meet the Real Khal Moro from Game of Thrones
The wait is finally over. Game of Thrones is back for season six. This week, Joe Naufahu, the New Zealand actor who plays the role of Khal Moro dropped by the Men’s Fitness magazine office. There was a great deal of mystery and speculation around who he would be playing, but we’ve now come to know he’ll be at the head of the Dothraki. Naufahu shares some details on how he got the role and what went into preparation for it. Plus, how he trains, eats, stays connected to his rugby career of the past, and runs his own personal…
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Lay Days on Oahu: Capturing Perfect Blue-Green Gems
I overpaid for my flight to Oahu, but that’s OK. The last-minute execution was worth every penny. Book too far in advance and it’s a crap shoot on the surf conditions you get. Will it be too big? Will it be flat? I waited and analyzed every model every minute of every day for the ideal time to pull the trigger—it worked out perfectly. Great-to-fun surf conditions for most days, with some extra-large ones that created for plenty of time to explore and document. I can remember the real early years of travel—broke as a joke and anxious as hell…
