Men's Health Magazine Australia https://menshealth.com.au/ Fitness, Health, Weight Loss, Nutrition, Sex & Style Tue, 14 May 2024 03:54:03 +0000 en-AU hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.4 https://menshealth.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/cropped-Mens-Health-32x32.jpeg Men's Health Magazine Australia https://menshealth.com.au/ 32 32 New Balance is going extra grey this May https://menshealth.com.au/new-balance-grey-day-short-film/ Tue, 14 May 2024 03:54:03 +0000 https://menshealth.com.au/?p=58829 Alongside a short film, New Balance is also releasing a range of footwear and apparel – all sharing a common theme

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]]> FERRARI HAS RED, Valentino has pink, and Cadbury has purple, but in the footwear space, few brands can claim to own a signature colour like New Balance can with grey. Back in the ‘80s, New Balance first incorporated the shade into its footwear and apparel designs, bringing grey into its range of performance running shoes. More than a simple colouring choice, grey was selected because of its understated qualities, which kept the focus squarely on the shoe’s function, rather than aesthetics.

Soon after, New Balance’s grey sneakers became a coveted item among long distance road runners – with their tone the perfect complement to the concrete they pounded. Fast forward to today and ‘New Balance Grey’ has earned a cult following after being adopted by the streetwear community – its 990s, in particular, have practically owned the demographic in recent years.

To celebrate its defining colour, New Balance hosts ‘Grey Day’ every year, marking the release of new styles and apparel, which come in variations of the tone. Throwback icons from yesteryear are also paid tribute to and often given a refresh. But this year, New Balance went one step further, releasing a short film written collaboratively between creative directors Thom Glover and Daniel Wolfe. The film revisits different eras of New Balance’s iconic grey sneakers, from the running track through to the streets of today.

 

New Balance

 

“This film celebrates not only what Grey means to us as a brand, but also what it means to New Balance consumers. It recognises sub-cultural New Balance fans who have stood by our brand and the emblem of Grey for generations,” said Chris Davis, Chief Marketing Officer and Senior Vice President of Merchandising at New Balance, in a statement.

Throughout the month of May, New Balance will be hosting drops of new product on its ‘Grey Shop’ online, including the launch of special-edition ‘Grey Days’ WRPD Runner and 1906R.

Check out the film below.

 

 

Related:

Metallic footwear is in – and these New Balance trainers are the ultimate buy

Tried & tested: New Balance SuperComp Elite v4

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]]> The new lululemon Beyondfeel Trail is designed to feel as good as it looks https://menshealth.com.au/lululemon-beyondfeel-trail-ben-seymour/ Tue, 14 May 2024 01:30:26 +0000 https://menshealth.com.au/?p=58770 lululemon is expanding its burgeoning footwear range with the release of the Beyondfeel Trail – a mixed terrain shoe designed with a feel-first approach. We sat down with ultra runner and lululemon ambassador Ben Seymour for the low-down on what makes an ideal trail running shoe

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]]> BACK IN MARCH when lululemon first unveiled its inaugural footwear range, the brand’s senior vice president of footwear Simon Atkins told Men’s Health that lululemon would be adopting a feel-first approach to performance footwear, and that “it’s those nuances that separate lululemon from other options in the market”. Now, with the release of the Beyondfeel Trail, lululemon is offering proof of concept.

We live in an age of increasingly theatrical running shoes. Every week, a new shoe hits the market with a comically tall stack height, a ridiculously lightweight frame, or so much cushioning it might as well be an airbag. These shoes will certainly catch eyeballs, but what they lack is the components that will actually make a tangible impact on your performance. lululemon understands that to perform at your best, you need to feel your best. That’s why the Beyondfeel Trail puts your needs first.

The Beyondfeel Trail is a utilitarian shoe if there ever was one. It’s been crafted to maintain optimal performance on trail, mixed and road terrains, meaning it’ll hold up wherever you take it. The shoe’s upper is constructed with ultra-flexible ventilated mesh that stretches and moves with you every stride for bolstered support. But for all its flexibility, the upper compromises nothing in terms of durability, protecting your feet from rocks, dirt and debris – a necessity if your runs frequently take you off the beaten track.

 

Lululemon

 

Under the hood, the Beyondfeel Trail is similarly impressive, with directional traction, a lugged outsole for boosted grip on all surfaces, and Lululemon’s supercritical foam, which provides a smooth as silk heel-to-toe transition with enough cushioning to handle uneven terrain.

One of lululemon’s strengths is that its footwear is designed to cater to the specific and often minute biomechanical and morphological differences between men’s and women’s feet – a rarity in the industry. With the Beyondfeel Trail, that results in the men’s version having room for a wider foot shape, taller instep and longer toes. On the other hand – or foot – the women’s version boasts a narrower heel, wider toe-to-heel ratio and accounts for a smaller big toe.

The question you’re probably asking is how these shoes actually perform when put to the test. To help answer that question, we spoke with endurance athlete Ben Seymour – who got his feet on the Beyondfeel Trail early – to get an expert opinion on lululemon’s new shoes.

Since cutting his teeth in rugby with the Western Force, Seymour has transitioned into ultra running. “I jumped straight from a marathon to an ultramarathon and I just fell in love with the challenges, obstacles and thinking around what you’ve got to do and when you’ve got to do it,” says Seymour.

For his next challenge, Seymour is taking on the Sur les Traces des Ducs de Savoie – which translates to ‘following the footprints of the Dukes of Savoie’, but is more commonly referred to as the TDS. More than just a few laps around a French park, the TDS is a 145km race from Italy’s Aosta Valley to France’s Savoie region, in which competitors gain nearly 10,000 metres of altitude while traversing the Alps. Seymour expects it will take him around 40 hours of nonstop running to conquer the TDS, but is he confident he’ll even finish? “I’m very confident,” he says without hesitation. “Obviously I’m a little scared, but I’m also excited at the same time. I think that means I’m in the right place.”

To prepare for such a gruelling physical undertaking as the TDS, Seymour is currently doing three strength sessions, two swimming sessions and four runs per week. His running schedule isn’t for the faint of heart, but he tells us he’s going to be pushing himself even harder once he gets closer to competition. “Currently I’m sitting at 65km per week, nothing too big. Peak weeks I’ll be at 100km-plus,” Seymour says.

 

Lululemon

 

It’s safe to say that any man capable of even attempting the TDS knows a thing or two about performance footwear, and Seymour is practically an expert in that regard. “In my type of races, we take on all different kinds of terrains. There’s a lot of climbing, but also a lot of descending. So I mainly look for shoes with a lot of grip that are still spongy enough to give support on the way downhill,” Seymour says. “Being just as good on all terrains is also important because I’ll be running on roads and through towns, but also on trails, so having a shoe that can go across everything is super important.”

Luckily for Seymour, a lululemon ambassador, the Beyondfeel Trail fits that description perfectly, and he’s been fortunate enough to test them out before their official release. “The Beyondfeels have been awesome,” he says. “It’s been so cool running around in them and getting a feel for them. I think they’ll definitely be well received.”

If you’re keen to put the Beyondfeel Trail through its paces for yourself, you won’t have long to wait. The shoes are launching in stores from today, May 14th. Find out more here.

 

 

Related:

lululemon enters the Australian footwear space, releasing an innovative debut collection

Ex Union player Ben Seymour on the top recovery tools athletes swear by

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]]> Are your genes life’s blueprint, or just a starting point? https://menshealth.com.au/are-genes-lifes-blueprint-or-just-a-starting-point/ Mon, 13 May 2024 07:43:45 +0000 https://menshealth.com.au/?p=58743 Discover why your health and fitness journey relies on more than just your DNA

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]]> WE ALL KNOW our genes play a huge role in determining our health and fitness. Some of us strike genetic gold, gifted with a faster metabolism, height, speed or even an easier path when packing on lean muscle. For the rest of us, achieving optimal health can be an uphill battle. Some folks will find it harder to lose weight, build muscle or even maintain clear and clean skin. 

When talking about longevity and lifespan, genetics, again, are a pivotal factor. While some people thrive well into their nineties, others are not as fortunate. What distinguishes these two cohorts? A lot of it comes down to luck; genetics significantly influence lifespan. Some individuals inherit a predisposition for longevity, while others face inherent challenges.

The good news is that your genes don’t run the show entirely. Choices we make every day, like what to eat, when to eat and how often to exercise, can heavily influence long-term health outcomes and help fend off dangerous illnesses. Remarkably, a healthy lifestyle can mitigate approximately 60 per cent of the impact of ‘life-shortening’ genes, potentially extending life by up to five years, according to a study in the British Medical Journal.

In the study, researchers embarked on a monumental quest, gathering detailed data from 353,742 individuals over 13 years.

Using this data, participants were categorised into three lifespan groups: those with genes favouring longevity (20%), those with moderate lifespans (60%), and those with genes hinting at shorter lives (20%). Participants were also evaluated based on lifestyle choices, earning them a score: of favourable (23%), middling (56%), or detrimental (21%). This score was based on factors like sleep, alcohol, tobacco, diet, and exercise.

The findings were profound: those genetically predisposed to shorter lives faced a daunting 21 per cent higher risk of early death, regardless of lifestyle. Yet, healthy living could offset over 60 per cent of this genetic predisposition, potentially adding five years to lifespan.

Conversely, those with unhealthy lifestyles faced a 78 per cent increased risk of early death, regardless of genetics. Stacking an unhealthy lifestyle with unfavourable genetics more than doubled the risk of early death compared to those with nurturing lifestyles and protective genes.

The results of the study are relatively self-evident. If you’re not blessed with red-hot genetics, you need to take a few extra steps to avoid an early grave. And regardless of the genetic hand you’re dealt, your health can still suffer from poor lifestyle choices. The bottomline: there’s a lot to lose and plenty to gain. 

Related:

Unlocking The Hidden Struggles In Men’s Wellness

The Blue Zones diet is awesome – except for one unfortunate flaw

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]]> The rain jackets you need to keep training through a wet winter https://menshealth.com.au/the-rain-jackets-you-need-this-winter/ Mon, 13 May 2024 02:54:59 +0000 https://menshealth.com.au/?p=58726 Discover how to outwit rain and wind while keeping your fitness journey on point with our guide to staying stylishly active

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]]> AS THE DAYS GROW SHORTER and a crisp chill fills the air, motivating yourself to get moving can seem like an uphill battle. The winter weather, with its package deal of rain and wind, often conspires to keep us cozy in our hoodies and slippers. Staying active and health-conscious in the winter is undeniably challenging, yet incredibly rewarding. Pushing past those initial discomforts that deter many from their fitness goals instils a profound sense of accomplishment.

Be the best-equipped version of yourself during these cold and rainy months, and explore some of the most effective and stylish rain and windbreaker jackets. Not only do these jackets keep you dry and warm, but they also lend a fashionable edge to your outdoor pursuits.

Cape Pack It Rain Jacket 

Kicking off the list with an affordable piece that simply gets the job done. Introducing the Cape Adults’ Pack It Rain Jacket Black: your ultimate go-to weapon against unpredictable weather. A simple, yet sleek and stylish jacket that will keep rain and wind at bay. With its lightweight design and packable feature storable in its own pocket, it’s the ultimate companion for adventures, whether you’re hiking through misty mountains or navigating urban jungles.

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Trailhead Men’s Insulated 2-layer Rain Jacket

The Trailhead Men’s Insulated 2-layer Rain Jacket: a formidable fusion of style and substance for the modern adventurer. Crafted to withstand the wildest of weather, this jacket boasts a double-layered design, combining waterproof protection with cozy insulation. From misty mornings on the trail to urban commutes in the pouring rain, it’s your ultimate defence against the elements. But this jacket isn’t just about durability – its sleek silhouette and thoughtful details ensure you’ll look as good as you feel, no matter the conditions. With adjustable features for a personalised fit and ample pockets for all your essentials, the Trailhead Men’s Insulated 2-layer Rain Jacket is your go-to companion for conquering the great outdoors in comfort and style.

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Men’s Antora Rain Hoodie

Introducing the Men’s Antora Rain Hoodie: a versatile powerhouse engineered for both style and performance. Crafted from windproof fabric and featuring a body made from recycled nylon, it’s a sustainable choice for the eco-conscious explorer. The attached, adjustable hood with a drawcord offers customisable coverage, while the exposed, reverse-coil centre front zip ensures easy layering. Raglan sleeves enhance mobility, perfect for active pursuits. Keep your essentials secure in the covered, secure-zip hand pockets, while the encased-elastic cuffs provide a snug fit. Whether braving the elements on the trail or navigating city streets, the Men’s Antora Rain Hoodie combines functionality with fashion.

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Men’s UA Stormproof Cloud strike 2.0 Jacket

Gear up for unbeatable weather protection with the Men’s Under Armour Stormproof Cloud strike 2.0 Jacket. Crafted from 100% waterproof and breathable 2.5-layer bonded fabric, this jacket boasts fully taped seams to keep you dry in the harshest conditions. The bungee adjust on the back of the hood ensures a snug fit, while secure zip hand pockets keep your essentials safe and dry. With a drawcord adjust on the bottom hem, you can customise the fit for optimal comfort and security. Whether you’re facing downpour or drizzle, this jacket delivers superior performance, allowing you to stay focused on your outdoor adventures without worrying about the weather.

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Helly Hansen Crew Hooded Jacket 

Introducing the Helly Hansen Crew Hooded Jacket, a pinnacle of performance and style. Crafted with HELLY TECH® Protection fabric, it’s waterproof, windproof, and breathable, ensuring optimal comfort in any weather. Its two-layer construction and fully seam-sealed design provide maximum protection against the elements, while the durable water repellency (DWR) treatment enhances its weatherproof capabilities. Mesh-lined for added comfort, this jacket is as functional as it is stylish. Whether you’re braving the storm at sea or navigating city streets, the Helly Hansen Crew Hooded Jacket keeps you dry and comfortable, ready to tackle whatever adventure comes your way.

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Lululemon Waterproof full-zip rain jacket

Embrace the elements in style with the Lululemon Waterproof Full-zip Rain Jacket, engineered for the active individual who refuses to let rain dampen their spirits. This jacket features zippered exterior pockets with a hidden phone sleeve, ensuring your essentials stay secure and dry during your adventures. The cinchable hood provides customisable coverage, while underarm vents offer breathability to keep you cool and comfortable. Adjustable cuffs allow for a personalised fit, ensuring that you stay protected from the rain while maintaining freedom of movement. Whether you’re hitting the trails or navigating urban streets, this rain jacket is the ultimate companion for staying dry and stylish in any weather.

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GORE-TEX® Mountain Jacket

Moving to the most expensive, yet stacked-with-quality jacket on this list. The GORE-TEX® Mountain Jacket, a top of the line rugged companion for alpine adventurers. Its Storm flap with a snap closure ensures maximum weather protection, covering the two-way centre front zip. Secure-zip, reverse-entry alpine hand pockets keep essentials close, while two internal drop-in pockets provide additional storage. Stay cool during intense climbs with pit-zip venting, while adjustable hook-and-loop cuff tabs offer a personalised fit. Plus, the internal drawcord at the hem allows for easy adjustability on the fly. Whether conquering summits or exploring rugged terrain, the GORE-TEX® Mountain Jacket delivers unbeatable durability, functionality, and comfort in the harshest conditions. 

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Related: 

These jackets and coats will keep you warm (and stylish) all winter long

Keep an eye on these new men’s activewear drops

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]]> Inside Tez Steinberg’s epic 126-day rowing journey across the Pacific Ocean https://menshealth.com.au/tez-steinberg-interview-rowing-across-pacific-ocean/ Mon, 13 May 2024 02:18:38 +0000 https://menshealth.com.au/?p=58752 After 126 days at sea and with more than 8,000 kilometres of water behind him, Tez Steinberg arrived in Australia from Hawaii last month, after setting off in late 2023 to raise awareness for ocean conservation and accelerate ocean plastic solutions. Steinberg’s journey was one of immense physical endurance, but as he tells Men’s Health, he wouldn’t trade the mental payoff for anything

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]]> WHEN TEZ STEINBERG was faced with an endless horizon of blue, colossal waves the size of buildings, crippling exhaustion and was using every ounce of strength to avoid capsizing during his record setting row from Hawaii to Australia, there were two mantras he would repeat to himself. The first was optimistic. “This will have a happy ending,” he would say, convincing his brain that he would push through even when his body was ready to quit. The second was more pragmatic. “There’s nowhere else I can go.”

Thousands of kilometres from safety and even further from the nearest landmass, there really was nowhere else for Steinberg to go. Despite an impressive track record in endurance events, which includes completing 46 marathons, two ironman triathlons and dozens of ultramarathons, according to Steinberg, his trans-Pacific trip was, by far, his greatest challenge ever. “The battles that I was facing were all interlinked, all compounded, and all an order of magnitude more difficult than anything I’d previously experienced,” Steinberg says. “It was a whole different ball game.”

During his voyage, Steinberg spent nearly his entire days in the same gruelling rowing motion under the scorching heat of the Pacific summer sun. To maintain energy and muscle mass, he was eating around 4,500 calories a day, comprising dehydrated meals, proteins bars and coconut oil. “It certainly doesn’t beat a fresh barbie, that’s for sure,” Steinberg says. He also had to carry his food and supplies with him, meaning that he left Hawaii with 800,000 calories on board and ate his way through it.

Physical tests were only part of the challenge though. Steinberg essentially spent four months in complete solitude, battling loneliness in addition to the conditions. “It felt like I never hit a stride during the row. Every week was a different challenge. Whether it was weather, equipment, cyclones and tropical storms, I was so short on energy that I only bathed with salt water from January to April,” Steinberg says. “These small things all compounded and just had me thinking a lot about the people in my life.”

So, what could possibly compel a man to endure such a gruelling physical and mental undertaking? Why would anyone put themselves through something that to the outside observer could appear to be some sadistic form of ritualised, self-inflicted torture? The answer lies in Steinberg’s past, and the vision he has for the ocean’s future.

 

Tez Steinberg

 

DESPITE HAVING TO be one of the fittest men on planet earth to accomplish his most recent achievement, Steinberg’s interest in pushing the limits of human endurance wasn’t born out of the need to get physically fit, but mentally stronger. “My journey with endurance sports started while going through depression,” Steinberg says. “I was in college,” he continues, before pausing to consider how much time had passed since then. “I haven’t done proper maths in a while, mate. The maths I’ve been doing has been like with my compass,” he explains, before eventually concluding that it was approximately 15 years ago.

To help improve his mental health, Steinberg’s roommate suggested training for a triathlon together, which is exactly what they did. “I found it helped me feel so much better. It gave me this sense of optimism in my life as I felt myself grow and achieve those goals,” Steinberg says. “That started this little snowball effect. I then did a sprint triathlon, a half-Ironman, an Ironman, marathons and then an ultramarathon. And after 10 to 12 years of going through that, I had completely shifted what I thought was possible.”

“It wasn’t just limited to the physical domain either. It spilled over and gave me a sense of awareness and possibility about what I can do in other areas,” Steinberg continues. For his first Ironman, Steinberg raised thousands of dollars for a Native American youth program, helping him realise what he had the power to do. “I knew it could not just be an impactful experience for me, but for other people too.”

This perspective was further entrenched in 2016, when Steinberg’s father took his own life. “His death taught me that life is short. That anything can happen, and I could be gone tomorrow. It made me think what am I going to do to make my life really count?”

It was around this time that Steinberg was first struck with the idea of rowing across an ocean, with his sights set on the crossing the Atlantic. That plan stalled when he struggled to raise the necessary funds to make the expedition possible. Instead, he turned his attention to the USA’s other coast and rowing from California to Hawaii. “At that point, about 125 people had rowed solo across the Atlantic, but only seven had rowed North America to Hawaii because it’s a significantly harder route. So I thought, ‘why not do something even more difficult?’”

Steinberg was physically fit, but he didn’t have much experience in rowing – especially over such long distances. He did little to acclimate himself in the lead up to the row either. “I was only able to swing three days of training in the boat,” he says. “I picked up the boat in Washington, did three days of training in a shallow bay, towed it down to California and pushed off. I’d never been to sea, wasn’t a sailor, wasn’t a rower.”

Despite his inexperience, Steinberg was able to conquer the voyage, becoming only the eighth person to row from California to Hawaii, and doing it in 71 days. He didn’t know it at the time, but that journey would become the first leg in his larger journey of crossing the Pacific in full. It would also serve as the impetus for his desire to accelerate ocean plastic solutions, exposing him to both the natural beauty of the ocean, and the forces threatening it. “I fell in love with the ocean. I found it to be so beautiful, but I was also shocked and heartbroken by how full of trash and plastic it is,” he says.

 

 

STEINBERG FINISHED HIS California to Hawaii row with a hunger to achieve even more. By 2022, he had decided on completing his trans-Pacific crossing by rowing from Hawaii to Australia and raising funds to remove plastic pollution from the ocean and to accelerate solutions to prevent it from getting there in the first place.

This time, Steinberg was taking his training more seriously, but found that was more difficult than anticipated. “Time in a rowing boat is helpful from a technical perspective, but from a physical perspective, it doesn’t really translate,” he says. “A rowing machine doesn’t translate much either, because it’s such a linear motion, and on the ocean I’m rowing and rocking back and forth.”

Steinberg focused on building functional strength, bolstering his core and shoring up his posterior chain. He also prioritised gaining mass, knowing he’d be shedding plenty of weight during the row – he’d go on to lose 13kg over the course of his voyage. By 2022, Steinberg was in “fantastic shape” and ready to take on another gruelling physical challenge. But then, disaster struck.

In July of 2022, Steinberg had a heart attack, ending any prospect of crossing the Pacific any time soon and forcing a focus switch from training to recovery. “I needed to reevaluate and put the entire project on hold,” Steinberg says. “Am I even fit enough to go for a walk? That’s a question I couldn’t answer at the time.”

In the months following his heart attack, Steinberg struggled to get back on his feet. He couldn’t get his heart rate above 80 beats per minute and had issues with glucose retention – a side effect of the prescription medicine he was taking. “No matter what I ate, my glucose was staying [low],” he says. “I would eat a candy bar and it wouldn’t affect my glucose, it would just go straight to fat. You just can’t function at that level. That’s hypoglycaemic.”

It took time, but Steinberg rebuilt himself from the ground up. One year on from the incident, he reattempted a workout he completed the day he had a heart attack and found he performed even better. “I was able to not just to recover from the heart attack, but come back stronger,” he says. That gave me the confidence to be able to attempt this world first expedition.”

The rest is, quite literally, history. A few months later, Steinberg began his journey across the Pacific. After 126 days at sea, he arrived in Port Douglas in late April, becoming the first and only person to row solo from Hawaii to Australia, nonstop.

 

 

Back on dry land, Steinberg is recovering from the crossing, reconnecting with friends and family, and while he won’t confirm it, he’s likely already mentally planning his next record-breaking feat of endurance, which brings us back to an earlier question.

Why, even with an unflinching commitment to a worthy cause, would anyone put themselves through such a demanding physical challenge as Steinberg’s? The man himself has a fairly simple explanation: to live life to its fullest.

“I’m not a martyr. I’m not out to make myself suffer. I do these things because I believe they can be rewarding experiences for me to personally grow, for me to explore and experience the world, and to show people what’s possible in their lives.” Steinberg says. “We all leave a lot of value on the table. We short sell ourselves and what we can possibly do. I really believe that most people will look back on their life and wish they did more.” Assuredly, Steinberg won’t be one of those people.

 

Tez Steinberg

 

To find out more about Steinberg’s journey and to donate to help solve the ocean plastic crisis, head to unitedworldchallenge.org

 

Related:

The 6 best rowing machines for every home workout athlete

This Is How The ‘Norwegian Method’ Can Elevate Your Endurance

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]]> Can a home push-up workout outshine the bench? https://menshealth.com.au/can-a-home-pushup-workout-outshine-the-bench/ Fri, 10 May 2024 01:37:38 +0000 https://menshealth.com.au/?p=58657 Ready to beef up your chest with quality size, muscle, and strength? Look no further than this straightforward at-home workout routine

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]]> THE BENCH PRESS is great. The cable crossover machine is awesome. Using dumbbells for moves like these is a guaranteed chest pump. But even if you can’t access any of that gear when you’re at home, you can still blast your chest aggressively, building strength and stimulating muscle growth.

Why? Because you can still do push-ups. The classic pushup remains one of the best ways to hit your chest at home—or anywhere, period. You’re attacking your chest from an angle that’s very similar to the one you’d hit on a standard bench press, and while you’re working with a lighter load than you might use on a bench (your body weight), you still get to produce a ton of total-body tension. You also get to focus on getting a good chest contraction (more on that later).

The pushup can actually create even more challenge than some of your loaded movements once you start introducing a handful of variations, and those variations can easily become the backbone of a vicious chest workout. By varying the angle of your torso relative to your upper arms, or shifting the focus of the pushup to focus on negative contractions, pauses, or holds, you shift the way the move stimulates your chest.

By blending several of these approaches into a single workout, you wind up challenging your pecs in multiple ways a home. You also explore and perfect your overall pushup mechanics, leading to better workouts later. And perhaps most of all, you wind up having a little bit of fun, too.

3 Keys for a perfect push-up

The key to getting the most out of pushup training is maximising the pushup. That means working through a full range of motion, and not cheating yourself on any rep. There are several things you want to keep in mind. Focus on these three.

Perfect plank

Do this: The pushup starts with a flawless plank position and you must own this for the life of every set. Squeeze your abs tight and never let your core sag.

Elbow pits face forward

Do This: Turn the pits of your elbows forward, promoting shoulder external rotation and also turning on your lats.

All the way up, all the way down

Do This: Lower your chest to within an inch of the ground, squeezing your shoulder blades as you approach the ground. Then press all the way up. Don’t get in a habit of doing half-reps and skipping the final bit of chest contraction.

How to level up your at-home chest workout

The greatest challenge of pushup training is finding ways to increase the load, especially when you’re at home without access to external weights. The downside of the classic pushup is that while it starts out as challenging, once you’ve done enough reps, it ceases to push you. You’re always lifting only a portion of your bodyweight.

That’s one place where the bench press can push you more than a pushup: You can eventually load more than your bodyweight onto the bar. You can’t do that with a pushup. But you can find other ways to challenge your chest.

Unilateral loading

You can, however, force just one of your pecs to shoulder almost all of the portion of bodyweight that you’re moving by using a handful of pushup variations. Archer pushups and single-arm pushups do this, as does the post pushup. These pushups become valuable weapons in your at-home chest training, placing greater load on a single pec and also challenging your core and glutes.

Can you keep your hips and shoulders square on a post pushup, which is just a half-step away from a single-arm pushup? Doing so places great load on your chest, and your entire body.

Time under tension and pauses

You can also level up moves by adding time-under-tension and pauses. Pauses cancel out the momentum and “elastic energy” that allows you to “bounce” out of reps. On the bench press, you sometimes need that assist. By eliminating it on pushups, you add challenge to the move.

More reps

And of course you can load up on reps. But first, you can aim to challenge yourself with pushup variations, which is what you’ll do in this workout.

The at-home chest all pushups workout

You’ll do three moves in this all-pushups home chest workout, and each move will challenge your chest in a slightly different way. Do this workout up to three times a week, resting at least one day between sessions (yes, you may actually be that sore). On days you don’t do this workout, aim to train your back with pull ups and rows, critical moves to help maintain shoulder health when you’re challenging your chest.

Post pushup dropset

Do 4 sets per side of this pushup drop set, which combines a standard post pushup with classic pushups for a serious chest pump.

Half-typewriter pushup

Next up, hit the half-typewriter pushup, which once again has you unilaterally loading your chest, then adds time-under-tension as you typewriter your torso halfway across before pressing back up. Do 3 sets of 8 to 10 reps per side.

3-step pushup series

Finish your chest off with 3 sets of this 3-step pushup series, which features a little bit more unilateral loading and starts to incorporate your triceps too.

Bonus move: position-switch pushup count-up game

Want to rock your triceps a bit in the process too? Yes, they got work in the first three moves, but they’ll take on added responsibility if you throw in one to two sets of this extra move, a “game” that pushes you to be explosive and pile up a few extra reps.

This story originally appeared on Men’s Health U.S.

Related:

5 exercises that will hammer your inner chest

The 20 best chest exercises to build stronger pecs

 

The post Can a home push-up workout outshine the bench? appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.

]]> Flite performance rider Matt McVeigh explains the rapid rise and undeniable appeal of efoiling https://menshealth.com.au/efoiling-rise-appeal-flite-matt-mcveigh/ Thu, 09 May 2024 23:45:34 +0000 https://menshealth.com.au/?p=58707 When Matthew McVeigh first got into efoiling, he had never even surfed. A few short years later, he’s transformed his physical and mental health, is a member of Flite’s elite performance team, and says the sport is only just getting started

The post Flite performance rider Matt McVeigh explains the rapid rise and undeniable appeal of efoiling appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.

]]> DESPITE THE OBVIOUS differences between the sports, it’s difficult not to view efoiling as surfing’s pickleball. Both borrow aspects of an existing sport (racquets and balls for pickleball, surfboard-like boards for efoiling), both have only come to mainstream attention in the last decade, and both are skyrocketing in popularity. But a key difference lies in their reliance on technology. In all likelihood, pickleball has reached its zenith. Its boundaries have been set, and its limits pushed to their zenith. Whereas efoiling continues to evolve as new innovations are made every day.

In the simplest terms possible, an efoil is what happens when you add an electric motor to a hydrofoil, allowing users to literally glide above the water. The result is a piece of equipment that is less reliant on conditions, a whole lot faster than a regular hydrofoil, and according to Flite performance team rider Matt McVeigh, “the most addictive thing ever”.

Today, Matt McVeigh is one of the world’s best foilers. Although, a few years ago he wasn’t even one for surfing – or any water sport, for that matter. “I never really ventured to the beach much and I wasn’t into swimming, surfing or anything, so water sports didn’t really appeal to me,” McVeigh says.

Living inland, it’s not hard to understand why McVeigh never got into water sports, but he’s always been an active person. McVeigh played rugby growing up and was even selected to train in a talent squad at the Australian Institute of Sport to prep for the Olympics. However, when he moved to the Sunshine Coast and was suddenly living exceedingly closer to the ocean, he was overweight and struggling with both his physical and mental health. But he was determined to make a change.

“When I moved up to the Sunshine Coast and saw everyone out surfing, I wanted to get involved in that,” McVeigh says. “I ended up hiring a longboard one day and found myself paddling around for like an hour and not catching any waves. That pretty much burnt my idea of getting involved in surfing and I just gave up right there.”

McVeigh didn’t give up entirely though. Instead, he did some googling and came across Fliteboards – Flite’s flagship efoil – and was intrigued by the motorised aspect. “I took a took a lesson on that and just loved it,” he says. From there, he never looked back.

 

 

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Besides being an addictively fun hobby, getting into efoiling helped McVeigh get fit. “It’s a full body workout,” he says. “You can push yourself as hard as you want and get whatever you want out of it. That’s all I really did and I lost 25 kilos or so from basically just doing that every day.”

One of the strengths of efoiling, according to McVeigh, is how easy to learn it is. “Just this morning I went out for a foil and I had a friend there that’s never ridden before, but really wanted to give it a go. I just changed the wings over and put him on my board. He was up and flying within 20 minutes,” McVeigh says.

Although, he does believe not having a background in surfing actually made learning the sport easier. “On the foil it’s a lot of front foot pressure, whereas surfers put pressure on their back foot,” McVeigh says. “So when surfers come and do a lesson, they’ve got a bit of a bad habit to put all the weight on the back foot, which makes it more challenging.”

McVeigh now runs a Fliteschool part-time, where he teaches other prospective foilers the tricks of the trade. He firmly believes that easy learnability isn’t the only appealing aspect of efoiling. “It’s just so accessible and you can go in any conditions. If you’re a bit time constrained and you’ve only got an hour, you don’t need to wait for low tide, high tide or wind or anything like that, you can just drop the board in and get going,” he says. “When I was working as a carpenter, I’d turn up before work and go foiling. I knew what I was going to get in that hour and I didn’t need conditions to be perfect.”

A newfound passion for efoiling culminated in McVeigh being inducted into Flite’s performance team in 2023. In the role, McVeigh gets to test all of Flite’s newest innovations and work alongside other elite foilers. “It’s been really cool to work with the likes of Adam Bennetts – who’s the best foiler in the world – and getting some inside knowledge into the world of foiling.”

 

 

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Working with Flite has been a dream come true for McVeigh, who believes the brand makes the best efoils on the planet. “I really like the quality of the build,” he says. “You want something that you can rely on when you’re out in the harsh conditions. I think I’ve recorded something like 12,000 waves on the app and I think I’ve only had one issue with the controller in that whole time.” Of course, if you’re venturing into the depths of the ocean, the last you thing you want to be thinking about is what will happen if your gear breaks down. His Fliteboard gives McVeigh piece of mind, and much more.

“Another great thing about Fliteboards is that once you’ve had a session and you come back in to shore, you can connect your phone to your board and download your session and analyse it. That’s an awesome way to keep track of your progression,” McVeigh continues. “There’s also a world leaderboard, so you can compete against people in biggest and longest waves and all that stuff.”

The efoil industry is one of constant turbulence. New innovations are arriving almost every day and pushing beyond what was previously thought to be the pinnacle of performance. “Flite’s R&D is always working on new stuff,” McVeigh says. “There’s constantly new things coming out, like new material. They’ve just made a new carbon fibre foil that’s a lot lighter and thinner, so it goes through the water better.”

McVeigh also believes that it’s only a matter of time before efoiling starts having organised competitions, whether they be races, big wave challenges, or contests judging riders’ skills.  “There definitely will be,” he says. “I don’t know when that will happen, but there’s lots of racing that’s already starting, there’ll be competitions within the next couple of years for sure.”

As is the case in any field where technological developments are constantly redefining what is within realm of possibility, the future of efoiling is, by its very nature, uncertain. The sport could look very different a decade from now, but McVeigh concurs that one thing is certain, with more people trying efoiling every day, the sport is only just getting started.

 

 

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Related:

Surfing Fanatics Unite: URBNSURF Is Coming To Sydney

Aussie surf king Jack Robinson on Olympic dreams, the power of meditation and dad strength

The post Flite performance rider Matt McVeigh explains the rapid rise and undeniable appeal of efoiling appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.

]]> The best mother’s day gifts to earn you favourite child status https://menshealth.com.au/mothers-day-gifts-2024/ Thu, 09 May 2024 23:30:55 +0000 https://menshealth.com.au/?p=58030 May 12th is going to be here faster than you think.

The post The best mother’s day gifts to earn you favourite child status appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.

]]> THE WORKING LIST of reasons why mums are incredible, badass, and worthy of celebration is an endless one, so what a special occasion to be able to take a moment and thank her for all her hard work over the years. Yep, Mother’s Day is just around the corner, so now is the perfect time to come up with a present that expresses gratitude for everything a mum does.

The thing is, the way your mum really wants to be appreciated this Mother’s Day is probably with some quality time. However, you can’t show up to a Mother’s Day brunch empty-handed, right?

Flowers are always a great option, and you can never go wrong with gifting a meal or a personalised gift card for her favourite restaurant. But, sometimes it’s nice to go a bit more personal or creative when choosing a gift for mum, your partner, grandma, sister or any other maternal figure in your life.

If you feel like you’re stuck on what to splurge on, you’re not alone. Shopping for gifts is hard. Luckily, we’ve gathered our pick of the best Mother’s Day gifts out there for all different types of mums.

Tech gifts for mum

Therabody Theraface LED Mask

Therabody Theraface LED Mask

Price $899

The Therabody TheraFace Mask is a breakthrough FDA-cleared, TGA-registered LED face mask that delivers full-face Red, Red + Infrared, and Blue light with added tension-relieving vibration therapy. Clinical studies showed it will give mum firmer, smoother, healthier-looking skin with a visible reduction in fine lines and dark spots in as little as 8 weeks.

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Google Pixel Watch

Google Pixel Watch

Price $549

The Google Pixel Watch 2 looks just like the original Pixel Watch and offers more advanced features via the Fitbit premium app. It’s not just a great-looking accessory but she’ll probably find it super useful, too.

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Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni Mopping & Vacuuming Robot

Ecovacs Deebot X2 Omni Mopping & Vacuuming Robot

Price $2,499

The ultimate hands-free cleaning machine simultaneously vacuums and mops. And what better gift is there in the world than something to do her mopping and vacuuming for her? After all, time is precious for everyone!

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Sonos Move 2 Speaker

Sonos Move 2 Speaker

Price $799

Is mum still listening to that old radio? Is she streaming music through her terrible computer or tablet speakers? Time for an improvement. Pound for pound, Sonos produces some of the best sound out there, plus there’s a well-made app and the thing is built to last.

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Taily Solar Smart Bird Feeder with Camera Square

Taily Solar Smart Bird Feeder with Camera Square

Price $167.99

Here’s a smart gadget mum will get a kick out of, especially if she likes taking in some nature in her yard. The special feeder snaps high-res images and video of our feathered friends, allowing her to get great views of all the different species that show up. Full disclaimer: She may get a little obsessed.

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LG Style

LG Style

Price $2,899

Is Mum’s closet full of treasured statement pieces needing some love and care? Help her refresh her wardrobe staples and preserve timeless, delicate pieces by treating her to the LG Styler Steam Clothing Care System.

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Beauty and wellness gifts for mum

Dyson Rose Gold Airwrap

Dyson Rose Gold Airwrap

Price $849

For Mother’s Day the limited edition Rose Gold version of the Airwrap comes with a complimentary brush and comb gift set valued at $69 – plus complimentary case personalisation.

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Pure Mama Pregnancy Care Set

Pure Mama Pregnancy Care Set

Price $165

The perfect gift for a new mum, this pregnancy care set is designed to provide her with moments of self-care, connection and nourishment. The products – a Belly Oil, Bump Scrub & Magnesium Body Rub – are made using natural and organic ingredients, to ensure only the best care for her pregnancy journey, through to motherhood.

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Sheridan Plush Robe

Sheridan Plush Robe

Price $79.99

I’m a mum and I can’t help but love Sheridan. The chances are your mum probably can’t help but love Sheridan, too. The outlet is not only the ultimate place for some really good prices, but a place you can score iconic pieces like their uber-plush bath robe.

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T2 Blooming Bouquet Blossoming Tea Gift Pack

T2 Blooming Bouquet Blossoming Tea Gift Pack

Price $48

Here’s a heartfelt gift for the mum who tolerates coffee but LOVES tea. This blooming tea bouquet is filled with a melange of flavour-infused tea blossoms that slowly unfurl into a beautiful floral arrangement of marigold, jasmine and rose buds.

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Sentimental gifts for mum

Wonderbly Personalised Family Book

Personalised Family Book

Price $59.99

Gifting a book to another person can be tricky, but this personalised kid’s story book is so thoughtful that it’s failsafe. They have options for first time mums, grandparents and a bunch of cool storylines that she will hold on to forever.

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Deja Marc Classic Fingerprint Necklace

Deja Marc Classic Fingerprint Necklace

Price $199.00

I received this one for Mother’s Day last year and I was (and still am) unbelievable obsessed. It’s a simple dainty necklace design that allows you to get the fingerprints of your children engraved on them. I mean…say less.

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Sarah & Sebastien Interlocking Heart Soldered Bracelet

Sarah & Sebastien Interlocking Heart Soldered Bracelet

Price $270

A sweet symbol to celebrate meaningful connections, these permanent bracelets are custom-fitted during a Soldered appointment and soldered together seamlessly with no clasp using the traditional jeweller’s flame. This one features two cut-out heart motifs interlocking together as one in 18-karat yellow gold and fixed onto a super fine chain for everyday layering.

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Fashion gifts for mum

lululemon Beyondfeel Women’s Running Shoe

lululemon Beyondfeel Women’s Running Shoe

Price $249

Have a runner on your hands? lululemon’s Beyondfeel shoes provides ventilation, stretch, and support where you need it – making powering the pavement that much more comfortable.

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Gymshark Training Jacket

Gymshark Training Jacket

Price $70

For the fitness-obsessed mum, a cool new workout jacket is the way to go. This one from Gymshark will not only last her years to come, but it’s designed to be slightly longer in the back, which means it’s flattering to wear with leggings.

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Ugg slippers

Ugg Slippers

Price $199.99

It’s starting to get pretty cold, so what better time than now to get mum a cosy pair of slippers. These Disquette Mules are incredibly soft and made with a genuine suede leather on the outside, and fluffy sheepskin on the inside.

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Homeware gifts for mum

Dinosaur Designs Pearl Tower Vase

Dinosaur Designs Pearl Tower Vase

Price $320

This colourful Dinosaur Designs vase doesn’t even need flowers to look beautiful. A handful of other designs are available on Farfetch as well just in case pink isn’t your mom’s thing.

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Our Place The Always Pan

Our Place The Always Pan

Price $275

Speaking of gift-worthy kitchen products, maybe she needs a new one. Known as the pan that broke the internet, Our Place’s Always Pan does it all. With a modern design and gorgeous colours, it’s made to replace eight pieces of cookware. Your mom’s favourite frying pan could never.

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Green Collective Culinary Herb Garden Kit

Green Collective Culinary Herb Garden Kit

Price $38.95

If she has a green thumb, check out Green Collective co, an online store that sells curated plant sets. The Culinary Herb Garden Kit has basil, thyme, chives and parsley seeds, along with planter pots, soil pellets, herb snips and more so all she has to do is plant and watch them grow in the windowsill.

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Glasshouse Fragrances Soy Candle & Care Kit

Glasshouse Fragrances Soy Candle & Care Kit

Price $109.00

No such thing as too many nice candles. This Mother’s Day, cult-loved brand Glasshouse is offering gift sets complete with their Enchanted Garden Soy Candle, a wick trimmer and candle snuffer – all in a limited edition blue velvet case.

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July Vanity Cosmetic Case

July Vanity Cosmetic Case

Price $125

If your mum’s collection of miscellaneous beauty products could use a more organised home, this travel-friendly cosmetic bag will do the trick. It features a removable organisation pocket and user zip compartment for brushes.

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For the mum that prefers an experience over a gift

 

Dining gift card

Price: variable

Not every mum wants a tangible gift for mother’s day. In fact, OpenTable research shows that 51% of mums would prefer an experience over a gift. With that in mind, you can’t go wrong with a personalised gift card for her favourite restaurant. Luckily, OpenTable can provide exactly that. And if you’re looking for the ideal setting to use that gift card, you can find OpenTable’s list of Australia’s best brunch and lunch spots here.

 

 

Related:

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How to ace the pressure cooker challenge

 

The post The best mother’s day gifts to earn you favourite child status appeared first on Men's Health Magazine Australia.

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