Author: admin

For every top-10 Mr. Olympia contender, four weeks out from the biggest stage in the world isn’t about abs, arms, veins, striations, or even willpower anymore. This is about your mind, what you consume, your chemistry, and whether you can hold it together when every fiber in your body—and every neuron in your brain—is screaming—begging—pleading for you to let up.  But you can’t. Not these days. The battle has grown far too intense.  But it wasn’t always like that. Arnold and Franco created quite a stir two weeks before one of their epic Olympia showdowns. They showed up at Golds…

A strong core keeps you steady, protects your back, and makes every movement easier. For people over 45, core strength becomes even more critical; it helps maintain balance, keeps your posture upright, and shields your spine from daily wear. One of the simplest ways to measure that strength is with a timed plank. Planks test endurance in your abs, shoulders, and hips all at once. They also reveal weaknesses you might not notice in everyday life, like sagging hips or a shaky lower back. Training toward a solid plank time not only strengthens those areas but also helps you stand…

We’ve known for a while that exercise can help combat sleep issues and, in turn, help you function at a better capacity. But a new study, recently published in the journal BMJ Evidence-Based Medicine, is giving us even more insight into the relationship between sleep and working out: certain kinds of exercise, we now know, are better at fighting the symptoms and side effects of insomnia than others. Namely yoga, tai chi, walking, and jogging may offer the biggest benefits—and the benefits associated with tai chi may even persist in the longer term.Of course, insomnia can significantly impact many facets…

We all have those moments where our brain talks us out of the very thing we know we should do. You want to get up when the alarm rings, but somehow you’re still in bed. You mean to speak up in the meeting, but the words don’t come out. You think about starting the workout, writing the email, or making the call—then suddenly you’re scrolling Instagram instead. I tried Mel Robbins’ 5-Second Rule on a Monday morning when I could not get myself moving. Instead of bargaining with myself for “just five more minutes,” I counted down—5-4-3-2-1—and swung my legs…

Country music often finds its lyrical soul in heartbreak. But for singer Chase McDaniel, it took a failed power clean PR attempt—and nearly losing his life in its catastrophic aftermath—to become the unlikely inspiration for his transformation from powerlifter to powerful balladeer. The Kentucky native remembers little of that fateful lift, when missing a 300-pound power clean became his worst-case scenario. McDaniel blacked out at the top of the lift before collapsing to the platform as 300 pounds of iron crashed down on his 155-pound frame. The accident left him in the hospital with a severe concussion, followed by amnesia.…

Walking up stairs shouldn’t leave you breathless. Carrying shopping bags or keeping up with grandchildren shouldn’t feel impossible. Yet for many people over 50, these everyday activities have become exhausting challenges that leave them feeling older than their years. I’ve worked in the fitness industry since I was in my teens and completed my personal training qualifications over 35 years ago. I’ve had countless people in their 50s and older come to me with the belief that it’s impossible to build stamina at their age. It’s heartbreaking to hear that lack of belief and it’s also completely wrong. People believe…

At GoodTherapy, we know that investing in mental health can feel overwhelming,  especially when you’re watching every dollar. The good news: affordable therapy is possible, and you don’t have to sacrifice your well-being to stick to your budget. Below, we’ll walk you through understanding therapy costs, budgeting strategies, practical ways to save, navigating insurance, and how GoodTherapy can help you prioritize your mental health without breaking the bank. Understanding the Real Costs of Therapy: What to Expect Before you start budgeting for therapy, it’s important to get a realistic sense of what therapy costs and why. The price of therapy…

It’s easy to judge people based on their family setup (whether it’s fair or not). The “momma’s boy,” for instance, is overly dependent and immature. The “only child” has historically been characterized as selfish or spoiled. But there’s one particular dynamic garnering more positive attention: men who grew up with older sisters.Consider Luke Dunphy in Modern Family—he’s goofy and a little scatterbrained, sure, but he actually respects the women in his life. (A rare trait for a sitcom teen boy). Or Robert Irwin, whose stint on this season of Dancing With the Stars has already included several moments of praise…

Overrated lifts are always a heated topic. One person’s overrated exercise could be someone else’s favorite—different strokes for different folks. So why go here and stir the pot? Just because an exercise is popular or it gets someone jacked doesn’t mean it’s always effective — or right for you. Some lifts get their importance overblown, while others pose more risk than reward, particularly when your goal is to improve performance and build muscle and strength. Here I am, joined by four coaches as we analyze 10 overrated lifts that might be holding you back or even hurting you. We’ll provide…

A “stomach apron” is excess fat that develops in the lower belly region—particularly after 50. According to Karen Ann Canham, CEO and founder of Karen Ann Wellness, this stubborn pouch is caused by slowed metabolism, hormonal shifts, and the natural loss of lean muscle, also known as sarcopenia. Standing core work can be especially productive in firing up the deep stabilizing muscles while putting your glutes and legs to work. We spoke with experts who share six standing core routines to tighten and tone your stomach apron after 50—no floor work required. What Makes Standing Core Routines Effective? “Unlike traditional…