IF YOU WANT to stay fit and strong, the traditional avenues dictate that you must decide between a commercial gym membership and investing in a home gym. Both have their flaws, and they certainly aren’t inexpensive. A gym membership will get you all the equipment you need, but you’ll have to put up with crowds and the congestion, noise and smells that come with them. If a home gym is more to your liking, you’ll need to be willing to make several costly purchases, and of course, have the requisite space to house such a sanctuary of sweat. But what if there was a third option? As someone who has ..read more

IN THIS AGE of fitness trackers, we now have easy access to our heart rate at any given moment. Every once in a while, the number catches your eye as it flashes on your Garmin or Apple watch screen while you’re sitting or lying down. The number varies a bit from time to time, and you’re not quite sure what that means. What’s considered a normal resting heart rate, anyway? Your resting heart rate is the number of times your heart beats per minute while your body is at “rest” – that’s when you’re sitting or laying down, having not done too much physical activity for a fe ..read more

IF YOU RECENTLY started taking creatine, you may have noticed instructions to take three to 4 times the serving size amount during the first week of supplementation listed on the bottle. This strange phenomenon is called the creatine loading phase – and it’s been confusing gym goers for a very long time. You should absolutely incorporate creatine into your routine if your chief fitness goal is to gain muscle (as long as your doctor okays it, of course) – that much is true. It’s one of the most researched supplements on the market, and dieticians and doctors alike agree it’s ..read more

You may have noticed that, after a bloody long summer, the temperature has finally began to drop. And I hate to break it to you, but this is just the beginning. So if there’s one thing you need right now (and all year round for that matter) it’s some decent men’s winter jackets. A quality winter jacket will pay dividends for years to come. Every time you step out the door for the next few months (oof.), you’re going to be throwing on some kind of top layer to keep you warm and protected from the elements. Depending on the weather, that top layer you reach for could change from a light fleece p ..read more

BEING A MEMBER of a commercial gym isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. Be it the commute, limited opening hours, gym floor congestion or simply needing to spend more time at home with the family, there are a number of reasons why it might not work for you. One way to get around some of these issues is by adding a few valuable pieces of equipment to your garage and turning it into a home gym. Before you jump the gun and throw your hard-earned cash at the first high-priced piece of flashy equipment that shows up on your Instagram feed, make sure you consider the following questions to see if a home gy ..read more

GOLD, SILVER, SEQUINS! If you haven’t heard, metallic sneakers are in this autumn – and in a big, big way. Whether you opt for a blocked-out silver moment or a more pared-back gleaming accent, working silver into the wardrobe rotation this season is a surefire way to shine. Of course, there are comfortable white sneakers, chunky sneakers, and even sneakers made for the winter, but nothing adds dimension to an outfit quite like a shiny trainer. As a top 2024 sneaker trend, the style adds an elevated finishing touch to almost any outfit. One brand that got the memo is none other than New Balance ..read more

AS SOMEONE WHO was once on the cover of Men’s Health with my shirt off, I can safely say that in comparison to that photo, I am out of shape. Compared to where I was mentally when that photo was taken, however, right now I’m in way better shape. That’s not to say that recent local and global events haven’t put a strain on that. When it comes to mental fitness, the recent weeks living in my city of Sydney has been like trying to play first grade footy with no preseason warm-up. I’m sure you feel the same way. There’s been a lot going on and it’s a lot for anybody. My mental fitness had been pre ..read more

AS A RESULT OF THE increasingly active lifestyles adopted by Australians, there no longer needs to be a distinction between performance wear and everyday clothes. Those two areas now intersect, and the child they’ve birthed is activewear – which can hold up during an intense workout, but will perform just as admirably in comforting your rump on the couch. All the major fitness brands have responded to this market shift accordingly. Now, exclusively making high-performance training gear or stylish lifestyle clothes isn’t enough to corner the market or endear a brand to a large demographic. Inst ..read more

IT’S TIME TO GIVE UP on the plain old chicken, rice and broccoli combo that’s been haunting your muscle-building journey for what feels like forever. With the widespread availability of affordable, high-protein, and most importantly, palatable meal delivery services in Australia, there’s no reason to rely on the same bland meal prep you’ve already done to death. No longer must you meander through the aisles at your local supermarket, laboriously scan the back of packaging for nutritional information and spend almost all of your free time meal-prepping only to grow tired of the meal halfway thr ..read more

NEXT TIME YOU’RE looking for a quick burst of energy, instead of reaching for the coffee or energy drink – try snacking instead. As Maddie Pasquariello, R.D.N., says that’s because what we eat has a direct effect on our energy levels, and each macronutrient plays a role. All caloric foods and drinks give us energy in the sense that they provide calories that the body can burn or store as it requires. “How any given food affects our energy levels over the course of a day is primarily driven by the balance of macronutrients they contain,” she says. Ahead, learn more about what nutrient ..read more