America has a consumption problem. We eat too much, drink too much, and we don't get enough exercise. I'll focus on the consumption problem, as that is the primary culprit in our obesity epidemic. The average height for a man in the US is 5'9" The average weight for a man in the US is [...]
Tai Chi As a casual student of martial arts, I've always been fascinated by the Eastern approach to training. Specifically, the concept of Shugyo. Shugyo is the Japanese pronunciation of a Chinese word that basically means deep mind-body training. In general, we use the term shugyo for training done in the pursuit of [...]
I think the first time I heard about creatine was about 25 years ago, when Mark McGwire suggested that was all he was doing to help himself hit homeruns. A while back he admitted his steroid use, but suggested it was to recover from injuries rather than enhance performance. Before I get too far off [...]
How can we measure optimal fitness for men over fifty? I think we can use a number of different markers to produce an overall picture of a healthy and functional man over fifty. And, men who are able to achieve this level of health and fitness as they get older will likely be able to [...]
A few weeks back it was revealed that President Trump is dealing with a condition in his legs known as Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI). When I learned about what it is, I wasn't surprised that it is an ailment the President is dealing with. Chronic Venous Insufficiency is a condition that arises from damaged veins [...]
Skinny Fat We all know that too much body fat is associated with a variety of health issues from heart disease to diabetes and even some cancers. What constitutes too much body fat varies from person to person. For instance, some men who may be slender in stature overall, but have a disproportionately [...]
We've known for a while that deep breathing offers considerable benefit. Focused breath work has been demonstrated to help with... Reducing stress Reducing anxiety Improving sleep Boosting energy levels Helping to reduce blood pressure The issue is that few people really know how to take a deep breath. With that in mind I thought I [...]
Obesity is linked to a whole host of health issues, from increased risk of heart attack to diabetes. For some time there has been thought that obesity could also present an increased risk of cancer as well. Now, a new study is out that suggests that obesity is associated with a higher risk of 13 [...]
How to build muscle and burn fat after 50 requires a plan that involves a mix of strength training, cardio training, a good diet plan, discipline and consistency. In other words, it is far easier said than done. Let's examine each of these issues. The diet formula for building muscle and burning fat Building muscle [...]
Zone 2 cardio is the easiest, but most boring form of cardio exercise. However, it is the best place to start when building your cardiovascular fitness foundation. In fact, anyone looking to improve their overall fitness and wellness should incorporate Zone 2 cardio into their training. It is included in the Optimal Wellness System I've [...]