Every weekend I publish a recap of the best health and fitness articles I’ve read over the past week. Here are my favorites.
The Burger Lab: Building A Better Big Mac
The Big Mac is one of my favorite fast-food hamburgers of all time. I don’t really eat fast-food much anymore and when I do, I definitely don’t get the Big Mac now that it’s the size of a tiny hamburger and is priced at $4. What a rip-off. But now with this in-depth rebuilding of the Big Mac, I can make my own!
This is a must-read. Just in the past two weeks since announcing that I will be transitioning to veganism, so many people have told me that soy is bad for me and will cause man-boobs (moobs). I’ve read many studies over the years on both sides of the argument, but I lean more to the side that says soy is safe. It’s not the only thing I’ll be eating once completely vegan, but I’m certainly not afraid of it.
Fat Burning Zone Myth; Going Slower Burns More Fat
When I started doing cardio to burn fat a few months ago, I had this same question. The elliptical machines and treadmills at the gym showed that keeping your heart rate only slightly elevated would burn more fat than high heart rates. It didn’t make any sense to me. Some research showed exactly what this article explains. Basically, it’s not true.
If you’ve ever done P90X, it should be obvious to you that you aren’t going to be the next Arnold Schwarzenegger, but you will get in great shape. If you do want to get huge though, read this mass building plan created by the P90X team.
Ryan Hughes’ Muscle Building Program
I always love these programs from Bodybuilding.com. This one looks difficult, but doable. That’s a ton of calories to eat though. 4,689 calories per day is enough to make most people sick. I would imagine it would take me a week or longer to get used to that diet.
Ryan Jones Transformation Story: 45 lbs of Monstrous Muscle Gains
This is an inspirational story for anyone who has felt self-conscious about being skinny. I was just as skinny as this kid when I was his age and people don’t realize how embarrassing it is. I wish I had come across this post when I was a teenager.
Breaking News! USDA Replaces Food Pyramid with MyPlate
It’s about time the food pyramid has been updated. The new dietary guidelines set forth by the USDA now recommend that plates contain half fruits and vegetables and less meat and dairy. Sounds like a good step forward in reducing obesity rates in the U.S.
This Week’s Must-Have – Cacao Tea
Mmm, this sounds delicious. I wonder if my local supermarket has them in stock yet. I hope they aren’t too expensive.
Hero Training Workouts Get You in Shape and Prepare You For Heroics
If you want to be able to jump from rooftop to rooftop, you’re going to have to work on strength, speed and endurance. Do these workouts to get in “hero” condition.
Cycling in the City: How to Stay Safe
A friend of mine was just hit by a car while riding his bike through the city. He broke his wrist, dislocated his knee cap and broke his tibia in 15 places. It wasn’t his fault, but it’s a good reminder to make sure you’re taking all the proper precautions when riding your bike.
Jack3d is a preworkout supplement that I’ve been wanting to try. I just did a review of N.O. Xplode which is in the same category as Jack3d. Both seem to come highly recommended from people all over, but most preworkout formulas also have their drawbacks.
Tips to Deal With Your Obese Child
If you’re a parent, you need to be cautious of your child’s nutrition. There are lots of great tips here on dealing with an obese child as well as preventing it.