Aspiring to be the best you can possibly be has always been a part of the human condition since time immemorial. And yet, in an era where a gym membership is almost as indispensable as a mobile phone and more and more people swear by the benefits of so-called superfoods, we appear to be pushing this ethos further than any of our ancestors could ever have imagined.
No other industry has profited as much from this demand as the HealthTech sector of Silicon Valley – estimated to be worth $3 trillion. With new health trends and fads popping up seemingly overnight, start-ups are rushing to create the next big thing.
From this frenzied scramble, a number of bold and progressive ideas have emerged. Here are three of the most radical.
Nootropics
If you don’t recognise this word, you are not alone – it was only coined in 1974, and is made up of the Greek words for mind and bend. And no – nootropics are not the latest evolution of psychedelic drugs, but they are not far off. Read the rest of this entry »
Strength training is a popular, effective and growing form of exercise which aims to use different apparatus in order to strengthen and refine your muscles. Often relying on body weight and muscle control, one of the benefits of strength training is that it teaches users to get to know how their bodies and muscles work and to focus on how different muscles work together to initiate movement. One of the best bodyweight grip strength exercises, and arguably one of the best back exercises is hanging.
As with any form of exercise, different moves and sets develop popularity, based on their perceived efficacy. A form of strength training called ‘hanging’ is one such exercise. Below we’ll take a look at what hanging is, and why it’s a good thing to integrate into your routine.
Some of you might have raised a few eyebrows when you read the title of this article, after all, who associates horse riding with weight lifting? Well, you should have a real think about that – can you imagine the strength it requires to not only mount a horse, but stay on one and control it as it gallops away? Here are a few key pointers to consider when strength training as an equestrian.
Losing a huge amount of weight in a short time-span may not be the healthiest practice out there, but it sounds as no short of a dream come true to many. Still, one of the things that they often tend to forget is that the fat in their body is not the only thing that has expanded over the course of the years. In order to follow up, your skin has probably significantly stretched, as well, which might turn into a huge issue once you lose all that extra weight. With this in mind, here are few ways of dealing with loose skin and getting that beach body you always dreamed of having.
Why Is This Such a Problem?
Ok, so you lost weight, have some extra skin, what’s the big deal, right? It is a serious issue, as reported by NBC news, faced by many bariatric surgery patients or really anyone who has lost 300+ pounds of fat. Keeping sagging skin long-term is even reported to directly affect the longevity of the weight loss. Read the rest of this entry »
We all know that going to the gym not only makes you feel better, it makes you look better too. Even if you don’t have a chiseled 6-pack, massive guns, or lady-swooning glutes being a gym goer can give you a more shapely body, higher energy and mood levels, and help you be enjoy life to the fullest.
But there’s another aspect of being fit and healthy that’s not discussed often:
The scent of your natural pheromones (or your natural body odor), can actually become more attractive to the opposite sex.
If you don’t know what they are, or you imagine sleazy internet ads promising you they’re the secret to attracting gorgeous women… then you’ll probably roll your eyes. But on a scientific level, it actually makes sense.
What are Pheromones?
First of all, the word “pheromone” actually comes from the word “pherein” – which means “to carry”.
The second part, “mones” is from the word hormon(e).
As you already know by now, hormones (e.g. testosterone), are responsible for pretty much all the important functions of the human body… from regulating sleep, our testosterone balance, and even our moods.
Of particular interest is testosterone, which is an androgen, and typically what pheromones are derived from.
The most interesting part about all this, is that pheromones are actually derivatives of testosterone. And because they are released in sweat, there are steps you can take to actually make your pheromones all the more “attractive” – especially to women. Read the rest of this entry »
There’s no pleasure without pain, that’s true, but when it comes to fitness, this proverb is the last thing anyone who has just dropped a bar while performing a bench press wants to hear. Both professional and amateur athletes are no strangers to all kinds of injuries, and anyone who has ever trained has had their fair share of joint dislocations, muscle tears, sprains, and strains.
However, all those issues take their toll not only on the body, but also on one’s mental health. Some injuries are inevitable, but others can be easily avoided by taking some measures of precaution. Warming up before every workout is one of the ways to play it safe at the gym.
Oddly enough, the mistake of skipping a warm-up session isn’t something that only fitness rookies do, and this bad practice can increase the risk of getting hurt by half. Let’s examine some common fitness injuries and those that you should beware of.
Brain supplements are engineered to boost mental capabilities of humans without bringing any harmful side effects. Although no pill is yet invented to make you absolutely genius, the results have proven to improve brain performance and learning capabilities of individuals. People who have been using brain supplements have noticed better vigilance, alertness and quick decision-making abilities without any harmful effects.
Natural supplements designed to boost brain power are also known as Top Nootropics as they make a direct effect on the brain of healthy people. With benefits including long-term memory, creativity, and motivation, brain supplements are also known for reducing age-related declines in brain function and performance.Read the rest of this entry »
Today we at Project Swole want to deliver a public service announcement about smoking cigarettes and vaping. Do yourself, your family, and your friends a favor, and take the time to read this through.
Having lived with smokers, been friends with smokers, and been in romantic relationships with smokers; and knowing the harm that smoking cigarettes does to the body, we firmly disapprove of smoking. However, we also realize how hard it can be to overcome addiction and stay clean – sometimes there can be a middle ground, and in this case we believe using a vaporizer could be the first stepping stone to a healthier lifestyle.
If you’re a smoker in a relationship, there’s a good chance your significant other would much rather see you vaping than smoking. Here’s why: Read the rest of this entry »
When it comes to health, it’s safe to say that pretty much every part of the human body is equal, right? Well, the reality is, there is one part of the human body that, if left untreated or taken care of, can lead to detrimental results. If you did not know, your adrenal glands play an essential role in creating sex hormones and cortisol, which a human cannot live without. Due to this, researchers have begun to draw a connection between adaptogen supplements and an increase in adrenal health.
Paintball is a wonderful activity that challenges both the body and the mind. If you are looking for a way to have fun and get healthy, you should think about playing paintball at least once a week. When you schedule a weekly paintball game, you will enjoy a host of benefits that improve your life. Keep reading to discover five benefits that you will experience when you begin practicing paintball once a week.
Testosterone is popularly referred as an epitome of manhood, that doesn’t mean testosterone isn’t found in women. It’s just that testosterone is found in large quantity in men, while it’s in trace quantity in women. You might be aware of the fact that testosterone plays a vital role in enhancing your sex drive and muscle building, no wonder why most men have greater muscle mass than women.
It’s almost mythical to learn the true power of testosterone and its ability to burn body fat and boost your muscles. Testosterone also comes in handy to increase your libido, sleep, mood, and your quality of life. However, testosterone declines in most men after they hit 30 years, which isn’t good for health.
In many cases it becomes an issue and leads to testosterone replacement therapy, which some studies claim might also not be good for health. Sometimes we need to try to find ways to naturally enhance the testosterone level in the body.
Here’s a list of 7 ways to increase your testosterone naturally:
With childhood obesity on the rise, more and more parents are looking for ways to keep their kids active and fit. The process starts at home with fridges and pantries that are devoid of the fat- and sugar-laden, processed foods that populate store shelves these days. Instead, parents must work a little harder to provide nutritious and balanced meals that will give kids the energy they need to face each day without the spike and crash that comes from soda and sugary snacks.
But of course, diet is only part of the equation when it comes to the health of your kids. You also need to get them outdoors and running around if you want them to remain active and fit throughout their childhood and beyond. So here are just a few ways to pry them away from their video games and social media and get them on track for some physical fun.
As we grow old, it is important to stay active and healthy, but you should not just concentrate on enhancing the body. The mind is just like any other organ and needs stimulating to keep it working at its best. There are some simple things that you can do to keep yourself fit and healthy in body and mind.
Eat the Right Food
There is real evidence to suggest that eating healthily and having the right foods can help with your brain’s health. People who eat fish once a week, for example, have a 60% lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. This is because fish has omega-3 fatty acids that help to slow brain degeneration.
Everyone knows that they should be exercising, yet most people dread the very idea. The sweating and strain aside, working out is just boring. Think about the people you see running or at the gym, they look bored of their skulls. If you are going to keep at any exercise routine, you will need to find some way to combat the mind-numbing madness that comes with it.
Memory Foam is Big Business – But Is It Good For You?
You’ve heard it, time and time again, that memory foam is your ticket to the best night’s sleep you’ve had in ages. This is definitely true for some people who swear by the material, but many others remain skeptical. One of the most common questions we hear is whether various memory foam mattress options are good for your back, posture, and bone health.
How Memory Foam Works
Memory foam materials have their origins in 1960s NASA flight experiments. The institution needed very soft material to keep high-speed flight pilots protected against g-force. The same characteristics that make this material ideal for those flights also make it a very comfortable mattress material.
Since it conforms to the shape of your body, you can sleep in any variety of positions without feeling encumbered by stiffness. This softness is what really makes memory foam stand out, but not everyone is convinced that this is what’s best for the human body.Read the rest of this entry »
If you are one of the 46 million baby boomers today in America, do you think you get enough exercise? Chances are that many of you don’t. While we may not wish to think about getting older, to help our golden years be as happy, long and healthy as possible, it’s never too late to make some life changes and prepare for what’s ahead.
Staying active helps to improve balance, makes us stronger and is good for our heart. It can also help older adults stay independent and prevent many health problems that come with age. Even for those seniors with limited mobility, there are still muscle strengthening and aerobic exercise that they can do.Read the rest of this entry »
When training to build strength, far too many rugby players fall into the trap of simply trying to increase bulk. While I’m not suggesting that you spend all your time outdoors using rugby equipment, I do think it is important to train your body to repeat rugby-specific movements in the gym.
You’ll want to focus not just on strength, but also on power, conditioning, and injury prevention. It’s always best for athletes to focus on sport specific movements and strengthening the weakest links in the chain.
Using weights to replicate rugby-specific movements at a higher intensity, trains your body to become more adept at the skills that actually make you a better rugby player. By following these exercises you should notice marked improvements, not only in your physique, but also your playing ability.Read the rest of this entry »
Running can help achieve that fit body you’re aiming for. Today, we will explain to you how running can be good in the battle for weight loss!
Many people strive to have a body that will impress. However, the path going there isn’t a simple battle. Many challenges will hinder you from making progress. The first thing that you should ask yourself is, are you up to the challenge?
Although running sounds like a simple exercise, its benefits will amaze you. Running has many advantages including better health, uplifted emotions, weight loss, and improved focus. Read the rest of this entry »
“Superfoods” is a term that many of us have heard but not all of us understand. These are natural foods which boast a whole host of wonderful qualities. From protecting the immune system, to improving brain activity, to aiding eyesight and strengthening bones; they are rich in nutritional value.
As would be expected, they work great as part of a healthy lifestyle to burn fat and build muscle. Best of all; many of them are simple, readily available produce that can be easily worked into our everyday diet regime.
While whole foods are typically the best choice, supplementation can boost our total nutrient intake. Especially when it comes to green vegetables – I don’t know about you, but I can’t eat 3 kale salads every day – supplements like green powders and other antioxidants can really help us meet our daily needs.
I get plenty of questions in various comments throughout the website, but I also get comments and questions via the Project Swole Contact Form.
Generally I address those questions through e-mail, but often I do not have the time to reply to each and every question personally.
The category Your Health Questions attempts to take a more proactive approach to answering your questions so that everyone can benefit from the Q & A.
Scott wrote:
“First off very good site, very informative.
I am 33 5-11 170lbs. I just went from a split where I was doing 30 min low intensity cardio after the work out. I have been enjoying the full body workouts; I feel I get more out of it.
I am trying to maintain the muscle I have and get more ripped toned. Should I keep doing a low intensity cardio session after my work out or should I move to HIIT or some sort of other interval training on the off days?
I always read cardio after lifting or in the am is the best. So will I still burn fat doing cardio on the off days? Help!!”
Response:
First off, thank you for the kind words. I’m glad I can help someone with my babbling.
Second, I agree with you about full body workout routines. I find full body training to be far more effective at stimulating all kinds of gains than a traditional split routine.
Now, regarding your cardio questions, I have a couple responses and then I will discuss my reasoning:
My opinion is that you should focus more on high intensity interval training (HIIT) than on aerobic cardio.
If you insist on doing aerobic cardio at the same time as weight training, then it should be performed after weight training, but then you have to accept the drawbacks of doing cardio after weight training.
If you insist on doing aerobic cardio, not at the same time as weight training, but on the same day as weight training, it should be performed in the morning, on an empty stomach.
If you insist on doing aerobic cardio on a non-weight training day, then you have 2 choices:
in the morning on an empty stomach – to maximize fat loss
any other time of the day – used as active recovery
If you plan doing HIIT, it should not be performed before a workout.
Cardio in general works best when performed 8-10 hours before or after weight training, or on a separate day.
Aspiring to be the best you can possibly be has always been a part of the human condition since time immemorial. And yet, in an era where a gym membership is almost as indispensable as a mobile phone and more and more people swear by the benefits of so-called superfoods, we appear to be pushing this ethos further than any of our ancestors could ever have imagined. 
