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Smartwatches arent as new as you might think. While far from elegant, tech fans wore oversized calculator watches all the way back in the 1980s. And in 2004, Microsoft introduced what might be considered the first modern smartwatcha connected device that could display news, weather, and your Outlook meetings by downloading data over the FM radio band. These days, smartwatches are so much more advanced theyre virtually unrecognizable.

The best Android smartwatches are modern marvels that can run countless apps, respond to voice commands, track your health and fitness, make electronic payments, track your sleep and more. Actually telling the time is way down on the list. One thing you really wont need to worry about is the watchs operating system; steer clear of the Apple Watch and youre ok, because all the other watchesfrom Googles Wear OS to Samsungs Tizen to Fitbit OS all are fully optimized for your Android phone.

That should make it easier to concentrate on what really matters, like should your watch focus more on style or fitness? How important is the battery life? And do you want a round or square watch face? Read on, because weve rounded up nine of the best Android-compatible smartwatches for every kind of watch wearer.

You cant really go wrong with any smartwatch on this page, but the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3 is one of the all-around best Android smartwatches you can buy. Its not quite the prettiest, nor does it have the best battery life. But its superb rotating bezel is a fun and effective interface for spinning through apps and notifications, and Samsungs Tizen operating system is often easier and smarter than Googles own Wear OS.

It also packs health and fitness sensors. It does all the usual stuff including heart rate, ECG and sleep monitoring, but also includes this years hottest additions, SpO2 (blood oxygen saturation levels) and VO2 max (oxygen consumption during exercise). Throw in water resistance to 5ATM and a huge library of home workout videos included, and its hard to beat. Too bad the battery doesnt last more than a day.

Honor is Huaweis halo brand (sort of like the way Lexus operates as Toyotas luxury line), and its phones have had some challenges operating in the US of late. That might be why Huawei is leaning into smartwatches like the Magic Watch 2and if so, no complaints from us. This watch packs a lot of features into a very affordable frame, coming in at half the price of a model like the Galaxy Watch 3.

Despite the low price, it has excellent fitness programs navigable using a second, dedicated crown, along with a gorgeous, brighter-than-average display with rich color thanks to AMOLED. You get a lot of exercise modes, especially for running, and the watch tracks an extensive array of stats. All that keeps running for close to two weeks at a time before it needs a charge.

Weve been fans of Motorolas Moto 360 since the very first generation, when round watch faces were still pretty rare among smartwatches. The latest third generation does away with the annoying notch at the bottom of the screen, so now you get a perfectly round and seamless display. The overall ensembleincluding the tasteful bezel and leather strapmeans the watch doesnt look like a smartwatch. It simply looks like a watch. (The watch comes with both a workout-friendly silicone strap and the more refined leather one.)

Its not just good looks, either. The battery can be fully charged in about a hour, and the Wear OS has all the apps you might need, including Google Pay for mobile payments. You also get the usual fitness features, including a heart rate monitor and sleep tracking.

If you love the idea of the rotating bezel to control your watch and dont want to spend your kids college fund on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 3, the Galaxy Watch Active 2 is a good alternative. This is a solid, smart-looking and well-equipped watch that is priced somewhere in the middle of the pack. It has a heart rate monitor, ECG and VO2 max sensors, is waterproof and hosts a slew of fitness features, like automatic exercise detection. A watch that does a lot of things pretty well, this is the one to choose if you dont have a hankering for a specific model or a particular set of features.

If you dont carefully follow the smartwatch business, youve probably never heard of Mobvois TicWatch Pro 3. It would be a shame not to consider this watch, though, because it has all the essentials you expect in a smartwatch, including really generous battery life. Youll get up to three days of normal use, and up to 45 days in Extended mode, which disables non-essential features.

Its not all about the battery, though. The large OLED display is bright and colorful, and it includes a a heart rate monitor as well as an SpO2 sensor. Its also waterproof (able to track swim workouts) and features a handful of custom exercise and fitness apps to supplement the many Wear OS features.

The latest version of the Skagen Connected Falster 3 is a very stylish watch that has some distinctive design featuresnotably the three buttons on the right, which gives this watch a certain industrial design cachet. In reality, the two buttons that surround the center button/crown combo are user-configurable to launch your favorite apps.

Otherwise you get a good implementation of Googles Wear OS with a highly configurable battery. You can set any of four different modes to control how long the battery lasts, which can deliver weeks of runtime in its most conservative mode. And while this watch almost looks too fancy for workouts, its waterproof to 5ATM, adding swim tracking as one of its many fitness features.

Almost any smartwatch can help you get through your daily workout. They pretty much all have heart rate monitors and are compatible with fitness tracking apps. But the Garmin Forerunner 245 is almost unquestionably the right choice for dedicated runners and other fitness fanatics. For starters, its equipped with GPS so you dont need to bring your phone on workouts. You can use the built-in adaptive exercise coaching, and get a Performance Condition assessment, which tells you in real time about how well youre performing compared to your actual potential.

If youre a hardcore runner training for competition, youll appreciate advanced analytics like ground contact time balance, stride length, vertical ratio and more (when you use the watch with additional, optional Garmin sensors). Despite all that, the Forerunner 245 still manages about a full week of battery life, in part because the display is not a touchscreen. That might seem like an off choice for a smartwatch, but with the Forerunners focus on sports and fitness, having a non-touch screen can actually be seen as an advantage.

Fossils Gen 5 is an all-around awesome watch. Not on the same level as Samsungs Galaxy Watch 3, but to some degree thats because Samsung invests in its superb Tizen operating system, and Fossil uses Googles Wear OSwhich is fine, but not superlative. You get a bit more than a day of battery life, the full suite of health and fitness apps and waterproofing down to 3ATM. Theres onboard GPS for phone-free workouts and reliable heart rate sensing. It also has a nice visual aesthetic, similar to the Skagen Connected Falster 3 with its three side buttons.

Fitbit is such a fixture in the smartwatch field that it definitely deserves its own category, and the Versa 3 is the best companion to your Android phone, even though its not the most premium smartwatch in the Fitbit lineup. Of course, the first thing youll notice is that its got a square displayuncommon these days, but not unpleasant to look at. It has a bright and sharp AMOLED display which, despite being always-on, still manages almost a full week on a charge.

Theres on-board GPS, which is great considering Fitbit is widely considered the master at health and fitness features. It can track 20 different activities with a wealth of automatic exercise detection modes. And one of the coolest features to keep you active is Fitbits Active Zone Minutes which eschews step counting for monitoring how long during the day youre actually engaged in physical activitya much better measure for those who move in a variety of ways.

More here:
The 9 Best Android Smartwatches In 2020 Enhance Your Fitness And Style - Forbes

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PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The TeamUp Fitness Appis the place to find and connect with other fitness gurus and enthusiasts.With the app's emphasis on social interactivity, users are able to meet in-person or virtually with people who make health & fitness a top priority and find partners who are compatible with their fitness goals.App users can find their one true fitness companion - a person who can challenge the user's fitness regimen and help them stay on track with their workout plans through the holiday season and beyond.

In a lot of ways, TeamUp is very similar to some of the most popular dating apps on the market. Each individual user has the ability to create their own personalized profile, specifically designed for fitness enthusiasts to reflect their interests and goals. This, in addition to the messaging and connectivity features, has positioned the TeamUp Fitness App to be the leading "dating app" of the fitness industry.

"As funny as it sounds, finding a great workout partner is a lot like dating, said Frank Peperno, CMO.

"First, you need to do some research and interact with someone to feel out compatibility. From there, you can determine if that person is going to push you and challenge you in hopes that you improve your overall lifestyle. When it comes to fitness, that level of interaction is what TeamUp brings to the table."

On the TeamUp Fitness App, users can find people in their local area who are interested in similar workouts and athletic activities, including gym workouts, weightlifting, indoor cardio, yoga, Pilates, outdoor running, hiking, sports, and more.The app's ability to connect users with people from around the world can help those looking to make new friends and learn more about fitness during a time at which such activities have become challenging.

To learn more about the TeamUp Fitness App, please visit https://www.teamup.fitness.

About TeamUp Fitness

TeamUp Fitness is a community-based platform that's specifically designed for fitness enthusiasts and fitness professionals. Members from all over the world join the platform to meet new friends, workout partners, fitness professionals and nutritionists. TeamUp has positioned itself to be the leading "dating app" of the fitness industry.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Tiffany Kayar[emailprotected]

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get-matched-with-the-fitness.jpeg Get Matched with the Fitness Companion of Your Dreams

SOURCE TeamUp Fitness

Originally posted here:
Get Matched with the Fitness Companion of Your Dreams - PRNewswire

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Given all of thefeedback Amazon has received, its hard to believe the Halo wasnt widely available until today. Announced in late-August, the product has been offered in early access to invited users. That changes today, however, as the product opens to everyone in the U.S.

The band runs $100, a price that includes six months of membership. It was probably inevitable that the company would launch a fitness product, though Amazons behind the curve as far as form factors go. Smartwatches have become a dominant force in fitness tracking on the high end. Bands are still a presence on the opposite side of the market, but generally command a fraction of the cost.

What makes the Halo different is its use of voice and the amount of data it collects and processes neither are honestly a surprise, coming from Amazon. The former involves processing the wearers tone of voice, which has drawn somemixed feedback. Heres how Amazon describes that bit:

Tone of voice analysis can help you communicate more thoughtfully with family, friends, colleagues, your favorite food truck proprietor, and everyone in between.

Body fat scanning is an even bigger question mark. Early reviews have called the technology invasive, among other things. It has also drawn scrutiny from lawmakers. Senator Amy Klobuchar penned a letter to Health and Human Services.

While new wearable fitness devices make it easier for people to monitor their own health, these devices give companies unprecedented access to personal and private data with limited oversight, Klobuchar wrote. More must be done to ensure the privacy and security of health-related consumer devices.

Amazon has actively pushed back on privacy concerns, highlighting, among other things, that the body scans exist only on the device used to capture them. Privacy is foundational to how we designed and built Amazon Halo, a spokesperson told The Washington Post. Body and Tone are both optional features that are not required to use the product.

Amazons got the dually difficult task of assuring consumer privacy and attempting to set the product apart in a well-saturated market.

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Amazons body-scanning Halo fitness band is now available to everyone in the US - TechCrunch

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Planet Fitness Inc. kicked off 2020 by announcing that it would sponsor the television show The Biggest Loser. Little did it know that Covid-19 would soon make that an apt label for itselfa crash diet that left its market value 70% lighter in less than a month.

Yet, while many large and small competitors were pushed into bankruptcy by the pandemic, Planet Fitness somehow gained all the weight back, and then some. Its shares on Monday morning were trading 8% higher than a year ago. That makes no sense.

Planet Fitness has a clever business model that has helped it grow rapidly, but certain elements of it backfired recently. Charging very little and deliberately making it difficult to cancel, its best customers rarely show up but keep paying anyway. Its gyms couldnt fit them all at once if they did. Even so, turnover is high enough to require constant recruitment of new members by its mostly franchisee-owned stores.

The company made an apparent tactical error by drafting dues from members in March even as lockdown orders shut down all their U.S. gyms. Cancellations had to be in person or by letter even as gyms were closed, and members wary of unnecessary trips still cant do so online or by phone even with gyms reopened. That infuriated those forced to move or who were financially pinched, judging by social-media posts. Membership went from 15.5 million in March to just 14 million at the end of October. The move also artificially flattered third-quarter results reported last month since those monthly revenues were credited for future use and were deferred until gyms reopened.

While overall revenue fell by 37% year over year, equipment revenue, the lucrative business of outfitting and periodically refurbishing franchised gyms, tumbled by 71%. The company was forced to offer a discount of 15% on equipment to support new store openings and it gave franchisees a 12-month extension on development requirements. Growth in new gyms has, not surprisingly, fallen far short of expectations. Planet Fitness ended the quarter at about one-third of its original 2020 store-growth target and has suspended financial guidance.

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Planet Fitness Needs to Flatten More Curves - The Wall Street Journal

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There's no denying that this season of The Bachelorette is unlike any season before. While Bachelor Nation was able to witness Clare Crawley find love and is excited to see Tayshia Adams do the same, there's something about this group of men that feels different. The contestants on this season have opened up about deep trauma, been candid about mental health struggles, and undoubtedly showed Crawley and Adams who they are beyond what meets the eye . . . especially Ben Smith. The 30-year-old Army veteran from California bared the depths of his past on national television, and immediately, Bachelor Nation applauded his conversations with Adams.

Smith said he was "very scared" to share these issues, but once he did, we saw a side to him that is so beyond the surface-level conversations previous seasons of the reality series entailed. He shared that he had an eating disorder for 15 years of his life and it eventually led him to taking up a career in health and wellness to help others who may be struggling. The following week, in another vulnerable conversation, he revealed that he had attempted suicide twice. Discussing these heavy topics with a partner takes courage, and doing it on television adds another layer to that, but Smith has used his platform to let people know that they're not alone, and fans are so appreciative.

He's a fitness coach and the founder of Bodybuilding Club, which focuses on fitness and nutrition as a way to fuel clients, not restrict diets. He's often sending inspirational messages to his followers, and the workout content is serious motivation. "I'm slowly realizing that being vulnerable is cool," he wrote in a post. "I'm proud of you, immensely thankful for your support, and grateful to have you by my side. Wherever you are, I see you, I'm with you, and I love you a lot. Please be open, accepting, and give yourself the grace that you most certainly deserve. Keep going bb, we're in this together." Smith has been so open about his life and struggles, and his Instagram reaffirms that recovery, whether it's physical or emotional, is possible. Check out some of his most impressive Instagram workout videos ahead and see how strong he is.

If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder, the National Eating Disorder Association (NEDA) has resources available, including a 24/7 helpline at 1-800-931-2237. You can also text "NEDA" to 741741.

If you or a loved one are experiencing suicidal ideation or are at risk, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has several resources and a 24/7 lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

Originally posted here:
Ben Is the Fitness Coach and Mental Health Advocate Bachelor Nation Is Grateful For - POPSUGAR

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Church of Fitness and Nutrition

FULLERTON, Calif. (PRWEB) December 17, 2020

Come for a simple workoutAnd stay for something much, much deeper.

During this Covid gym closures crisis, international famed athlete @Fit_Flash and the Church of Fitness and Nutrition are giving back to the community with FREE workouts at Lions Field in Fullerton California every Thursday and Saturday at 8:30am. But the contribution doesn't stop there, each workout service is for a higher purpose as the workout service produces a higher level of self-discipline and self-confidence for each community member that comes to the workouts. @Fit_Flash is donating his time to help create a community impact as he builds and supports the public welfare during a time when it's most needed.

Experience more than just a fitness community. The congregation (workout group) is immersed in an inspiring and life-changing workout service within the Churchs positivity based support mechanisms.

At a Church workout service everyone is given an enthusiastic welcome!

At the Church of Fitness and Nutrition, the Fitness Religion belief is based on the idea that nurturing and caring for the body is inseparably connected to the nurturing of the soul that enables a person to reach the highest form of growth, joy and happiness.

It is One body - One temple.

Balancing the body, mind and spirit is the key to achieving a higher form of internal balance, happiness and joy that will empower a congregant's path to true enlightenment.

This is done through a unique, holistic approach that doesnt neglect any aspect of human nature.

"We are taught that we should look after the mind, soul and body alike," said Field Minister Fit Flash. "At the Church of Fitness, we strive towards embodying this philosophy in the most inspiring, healing and empowering way....

Are you an inspired individual looking to better every aspect of your life and nurture the best in you?

Feeling determined to empower your physical, mental and spiritual being through the healthiest path to internal balance, happiness and joy?

Look no further than The Church of Fitness your #1 choice when it comes to renewing your spiritual, mental and physical strength in a holistic way that you never thought was possible!

Everything we do at the Church of Fitness is done for a single primary mission: helping you be at your very best while empowering you with a supportive community united under ONE GOD through your ONE and only body," as Field Minister Fit Flash goes on to explain that the workouts given are designed to exercise the body and the mind in a special way forcing congregants to connect with their body in a different way.

The gift of vitality, strength and joy is given to each congregant just like God intended. The confidence and spirit in each congregant is uplifted within a community driven to reinforce, inspire, and support each other. Each member of the workout service creates a relationship with other like-spirited followers perhaps subconsciously building on the idea God intended - that each person give support and confidence to one another!

Experience a new sense of being united, be a part of something bigger, something good each congregant is given the tools to support themselves while fellow members and the Church of Fitness' congregation helps to support one another in the Fitness Religion's mission of making the world a better/healthier place.

One of the Church's beliefs is that this world is our community, and this community begins with each member of the community just as God taught - each person as an individual body makes up the body of the Church and that sense of community is important to achieving a higher level of spiritual awareness in and through the body. The physical activities used by the Church, including workouts, are tools used to achieve a Fitness Religion introducing, exposing, or rehabilitating each person back to faith giving members a more meaningful purpose in life.

An adventurous, life changing and skill building set of tasks are essential to the Fitness Religion program, and workouts are uniquely designed to uplift the body with a higher purpose in mind.

The Fitness Religion is about living an amazing adventure, fun, friendship, support and sense of significance that only a community of connected, supportive like-spirited members can provide.

"This is really a great opportunity for everyone to start a new chapter of success, experience and faith in your life," said Field Minister Fit Flash. "Don't let Covid or life in general beat you, let us teach you how to beat Covid and life through our Church's teachings.

Join The Church of Fitness today and come to Lions Field this weekend for a FREE workout. Check the website for details.

Your future will thank you!"

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Fitness as a Religion is Today's Growing Trend For Faith - PR Web

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It seemed like an odd question coming from a college basketball player in elite shape: Mom, do we have any P90X videos?

It was late March, in the midst of the first pandemic shutdowns that sent students home and moved classes online. Jordan Schakel had climbed fences to shoot at outdoor courts in his Torrance neighborhood, but now rec departments were removing rims and gyms were all closed. Like everyone else, the San Diego State guard was facing weeks, maybe months, of home confinement.

Schakel asked a conditioning coach he had met who works with NBA players what he could do at home, in small spaces, with no equipment. The answer was a question: Have you heard of P90X?

Schakel was 6 when late-night infomercials began peddling a new fitness regimen developed by Tony Horton and a Santa Monica-based company called Beachbody. The program lasted 13 weeks, or 90 days, with hour-long, high-intensity workouts that aimed to create muscle confusion by varying exercises so the body doesnt plateau through repetition.

It sold more than 4 million copies and grossed $500 million before going the way of fad diets and parachute pants. Schakels uncle, a former college football player, had the 12-DVD set lying around. They also had other Beachbody workout videos on VHS.

The next problem: Now they had to find DVD and VHS players.

The next morning at 7, as other members of the family shuffled bleary-eyed to the kitchen for coffee, there was Schakel gyrating in the living room, dripping with sweat, as Horton screamed encouragement through the TV.

Get ready because its coming.

Lets X it up.

Give me a hey, give me a ho-ho.

I hate it but I luuuuuuv it.

The rest of the family shrugged.

Theyve seen me for years, Schakel says, so they know Im crazy when it comes to working out. They arent really surprised at anything I do at this point.

Were we surprised? Stefanie, his mother, asks. Come on.

Schakel would continue religiously with all 12 DVDs and 13 weeks of P90X, plus the additional ab blaster series. If he missed a day, he doubled up the next, all part of an organic, old school approach to reshaping body and soul during the pandemic. The world was shutting down; his mind was opening up. Lemons; lemonade.

Bring it, bring it, bring it ...

There were running workouts at whatever local high school track was open. He borrowed his fathers mountain bike and rode up hills. He dribbled for an hour every day in the garage. He typed cinder blocks and broomsticks and weightlifting into a YouTube search.

At one point, Stefanie says, he almost got a bucket from Home Depot to try to figure out how to make weights from cement mix.

One day, he did 500 squats and 200 pushups, just because.

He grew out his hair and beard.

Whatever he did, however unorthodox or unkempt, seems to have worked. Schakel leads the No. 18 Aztecs with 15.2 points per game following a career-high 25 in last weeks 80-68 win at then-No. 23 Arizona State that garnered him national player of the week honors from NCAA.com.

He is no longer exclusively a spot-up shooter camped behind the arc, nearly quadrupling his 2-point basket output as a senior (from .63 per game in his first three seasons to 2.2), driving for pull-up jumpers or getting all the way to the rim. Against ASU, he made what is believed to be the first fallaway jumper of his college career.

Certainly, his 6-foot-6 frame is sculpted differently, with a more stable core and more solid base, more agile, more nimble, more configured to being a guard than a 4-man that, at least on defense, size and system demanded in high school and even at SDSU.

But feeling the burn from Tony Hortons videos, from carrying around cinder blocks, from pedaling up hills in summer heat, from dribbling around laundry baskets in the garage, was as much in his mind as his muscles.

Playing basketball, its never a perfect environment, Schakel says. Sometimes in the past, I tried to create a perfect environment when I worked out. This summer, I tried to create the worst environment so that I would be ready in a game when its not perfect.

I just really pushed myself. I just tried to do crazy things so when the season comes, I would look at playing 40 minutes as being easy. Just in my head, mentally, I wanted to conquer things in the offseason that would make playing basketball really easy.

That all sounds logical, until you understand who Schakel is and what that entailed.

A shooter by nature, he is obsessed with perfecting his craft and spent years inside empty gyms doing it. In high school, he woke up at 5:30 a.m. his parents roshamboed in bed to see who drove him so hed have the court to himself at a local LA Fitness before the 7 a.m. pickup game. On AAU road trips, hed pack a ball and theyd drive him around looking for an available outdoor court, whether or not the sun had gone down, whether or not it had lights.

At SDSU, where players could gain access to the JAM Center pre-pandemic with a key card, you were just as likely to find him there at 7 a.m. as midnight.

Suddenly, he was going days no, weeks without squaring his shoulders, bending his knees, hoisting a 3-pointer, flicking his wrist, holding the follow-through.

Sometimes we go on the road and were at these hotels for three days and I cant get in a gym, Schakel says, and by the third day Im like, yo, I need to get back in the gym. But in reality, I dont because Ive put in enough work. I think its just knowing that throughout this whole summer I just trusted the work that I put in.

There are going to be times when you cant do your normal routine this season. Im just preparing for that. Youre going to have to fight through that.

Also on his to-do list was improving his ballhandling. He looked inside their cluttered garage. Perfect.

The best part: He didnt need to clean it.

Its not like we have a four-car garage with 800 square feet, Stefanie says. Half of it is full of what everybody elses garage is full of. I dont think people realize the space hes working out in is not huge. Its like half a garage. But he had all these workouts. Wed walk out there and we were like, Where did you come up with this?

The treadmill pushed up against a wall, the box of Christmas ornaments, the toolbox, the laundry machines all became imaginary defenders as he weaved through the lane. He had a weighted ball and a smaller one for control. He looked up In the lab videos of dribbling wizard Devin Williams to get ideas for drills.

Its kind of an art form at that point, you know, just free flowing it, Schakel says. Theres no one telling you what to do. Its just you and the basketball.

He started in late March, went through April, through May, through June, into July until a local gym reopened and he could resume more normal workouts. The Aztecs players finally returned to campus in late August.

Whether hes with us in the weight room strength training or whether hes on his own, theres a certain amount of dedication required, SDSU coach Brian Dutcher says. Hes proven he can do it with and without us.

But those spring and summer months afforded him something he never had a pause, a reset, a respite. There were no games, no practices, no summer league, no pickup runs at Pauley Pavilion with pros, no shots to make or miss, no one to impress. No expectations. No pressure.

No gyms?

No problem.

This kid, man, hes just wired differently, Stefanie says. Since moment one, he has always driven everything. We have never once had to push him, ever. When he was getting up at 5:30 in the morning to work out at LA Fitness, we were always like, maybe one day hell sleep in. It never happened.

For sure, he saw this an opportunity to find a way to persist regardless of whether or not he had access to anything, and he didnt. He just saw this as a gift of time.

If there was a salvation for her and the rest of the family, waking up to Tony Horton barking Be sexy with it didnt last long.

I muted him like a week in, Schakel says. I couldnt take it anymore. I couldnt handle it. That guy is something else.

The audio was silenced. The inner warrior was not.

See the rest here:
How SDSU's Jordan Schakel reshaped his mind and body: dusty fitness videos, cinder blocks and a garage - The San Diego Union-Tribune

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Talking about muscle mountain The Rock and a fitness workout in the same sentence is as common as night and day. The American-Canadian former wrestler turned Hollywood megastar and entrepreneur can be found in the confines of the gym walls day in, day out, in the pursuit of a stronger, fitter version of himself.

Always one to continue pushing himself and his body, his latest workout posted to Instagram is not for the faint-hearted. Throwing a couple of 50lbs chains around his neck (45kg total), The Rock can be seen performing drop set lunges along the length of the gym floor. Drop set meaning that along the way, he drops the weight down but continues pushing on.

The last time we saw The Rock use heavy chains as a workout aid, he needed stitches,but such is his determined state of mind that he never lets something as insignificant as a cut to the head put him out of action. Besides, when he claims his blood tastes like his own Teremana tequila, he probably doesnt mind one bit.Despite increasing the size of his muscles and improving his strength to unbelievable levels, another by-product of his intense workouts is insane vascularity; the condition of having highly-visible veins. In a separate image related to training hes currently undergoing in preparation for his role in Black Adam a DC Comics movie that has been in development for over a decade and focuses on the titular character, an antihero and one of the most powerful characters in the DC universe The Rock can be seen with eye-popping veins.

Previously claiming a diet of cheat meals (read: high-carbs and fats) is a contributor to his vascularity, we wanted to find out what causes it, whether its actually a good thing or not, and what you can do to achieve it.

Ben Lucas, the founder of Flow Athletic, told DMARGE that vascularity happens due to an excessive reduction in fat which allows for maximum muscle definition.

It also makes your skin appear to be very thin, genetics will also be a factor in this.

But is vascularity something we shouldreallybe aiming for when we enter the gym, and can it be used as an indicator of your fitness level? According to Ben, the answer is no.

Not really, as you often achieve this by getting below 10% in body fat and dehydrating yourself. Its not a good indicator of health and to be honest, in most cases, I would say your strength and endurance may be diminished.

This look is more for bodybuilding as it helps to highlight symmetry, but not drinking much water or eating much food usually happens in the days leading up to an event.

But, what if you want to go against Bens advice and want to try your hands at achieving insane veins, what steps can you take to gain them?

Firstly, youll want to increase your muscle mass with intense weight lifting to cause your muscles to grow and youll want to bring your body fat down to less than 10% so you have less body fat under your skin.

This means going on a strict diet and eating muscle building foods like lean meats for protein, legume and dairy.

You should also put your body through lots of cardio and you can even put bands on while weight lifting to restrict your blood flow and put more pressure on your arteries, but I wouldnt recommend it.

And, once you start seeing your veins bursting through your skin, can you expect to see them all the time or will they retreat?

This will really depend on your genetics but generally its something you would work towards, then taper off, then work towards it again to give your body a break.

Ultimately, then, vascularity is a byproduct of serious commitment to the gym to both pile on muscle and drop body fat at the same time. No easy task. The Rock is clearly in a physical position to be able to experiment with increasing his vascularity, but if you want to have a go for yourself, wed strongly recommend seeking the advice of a medical professional or a personal trainer.

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Fitness Expert Reveals True Cost Of Achieving The Rock's Insane Vascularity - DMARGE

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Provided by Eat This, Not That! fasting diet

It's no question that fasting is an effective way to lose weight. In fact, Patricia Bannan, MS, RDN, and LA-based nutritionist and healthy cooking expert has explained before that intermittent fasting, which is an eating pattern that cycles between bouts of eating and calorie restriction, is an especially powerful way to blast fat.

"Intermittent fasting causes glucose (sugar) concentrations to decrease and lipolysis (fatty acid oxidation) to increase significantly during the first 24 hours, which helps the body break down stored fat," she said.

However, there are many different methods of intermittent fasting, the most popular of which is likely the 16/8 method, which entails skipping breakfast and eating between an 8-hour time frame, followed by a 16-hour fast. A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago found that fasting just a few hours of the day was enough to help people lose about 3% of their body weight in roughly two months.

The study, which was published in the journal Cell Metabolism, compared the results of two different time-restricted feeding diets, where participants were asked to fast for 20 and 18 hours, respectively.

"This is the first human clinical trial to compare the effects of two popular forms of time-restricted feeding on body weight and cardiometabolic risk factors," said Krista Varady professor of nutrition at the UIC College of Applied Health Sciences.

Here's how it worked. Those who participated in the 20-hour fast ate whatever they wanted between 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. and for those who were assigned the 18-hour fast were allowed to eat until 7:00 p.m. During the fasting periods, participants were allowed to drink water as well as other calorie-free beverages. The control group was asked to maintain weight and not make any changes to their diet or physical activity levels.

The result? After 10 weeks, participants in both fasting groups reduced their caloric intake by about 550 calories a day, enabling them to drop (on average) 3% of their body weight. In addition, researchers also discovered that both insulin resistance, which can lead to type 2 diabetes, and oxidative stress levels were reduced in those who fasted in comparison with those who didn't in the control group.

In short, both fasting periods were effective and lead to nearly identical weight loss results.

"The findings of this study are promising and reinforce what we've seen in other studiesfasting diets are a viable option for people who want to lose weight, especially for people who do not want to count calories or find other diets to be fatiguing," Varady said. "It's also telling that there was no added weight loss benefit for people who sustained a longer fastuntil we have further studies that directly compare the two diets or seek to study the optimal time for fasting, these results suggest that the 6-hour fast might make sense for most people who want to pursue a daily fasting diet."

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Metabolism and weight loss: How you burn calories

Find out how metabolism affects weight, the truth behind slow metabolism and how to burn more calories.

You've probably heard people blame their weight on a slow metabolism, but what does that mean? Is metabolism really the culprit? And if so, is it possible to rev up your metabolism to burn more calories?

It's true that metabolism is linked to weight. But contrary to common belief, a slow metabolism is rarely the cause of excess weight gain.

Although your metabolism influences your body's basic energy needs, how much you eat and drink along with how much physical activity you get are the things that ultimately determine your weight.

Metabolism is the process by which your body converts what you eat and drink into energy. During this complex process, calories in food and beverages are combined with oxygen to release the energy your body needs to function.

Even when you're at rest, your body needs energy for all its "hidden" functions, such as breathing, circulating blood, adjusting hormone levels, and growing and repairing cells. The number of calories your body uses to carry out these basic functions is known as your basal metabolic rate what you might call metabolism.

Several factors determine your individual basal metabolism, including:

Energy needs for your body's basic functions stay fairly consistent and aren't easily changed.

In addition to your basal metabolic rate, two other factors determine how many calories your body burns each day:

Scientists call the activity you do all day that isn't deliberate exercise nonexercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT). This activity includes walking from room to room, activities such as gardening and even fidgeting. NEAT accounts for about 100 to 800 calories used daily.

It may be tempting to blame your metabolism for weight gain. But because metabolism is a natural process, your body has many mechanisms that regulate it to meet your individual needs.

Only in rare cases do you get excessive weight gain from a medical problem that slows metabolism, such as Cushing's syndrome or having an underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism).

Unfortunately, weight gain is a complicated process. It's likely a combination of genetic makeup, hormonal controls, diet composition and the impact of environment on your lifestyle, including sleep, physical activity and stress.

All of these factors result in an imbalance in the energy equation. You gain weight when you eat more calories than you burn or burn fewer calories than you eat.

While it is true that some people seem to be able to lose weight more quickly and more easily than others, everyone loses weight when they burn up more calories than they eat. To lose weight, you need to create an energy deficit by eating fewer calories or increasing the number of calories you burn through physical activity or both.

While you don't have much control over the speed of your basal metabolism, you can control how many calories you burn through your level of physical activity. The more active you are, the more calories you burn. In fact, some people who are said to have a fast metabolism are probably just more active and maybe fidget more than others.

Aerobic exercise is the most efficient way to burn calories and includes activities such as walking, bicycling and swimming. As a general goal, include at least 30 minutes of physical activity in your daily routine.

If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to increase the time you spend on physical activity even more. If you can't set aside time for a longer workout, try 10-minute chunks of activity throughout the day. Remember, the more active you are, the greater the benefits.

Experts also recommend strength training exercises, such as weightlifting, at least twice a week. Strength training is important because it helps build muscle. Muscle tissue burns more calories than fat tissue does.

Any extra movement helps burn calories. Look for ways to walk and move around a few minutes more each day than the day before. Taking the stairs more often and parking farther away at the store are simple ways to burn more calories. Even activities such as gardening, washing your car and doing housework burn calories and contribute to weight loss.

Don't look to dietary supplements for help in burning calories or weight loss. Products that claim to speed up your metabolism are often more hype than help, and some may cause undesirable or even dangerous side effects.

Dietary supplement manufacturers aren't required by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to prove that their products are safe or effective, so view these products with caution. Always let your doctors know about any supplements you take.

There's no easy way to lose weight. The foundation for weight loss continues to be based on physical activity and diet. Take in fewer calories than you burn, and you lose weight.

The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends cutting calories by 500 to 700 calories a day to lose 1 to 1.5 pounds (0.5 to 0.7 kilograms) a week. If you can add some physical activity to your day, you'll accomplish your weight-loss goals even faster.

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