Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2013 i Men's Health

30 SAT Rivalry Saturday! Pick your game or just binge: Michigan vs. Ohio State, Auburn vs. Alabama, Georgia vs. Georgia Tech, Florida vs. Florida State, USC vs. UCLA. And of course, Sandwiches vs. Chili. Try the chicken chili recipe on MensHealth.com, but swap in leftover turkey for the chicken. 3 SUN It’s the New York City Marathon! Crack open The Essential Sheehan (rodalestore.com), by the late Dr. George Sheehan, who noted that in life we’re often hit with evidence of our failures. Running a marathon, he wrote, “tells me I am a success.” 10 SUN Tracy Morgan, an actor (funny!) and a diabetic (not!), turns 45, right in the soft middle of American Diabetes Month. He ignored his condition for years. You, however, will turn to page 162 and book…

What’s the best over-the-counter cough remedy? TOM, HOUSTON, TX The best remedy should work like a remote control that has one button: mute. But we’re guessing you asked the question because the stuff you’ve been swallowing just lowers the volume a bit. No problem. We asked experts to cough up their advice on silencing your hack track. • For a Dry Cough • For a Phlegmy Cough Use a product that contains an expectorant, which thins mucus, says Dr. Dicpinigaitis. The most common, guaifenesin, wears off quickly, so you may have to take it up to six times a day. Look for an “extended release” formula, such as Mucinex. That way you can take up to 1,200 milligrams every 12 hours, Dr. Dicpinigaitis says. Just be sure not to exceed…

Faked Out by Fruit Is your dessert an optical illusion? A study in the Journal of Consumer Psychology reports that people underestimate the calories in unhealthy food if it’s adorned with a healthy topping. A dish of ice cream with fruit was judged to have 125 fewer calories than the same amount of plain ice cream. And people given berry-topped pastries ate more, on average, than those given plain ones. We subconsciously try to justify our choice and reduce our guilt when we eat high-calorie treats, says study author Ying Jiang, Ph.D. Before indulging, ask yourself: How much would I eat if this had no redeeming ingredients? THINK THIN The next time you catch sight of a bag of chips, picture six-pack abs. A new study from the Oregon Research…

If you keep nodding off at your desk, your cubicle could be the culprit. Working in a windowless environment can stunt your nighttime sleep, a new Northwestern University study finds. People who toiled in an office that lacked sunlight slept 47 fewer minutes a night, on average, than those with office windows. One theory: Exposure to natural light helps synchronize your circadian clock, possibly enhancing your production of the sleep hormone melatonin at night, says study author Phyllis Zee, M.D., Ph.D. To counteract the cave effect, spend about a half hour outdoors on your lunch break. Don’t Be KO’d by CO Despite public service announcements, many people use carbon monoxide detectors incorrectly, a U.K. study reports. Place CO detectors on each floor of your home and near bedrooms. Test them…

GLEASON’S GYM IS JUST A MILE FROM THE NEAREST EQUINOX, BUT IT might as well be on a different planet, or at least in a different century. This is the third location for Gleason’s, although the business model is the same. Since 1937, it’s where America’s finest practitioners of the sweet science of beating the shit out of each other have gone to train: Jake LaMotta and Muhammad Ali (when he was Cassius Clay) at the original location in the Bronx, Larry Holmes and Michael Spinks at the second one in Manhattan, Mike Tyson and Shane Mosley here in Brooklyn. Each drop of sweat you shed (no antiperspirant can last a round with the humidity in this place in July, even when you’re just watching others work) feels like an…

Four things you need to know about women, according to Zoe Saldana A well-dressed man is to us what a woman in a bikini is to you. “We love when men dress up. I even love a man in suspenders—it creates a Buster Keaton or Charlie Chaplin kind of look. Men shouldn’t be afraid to experiment with fashion, and they should enjoy shopping instead of always looking like Brooks Brothers.” If you take a little time to talk to us, the sex will be better. “Guys hardly ever ask if it’s good for us, but if you’re not a good lover, you need to hear it. Porn isn’t the best educational tool—you need to ask your woman if she’s satisfied. A huge chunk of the men walking this earth still…

WHEN AARON TAYLOR-JOHNSON ARRIVED ON SET FOR Kick-Ass 2, the only definition on his body came from his knobby knees and bony ribs. But that would change. “In this movie, my character grows stronger and more confident than he was in the first Kick-Ass,” says Taylor-Johnson. “I was used to doing gymnastics and dance, so I knew I’d have to change the direction of my training.” To pack on muscle, Taylor-Johnson submitted to two-a-day workouts of metabolic conditioning and weightlifting. “In the morning I’d do outdoor circuits with kettlebells, squats, and fighter like movements,” he says. “In the afternoon I’d hit the iron for traditional bodybuilding moves, like bench presses and dumbbell rows.” Because his character’s fitness transformation happened within the span of the story line, Taylor-Johnson had to transform…

FORGET FUSSY. WHATEVER YOU MAY BELIEVE about A-list actors, Ryan Reynolds doesn’t keep a personal stylist on payroll. Nor does he tweeze, wax, or buff any part of his body. “I don’t have a large routine. Everything I do is minimal,” he says. “It doesn’t take a lot of effort to stay looking sharp.” So what’s his secret? He has four, actually. Be Subtle with Cologne Reynolds has given fragrance a lot of thought—after all, he’s the spokesman for Hugo Boss’s Boss Bottled cologne line. His conclusion: You never need more than a couple of spritzes, and they’re best directed at your neck. Jacqui Stafford, author of The Wow Factor, agrees: “A subtle whiff is very sexy; a lot says you’re trying too hard.” Comb Your Hair Back It’s the…

I WAS A LAWYER AT A CHICAGO firm. It was a great job, but I wanted to make a bigger impact in the world. So I took a risk, quit the firm, and moved to Arkansas to pursue a master’s degree in public service. Being back in school helped me land an internship with the Clinton Foundation. The internship became a fellowship, I worked my way up, and now I manage legal work on issues like global health and climate change. It’s exciting to do meaningful work. I’m part of one of the happiest legal teams in America. If you want to be as satisfied with your career as I am with mine, I’d tell you to keep exploring your passions. Read everything you can. Curiosity will take you to…

—SHOOT A GREAT SHORT, P. 1 Wow Her in the Shower “It’s a highly stimulating environment,” says sex therapist Marianne Brandon, Ph.D. “But it’s slippery!” Enjoy hot sex—injury-free—with her tips. 1 RETHINK YOUR GAME PLAN Shower sex is tricky. So make foreplay the main event and treat the sex as a quickie. That way, uncomfortable positions don’t last so long that they kill the fun. 2 STOCK THE BATHROOM Water can wash away her natural lubrication. Use a silicone-based lube, such as Wet Platinum. Keep washcloths handy in case her knees or other parts require padding. Buy an inexpensive shower stool. It’ll make doggy-style (and other positions) more comfortable for her. If wet sex will be a regular thing, pick up a dual-locking suction handle ($18, sportsheets.com). It sticks to…

John Hanke’s determination helped place his team on top of the world. Take notes. 1 Dream It, Then Build It The concept of a 3-D map of the world has long been a staple of sci-fi, so it already existed in people’s imaginations, Hanke says. As a result, once he saw the demo, he knew it would be embraced by users. “Success comes down to picking the right opportunity,” he says. “Make sure it’s worth the effort. Find something that feels like it just has to become a reality, whether it’s you or someone else who makes that happen.” 2 Align Your Stars Personalities are key to success—but they can also conflict. “We have rock-star talent, but you’re trying to get something done,” Hanke says. His tactic: Keep the mission…

“BREATHE THROUGH YOUR NOSE!” SHOUTS the burly martial arts instructor, clad in a T-shirt and sparring shorts. Eight muscular fighters flare their nostrils in response, inhaling deeply as they assume a low pushup position on a worn wrestling mat. To a bystander, the scene in this sweaty Philadelphia combat gym might resemble a typical MMA class, and the students, all scarred and tattooed, look the part. But the next command reveals a different purpose. “Exhale slowly and flow from upward dog into downward dog,” says Phil Migliarese, a fifth-degree black belt in Brazilian jujitsu and master-level yoga teacher. “Inhale again as you reach the top of the pose.” This is Yoga for Fighters, and if that sounds odd, you should see the room. There are no yoga mats, patchouli sticks,…

YOU SEE THE WORDS EVERY DAY: “WHAT’S ON your mind?” Or “Compose new tweet. . .” But if you’re not careful, what you drop into those text boxes could compromise your attempts to secure a very important follower: her! Women aren’t turning to social media to find out where guys went on vacation, and certainly not to see what’s in their boxer briefs. Instead, they’re increasingly using it to find out how men interact with others. By now we all have years of our social histories out there for the viewing, and women don’t always give the thumbs-up to what they find. “There are certain turnoffs—bragging or rudeness, for instance—that will send a lot of women running in the other direction,” says Kathleen Bogle, Ph.D., a sociologist at LaSalle University…

MUSCLE SECRETS OF THE SUPER FIT BY ANDREW HEFFERNAN, C.S.C.S. FEATURE PHOTOGRAPHS BY GUIDO VITTI There’s no way around it: To gain muscle and lose flab, you have to pay the iron price. And sweat buckets. And rethink your grocery list. But the ultimate cost (in time, especially) depends on what you know. In our never-ending quest to help you get in the best shape of your life, we tapped the country’s top fitness minds and combed through cutting-edge research to find the 25 most effective ways to reveal the stronger, leaner man inside you. In short, we’re about to fast-track your fitness. Upgrade Your Eating Plan 01 Rethink Your Nutrient Intake The traditional food pyramid—which the White House unveiled as a plate-shaped pie chart in 2011—is heavy on refined…

Most men believe that if they find the right recipe, dinner will turn out great. But the truth is, with the right foods you don’t even need a recipe. If you cook with the same ingredients again and again, you learn which other foods play well with them; soon enough, you’re freestyling your own inventions. That’s how we developed this list of 25 all-star essentials—by drawing from our own kitchen epiphanies. Stock these time-saving basics in your pantry, fridge, and freezer, and you’ll evolve from a man who knows what to cook into a man who knows how to cook. (Note: Find our favorite brands, and many more delicious, nutritious meal makers, on the 125 Best Foods shopping guide tucked into the pages ahead.) Potent Produce 1 Frozen Kale WHY…

A man doesn’t need a truckload of clothes. But his sartorial choices should be as precise as the stitching on a custom suit. Spread collar or straight? Dark denim or colored khaki? Use this guide picked from 25 years of Men’s Health style wisdom and you’ll look your best. 01 Down Jacket Look for “fill power,” the number of cubic inches that 1 ounce of down can fill, says Eric Rice, lead designer at Patagonia. You want at least 700 so it can be worn alone or layered under another jacket on frigid days. 02 Utility/Toggle Sweater Pills shouldn’t doom your favorite sweater to the Goodwill pile, says ecostylist and author Danny Seo. Use a natural pumice stone to remove them. “Run it gently across the tangled fibers,” he says.…

POWER. TEN YEARS AGO THIS MONTH, MEN’S HEALTH SAVED MY LIFE. I’D ARRIVED HERE SIX MONTHS BEFORE, a new father with more responsibilities and fast-food bags in the car than ever. I was exercising—pushups, situps, crunches—but still packing on the pounds. One morning I stepped out of the shower, looked in the mirror, and barely recognized the fat guy staring back. I freaked. I needed to make big changes, quick. When I reached the office, I went to see Adam Campbell, who’s now our fitness director. “I need to find a personal trainer,” I told him. “No,” he said, “you need to find an hour.” Adam promised that if I could make time to exercise 20 minutes a day, three days a week—and cut my three-a-day soda habit—I’d be lean…

Metabolism It’s the fat-and fuel-burning furnace in your cells, and it determines whether you’ll be nicely muscled or marshmallowy. Good news: You’ll burn calories just learning about it. Burning Truths? SKINNY PEOPLE HAVE FAST METABOLISMS VERDICT SOMETIMES “There are slim people with slightly low metabolisms who just don’t eat very much,” says Michael Jensen, M.D., an endocrinologist with the Mayo Clinic. “And there are heavy people with really high metabolisms who eat a huge amount.” LEAN TISSUE BURNS MORE CALORIES THAN FAT DOES, EVEN WHILE YOU’RE ASLEEP VERDICT TRUE “Your brain, heart, liver, and kidneys use a lot of energy, even when you’re lying still,” says Dr. Jensen. Muscle and the GI tract don’t use much at rest; fat burns practically nothing. His estimate: You burn about a calorie per…

Reap What You Row Looking to sculpt a V-shaped torso? Rowing speed and lifting strength go hand in hand, say researchers in New Zealand. Elite rowers who logged the fastest 500-meter times on a rowing machine were also strongest in lifts like the power clean and the supported barbell row. “Similar to the power clean, rowing power starts in the legs and core and explodes through all the major muscle groups with each stroke,” says Topher Bordeau, varsity rowing coach at Dartmouth College. “And because that heavy motion is repeated as often as 40 times a minute, the metabolic demands of rowing are huge.” To test your strength and endurance on an indoor rower, try timing yourself as you row as hard as you can for 500 meters. Don’t hold…

Ignore the marketing buzz surrounding those get-upand-go drinks. In preliminary findings from a study at Centre College in Kentucky, people who drank 5-Hour Energy performed no better on a visual attention task than those who consumed an equivalent amount of caffeine. The “energy blend” in 5-Hour Energy may not affect P300 amplitudes—brain waves that indicate alertness—any more than coffee does. When you need a jolt, stick with java and its disease-fighting antioxidants. CHEESE WHIZ Dining on dairy may make your next trip to the dentist a little easier. Cheese helps neutralize the acidity in your mouth and may prevent tooth decay, a study in General Dentistry found. All dairy products are good for your teeth, but cheese is especially beneficial due to its tyramine content. This substance increases saliva and…

“If you can’t excite the women with your voice,” Usher says, “maybe you can excite ’em with your body.” Here’s a sample workout from his trainer, Xavier Biggs. SUGAR RAY ROPE SLAP (5 TO 10 MINUTES) Jumping is a great warmup. Try this: Do the footwork, hopping and shuffling on the balls of your feet, but swing the rope with one hand, slapping the floor. Raise a leg every few repetitions and pass the rope under it to the other hand. MEDICINE BALL WORK (2 ROUNDS) Holding a heavy medicine ball (10 or 12 pounds) in front of your chest, bounce on your toes in a boxer’s stance for 2½ minutes; then, for the final 30 seconds of the round, drop into a squat or half squat and keep bouncing.…

Put your strength to the test—and grow bigger—with the ultimate overhead exercise. YOUR GOAL: PRESS AT LEAST 80 PERCENT OF YOUR BODY WEIGHT BOULDER SHOULDERS ARE REASON ENOUGH TO ADD THE DUMBBELL SHOULDER press to your weekly routine. But the benefits don’t stop there. “It hits just about every muscle in your torso,” says Tyler English, C.P.T., P.E.S., author of the Natural Bodybuilding Bible. Your abs kick into gear to keep you steady while your upper chest, traps, upper back, and triceps help press the weight overhead. “Such comprehensive muscle recruitment also makes it an excellent test of core strength, shoulder stability, and upper-body power,” says English, who designed this month’s challenge. “And as your overhead-pressing strength increases, so too will your performance in every other pressing exercise.”—TREVOR THIEME Step…

Harness the power of high heat to singe protein and vegetables. Your tender, juicy, slightly smoky stir-fry will be way better than delivery. THIS MONTH’S EXPERT Grace Young, a James Beard Award winner, is the author of the cookbooks The Breath of a Wok and Stir-Frying to the Sky’s Edge. A Prep the Protein For moist chicken, precook it: In a medium bowl, combine ¾ lb skinless, boneless chicken breast (cut into ¼-inch-thick pieces) with 2 Tbsp beaten egg whites, 2 tsp cornstarch, 2 tsp rice wine, and ¼ tsp salt. Stir until dissolved. Add 2 tsp vegetable oil and chill 30 minutes. Boil 1 quart water and 1 Tbsp vegetable oil. Reduce to a simmer. Add chicken, stir, and cook until opaque, 1 minute. Drain and reserve. B Rig…

MEN CAN LOOK CLUNKY IN THE cold. But if you’re smart, you can use the season to reinvent your look, creating color and texture combinations that would never fly in warmer weather. “It’s more modern and efficient to wear several lightweight layers instead of a big, bulky coat,” says New York City stylist Don Sumada. “Plus, the layered look is functional. You can add and subtract as needed.” So how do you pull it off without looking like a boxcar hobo? Follow Sumada’s guidelines. —DAN MICHEL 1 Keep Lighter Fabrics Closer to Your Skin Make your first layer either a Henley or a cotton tee, says Sumada. “Starting with a thick fleece or sweater will just make you look bulky.” Then add any combo of vest, sweater, and blazer. You’ll…

CALIFORNIA MAY BE SYNONYMOUS WITH CRUNCHY granola living, but if you want that granola to be organic too, then close your thesaurus: The word you’re looking for is “Seattle.” It took the top spot in our tally of places turning up their noses at chemicals. Why is the Emerald City so green? Cynthia Curl, Ph.D.(c), a public-health researcher at the University of Washington, explains: “The city combines a young, educated demographic—which tends to buy organic—with a Northwest farm-to-table culture that’s very supportive of local organic farmers.”—CHRISTA SGOBBA Most Organic 1 SEATTLE, WA 2 SAN FRANCISCO, CA 3 SAN JOSE, CA 4 OAKLAND, CA 5 PORTLAND, OR 6 WASHINGTON, DC 7 SAN DIEGO, CA 8 BOSTON, MA 9 SACRAMENTO, CA 10 AUSTIN, TX Least Organic 100 LUBBOCK, TX 99 CHARLESTON, WV…

NO MAN TIPTOES IN BOOTS. FOR centuries, boots have been standard issue for soldiers, cowboys, blue-collar guys, and even some not-so-rough-and-tumble types. They are elemental and essential. And rugged. The best boots are made of shell cordovan, “the toughest shoe leather because it’s from a horse’s backside,” says Kevin Tuohy, founding partner of A Shine & Co., a shoe shine and repair service. Check it out for yourself: Thick cordovan should crease, not wrinkle, where your foot bends at the toes. In Massachusetts, the Frye Company started hammering out sturdy shoes for factory workers 150 years ago. The brand’s reputation was cemented in the late 1930s, when a one-off for a Navy admiral led to the development of the popular “Jet boots” worn into battle by thousands of World War…

No-Cook, No-Can Cranberry Sauce Refreshing, tart, and a little crunchy, this sauce takes just minutes. 1. Wash and core an apple—don’t bother peeling it—and cut it into rough chunks. Cut up a tangerine the same way, peel and all, trimming away any stray seeds and white pith. Rinse and pick through a 12-ounce bag of cranberries. 2. If you’re working with a food processor, place all the ingredients into the bowl and pulse until you have a rough puree. If you’re using a blender, you’ll need to work in small batches, stopping the machine from time to time to scrape down the sides. If things get really stuck, just add a splash of water. 3. Add ½ cup sugar to a food processor or blender and pulse briefly to combine.…

DIRECTIONS Alternate between workouts A and B each week, allowing one day of rest between them. For instance, if you do Workout A on Monday, do Workout B on Wednesday, A again on Friday, and B on Sunday. Do each exercise for 30 seconds, resting 30 seconds before moving on to the next one. For each workout, complete the entire circuit of six exercises four to six times total. Prepare to test your staying power. “This month, in Phase 2, you’re going to spend more time working and less time resting,” says Robert dos Remedios, C.S.C.S., head strength and conditioning coach at California’s College of the Canyons. The payoff: even faster progress toward your goals. “Don’t be surprised if a stronger, leaner man starts staring back at you in the…

THERE’S ALWAYS SOME GUY. EVERY now and then you find yourself in the room with him, a guy who’s way happier than you are, the one who sits square in the middle of his life and just eats it up. Then he splits, taking his twinkle with him, and you’re left feeling vaguely troubled. What’s his secret? How does he do it? Not being a total sad sack, you rouse yourself and hit the gym. The blood pumps, the sweat pours, and some level of well-being is restored. Still, he nags at you—that guy, that f***ing guy! Nick Southwick-Hall is one of those guys, and if I were any less interested in how he pulls it off, I’d probably want to smack him. This is doubly true given Nick’s relative…

NUMBERS TO LIVE BY This is our 25th anniversary, but we’re focusing on your milestone numbers—the ones that play a critical role in your health. But first we’ll tell you which digits didn’t make the cut: ¶ 9-1-1. We’ve spent the past two and a half decades trying to make sure you never have to dial it. ¶ Zero to 5. This contains your answer to the classic concussion question, “How many fingers am I holding up?” We’re not telling. ¶ 7. Good health isn’t about good luck. ¶ What follows may not have the panache of pi, but it will help you solve for XY. STOP SABOTAGING YOURSELF 14 Fiber Intake Bran and its buddies are known as bowel regulators (see “The Scoop on Poop,” page 128), but there’s…

Fat Foundations 11 Extra-Virgin Olive Oil WHY It’s easy to find an affordable bottle of extra-virgin, so use the same one for cooking and drizzling. USE IT Mix a glug with sea salt, pepper, and chopped fresh herbs for dipping bread. Add minced garlic to this for a simple sauce for all kinds of dishes. 12 Bacon WHY Any savory meal can benefit from bacon’s smoky richness. USE IT Chop and fry a few strips to stir into sautéed spinach, frittatas, or mashed sweet potatoes; combine with sautéed onions and bread crumbs to stuff mushrooms. 13 Butter WHY Butter’s mild creaminess makes it an ideal seasoning carrier. USE IT Combine ½ cup softened butter with chopped fresh herbs, a clove of minced garlic, and a dash of Tabasco. Store in…

Being a man is a hell of an opportunity. ¶ And it breaks our hearts to see it squandered. ¶ So in honor of our 25th birthday, we’re celebrating the million different roads to a full-blooded guy life. Clearly, any gender that includes both Netanyahu and Nathan Lane isn’t fussy about how you get there. ¶ We’re of two minds about rules. Mind #1 says, We don’t need no stinking rules. But mind #2 is a controlling type, as in, Hey, without rules it’s bedlam out there! So we’ve walked that ridgeline and limited ourselves to 25 trail markers. If you observe these rules along your way, you’ll dazzle men, delight women, inspire children, and optimize the octane of your testosterone. Ignore them and, hell, you might still succeed. But…

A Heart Surgeon’s Top Tips When a young, seemingly healthy guy suddenly drops dead, the culprit is frequently an aortic aneurysm, a swelling of the heart’s largest blood vessel. “This condition has a special pertinence for active men,” says John Elefteriades, M.D., director of the Aortic Institute at the Yale School of Medicine. “Heavy strength training can cause an already swollen aorta to rupture.” Dr. Elefteriades, an avid weightlifter, is studying ways to prevent those tears. He’s developing blood tests to detect the genetic mutations that lead to them, and working on a portable echocardiogram. If you have a family history of aortic aneurysm or premature death from heart disease, ask your doctor for an echocardiogram. 1/ADD OATMEAL TO SUBTRACT WEIGHT “I don’t follow any particular diet, but I do…

LES PAUL, MORE DATES Is this John Mayer’s secret? A guitar may boost your sex appeal, a French experiment reveals. When a man asked a random woman for her phone number, she was more likely to oblige if he was carrying a guitar case than if he was empty-handed or toting a gym bag. Musical talent may signal qualities like intelligence or commitment to hard work, the researchers say. But don’t brag about your skills, warns sex therapist Brandy Engler, Ph.D. Just invite her to hear you play in a casual setting.…

When Sex Comes in Spurts Female ejaculation continues to fascinate—and confuse—men, women, and researchers. A new survey of 320 women in the British Journal of Urology International shows how varied the experience is. But this was self-reported, not labmeasured. Clearly, more research is needed. Her Average Age at First Ejaculation 25 Most Common Appearance of Fluid “CLEAR AS WATER” EX APPEAL Afraid your GF has a roving eye? When your relationship is on the rocks, her ex is your biggest threat. University of Toronto scientists found that women in unsatisfying relationships were more likely to long for former flames than new prospects. Fond memories may help her cope with current strains, says study author Stephanie Spielmann, Ph.D. If you suspect your girlfriend is eyeing up her ex, invest in areas…

Night and Shining Armor Reflect on this: New research from Australia reports that fluorescent clothing isn’t enough to make you visible on your bike at night. Your fluorescent shirt reflects only UV rays—which come from the sun, not headlights or streetlights, says researcher Philippe Lacherez, Ph.D. Apply strips of retroreflective material, like Reflexite Daybright Tape, to your vest and around your ankles and knees. The shiny stuff bounces light back to its source (such as headlights), and the movement of your illuminated joints can catch drivers’ eyes. No Slacking! What’s the cost of skipping workouts? Your belly and your heart health. This graph, based on a University of Houston study, compares people who stuck to a 15-week aerobic exercise regimen (30 minutes, three days a week) with those who sometimes…

Sex, dating, love, and lust. Madeline Haller will now take your questions. After sex, I just want to sleep. Is there a way out of cuddling? MATT, TOPEKA, KS Nope—not if you care about your girl’s happiness. After sex, she’s high on endorphins and wants to savor the buzz by feeling your body against hers. But don’t overthink it, Matt. Spooning works fine. Before you conk out, wrap your arms around her and let her feel your breath on her neck. Whisper something nice. As your breathing turns to snuffles, she’ll imagine you’re huffing her essential beauty. Let her think that as you drift off. Sweet dreams. I love my girlfriend, but I can’t stop fantasizing about other women. Do women consider this cheating? BRENT, ORLANDO, FL Cheating? No. But…

Fast-track your strength gains and crank up your metabolism with this total-body sweat session. HOW TO DO IT Perform the exercises as a circuit, moving from one to the next with 30 seconds of rest. After you finish all 5, rest 2 minutes. Do 3 circuits total. 1 Decline Pushup Assume a pushup position (your arms straight, hands slightly beyond your shoulders, and body straight from head to ankles) but place your toes on a box or bench. Lower your body until your chest nearly touches the floor. Pause, and push yourself back up to the starting position. Do 8 reps. 2 Chinup Grab a chinup bar using a shoulder-width, underhand grip, and hang at arm’s length (a position known as a dead hang) with your feet crossed behind you.…

On women, work, and other stuff that screws up men’s lives. A friend makes crude jokes at bars when we meet women. How can I make him stop? DAN, DENVER, CO Jeez, what a numskull. No woman wants to hear dirty talk from a total stranger. Offer your pal a challenge: If he can score a woman’s number without the sex jokes or toilet humor or comments about her body, you’ll buy him a drink. If he makes an honest effort—whether he goes home with a number or not—pick up the next round. A foul mouth takes time to clean up, but a few drinks on your tab will keep him motivated. My girlfriend’s sister always puts her down. Is it my place to step in? KYLE, BOSTON, MA You…

1 THE OFFICE CAFFEINATOR Nespresso U It preheats in 25 seconds, brews perfect espresso with the push of a button, and at just 4½ inches wide, fits neatly on your desk. Order pods online and skip your daily Starbucks run. $179, nespresso-us.com IF YOU LIKE Nutella, try Nespresso’s Linizio Lungo. $6.50 (sleeve of 10), nespresso.com 2 THE NO-FUSS COFFEE MAN Technivorm Moccamaster KBG-741 No bells, no whistles, just steady water temperature and a showerhead that, unlike the water jets used in most models, saturates grounds gently and evenly. $299 to $329, moccamaster.com IF YOU LIKE baked apples, try 49th Parallel Kenya Kiawamururu AA. $21 (12 oz), 49thparallelroasters.com 3 THE D.I.Y. FLAVOR JUNKIE Chemex Coffeemaker Thick filters absorb more unwanted oils so the flavor shines through brighter. And because the coffee…

If You Don’t Have Health Insurance, or You Have a Preexisting Condition, You’re in Luck Nearly 80 percent of Americans have insurance through their employer, Medicare, or Medicaid. But if you’re among the 20 percent without those options, you had two choices in the past: Pay big for a plan you barely understand, or go uninsured. The Affordable Care Act (ACA) fixes that with government-run marketplaces—“exchanges”— filled with plans from private insurers. Those plans can’t deny coverage for preexisting health conditions, and their terms must be explained in plain English. Premiums are expected to drop as insurers compete with one another. TAKE ADVANTAGE Anybody can shop for plans in the exchanges. (Find out what your state has to offer at healthcare.gov/marketplace/individual.) If your employer doesn’t offer health insurance—or if the…

EVEN FOR GUYS WHO DON’T LOVE tech, the debut of Google Earth was a JFK moment. Most of us remember where we the first time we hovered over our street on a computer. Its sidekick—Google Maps—was just as mind-blowing. We never had to ask for directions again. The whole thing began with a couple of refugees from the 3-D software company Silicon Graphics, who in 2000 showed entrepreneur John Hanke an animated demo that zoomed all the way down from space to the streets of Denver. That discussion started with the idea of a video game but ended with the idea of creating a real 3-D map of the world that anyone, anywhere, could interact with. (Have your own genius idea? See step 1, next page.) Realizing that the execution…

NEXT TO SEX, FEW BODILY FUNCtions are as private as pooping. For example, you’ve no doubt driven past a guy who pulled over to take a leak, but we’re betting the only guy you’ve seen squatting on the shoulder was changing his tire. No, defecation is best executed with stealth. Enter bathroom (or stall), lock door, keep sounds to a minimum, and then employ toilet paper and air freshener to eliminate any trace of what transpired. It’s almost as if you’ve committed a crime. Actually, you have: destruction of evidence. In your rush to flush, you lose a unique opportunity to assess your health. From color to consistency, logs on the bottom of the bowl are like tea leaves waiting to be read, potentially predicting such conditions as Crohn’s disease,…

TRAINERS KNOW THE KEY TO SCULPTING A LEAN, CHISELED PHYSIQUE: CONSISTENCY. You need to push your limits a few times a week, every week, with workouts that intensify as you grow stronger. If you followed last month’s training plan—Phase 1 in our 90-day transformation series—you’re on the right track. “You’ve probably noticed an increase in your work capacity, or the number of reps you can do in a given amount of time,” says Robert dos Remedios, C.S.C.S., head strength and conditioning coach for California’s College of the Canyons. “Expect that trend to continue this month but with even greater fat loss and strength gains.” Missed the October poster? “You can jump right in with this month’s plan,” says dos Remedios. “But you’ll get the best results if you go back…

NOT LONG AGO I FOUND MYSELF IN A SITUATION you can probably identify with. My family and I were on a weekend trip with another family, and for breakfast I made myself a four-egg omelet. I fixed a bowl of fruit as a side and then sat down to eat as our friends looked on in horror. One of them asked, politely, why I ate that much. “Because I’m hungry,” I said between bites. If I didn’t eat this much now, I explained, I’d be crazy hungry later. But what they really wanted to know was how I could get away with eating that much. I was the leanest adult in the room—and yet I ate more than the others. Logically, people who are lean must eat less. Right? Otherwise…

Sex. Nothing is more breathtaking, thrilling, or consequential in a guy’s life. Except maybe an epic football game or a near-death experience on a ski run. But really, after the game or back in the lodge, what you’re thinking is: Now, if I had great sex, this would be the perfect day. Like A.1. steak sauce, it’s that important. In fact, sex is the secret sauce that gives adult life its salt and savor. And it’s usually enjoyed in semisecret by you and your beloved—however temporary or long-lasting the liaison. But privacy limits your chance to analyze, share high points, harvest lessons. That’s why we gathered these filthy, fantastic stories—men and women breaking down their sexcapades into defining moments, from orgasms to embarrassments. It’s a confessional orgy that puts sex…

The road to rich is littered with pithy advice and glib maxims about wealth and success. Most of them are patently obvious—Big Ben’s “A penny saved is a penny earned” will take you only so far, after all. But others can propel you forward—if you act on them. ¶ “We usually assume that skills, motivation, and drive are the most important determinants of success,” says Carol Dweck, Ph.D., a psychologist at Stanford University who studies workplace dynamics. “Now we know that belief and mindset are often at the heart of that drive. The way we interpret events is tremendously influential.” ¶ To find the attitude adjustments that will take you farthest, read on. 01 Men who agree with this statement tend to have higher incomes and net worth, says Brad…

CALL FOR BACKUP An external hard drive can ensure that images of your son’s first soccer game don’t get lost in the cloud. “Most drives will last10 years or longer,” says New York Times technology columnist David Pogue. Automate the backup process so it runs continuously, and pay close attention to file extensions. “JPEGs and MP3s will be fine. But less common files—3-D animations, genealogy, and so on—might be unopenable a few years from now,” he says. “If you have the option to export your files in standard formats, like PDF or TIFF, now is the time to do it.” RELIVE EVERY FIRST Want to preserve the good vibe from a first experience? Limit how much you talk about it. Researchers in Canada found that the more people analyzed a…