Innholdsfortegnelse for June 2021 i Men's Health

Q. Squatting hurts my back. What am I doing wrong? —DENIS, AKRON, OH A. Check your form. Your chest should be upright to avoid rounding your back, which can cause lower-back pain while squatting. Another fix: Elevate your heels. Squatting with a weight plate beneath each of your heels increases your mobility and takes further pressure off your lower back. If squats are still painful, then try single-leg exercises, such as alternating lunges, which allow you to train your legs without overloading your back. And if the pain doesn’t go away, it might be time to visit your doctor, pronto! —BEN BRUNO, C.F.S.C., A MEN’S HEALTH TRAINING ADVISOR Have a question for Rich? Tweet us at @MensHealthMag with the hashtag #AskMHRich and ask away.…

TORPEDO IN THE GOAL. This is my only thought as I sink to the bottom of the pool during a Deep End Fitness workout in Hawthorne, California. My right hand clutches a ten-ounce camo-colored rubber torpedo. My left hand is free, ready to Heisman anyone trying to keep me from the goal, four yards away. I swim toward it underwater and get within two yards when Chuck Patterson and Giorgio Gomez, a pair of professional surfers, converge. Chuck comes from the right, and Giorgio guards the goal. I reach the torpedo forward, baiting Chuck. He bites, grabbing my upper arm and pulling me down toward the pool floor. I roll with him, then spin out and stiff-arm Giorgio—and almost score! Damn, there’s Chuck again. I wriggle past him, switching the…

WHAT’S NEW ON YOUR WORKOUT SPREADSHEET? “During Covid, I added bodyweight exercises, because the gyms were closed during a period of time. I needed it.” FAVORITE CHEAT FOOD? “Tostitos. A few years ago, I started eating better, so I don’t eat chips for lunch. But I always have a bag of Tostitos at home. That’s like my midnight snack most evenings.” WHAT’S ON YOUR GYM PLAYLIST? “Actually, about several years ago, I quit listening to music. I listen to podcasts and books typically. I like listening to Frea-konomics, partly because it has interesting facts and stories.” DREAM WORKOUT PARTNER? “You, because I haven’t done any of your workouts yet.”…

CHANCES ARE you’ve been criticized for acting as if everything is all about your penis. But it pretty much is: So many of your daily practices and behaviors, from your workouts to your sleep, affect this key body part. Here’s what urologist JAMIN BRAHMBHATT, M.D., does to keep his working for him. GET YOUR BLOOD FLOWING I work out three times a week, either running or lifting. Exercise helps keep your blood vessels flexible and healthy. That’s especially important in the penis, which has some of the smallest vessels in the body. If they can’t deliver blood, you can’t get an erection. And if this is the case, get your heart checked. Guys who develop ED—even in their 40s—have a good chance of seeing other heart-disease symptoms within the next…

THE NEW CHINOS As you move back to in-person hangs, you want shorts that look good in bars or at barbecues. Luckily, these khakis by Johnston & Murphy are constructed with a moisture-wicking, wrinkle-resistant fabric that can dress up or down. Even better, they’re made with a stretch waistband, so they feel like your favorite sweats. THE NO-SWEAT SHORTS These workout-workhorse shorts by Vuori contain anti-odor, quick-dry technology. That means they’re equally equipped for long runs, HIIT workouts, gym sessions, and whatever else you throw at them. THE WORK-FROM-ANYWHERE PAIR Remember cargo shorts? Brands have modernized the early-2000s staple with slimmer fits and shorter inseams. Built to endure long hikes, or even long days working from home, this pair by Outerknown is cut for a closely tapered fit and made…

BEST BODYWASH AXE APOLLO BODY WASH, SAGE & CEDARWOOD SCENT, $4 This isn’t the Axe of your high school days. It’s refreshing but not overpowering—and surprisingly long-lasting. BEST CLEANSING BAR CERAVE FOAMING CLEANSER BAR, $5 One tester reported not needing as much lotion after a shower because this fragrance-free bar had already done the job. BEST SUNSCREEN OARS + ALPS HYDRATING ANTIOXIDANT SUNSCREEN SPRAY WITH VITAMIN C, SPF 50, $16 A high protection factor, 80 minutes of water and sweat resistance, and a fresh scent make this your go-to sunscreen for running, yard work, and al fresco dinner dates. BEST ALUMINUM-FREE DEODORANT KOSASPORT CHEMISTRY AHA SERUM DEODORANT, $15 Other deodorants without aluminum can be pasty and oily, but this rollerball goes on clear and won’t rub off or stain. BEST…

“SheaMoisture’s Full Beard Detangler has preserved my beard. It’s the perfect leave-in conditioner and protectant and minimizes unwanted breakage and dryness.” —Vernon Scott, celebrity barber “I’m a big fan of experimenting, but I always go back to Malin+ Goetz Sage Styling Cream when I want a light hold and have longer hair.” —Pedro Rosario, barber and director of operations for Shortcut “SkinBetter Science Solo Hydrating Defense Men is the one moisturizer I’ve used consistently. It has a matte finish and data supporting its antioxidant capabilities.” —Evan A. Rieder, M.D., dermatologist “Old Spice Clinical Sweat Defense delivers the protection of a prescription-strength deodorant/antiperspirant. It’s saved me in a few sticky situations.” —Corey L. Hartman, M.D., dermatologist and Men’s Health advisor…

LIKE ANYONE LIVING through the new-and-hopefully-soon-to-be-old normal of the pandemic, actor Anthony Ramos spends a lot of his time in sweats and sweaters and usually lets his hair rage. When he needs a cut, he has barbers on the East and West coasts who get him right. That’s not to say he doesn’t enjoy splurging on some self-care now and then. Not too long ago, Ramos realized he didn’t have any lip balm left. The only store open in a nearby mall was Lush. “It was mad expensive, too,” he says. “I was like, $12 for a ChapStick? But I put that shit on and it was like, Yo, this is crazy. Hold up.” The rest of the time, Ramos is not fussy and uses “whatever is there.” His latest…

YOUR CHALLENGE THINK OF YOUR BODY AS AN ELEVATOR, DRIVING A WEIGHT UPWARD EVERY REP. THE TALLER YOU ARE, THE MORE FLOORS THE WEIGHT HAS TO TRAVEL ON ANY EXERCISE. SO YOU NEED A SPLIT SECOND LONGER THAN MOST PEOPLE TO COMPLETE EACH REP OF EACH EXERCISE. THAT ADDS UP TO EXTRA WORK (AND TIME SPENT UNDER TENSION) FOR EVERY MUSCLE ON EVERY REP. HOW YOU ADJUST ROW, ROW, ROW The added time under tension you face on every rep hurts you on most exercises, but not rows. Your middle- and upper-back muscles actually respond well to sustained periods of time under tension, so if you train your back hard, you’ll see major lat growth. In the process, you’ll hone your posture and bulletproof your shoulders, too. Do 3 sets…

YOUR CHALLENGE THE AVERAGE PERSON HAS A TORSO THAT MAKES UP ABOUT 30 PERCENT OF THEIR TOTAL HEIGHT, MEASURED FROM HIP BONE TO SHOULDER. IF YOURS IS LONGER THAN THAT, WEIGHTED MOVES THAT HAVE YOUR TORSO BENT FORWARD, LIKE DEADLIFTS AND ROWS, CAN BE DAUNTING. HOW YOU ADJUST SUPPORT YOUR CHEST! Barbell, dumbbell, and kettlebell bent-over rows are classic back-building exercises, but you may not be able to go as heavy as you want to on these motions. Opt for bench-supported rows instead, lying with your chest on an incline or flat bench, then rowing dumbbells or kettlebells. This will relieve stress from your lower back. Aim for 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps twice a week. BALANCE THE LEG SCALES Your lower body is prone to imbalance because…

Give Yourself a Hand WRAP YOUR HANDS around a standard barbell. Can your thumb reach the second knuckle on your middle finger? If so, you have large hands that can easily wrap around any bar. If your thumb can’t reach your first knuckle, you’re more likely to lose your grip on any bar. The fix: Do plate pinches. Stand with your arms at your sides, fingers pinching a pair of 5- or 10-pound plates for 30 seconds. Find Your Footing DO YOU WEAR A SIZE 12 SHOE OR LARGER? Your large feet will help you in just about any leg exercise, providing stability the same way a wider base keeps a table from rocking. If your shoe size is smaller than a 9, on the other hand, you’ll have to…

DIRECTIONS: Warm up with a 30-second plank, 10 reverse lunges, and 10 jumping jacks. Then set a timer for 7 minutes. Use a medium-weight dumbbell or kettlebell. Do the moves below as a circuit. Do not rest between sets; battle to keep moving for the entire 7 minutes. Keep score and see how many rounds you can complete. PASS-THROUGH REVERSE LUNGE Stand holding a weight in your right hand, core and glutes tight. Step back with your left leg, then bend at the knees and hips, lowering until your left knee is an inch from the floor and your right knee is at a 90 degree angle. Pass the weight under your right thigh (pictured) to your left hand. Press through your right heel and stand up. Repeat on the…

ONE DAY, TRAVIS BARKER would like to get on an airplane again. He won’t know when it’s coming, but he has an agreement in place with someone very close to him: They’ll tell him to be ready to go in 24 hours, and Barker will know exactly what for. He’ll pack an overnight bag and get in a car that will take him to an airport, where he’ll board a plane for the first time since 2008, when doing so changed the course of his life. “There’s a million things that could happen to me,” he says one unseasonably warm afternoon in late March, sitting shirtless in a lounge chair in the backyard of his longtime home in the Calabasas hills outside Los Angeles. “I could die riding my skateboard.…

I BECAME a coach just like every other mom or dad: I was volun-told. Twelve years ago, my oldest son, then four, joined a soccer team, and the team needed a coach. That didn’t mean I didn’t take the job seriously. Weeks before our first practice, I defaulted to my past career as an investigative journalist. I pored over Soccer for Dummies. I scoured the web and watched FC Barcelona and Liverpool Academy training videos. I carefully studied a well-known Dutch youth-sports curriculum. (Soccer dads, you know the YouTube channel.) I developed plans and spreadsheets. And so on that fateful day at Crestwood Hills Park in Los Angeles, I officially took my position as head coach of the Rattlesnakes, named after a sign near the field that said BE WARE…

WHAT MAKES A CITY strong? Our analysis of 100 major cities argues it’s more than muscle. True strength is an absence of mental distress and depression, a sense of well-being, general good health, getting enough sleep and physical activity, access to exercise (gyms and parks), social connection, and a high ratio of registered voters. So strength of body, mind, heart, and community—that’s what separates the strongest U.S. cities from the rest. STRONG EST 1. Madison, WI 2. Anchorage, AK 3. Washington, D. C. 4. Burlington, VT 5. Minneapolis, MN 6. Denver, CO 7. Sioux Falls, SD 8. Lincoln, NE 9. Raleigh, NC 10. Bridgeport, CT NOT-SOSTRONGEST 91. Baton Rouge, LA 92. Stockton, CA 93. Charleston, WV 94. Corpus Christi, TX 95. El Paso, TX 96. Fresno, CA 97. Laredo, TX…

Run. It’s like active meditation for me. @steven.j.harvey.5 Talk to my therapist. I figure they have better credentials to help me through it. @drococu Take a break for a day or two and reflect to recharge. Maybe a hike alone or a walk on the beach. @bill.browne.37 WE BELIEVE that mental strength is just as important as physical strength. So we wanted to know: How do you stay mentally strong? Make a to-do list that is achievable and start crossing items off. @jeff.crow.16 Check in with myself. Ask what I need to do to feel fulfilled on any given day. @raymond.gillette GET YOUR OWN TEE For Men’s Health Month, we joined forces with Rhone to launch the (Men)tal Healthy campaign—complete with a T-shirt ($48; rhone.com). All net proceeds will benefit…

Instagram & Twitter @menshealthmag YouTube & Pinterest /menshealthmag Facebook /menshealth On the web menshealth.com Follow, tweet, comment, like, respond, and tag us. You could be featured in MH World. And send us your feedback at MHletters@hearst.com. Letters may be edited for length and clarity.…

DIRECTIONS: Do this workout 3 to 5 times a week. Start with the warmup, then do the supersets in order. On days you don’t do this workout, aim for a 20-minute run or walk. WARMUP WALKOUT TO LUNGE TO WINDMILL First, loosen your hips and upper back and fire up your core. Start standing. Place your hands on the floor (a). Walk them forward into pushup position. Shift your right foot to just outside your right hand. Pause. Reach your right hand forward (b), then rotate it back toward your hip, making a wide arc as you do (c). Return it to the floor. Reverse back to the start, then repeat on the other side. Do alternating reps for 40 seconds, then rest 20 seconds. Do 3 sets. SUPERSET 1…

THINK “TAKING CARE of your heart” and you might flash to eating salmon and doing HIIT. That’s not wrong. But there’s another factor that may be just as important: managing your financial health. Even before Covid exploded, plenty of Americans were saddled with debt. Now about two thirds of us are financially unhealthy, meaning we’re struggling with basics like spending less than we make, paying bills on time, having sufficient savings, and dealing with debt, according to the U.S. Financial Health Pulse: 2020 Trends Report. Millions of people risk extreme financial hardship—on the verge of not being able to pay for housing, food, health care, or medications. What’s more, money stress is especially toxic for people who are Black, according to a recent finding from the Jackson Heart Study, a…

IT BEGINS AT 4:00 A.M. on a Saturday, a throbbing and unceasing pain behind my left temple. I try to go back to sleep but can’t—the second missed clue—and around 6:00 A.M. I face another day of weekend work. It’s the fall of 2020 and I’m at risk of losing my job at ESPN. Two decades of outworking others—by writing books and hosting a podcast, among other pursuits—and of taking pride in friends saying, “How do you do it all?” has convinced me I must do even more now. I should find solace in all the skills I’ve developed to support my wife, Sonya; our three kids; and my mother-in-law, who moved in when she retired. I don’t. By midday, I can’t focus and have to lie down. Soon I’m…

ACROSS A BROAD RANGE of species—chimpanzees, walruses, lions, elk, mice—larger males and groups of males invariably win physical confrontations with smaller ones, but that is not the case with humans. Were this not so, freedom would effectively be impossible: Every group would be led by a single large male, and the world would be dominated by fascist mega-states that could easily crush insubordinate populations. But that’s not what the world looks like. Large armies—or people—are stronger than small ones, but usually slower and less efficient. This is true at every scale, from open warfare to street corner fistfights. Because the outcome of any human conflict cannot be predicted with certainty, the powerful often end up having to negotiate with the weak, and those negotiations invariably revolve around freedom. Human violence…

BEST CLEANSER METHOD MEN FACE WASH, $8 Plant-based ingredients like cucumber and seaweed extract gently cleanse your skin without leaving it tight or dry. BEST FACE SUNSCREEN NEUTROGENA INVISIBLE DAILY DEFENSE FACE SERUM, SPF 60, $18 Some screens with a high SPF can make your face feel as if you’re wearing the bandages from the Weeknd’s Super Bowl halftime show. This daily sunscreen is lightweight, not thick and goopy, equally suited for relaxing at and running on the beach. BEST MOISTURIZER BIOEFFECT HYDRATING CREAM, $75 Unlike other contenders in the category, this tub keeps your face hydrated all day. It’s fragrance-free, too, so it’s safe for sensitive skin. BEST EYE CREAM DR. DENNIS GROSS B3ADAPTIVE SUPERFOODS STRESS SOS EYE CREAM, $65 This salve contains niacinamide, a form of vitamin B3…

BEST SHAVE GEL KING C. GILLETTE TRANSPARENT SHAVE GEL, $8 It’s clear, so you can actually see what you’re doing with your razor, and it chases your shave with a soothing, tingling effect to neutralize irritation. BEST RAZOR DOLLAR SHAVE CLUB 6-BLADE VS. 4-BLADE KIT, $10 You pick the razor head depending on the task at hand. Four blades were good for a super-close shave that lasted two days without irritation. Turn to the six-blader for anything hairier. BEST BEARD OIL THE ART OF SHAVING BLACK PEPPER & CEDAR PREMIUM BEARD OIL, $30 You’ll smell like a steak dinner (in a good way) with this oil. BEST BUMP TREATMENT KIEHL’S ULTIMATE RAZOR BURN AND BUMP RELIEF, $24 Gentle exfoliating acids prevent ingrown hairs. And it’s smooth and lightweight enough to…

BEST FOR DATES HERMÈS H24 EAU DE TOILETTE, $105 At first smell, there’s a burst of fresh green sage—but as it wears off, there’s rosewood and a metallic buzz. It’s unexpected and attention-grabbing. BEST FOR SUSTAINABILITY DIOR SAUVAGE EAU DE TOILETTE REFILL, $199 Attach this to the top of your bottle to refill it three times. When you’re done, recycle it. BEST FOR WORK MONTBLANC LEGEND EAU DE PARFUM SPRAY, $98 It has all the notes of a classic scent—leather, woods, bergamot. Smells like a corner office. BEST FOR POSTWORKOUT OFFCOURT PERFORMANCE BODY SPRAY, $10 This spray comes in varieties like coconut water and fig leaves to help you leave your workout behind. BEST FOR WEEKEND GETAWAYS CALVIN KLEIN ETERNITY SUMMER FOR MEN EAU DE TOILETTE, $85 The crisp notes…

To play Shang-Chi, Simu Liu added ten pounds of muscle to his five-eleven frame while also working to maintain explosive athleticism. His secret: two kinds of supersets. The first, called a contrast superset, combines a total-body muscle move and an explosive bodyweight move to build athleticism. The second focuses on sculpting the superhero physique, adding shoulder and mid-back size. SUPERSET 1 Do 4 sets. Rest 2 minutes between each. TRAP BAR DEADLIFT Stand inside a trap bar, feet shoulder width apart. Push your butt back and lower your torso until you can grasp the bar’s handles. Squeeze your lats and tighten your core. This is the start. Stand explosively, lifting the bar and squeezing your glutes. That’s 1 rep; do 3 to 5. BROAD JUMP Stand. Bend your knees, push…

RUNNING Dri Archer AT 5'8", the ex-NFL running back is on the shorter side—and has short legs, too. Archer creates “ground contact force” with his strides, hitting the turf hard to powerfully drive his body forward. Usain Bolt BOLT’S 6'5" frame is uncommon in sprinting. He uses long strides to glide over more ground than most speedsters. His 40 time would have tied the NFL combine record. DUNKING Nate Robinson THE 5'9" Robinson is short for a dunk champ. He compensates with leaping ability; he had a 43.5-inch vertical and he’d often take off near the basket, creating direct upward force. Dwight Howard AT 6' 10", THE LEAGUE’S tallest dunk champion seems to have it easy. But tall athletes must learn to cushion their weight whenever they land from a…

YOUR CHALLENGE PLENTY OF GUYS STRUGGLE WITH SHOULDER ISSUES—AND THIS IS A PROBLEM FOR YOU MORE THAN MOST. OVERHEAD MOVEMENTS LIKE PULLUPS AND SHOULDER PRESSES, AND EXPLOSIVE LIFTS LIKE BARBELL AND KETTLEBELL SNATCHES, PLACE YOUR SHOULDERS AT RISK, THANKS TO THE LONG ARM LEVER YOU CREATE AS YOU THRUST UPWARD. HOW YOU ADJUST EMBRACE BARBELL DEADLIFTS You’re built for this lift! Your long arms are primed to reach down easily and grasp the bar, but your short legs still won’t face too much tension as they power the bar up. Take advantage of this and deadlift at least twice a week; you’ll burn serious calories and build total-body muscle. ISOLATE YOUR CHEST Since bench presses and pushups stimulate your triceps more than your chest, you’ll need extra work to blast…

DIRECTIONS: Work from one move to the next, resting as needed. Take your time and take a deep breath at each stretch. Do 2 rounds. SCORPION STRETCH Start lying on your stomach, arms out to the side. Lift your right foot; reach it over your left leg, aiming to touch your foot to the floor (pictured). Pause and hold. Return to the start and repeat on the other side. That’s 1 rep; do 8. HIP ADDUCTOR ROCK Sit on your shins, then shift your right foot out to the right, knee straight. Bend at the waist and place your hands on the floor. Gently rock backward, stretching the inner thigh of your straight leg. That’s 1 rep; do 8 per side. BOW AND ARROW Kneel on your right knee, left…

Barker Wellness Co. THE CELEB: Travis Barker Energetic drummer Barker, 45, found comfort in cannabinoids after years of sleepless nights and chronic pain. He started a vegan CBD wellness brand of tinctures and pain creams this year. TOP PRODUCT: Pain Relief Cream ($120; barkerwellness.com) BlessWell THE CELEB: DJ Khaled Legendary producer #Anotherone. Khaled’s new CBD-enhanced grooming line, full of soothing botanicals, creams, and oils, helps the 45-year-old look and feel #blessed. TOP PRODUCT: Conditioning Beard Oil ($26; blesswell.co) CBDMedic THE CELEB: Rob Gronkowski NFL-great tight end Gronk, 32, says using CBD helped him become pain-free for the first time in his career in 2019 and return to the NFL. He’s an ambassador for CBDMedic. TOP PRODUCT Active Sport Pain Relief Ointment ($30; cbd-medic.com) Montel by Select THE CELEB: Montel Williams…

BEFORE WE got married, my wife told me she wanted six kids. The goal was to try for an even roster: three boys and three girls. But we ended up going 4–0 with girls, ranging in age from six years old to 18 months. There are some days that I come home and find them all in the house wrestling one another—hair flying, little hands tugging and pulling, those high-pitched giggle-shrieks coming out of their mouths—and I’m faced with a choice: Do I step in or let them sort this out on their own? It’s a choice I face more often than I thought I would as a father, which is a far different role from the role of player or coach. With me playing football for a living, I’m…

Q+A WITH THE E.I.C. —@sharphusband SO THAT’S NOT really a question, but I get what you’re going for, because I’ve been there—three times!—and so have tons of other guys. In a landmark 2015 study, researchers from Northwestern University tracked more than 10,000 men over a 20-year period and found that new dads who lived in the same house as their children gained an average of four and a half pounds, while nondads lost about a pound and a half over the same time period. (Let’s assume that we’re not talking about four and a half pounds of muscle here. We can also assume that my personal weight gain was, uh, slightly higher than four and a half pounds.) The struggle to stay fit with a newborn is quite real. Not…

The Setback When New York City shut down in March 2020 due to the pandemic, I lost my restaurant job. I was working toward joining the FDNY Fire Academy to become a firefighter, but they postponed until further notice. I was distraught. I shut down for three weeks, slept late, woke up late. The Catalyst for Change One day, I read a quote that really kicked me in the ass—something like “If not now, when?” If I have all this free time, I gotta try something. Running became a huge escape from whatever was going on in the world and helped me maintain emotional and physical balance. So I started running five times a week, five miles from Brooklyn to Chinatown. I wanted to be ready for the FDNY Fire…

HEART MEDICATIONS and many other prescription drugs can be expensive. To cut costs, your pharmacist can be your best ally. Ask how much your medication will be if you use insurance and how much if you don’t. In some cases, paying cash is actually cheaper. Coupons from sites like GoodRx and RxSaver can save you up to 85 percent (although usually you save less). You may even be able to save on generics if you shop around—not every pharmacy charges the same amount. Several big-box stores like Target, Walmart, and Winn-Dixie have generics that cost $4 for a 30-day supply and $10 for a 90-day supply, which may be less than what you’d spend on a copay.…

(Except What Guys Really Need) A DISEMBODIED male voice crackled over my iPhone speaker as I nervously awaited my turn to share. “Before we go to Jason … there’s something like 48 people in this room,” the man said. “I’m just curious: Out of all the people in the audience, how many of you have not heard of, or have not tried, semen retention?” The speaker, Solay Rad, didn’t mean room in a literal sense. The financial advisor was moderating a conversation on Clubhouse, the popular voice-only social-media platform you’ve probably heard about, thanks to high-profile users like Elon Musk, Drake, and Oprah. If not, think of the app as a fusion of Reddit, TED Talks, and LinkedIn. You can navigate through a feed of live conversations—your “hallway” and “rooms,”…

YOU’VE PROBABLY HEARD about all the ways that shrooms (or, more specifically, their active hallucinogenic compound, psilocybin) are mental-health curealls. Depression, PTSD, addiction: You name it and some wellness guru has likely told you that the right kind of mushroom can fix it. Even Oregonians voted last year to allow the therapeutic use of psilocybin in clinical, controlled settings. It sounds exciting, but I’ve been skeptical, since I’ve seen a lot of promising yet fleeting therapies, especially for issues where conventional drugs don’t work that well. But then I thought, Maybe this is the moment we need. With the mental-health fallout from the pandemic and concerns that suicide rates will rise, could a mystical, psyche-delicexperience truly bring people some much-needed relief? I called up someone who knows more about it…

SHOW OF HANDS, GUYS—who here spent the past year cutting their own hair, growing out their beard, or trying out a new grooming product just because lockdown life seemed as good a time as any to mix things up? Yeah, us too. And what we found were a ton of items that made us feel fresher and look better. Our team tested thousands of grooming products to keep that momentum going and help you look, feel, and smell your best.…

BEST HAIR-COLOR KIT COLOR&CO PERSONALIZED HAIR COLOR KIT, FROM $22 After a consultation with an actual professional colorist over video chat, a mixed dye kit with instructions will show up at your door to help you cover up those grays or go Frank Ocean blond. BEST STYLER FOR CURLY HAIR BUMBLE & BUMBLE BB. CURL REACTIVATOR, $28 Dehydration transforms curls into frizz. This oil-rich spray delivers moisture quickly, without turning your head into a grease trap. BEST CONDITIONER BRIOGEO DON’T DESPAIR, REPAIR! SUPER MOISTURE CONDITIONER, $36 This thick cream leaves hair smooth and soft, and it has potent restorative powers. A tester with dry hair said just one treatment hydrated it—and kept it that way the whole day. BEST GEL DOVE MEN+CARE TAMING GEL, $8 Instead of leaving your head…

BEST TOOTHPASTE COLGATE OPTIC WHITE RENEWAL, $7 At 3 percent hydrogen peroxide, this paste quickly removes stains without damaging your enamel or tasting like chalk. BEST MOUTHWASH HELLO NATURALLY HEALTHY ANTIGINGIVITIS MOUTHWASH, $6 Instead of alcohol, this minty mouthwash uses aloe vera to promote gum health. Coconut oil moisturizes the insides rather than sapping them dry like booze-based rinses do. BEST WHITENING PRODUCT SMILE POP TEETH WHITENING PEN, $10 Testers liked that you can brush the clear peroxide gel directly onto your teeth and it dissolves on its own in 30 minutes. No strips or retainers or general BS. BEST TOOTHBRUSH VVARDIS RHEINHOLZ SOFT TOOTHBRUSH, $40 (SET OF TWO) Any skepticism about a wooden toothbrush faded after a few uses. The bristles are hardy yet delicate.…

UNTAMED HUMANS MASK RELIEF MIST, $8 Spritz a bit of this on your mask before you put it on to curb the bacteria that cause maskne and irritation. EVERY MAN JACK SEA SALT HAND SANITIZER, $8 Our testers thought finding a sanitizer that moisturizes your hands was impossible. Then they discovered this. ALAFFIA AFRICA’S SECRET MULTI-USE BALM, $17 This thick, head-to-toe balm is moisturizing due to shea butter and coconut oil, which sink into skin quickly.…

YOUR CHALLENGE POWER PRODUCTION ISN’T YOUR STRENGTH. YOUR SHORT LIMBS WILL HOLD YOU BACK WHEN YOU TAKE ON THE 500-METER ROW OR TEST THE BROAD JUMP. SHORT ATHLETES GENERATE LESS POWER PER STROKE THAN TALLER ATHLETES, ACCORDING TO A STUDY OF COMPETITIVE 2,000-METER ROWERS. HOW YOU ADJUST MASTER. THE. DEADLIFT. If you’re five-seven or under, you were born to deadlift—and deadlift heavy. One study of novice weightlifters showed that deadlifts helped them build strength and added to their vertical leap. That means the lift can make you stronger—and help boost your explosive athleticism, too. Taller gym bros can’t reap benefits from the deadlift as efficiently as you can, thanks to your levers. Make the most of it. Start with 5 sets of 5 reps twice a week. BE HEAVY-DUTY Cut…

YOUR CHALLENGE YOU HAVE A NATURAL BUILD FOR DISTANCE RUNNING. STRENGTH TRAINING? NOT SO MUCH. YOUR SHORT ARMS MAKE DEADLIFTS DIFFICULT. AND YOUR LONG LEGS ARE THE BANE OF YOUR EXISTENCE, CREATING A HEAVY LOAD FOR YOUR CORE ON AB EXERCISES AND CAUSING PROBLEMS ON LOWER-BODY-FOCUSED MOVES, TOO. HOW YOU ADJUST ELEVATE, ELEVATE, ELEVATE Lowering into position for deadlifts and similar moves (like cleans and snatches) is harder for you than most. It also won’t build any extra muscle. So bring the weights to you by elevating them. Some gyms have small steps or mats: Grab those (or a pair of 45-pound plates) and place them just outside your feet. Then place your barbell or dumbbells on that elevated surface. This will make it easier to grab the weights and…

DIRECTIONS: Warm up with a 30-second plank, 10 reverse lunges, and 10 jumping jacks. Then set a timer for 7 minutes. Do 10 rounds (yes, really) of the first 4 exercises below. In the first round, do 10 reps of each movement, then do 9, and so on, until you’ve done 1 rep of each move in the final round. Have time left? Perform a hollow hold until time is up. SQUAT Start standing, feet shoulder width apart, abs tight. Bend at the knees and hips, lowering until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Stand, squeezing your glutes. That’s 1 rep. HALF BURPEE Start in pushup position. Keeping your hands on the floor, jump your feet forward. Remove your hands from the floor. Reverse the moves to return to…

WHEN ROBBY ROBINSON started bodybuilding at Venice Beach’s Gold’s Gym in 1975, he remembers being told “Blacks don’t get contracts” to compete. He was harassed at contests and struggled with steroids and sickle cell anemia. Despite many wins, Robinson never captured the IFBB’s overall title, Mr. Olympia. After he complained about mistreatment, the IFBB suspended him and he moved overseas to compete without the fear of racism. He’d eventually return to the U. S. in 1994, winning the first-ever Masters Mr. Olympia, for athletes over 40, and then two more Masters titles in his 50s. Today, at age 75, Robinson still lifts, and he shares how he forged the strength to face any challenge. MAKING THE LEAP I went to what was basically an all-Black high school in Tallahassee, Florida,…

SHAWN BOCKEY runs and does triathlons with his two autistic sons. It’s helped them gain confidence and independence—and helped him become stronger and faster and give less f**ks. MY WIFE, Julie, and I both love exercising and racing triathlons, but when we started bringing our young sons to fun runs—hoping to share with them the passion for sport—it was a nightmare. Both boys are severely autistic, and I don’t apologize for saying that, because it’s a wide spectrum. Our oldest, Christian, is nonverbal. Jake speaks only a few words. The social and sensory aspects of the races overwhelmed them. Jake would throw hellacious tantrums. They’d scream, bite their fingers, kick stuff, break things. People stared; it was tough. But I could also tell that they wanted to exercise. Plus, it…

Burst Some Bubbles Their mom would blow bubbles, and my daughters and I would go full The Last Dragon. I’d kick, punch, knee, elbow, and thunderclap the bubbles, and the girls would follow. We were just playing, but it was athletically foundational—from balance and strength to speed and coordination. Sprint the Sillies Out If given one exercise to help a kid become an amazing athlete, sprinting is the one. We’d go work on sprint mechanics and speed drills. Do this 10 x 10 drill together at any age: After a warmup, mark a start line and then sprint for ten seconds and mark how far you both get. Walk back to the start and recover until you can talk comfortably. Then repeat nine more times. Do the Mirror Drill Face…