The Best Food Combos To Eat Before Every Type Of Workout

Just like your gear needs vary by workout, so too should your fueling strategy. The smoothie that goes down easy before strength-training could cause digestive distress in spin class. And you don’t need quite as many calories for a 30-minute brisk stroll as you would for a high-intensity interval session. Read the full article for Prevention.

The 5 Things You’ll Do Today That Will Mess Up Your Back Tomorrow

One minute, you feel invincible: You’re squatting heavy, tossing bags of mulch, helping the lovely passenger in 12D hoist her bag into the overhead compartment. The next, your back barks, leaving you hunched over. Researchers at the University of Sydney recently studied 1,000 patients to pinpoint some of the most common triggers of acute back pain—those sudden, sharp spasms that seemingly occur at any time and can leave you laid up for days. Read the full article for Men’s Health.

10 Exercises You Hate The Most—And What To Do Instead

weights-652486_1280It’s bound to happen at some point during your workout. The moment you always dread: Your instructor or workout DVD announces that it’s time to do your LEAST favorite move. You know, the one that always makes your back ache, your knees hurt, or makes you feel like the most uncoordinated person in the room. (We’re looking at you, squats, planks, and burpees.) Read the full article for Prevention.com.

6 Ways Your Health Suffers When You Stop Working Out

Just as a good training program builds you up, falling off the workout wagon can have the opposite effect—sometimes almost immediately. Experts call this phenomenon “detraining,” and its consequences can weigh even heavier than the gut you see in the mirror. Fortunately, the condition is fully reversible, as long as you get your butt back to the gym. Read the full article for Men’s Health.

12 Habits of Highly Motivated Runners

Runners dream big. Tackling a new distance, posting a personal best, losing 20 pounds–we embrace grand challenges. But what happens after you accomplish your goal, or if your resolve weakens before you succeed? You risk stalling–unless you’ve changed your routines to those of a stronger, healthier runner. Read the full article in Runner’s World.

Why Your Workout Plan’s Not Working–And How To Fix It

You do the exact same training program as your running partner—but finish the 5K 10 minutes behind her. After months of diligent forward bends, you still can’t even touch your toes. And while your totally toned co-worker swears by a strength-building DVD, you don’t see a single sculpted muscle for your efforts. Before you blame yourself or give up altogether, consider whether your obstacles have been written into your genome. Read the full article on Prevention.com.