For something so important, there’s an awful lot of confusion over health and nutrition. This year, we covered more health and fitness than ever before, in an effort to dispel that confusion. Here were our best health-related posts of 2015.
Exercise vs. Diet: Which Is More Important for Weight Loss?
Being healthy is simple, right? “Eat less, move more.” That’s easy to say, but practicality is one of the most important things when it comes to health and fitness. Recommendations like this are blanket statements that don’t address practicality — so when it comes down to it, which is more important? Diet, or exercise?
What Marijuana Actually Does to Your Brain and Body
Marijuana. Pot. Weed. Whatever you call it, it’s the most popular illegal drug in the world, gaining support for legalisation for both medicinal and recreational purposes. But what does marijuana actually do to us? Let’s take a look at this fascinating drug, its health effects, and potential concerns about using it.
What Causes the “Dadbod” (and How to Reverse It)
Ah, the “dadbod.” A recently coined term, it describes the body of a man whose belly suggests that he’s had a few thousand beers during NFL Sunday. Now, he’s not “fat” by any means. In fact, his broad shoulders suggests that he balances his pizza intake with bench presses and curls. So how does this body occur and how do you undo a “dadbod?”
Improve Your Posture with These Exercises from the Army Field Manual
Posture can affect a lot of things, including our confidence and how other people feel about us. Teach yourself good posture by practicing these exercises from the Army Field Manual. Good posture is a habit that pays off over time.
Four Myths About Hydration That Refuse To Die
As Derek Zoolander wisely put it, wetness is the essence of life. Whether you like drinking water or not, it accounts for about 60% of your body weight, and plays a pretty darn important role in making sure your body functions normally. But statistics aside, there are a couple of myths about hydration that refuse to die.
The Ideal Amount of Sleep for Each Age Group, According to the Experts
It seems like a question that’s as old as time itself: “How much sleep do I really need?” The nonprofit National Sleep Foundation and a panel of 18 prominent medical scientists and researchers reviewed over 300 sleep studies to try and finally answer it.
The “Free” Foods You Can Eat to Stay Full on a Diet
Almost all foods contain calories, but some foods have so few that they aren’t worth really counting. These are frequently called “free foods.” If you’re on a diet and want a snack, here are a list of those “free foods” that you can eat in moderation without tracking.
Butter In Your Coffee and Other Cons: Stories From a Fitness Insider
Three years after co-founding Fitocracy, we launched a new online coaching service to start bringing in money. We needed a way to hook people in, but no one seemed interested.
Four Harsh Truths That Will Make You a Healthier Person
If you’re completely satisfied with your health, don’t read this article. This is not for you. Give yourself a pat on the back, and save yourself the scrolling. For the rest of you, approach what I’m about to say with an open mind, and maybe you can come out of this a fitter person.
Four Things Nobody Tells You About Successful Weight Loss
Everyone who loses weight successfully overcomes a set of similar challenges. But let us be honest: successful weight loss is relatively uncommon, making many of these challenges unheard of. Consequently, when they arise, you might think you’re doing things wrong. But you’re not, and here’s why.
You Don’t Need to Spend Hours in the Gym to Lose Weight
When it comes to weight loss, people often think that you need to spend countless hours in the gym, pounding away at the treadmill while you watch reruns of How I Met Your Mother. Not only do you not need much time in the gym, it might be optimal to spend it elsewhere. Here’s why.
How Getting a Six Pack Changes Your Life (And How It Doesn’t)
Ahhh, the elusive six pack. For many, it’s the holy grail of fitness. But does your life really change after you’ve achieved one? Let’s take a look at the ways that getting a six pack changes your life and when it’s really just fool’s gold.
How to Determine the Number of Calories You Should Eat to Lose Weight
When you start a diet, determining how much to eat can feel a bit like playing calorie roulette. Many people turn to a calorie calculator, but they can greatly overestimate the amount of food that you need to lose weight. Here’s how to calculate your own target.
Why Your Muscles Get Sore (and What You Can Do About It)
When you’re struggling to walk down the stairs the day after a tough workout, should you view your soreness as proof you worked hard, or as a sign you overdid it? The truth is somewhere in between. Let’s learn about where soreness comes from and how to keep it from making you miserable.
How to Drink Without Messing Up Your Weight Loss
Alcohol isn’t commonly thought to be a “healthy” part of a weight loss program, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a drink or two without screwing up your progress.
The Biggest Concerns About GMO Food Aren’t Really About GMOs
Everyone from Chipotle to the Food Babe rails against genetically modified ingredients, and laws to label GMO foods are making progress in some states. But the laser focus on GMOs is misguided, because most of the concerns people raise about them aren’t really about GMOs.
How to Lose Weight Without Counting Calories
Fat loss relies on one thing: eating fewer calories than you expend. But nobody wants to sit and count calories all day. Most people can learn to track them successfully, but some might need a different strategy altogether. If tracking has given you a headache in the past, consider giving this a try.
Does Yoga Have Any Real Fitness Benefits?
Take one look at someone in Scorpion Pose and you’ll know: yoga can build strength and balance. But how does it stack up to traditional strength training — and what can’t yoga do for your body?
/”Everything in Moderation” Is a Terrible Rule to Eat By
When your favourite diet advice is the same as junk food peddlers’ favourite diet advice, maybe you should reconsider.
The Only Three Things Everybody Agrees on When It Comes to Nutrition
There’s not much agreement about nutrition. On many topics — fat, salt, and carbs to name a few — government guidelines will say one thing, but fans of paleo or vegan or fad diets will insist that the opposite is true. Pretty soon you just don’t know what to think about eggs or white bread or low-fat salad dressing.
Can You Be Addicted to Your Lip Balm?
Your lips are dry, so you apply a little something soothing from a tube or a tiny jar or one of those weird golf ball things. Aah, relief. But as soon as it wears off, you need more. The cycle repeats all winter. Are you practicing responsible skin care, or have you become addicted?
Can I Be Overweight and Still Healthy?
Dear Lifehacker,
I’m an overweight man who has struggled to lose weight my entire life. My doctor tells me that my BMI is in the “overweight category.” To be honest, I’m happy with my body. I don’t have any medical issues and I try to live healthily as much as possible. Is it possible to be overweight and still healthy?
Comments