Cardio is perhaps the most polarizing form of exercise on the planet, and typically you’re either a low-key endurance type or a fast and furious metcon type. Regardless of your intensity bent, you could benefit from varying your cardio on the reg. He

Research in The Journal of Nutrition shows that getting adequate amounts of branchedchain amino acids such as leucine, isoleucine and valine may reduce the duration of exercise fatigue and improve muscle protein synthesis. Electrolytes such as potass

Your hip joints are an anatomical miracle — and also a pain in the butt (literally). Nearly every person on the planet has experienced some sort of physical issue that is directly related to their hips, which, considering the intricacy of this ball-a

VISUALIZATION — CREATING A MENTAL IMAGE OF WHAT YOU WANT TO HAPPEN IN REALITY — CAN ACTUALLY CONDITION YOUR BODY FOR A SUCCESSFUL OUTCOME. ACCORDING TO RESEARCH PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY, THE SAME NEURAL PATHWAYS ARE ACTIVATED IN

Candice Lewis-Carter discovered two big things in life by accident. The first was Figure competition. “We were out celebrating a friend’s first competition and I was intrigued by the process,” she says. “I decided to do a show on a whim six weeks lat

Conclusive research has linked the hormone disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) to birth defects and cancer, and in response, many companies switched to using a similar chemical, bisphenol S (BPS), in plastic packaging and thermal paper, which could be just a

FITNESS IS SAID TO BE “FUNCTIONAL” WHEN IT TRANSCENDS the gym and extends to real-life situations, and it doesn’t get any more functional than martial arts. This kind of workout improves your strength, mobility and cardiovascular prowess while giving

Whether it’s a petty argument with your partner or a heated debate with your bestie, chances are you leave the scene of an emotional crime with negative feelings and heightened emotions. And although forgiving people and moving forward is not always

EVER SINCE THE GREEKS HELD THE VERY FIRST OLYMPICS IN 776 B.C., HUMAN BEINGS HAVE BEEN OBSESSED WITH ATHLETIC COMPETITION. We lift. We climb. We run. We throw. Any manner of physical exertion can become sport, but most competitions target single or s

Often, unhappiness and fear beget binge eating, and it was this exact scenario that compelled Nakisha Ramsey to sequester herself in her car and consume a gallon of ice cream and a pack of Oreos on the reg. “I was having babies back-to-back, was in a

Think about the last time you attempted a heavy lift or did a series of crunches. Did you remember to breathe? “Most commonly, people hold their breath through a movement,” says Belisa Vranich, Ph.D., clinical psychologist, fitness expert and author

Reba FlotoHunt Valley, Maryland Stats: 56 • 121 lb • 5’5” Gig: Certified fitness professional, real estate agent, former NASA software engineer Jackie-of-All-Trades.Though working as a NASA software engineer for 20 years was rewarding, Reba Floto was

When playing Natasha Romanoff — aka Black Widow in the blockbuster Marvel Avengers series — Oscar-nominated actress Scarlett Johansson kicks ass with style, expertly dispensing with bad guys while strutting her superhero physique in a leather hide-no

there is definitely irony in the fact that Skye Halliday Wilson is working on her group fitness certification as (at this writing) the COVID-19 quarantine plugs on. Yes, there’s more time to study, but it’s hard to hone the practical skills of leadin

Are crunches bad for me? People love to categorize things as being good or bad, but when it comes to crunches, there is no absolute. The answer is far more nuanced and requires an assessment of your individual needs and goals. There is no shortage of

As you probably know, there’s a vast difference between losing weight and losing body fat — aka getting lean — and even a “skinny” person can be overfat. Keeping your body fat in check obviously means you can rock a bikini, but the long-term benefits

THE VITAMIN C IN ORANGES DOES MORE THAN JUST SUPPORT IMMUNE FUNCTION. IT ALSO HELPS HEAL WOUNDS, BUILD BONES AND PRODUCE COLLAGEN, AND A STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SPORT NUTRITION AND EXERCISE METABOLISM FOUND IT IMPROVES MUSCLE

IT’S PROBABLY BEEN YEARS SINCE YOU SAT THROUGH AN ANATOMY or physiology class, and chances are you didn’t save your textbooks. But a basic understanding of how your musculature works, grows and thrives can make your time in the gym more intentional a

Amanda Webster triumphed over mental illness and suicidal tendencies to become the epitome of health, transforming her body, mind and spirit through exercise and nutrition. Looking to increase your workout intensity? Try using a weighted vest. Here a

What happens if I eat more protein than my body needs? Your individual protein needs will depend on a few factors, including bodyweight, age, activity level and overall health. Active women trying to gain muscle can eat a little more than average, bu

Like fashion, everything old is new again with food, and “ancient grains” like spelt are gaining traction. Cutting to the chaff, spelt has been around since the Roman Empire and contains vital nutrients, including a spectrum of B vitamins, magnesium,

If you’re reading this magazine, chances are you’re not an angsty teenager because, well, paper is a foreign material to most in the millennium. Since you’re well past your acne-prone pubescence, then why did that crazy huge pimple pop up overnight o

I have picked up Oxygen in the past, but this one has to be the best one yet! The “Blend In” and “Make-Ahead Meals” articles in the Spring 2020 issue were exactly what I was looking for. Thanks! — KONOCHIA, VIA EMAIL I am really loving the newest inc

Lack of the sunshine vitamin could exacerbate back pain in postmenopausal women, according to an analysis published in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society. The study found that women who had low levels of vitamin D also had

Author of “Forgive to Live Healthy,” Page 99 Kyra Mackesy, Oxygen junior digital content manager and marketing specialist, put pen to paper this issue to write about forgiveness. “Researching this article felt therapeutic because I was able to reflec

by now, many of you have probably “Kondo’d” your living spaces using the signature de-cluttering process made famous by organizational guru Marie Kondo. The result: cleaner homes, more functional work spaces and greater peace of mind. But what if we

LOOKING TO INCREASE STRENGTH AND POWER? ADD BARBELL TRAINING INTO YOUR ROTATION. ACCORDING TO A STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL OF STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING RESEARCH, SUBJECTS WHO USED BARBELLS COULD LIFT CLOSE TO 10 PERCENT MORE WEIGHT THAN THOSE WHO