Men's Health USA 10.2021

STRONGER, FASTER, BETTER Back! Chest!
Biceps!
“Throttle Up!”
NO WEIGHT
JAMIE
MUSCLE
FOXX PLAN

His ZERO-QUIT, The
ALL-GRIT Guide
to WINNING LEGDAY
You’ll
WORK Actually
LESS, LOVE
LIVE
MORE BALD

Upgrade LIKE A

YOUR BOSS
COMMUTE
This
Super- Shot May
Charge
Prevent
YOUR FOCUS Cancer.

Keep Your Cool Have You
Gotten Yours?
AND KICK SOME ASS



TUNE IN TO FUEL-UP WITH:

LUKE COUTINHO BRYAN SNYDER, RD

SCOTT M. SMITH, PhD DALLAS SEAVEY

For you to cut out and keep! JEREMY JONES VICKY LOSADA

ALISTAIR & JONNY JOSH ALLEN
BROWNLEE

Today,
snack a little bolder.

®/©2020 Tyson Foods, Inc.

Jamie Foxx photographed by
AB + DM exclusively for Men’s
Health. Styling by Ted Stafford
and Jack Manson. Grooming
by Deidre Dixon. Makeup by
Shawn Janifer. Set design by
Wooden Ladder. Production by
Crawford & Co Productions. On
the newsstand cover: T-shirt
by Alternative Apparel; pants
by Balance Athletica; watch
by Bulova. On the subscriber
cover: T-shirt by Exclusive
Game; pants by Balance
Athletica; watch by Bulova.
This page: Sweatshirt by Hanes.

“You see a wave coming,
what’s the first thing
you want to do? Throttle
down, right? No. You can’t.
You’ve got to throttle up.”

—JAMIE FOXX, P. 56

FEATURES 56 ON THE NEXT 64 ACTION FIGURES the most famous boy- 88 THE TOXIC
EPISODE OF THE friend on the planet. JOB OF BEING
JAMIE FOXX SHOW 10,000 steps? 8 hours of A HERO
sleep? Here’s which health BY NOJAN AMINOSHAREI
Jamie Foxx isn’t and fitness numbers are Cancer rates are higher
slowing down. The worth striving to achieve— 76 HOMING among firefighters.
Oscar and Grammy and which are baloney. FROM WORK When one firefighter’s
winner has a new family set out to find
memoir, a new BY SCARLETT WRENCH You might be heading answers, they were
stand-up special in back to the office soon shocked at where
the works, and new 70 BEING (or maybe you never they found them—
movie and TV projects SAM ASGHARI left!), but that doesn’t and who wanted to
(Spider-Man: No Way mean you have to scrap cover up the truth.
Home! Tyson!) for days. He’s been trying to all your WFH habits.
#FreeBritney for years, Here’s how to stay happy, BY DAVID FERRY
BY GERRICK KENNEDY but Sam Asghari wants healthy, and productive.
to be more than just

PHOTOGRAPH BY AB + DM MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 3

CONTENTS

MEAT DONE RIGHT

The secret to grilling
a perfect steak:

no grilling required.
(See page 36.)

MH WORLD BODY 24 Pea protein seems LIFE Food styling: Jamie Kimm. Prop styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart.

9 The WFH habits you’re 15 Your secret to to be everywhere— 33 Less is more.
but can it really help
(eventually) bringing building core strength you build muscle? Harness the power
back to the office, a and stability: chaos of going bald!
rugby-inspired weight- band training. 26 Is the Military
loss transformation, 36 There’s only one
and how to know when 18 Forge shorts-stretching Diet your new weight-
it’s time to say, “I quit!” loss weapon? right way to cook
quads with this brutally the perfect steak.
effective, actually fun 28 There’s a cancer- (Hint: You’ll need
leg-day routine. to pump iron.)
preventing vaccine,
22 6 A.M.: How Carmelo and you should get it, 38 30/10: These
like, now.
Anthony’s workout huevos rancheros
strengthens his body 30 How a sports- are a protein-packed
and sharpens his mind. breakfast, lunch, and
medicine doc keeps dinner of champions.
his joints young.
41 The key to looking

sharper this fall?
Layers, layers, layers.

44 Bacne, bumps,

a rash . . . down there.
All your scary skin
situations solved.

47 Cool Dad: Kevin

Swan has back-to-
school anxiety only
his preschool-age
daughter can fix.

MIND

49 Watch YouTube

(really!), and other
tactics to reboot
your workday brain.

52 Go ahead, get

your full night’s sleep.
Then use these four
strategies to crush
your morning.

54 Gregory Scott

Brown, M.D., on dialing
back distractions and
staying focused.

55 How Peloton

cofounder Tom Cortese
manages stress and
maintains productivity.

+

96 Six Pack: Queer

Eye’s Antoni Porowski,
the author of Antoni:
Let’s Do Dinner, reveals
his essential gear.

4 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRISTOPHER TESTANI

FW
/2 1

REINVENT
YOUR GAME

FALL/WINTER 2021

VERSATILE DESIGNS THAT TAKE
YOU BEYOND THE COURSE.
P X G . C O M / A P PA R E L

ATLANTA | CHICAGO | DALLAS
MINNEAPOLIS | SCOTTSDALE | SEATTLE

PXG A P PA R E L I S O N LY S O L D D I R E C T BY PXG

TEAM Personnel Question:

What book, podcast, or app
makes your commute fun?

Richard Dorment I love Jack Essig MEET THE
audiobooks.
MEN’S HEALTH
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Listening to Don’t SVP/PUBLISHING DIRECTOR
ADVISORY
Jamie Prokell Creative Director Breathe a Word Chris Peel Executive Director, Hearst Men’s Group PANEL
Ellen Payne Executive Managing Editor now, by my

colleague Jordyn ADVERTISING SALES

EDITORIAL Taylor! NEW YORK (212) 649-2000 We know a lot about health
Ben Court, Mike Darling Executive Editors Caryn Kesler Executive Director, Luxury Goods and fitness, but we don’t
know as much as the doctors,
Ebenezer Samuel Fitness Director John Wattiker Executive Director, Fashion & Retail scientists, and trainers who
keep us honest and up-to-date.
Ben Paynter Features Editor Doug Zimmerman Senior Grooming Director

Nojan Aminosharei Entertainment Director Kim Buonassisi Advertising Sales Director

Jordyn Taylor, Spencer Dukoff Kyle Taylor East Coast Automotive Sales Director

Deputy Editors John Cipolla Integrated Account Director

Marty Munson Health Director Brad Gettelfinger Sales Manager, Hearst Direct Media

Paul Kita Senior Editor CHICAGO (312) 964-4900 BRAIN HEALTH:
P. Murali Doraiswamy, M.D.
Brett Williams Fitness Editor Autumn Jenks, Justin Harris Midwest Sales Directors

Taylyn Washington-Harmon Health Editor I ride the train LOS ANGELES (310) 664-2801 CARDIOLOGY:
Evan Romano Associate Editor with Relisten, Patti Lange Western Ad Director John Elefteriades, M.D.
Joshua St. Clair, Milan Polk Editorial Assistants Anne Rethmeyer Group Sales Director, Auto Foluso Fakorede, M.D.
David Wolinsky, M.D.
ART so I can hear many SAN FRANCISCO (510) 508-9252 The Daily
Liz Chan Deputy Art Director underrated Phish Andrew Kramer Kramer Media DERMATOLOGY: is a staple,
Eric Rosati Designer Brian Capell, M.D., Ph.D.
Jason Speakman Associate Digital Visual Editor and Grateful DETROIT (248) 614-6120 Corey L. Hartman, M.D. or the
Sam Shanahan Detroit Automotive Director Adnan Nasir, M.D., Ph.D. Prof G Pod.
Matthew Montesano Digital Imaging Specialist Dead shows.
DALLAS (972) 533-8665

HEARST VISUAL GROUP Patty Rudolph PR 4.0 Media EMERGENCY MEDICINE:
Jedidiah Ballard, D.O.
Alix Campbell Chief Visual Content Director Samantha Irwin General Manager, Hearst Men’s Group Italo M. Brown, M.D., M.P.H.
Sally Berman Visual Director Karen Ferber Business Manager Robert Glatter, M.D.
James Morris, Justin O’Neill Contributing
Visual Directors Paul Baumeister Research Director ENDOCRINOLOGY:
Scott M. Lacey Deputy Visual Director Alison Papalia Executive Director, Consumer Marketing Sandeep Dhindsa, M.D.
Amy Wong Senior Visual Editor
Giancarlos Kunhardt Visual Assistant Chris Hertwig Production Manager EXERCISE SCIENCE:
Dangi McCoy Contributing Deputy Visual Director Aurelia Duke Finance Director Martin Gibala, Ph.D.
Mark Peterson, Ph.D., C.S.C.S.*D
Everette Hampton Executive Assistant Brad Schoenfeld, Ph.D., C.S.C.S.
Toni Starrs, Yvonne Villareal,

FASHION Samantha Wolf, Olivia Zurawin
Ted Stafford Fashion Director Sales Assistants

Adam Mansuroglu Senior Style & Gear Editor PUBLIC RELATIONS GASTROENTEROLOGY: The Dr. John
Dale Arden Chong Gear & Commerce Editor Nathan Christopher Executive Director, Public Relations Felice Schnoll-Sussman, M.D. Berardi Show

COPY I LOVE doing Anouska Best Public Relations Coordinator INTEGRATIVE HEALTH: is my go-to
Janna Ojeda Assistant Managing Editor
John Kenney Managing Copy Editor the New York Times MARKETING SERVICES Brenda Powell, M.D. podcast. I listen
Cameron Connors Executive Director,
Alisa Cohen Barney Senior Copy Editor crossword app, Head of Brand Strategy and Marketing INTERNAL MEDICINE: while walking
Stephanie Block Integrated Marketing Director Keith Roach, M.D. my two dogs.
Connor Sears, David Fairhurst because it’s engaging Jaclyn D’Andrea Marketing Coordinator
Assistant Copy Editors and it’s one of MENTAL HEALTH:

RESEARCH the rare moments Alison Brown Special Events Director Gregory Scott Brown, M.D.
Jana Nesbitt Gale Executive Creative Director Thomas Joiner, Ph.D.
Jennifer Messimer Research Chief when I don’t check Avi Klein, L.C.S.W.
Michael B. Sarpy Art Director Drew Ramsey, M.D.
Nick Pachelli Assistant Research Editor my email.

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS CIRCULATION NUTRITION:
Milo F. Bryant, Michael Easter, Rick Day VP, Strategy and Business Management
Dezi Abeyta, R.D.N.
Philip Ellis, Garrett Munce, Zachary Zane
PUBLISHED BY HEARST Chris Mohr, Ph.D.,R.D.

OTHER CONTRIBUTORS My Steven R. Swartz President & Chief Executive Officer Brian St. Pierre, R.D., C.S.C.S.

Lou Dilorenzo Contributing Art Director ’90s R&B William R. Hearst III Chairman PAIN MEDICINE: Sex with
Frank A. Bennack, Jr. Executive Vice Chairman Paul Christo, M.D., M.B.A. Strangers,
playlist on Apple
VIDEO Mark E. Aldam Chief Operating Officer with Chris Sowa.
SEX & RELATIONSHIPS: It’s a podcast
Dorenna Newton Executive Producer Music really makes HEARST MAGAZINES, INC. Debby Herbenick, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Tony Xie, Elyssa Aquino Video Producers my commute from Debi Chirichella President, Shamyra Howard, L.C.S.W. that explores
Hearst Magazines Group, and Treasurer
HEARST MEN’S FASHION GROUP Brooklyn less Justin Lehmiller, Ph.D. sex around
Nick Sullivan Fashion Director painful. Kate Lewis Chief Content Officer
SLEEP MEDICINE: the world.
Alfonso Fernández Navas Market Editor Kristen M. O’Hara Chief Business Officer
W. Christopher Winter, M.D.
Rashad Minnick Fashion Associate Catherine A. Bostron Secretary

Gilbert C. Maurer, Mark F. Miller Publishing Consultants SPORTS MEDICINE:

MEN’S HEALTH INTERNATIONAL EDITIONS Kim St. Clair Bodden SVP/Editorial & Brand Director Michael Fredericson, M.D.

Australia, China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Chloe O’Brien Deputy Brands Director Dan Giordano, D.P.T., C.S.C.S.

Korea, Latin America, Netherlands, Poland, Shelley Meeks Executive Director, Content Services Bill Hartman, P.T.

Portugal, Russia, South Africa, Spain, UK I listen to

TRAINING: This American

Lee Boyce, C.P.T. Life. Another

Mike Boyle, M.Ed., A.T.C. favorite is Malcolm
Ben Bruno, C.F.S.C. Gladwell’s
Alwyn Cosgrove, C.S.C.S.*D
Revisionist
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Men’s Health carries the latest health, fitness, and nutrition reporting to provide you with Men’s Health is a WEIGHT MANAGEMENT:
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6 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH



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On page 76, we dive into BEHIND THE SCENES
something we’ve gotten WITH THE EXPERTS,
quite familiar with: ADVISORS, AND
working from home. READERS WHO BRING
So we asked on Twitter, MEN’S HEALTH TO
What’s one WFH LIFE, AND THEN SOME.
habit you hope to
keep forever? Checking on people I
haven’t heard from and
Washing of my asking if they are ok or
hands regularly need anything. Instead
or should I say of a #gratitudelist I make
religiously. a “who can I help?” list.

@cobsgee @robbeeej

Not shaking Gallon of water
hands . . . a day & fasting
24 hours once
@mbeachbum a week.

Cold showers, @breakingtad
meditation, yoga
and reading . . . Running 2-3
miles a day. Don’t
@krisplonsky know why it took
a pandemic for
ILLUSTRATION BY MICHAEL BRANDON MYERS me to decide to
again but

@SJPCLE

Slow down and read
the whole page, post,
letter, article etc.

@WMApache14

MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 9

WORLD EDITOR’S LET TER

Q+A WITH THE E.I.C. Uncertain) Return to the Office. Seventy ASK THE
percent of Americans worked from home ADVISORS
“At this point, does it in the early days of the pandemic, with
50 percent of them still WFH-ing as of Q. How do you
MAKE SENSE to seek jobs earlier this year—I’m one of them—and
with a prerequisite of WFH as we write in the introduction to our know when
story, each of us has learned a ton about you should quit
THE MAJORITY ourselves through these weird working your job?
arrangements: “You learned you work
OF THE TIME?” better with music. You learned you need A.Ask yourself:
to see people less than you thought. You Is the job worth
—@drsujol learned you need a break at exactly 3:15 your investment?
every day. Or maybe you learned the Most challenging jobs
WAIT, WHAT’S THAT? I can’t hear you opposite of each of those things. The come with stress; it’s
over the din of the hornet’s nest you just point is: This was enlightening.” the level of stress you
kicked. As I’m writing this, it’s early I learned that I have better ideas when need to be mindful of.
August, and between the low Covid-19 I’m physically around other people. I Are you gaining weight
vaccination numbers (and the resulting learned that despite a lifetime of social or losing your appe-
high infection rates) in some parts of the anxiety, I am sort of a people person. I tite? Are you losing
country, the spread of the Delta variant, learned that I prefer making my own interest in hobbies,
the confusion over who should be wearing lunch and eating it slowly throughout lacking motivation,
a mask and when (and where!), and the the afternoon. I learned that being able or easily angered?
Mars-Venus divide between the Work to pick up my kids from school every now (Burnout can look like
from Home Forever crowd and the Return and then is important to me. depression.) Are you
to the Office ASAP contingent, it’s safe developing unhealthy
to say that “at this point,” we still have a What I do with this self-knowledge is habits, like eating
few noisy things to clear up about our so- up to me, just as your own WFH-fueled more sugary foods,
called post-Covid lives. journey of self-discovery should inform drinking more, and
your next move. It seems like you’re avoiding friends? All
Including what each of us wants out of struggling with how much and how often of this could be a sign
work—something that’s always worth you want to work in an office setting, that you’re under too
thinking about, but especially at a time and the answer depends on the value much stress. Next, ask
when people are switching jobs in record you place on being in the same space at yourself: Are things
numbers and so many companies are the same time as your coworkers. Start likely to get better
taking a hard look at the whole nine-to- by thinking through five things you’ve soon? If there’s no
five thing. Which is why in this issue we’ve learned about how (and when, and hope for the stress
got a sprawling story about the coun- where) you work best and then build out turning into gains (a
try’s Great Big (and at Press Time Still a decision from there. Maybe being in promotion, a better
an office some or part of the day/week/ job down the line, a
month is important to you. Maybe it’s respite after a project),
not. But in the end, you’ll find a job that’s it might not be worth
right for you. And if that new gig involves “toughing it out.”
face time in an office, make sure you
bring the best parts of your WFH expe- —AVI KLEIN, L.C.S.W.,
rience with you. Starting on page 76, we MH MENTAL-HEALTH ADVISOR
have a few ideas.
+ HaveaquestionforRich?
Richard Dorment, Editor-in-Chief Tweet us at @MensHealthMag
with the hashtag #AskMHRich
and ask away.

Allie Holloway

10 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH

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ordinary clouds

They’re gathered by equatorial trade winds
over a remote Fijian island, 1,600 miles from
the nearest continent. Their rain filters through
volcanic rock, gathering more than double
the electrolytes* for a soft, smooth taste.
What these clouds make isn’t just water.
It’s FIJI Water.

FIJIWater.com

*Compared to the other two top premium bottled water brands.
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WORLD GOALS

COMMENTS SECTION MVP
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DAVID BlenderBottle, and
NATION CLARKE Ascent Protein or
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It was a big summer for F’s: fast, furious, STATS
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AGE: 35 is my dream
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look inside rapper/actor/Fast stalwart LOCATION:
He is the highest-
Ludacris’s gym and fridge— Jersey City, NJ ranked openly gay
and commenters on Instagram and CrossFit Games
OCCUPATION: athlete and an
YouTube had something to say. inspiration to other
Performing-arts LGBTQ+ athletes. He
publicist and is a badass!
nutrition coach
My personal
I told @menshealthmag I’m MEN’S HEALTH MVP members have access to the best health motto
repping for ALL the 4 Pack
Muthafuckas in the World who and fitness articles out there. Each month, we survey our Borrowed from my
Drink & Smoke Everyday!! MVPs and choose one whose story catches our eye. Sign up at best friend: “You can
join.menshealth.com and you could see yourself here one day. do anything for ten
LIFE IS ABOUT BALANCE!! seconds!”
Men’s Health Mag New Issue Out How rugby My fitness What you’ll Andrew Hetherington (Ludacris). Courtesy subject (Clarke). Alamy (The Silence of the Lambs, Zombieland, Midsommar). Getty Images (Halloween).
NOW! Link in my Bio @ludacris changed my life goals this year always find in What keeps
my gym bag me motivated
Caption of the year I was 30, roughly To PR my front squat
right here! But I see 6 my G! 320 pounds, and the at 3 x 150 pounds or Nobull trainers, “Progress is rarely
Keep raising the bar on the over poster child for being more, my back squat TWL Karbon grips, a linear.” My former
40 group! @davidalexander unhealthy. Through at 3 x 215 pounds or jump rope, Griptek rugby coach once
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Enchiladas in mole
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@scotteastwood THE MEN’S HEALTH TWITTER POLL

IT’S OCTOBER, SO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS: TIME TO WATCH
A WHOLE BUNCH OF HORROR MOVIES. BUT WHEN WE SAY

“HORROR MOVIES,” WELL, THAT’S ONE HELL OF A RANGE.

SO WE ASKED FOR YOUR FAVORITE HORROR CATEGORY.

Based on 660 responses to @MensHealthMag.

Everything Ludacris had
said . . . is how I feel too. Hate
working out, but the benefits
pay off. Be strong mentally and
that’ll make you strong physi-
cally. TH Collect

“You can never run outta eggs.” 12.3% 8.3%
That’s the truth. Marvin Kelley
SLASHERS CULTS
“If you fart, you break yourself PSYCHOLOGICAL ZOMBIES
(HALLOWEEN, (MIDSOMMAR,
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ARMY OF THE DEAD)

12 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH

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When you choose paper products, you create a healthy market for forest products, which in turn
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VITALITY STARTS HERE

EMBRACE TRAINING YOUR MAJOR muscle
CHAOS,
FORGE groups regularly is hard enough.
MUSCLE The last thing you have time to
do is train the little guys—your
This radical approach to rotator cuffs, your hip stabilizers,
resistance training will carve and your external obliques—that
your core and supercharge support your main core muscles.
every exercise. But what if you could target these
neglected muscle groups while
BY MILO F. BRYANT, C.S.C.S. still blasting major ones like your
chest, back, and legs, too?
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ANDREW HANCOCK
Finish off your next workout
with some “chaos band training”
and you can pull that off. And sure,
this emerging trend looks like a
#gymfail waiting to happen. But
it’s a chance to force every muscle
in your body to work as one as you
battle an unstable, unpredictable
resistance band.

MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 15

BODY JOIN THE BAND!

BAND CAMP

Start with these four chaos band training exercises,
which challenge your whole body.

‘Oh, shit!’ 1 CHAOSPUSHUP
Stretch a heavily weighted band around the hooks of a squat
16 OCTOBER 2021 | rack, at about thigh level. Place your hands on the band and
extend your legs behind you on a box (or for more challenge,
a stability ball). Bend at the arms and shoulders, lowering your
chest to the band; press back up. Do 3 sets of 10.

2
ZERCHER
MARCH

Set up a barbell in a
squat rack, at about
elbow level. Wrap
a band around each
side of the barbell;
hang a light weight
from each band.
Pick up the bar in
the creases of your
elbows, abs tight.
March in place for 30
seconds. Do 3 sets.

3 4
BODYWEIGHT ROW KETTLEBELL
FRONT SQUAT
Stretch a heavily weighted
band around the hooks or bars Wrap the handle
of a squat rack, at about thigh of a kettlebell on
level. Lie with your back on the floor in a heavily
the floor beneath the band, weighted band.
shoulders directly under Squat down and
it. Reach up and grasp the grasp the ends of
band, using an overhand grip. the band near the
Tighten your abs and glutes. handle; keep your
Keeping a straight line from hands close to your
shoulders through feet, pull shoulders. Stand
your chest toward the band. with the weight,
Pause, then lower. That’s 1 rep; keeping your hands
do 3 sets of 6 to 8. (and the ends of
the band) near your
COMMANDMENTS shoulders. Push your
butt back and lower
OF CHAOS into a squat; stand
back up. That’s 1 rep;
Follow these rules to safely do 3 sets of 8 to 10.
implement chaos band train-
ing in your routine.

DO: DOUBLE THE BANDS

Always use the thickest
looped bands available in your
gym. “Don’t be afraid to use
multiple bands, either,” says
MH fitness director Ebenezer
Samuel, C.S.C.S. Even with
ultraheavy bands, weights will
oscillate up and down, allow-
ing your muscles to work.

DON’T: OVERUSE THE CHAOS

“Use it sparingly,” says David
Otey, C.S.C.S. Aim to start
your routine with classic
exercises. Choose one chaos
band move a day, at most, and
do it as your last exercise.

DO: USE LIGHT WEIGHTS

You won’t max out with chaos
band exercises. Start with
50 percent less weight than
normal on weighted moves.

DON’T: GET BALLISTIC

Don’t expect to do clapping
pushups or explosive squats
with chaos bands. Do all your
reps under control.

MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 17

BODY BUILD. THOSE. WHEELS.

THE LEG DAY

YOU WILL LOVE

Never skip leg day. It’s a legendary gym maxim—and there’s a reason for that.
Yes, lower-body training is often as vicious as all the memes suggest, but with that

grind comes serious gain: You incinerate calories by using your body’s largest
muscles, you build core strength, and you improve your athleticism. So whatever

fall throws at you, you’ll be more than ready. BY BRAD SCHOENFELD, PH.D., C.S.C.S.*D

Do this full workout 2 WORKOUT (a) 1 BULGARIAN
10 dumbbell rows. Once a week, go (b) SPLIT SQUAT
for a 20-minute walk or run. DIRECTIONS: Do 3 sets
WARMUP of each exercise. Do 12 Build your glutes and quads
reps in the first set, 10 and challenge your balance
WALKOUT TO reps in the second, and 8 with this squat variation. Kneel
SPIDERMAN LUNGE reps in the final set. Rest on your right knee with your
2 minutes between sets. right instep on a bench, left foot
(a) Add weight each set if you flat on the floor, left knee bent.
can; the final set of each Hold dumbbells at your sides.
exercise should push your Tighten your core and straighten
muscles to their limits. your left leg, standing up. This is
the start (a). Keeping your core
tight, bend your left knee and
lower your torso until your left
thigh is parallel to the floor (b).
Press back up. That’s 1 rep. Do a
set on each side.

(b)

(c) (d) 2 (a)
(b)
Stand (a), then put your hands on the floor FRONT SQUAT
(b). Walk them out into pushup position (c),
keeping your core tight. Tighten your left Now strengthen your quads, glutes,
glute and shift your right foot to outside your
right hand (d). Return to pushup position, re- (b). Stand back up. That’s 1 rep.
peat on the other side, then walk your hands
back to standing. Repeat the pattern for 40 PHOTOGRAPHS BY KATHRYN WIRSING
seconds, then rest 20 seconds. Do 3 sets.

TANK, SHORTS, AND SHOES BY NIKE.

18 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH

T H I S M O N T H ’S T R A I N E R : Men’s Health advisor B R A D S C HOE N F E L D, PICTURED HERE:
P H . D. , C . S .C . S .* D, is a renowned muscle researcher and a professor
of exercise science at Lehman College. His new book, The M.A.X. D A N E F I S C H E R is a New York–based
Muscle Plan 2.0, is out November 1. trainer and a veteran fitness model.

3 ASSISTED (a)
BODYWEIGHT
SISSY SQUAT

Get ready for a quad-

(a) focused burn that’ll make

you a stronger jumper.

Stand next to a bench

or railing. Place your left

hand on the bench, feet (b)

shoulder-width apart (a).

Tighten your abs and glutes,

keeping your body in a

straight line from shoulders

(b) through knees. Without

bending at the waist, lift

your heels off the floor and

push your knees forward,

lowering your knees as close 4
to the floor as you can (b).
Stand back up. That’s 1 rep.

STRAIGHT-LEG DEADLIFT

Stand holding dumbbells at your sides, abs tight,
feet about hip-width apart (a). Bend your knees just
slightly. Tighten your abs. Keeping the weights close
to your thighs and shins, push your butt back and
lower your torso until you feel your hamstrings tighten
or your torso is parallel with the floor (b). Stand back
up. That’s 1 rep. You’re building your glutes and teach-
ing your body to pick things up from the ground.

5 DUMBBELL HAMSTRING CURL (b)
Isolate your hamstrings with this exercise, bulletproofing them against
injury while building strength, too. Lie with your chest on a bench, core
tight, a dumbbell held tightly between your feet (a). Grip the underside
of the bench for support. Without moving your thighs, bend your knees,
curling the weight upward (b). Lower slowly. That’s 1 rep.

(b)
(a)

6 (a)

STANDING ONE-LEG CALF RAISE

Stand with the ball of your right foot on a step or
plate (a). Hold a dumbbell at your hip in your right
hand; grip a bench for support. Bend your knee
slightly. Rise onto your right tiptoes, flexing your right
calf (b). Lower. That’s 1 rep. Do a set on each side.

MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 19

Men’s Health Studios for Brooks Running

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interval training (HIIT) workout, try these easy exercises
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TRACK Start: Jog for a few minutes to raise
your core temp, then do 10
reps of each dynamic drill

to stretch, strengthen, and

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1/ Lift your left knee like
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and swing your right
arm forward.
2/ Put your foot and arm
back down.
3/ Repeat with right knee
and left arm.

2

1/ Raise your right knee to
form a right angle with
the ground.

2/ Extend your leg, engaging
your quad, while swinging
your left arm forward and
your right arm back.

3/ Switch sides.

3

1/ Swing your left arm
forward and right arm back.

2/ At the same time, slowly
lift your right heel toward
your glute and engage
your hamstring.

3/ Switch sides.

4 Your muscles should be ready for this HIIT
sequence, which toggles between intervals
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BODY

6 A.M. WITH...

CARMELO

ANTHONY
Eighteen years into his NBA
career, MELO still prioritizes hoops. There’s a wine label to be announced soon, and he
cofounded an online basketball-coaching platform,
But the future Hall of Famer called Through the Lens, with Bazzell. His memoir,
has learned to make time for Where Tomorrows Aren’t Promised, is available now.
And his son, 14-year-old Kiyan, begins playing high
other interests, too. school hoops this year. “When I’m in the gym, I’m
in the gym,” says Anthony. “We build my schedule,
BY JOE LEMIRE I build my business, around that. As long as I get my
workout in, everything else is smooth sailing.”
CCARMELO ANTHONY doesn’t need to shoot his way out of this. He just
needs to think about it. He’s halfway through a mid-July workout Anthony knows the workout has to happen, because
session when he catches the ball near the free-throw line, his back the past few seasons have taught him to stay in shape.
to the basket, dribbles once, and shakes his imaginary defender. When he entered the league in 2003, a heavier, slower
Then he whirls, elevates, and fires a trademark fadeaway. Anthony was one of basketball’s best scorers. But
Except his footwork is “a little rusty,” according to his skills he’s reinvented his game the past two years. When
coach, Alex Bazzell. So “that damn move,” says Melo, will play on Covid forced the NBA to finish its season in a bubble
repeat in his mind the rest of the day. “For me, now and where I’m at in Orlando last summer, Anthony, then with the
in my career,” he says, “is all about the mental part.” Portland Trail Blazers, showed up with a newly toned
These days, it has to be. Because at 37 years old and after nearly body, earning the nickname “Skinny Melo.” He’d
two decades in the NBA, Carmelo Anthony, who’s now a Los shed just five pounds, he says, but it was enough to
Angeles Laker, can no longer spend his entire off-season on the take stress off his joints and help him add quickness.
hardwood. Instead, almost every day over the summer, the league’s
tenth-all-time leading scorer works out for an hour, doing hoops
drills, cardio work, and strength training at the gym in the Life
Time Athletic club in Manhattan’s Sky building.
It’s a focused session that frees him up to spend the rest of the
day attending to other responsibilities. He’s a business mogul
now, with a venture-capital firm (Melo7 Tech Partners), a produc-
tion company (Creative 7), and a fashion label (StayMe7o) to run.

22 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH PHOTOGRAPHS BY JEFF ALLEN

Carmelo Anthony He did it by training with Bazzell and by trying BETWEEN
has a memoir out new kinds of exercise. He boxed, ran sprints, did SETS
now and an online Pilates, and fell in love with cycling, both on a
hoops-coaching plat- Peloton and on New York City streets. Hang out on FAVORITE EXERCISE?
form, but he still finds Manhattan’s West Side and you may see him whiz
time to regularly by. “With a quick look,” he says, “you can find me.” “You can believe it or
hone his game. not, but I like running
Anthony’s also learned that it’s not all about outside. I like running
COURT SUCCESS! speed. Hoops and training may come first, but sprints on the field.”
between calls and work come steady doses of
Boost your hoops perfor- mindfulness. Anthony starts each day with 30 MOST HATED
mance on the playground minutes away from phones and TV, breathing and EXERCISE?
being present. And once the hoops training is done
or indoors with these and “Business Melo” has gone to work, he’ll fit in “I’m getting better at it,
drills from Bazzell. periodic ten-minute breaks throughout the day. “To [but] lunges and shit
gather myself and recenter myself,” he says. like that. I don’t like it.
3-AND-OUT It’s beneficial, though.”
Play a friend in a game of Right now, though, he’s still in game mode,
one-on-one, with one rule finishing off the day’s battery of exercises by forcing WHAT’S ON
adjustment: On any given himself to swish two straight free throws. It’s a YOUR PLAYLIST?
possession, you can drib- vicious drill that “makes you focus,” he says, and
ble only three times before after that, Bazzell bounces him a ball for a quick “Today, I was listening
you must shoot. You’ll learn dunk. Then basketball is done for the day for Car- to Young Jeezy. I try to
to make better use of every melo Anthony—except for that rusty fadeaway. tap into the people that,
step on the court. when I first got started,
this is who was inspir-
QUICK-SHOT ing me, this is who I was
Pick a spot around the free- listening to. Every day is
throw line. Start working going to be somebody
crossovers and between- different, depending
the-legs and behind-the-
back dribbles quickly. Have on the mood.”
a friend yell, “Go!” When-
ever that happens, you WHO IS YOUR DREAM
must immediately gather WORKOUT PARTNER?
the ball and shoot. You’ll
improve your ability to find “I’ve never liked
a shooting angle instantly. working out with any-
body. I never wanted

[comparisons].”

ULTIMATE CHEAT MEAL?

“I’m a pizza guy. I love
pizza. Only one New

York style: cheese.”

MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 23

BODY The pea-protein market is
already worth an estimated
THE MIGHTY RISE OF $213 million, according to anal-
ysis by Grand View Research—
PEA PROTEIN and that’s expected to double
by 2025, as plant-based diets
Pulverized peas are in everything now—from continue to become more
protein supplements to cookies to ice cream. How’d mainstream. Puris is the larg-
est pea-protein manufacturer
this little legume get so massive? BY CATHY ERWAY in North America, and its
CEO, Tyler Lorenzen, says the
muscle-building snacks that are invading supermarket shelves now. company’s joint venture with
global food corporation Cargill
24 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH has enabled it to build a new
facility in Minnesota that will
double production.

Good thing, too, because pea
protein is about to be every-
where. Beyond Meat creates its
burgers and sausages from the
ingredient. Ripple Foods crafts
its plant-based milks, shakes,
and frozen desserts from the
stuff. PeaTos makes its signa-
ture snack in five flavors, with
four grams of protein per serv-
ing. Supplement start-ups like
Owyn and Ladder are churning
out pea-protein powders. So
what’s driving all this growth?
And what’s so revolutionary, or
even healthy, about ingesting
all these peas, anyway?

MORE PEAS ON EARTH

SUPPLY AND DEMAND.
Demand and supply. You have
to look at both to understand
why pea protein is so popular
now. First, cuisines across the planet
have long depended on yellow peas as a
staple in many dishes: Indian dal, Rus-
sian split-pea soup, and Chinese split-pea
cake, to name a few.
And legumes like yellow peas are not
only good for you; they’re good for the
land, too. Their nitrogen-fixing qualities
have rendered them an essential crop
in many farming systems, big or small;
they require less energy to grow than
other crops, like wheat, corn, and soy.
Lorenzen says that was the reason his
father founded the company that would
eventually become Puris in the mid-
’80s—to build a market for farmers who
grew peas to enrich their soil. Back then,
manufacturers used yellow peas primar-
ily in livestock feed or pet food, or sellers
shipped the peas overseas. This didn’t
make the farmers much money—and it

ILLUSTRATION BY SCOTT ANDERSON

didn’t make much sense to feed livestock a decline in milk consumption in the U. S. then there are the flavors. Of a recent flavor
whole lot of plant-based protein to grow and you have a market hungry for nondairy ofwheyproteinhetried,Helmssays: “Iwas
animal protein. alternatives. And if newly minted plant- like, Did I just have a Butterfinger?”
based, protein-focused CrossFitters can’t
The major pea-protein players argue eat animal products, that leaves them with While pea protein’s transformation
that their product can help reverse only a few options. Like peas. from livestock feed into hot sports sup-
the inefficiencies of current U. S. agricul- plement has been rapid, its relative grit-
tural practices by transforming plants Except that what’s lost in the discussion tiness and plant flavor are sticking points
into foods that Americans already love to around this dietary shift is whether pea for some consumers. Compared with whey
eat, such as burgers and snacks. Or pro- protein has all the benefits of animal-based protein, pea protein tends to give smooth-
tein shakes. protein. The answer demands a look into ies a “sludge-like” texture, says Helms.
the geeky world of protein quality. And it tastes, well, like peas, says Stephen
Powderized yellow peas certainly deliver Zieminski, founder of Naked Nutrition.
on protein. Two scoops of one popular THE AMINO ADVANTAGE
brand, Naked Pea, carry 27 grams of pro- Zero taste is among the highest priori-
tein, two grams of carbohydrates, and 120 PLANT-BASED-DIET followers like to ties for pea-protein makers. “I know pea
calories. (By comparison, the same amount claim that their athletic performance protein gets a bad rap for grittiness and
of Naked Whey contains 25 grams of pro- actually improved when they cut out or cut that earthy taste,” says Sumiec, the pro-
tein, three grams of carbs, and the same back on animal products. (There is no con- cess engineer at Puris. The company’s
number of calories.) Pea protein is also typ- crete research to suggest plant-based diets production process is designed to make the
ically less expensive than dairy-based whey. are superior for sports performance.) And powder “bland in the best way possible.” To
in terms of muscle building specifically, neutralize the somewhat polarizing natu-
But even if you factor in familiarity, plant-based protein powder is only just as ral taste of peas, Puris continues to refine
sustainability, cost, and nutrition, that’s good as whey or casein, both dairy-based. an evaporation technique that may further
often still not enough to create mass- improve, and ultimately eliminate, bitter
market demand. For that you need some- Pea protein can help you build mus- flavors. Until then, it’s up to other food
thing else: hype. And within the past few cle mass postworkout, says Eric Helms, scientists and start-ups to devise innova-
years, that hype has arrived in the form of Ph.D., C.S.C.S., a sports physiology and tive flavor cover-ups. And some big-time
“plant-based” diets. nutrition research fellow at Auckland Uni- players appear to be on the case as well.
versity of Technology in New Zealand. But, PepsiCo continues to invest in the trend,
GOT PLANTS? he cautions, there are many ways to gauge adding pea protein to its Naked juices and
whether a protein is “good.” Evolve milk line and, earlier this year,
PLANT-BASED EATING is trending for partnering with Beyond to develop new
lots of reasons, says Karen Ansel, M.S., One is by checking its protein digestibil- products. Could pea-protein-infused
R.D.N., the author of Healing Super- ity–corrected amino-acid score—a way to sports drinks or (big gulp) sodas be next?
foods for Anti-Aging. For years, research measure a protein’s amino-acid composi-
has shown that plant-forward diets can tion in relation to a person’s needs. Helms This is all part of the process of “nor-
improve your health by reducing the risk says that whey protein scores 1, the gold malizing” the consumption of more plant-
of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. standard, because it delivers all nine of the based ingredients, says Lorenzen. “I think
But recently, “marketing has also been a essential amino acids your body requires one of the misconceptions people have is
huge driver of the popularity,” says Ansel. to build muscle. Pea protein is not far eating plants means eating a salad. But it
“Veggie burgers have been around for behind, at 0.8 or 0.9. could be a burger. This is a step in the right
decades, but it really wasn’t until com- direction.” Then again, there’s nothing
panies like Beyond Meat and Impossible “The real question people want to know wrong with a salad.
Foods invested in national marketing is: ‘If I’m a vegan or on a plant-based diet,
campaigns starting around 2018 that will that lead me to sacrifice fitness or THE ULTIMATE
plant-based meat suddenly seemed sexy.” sports performance?’ And the data we
have now says probably not,” says Helms. PEA-PROTEIN SHAKE
Celebrity influencers are also flexing But that’s only on the condition that you’re Try this tasty tropical
their cultural might. Everyone from Colin consuming a variety of foods that help pro- smoothie from Smoothies & Juices:
Kaepernick to Russell Brand is going vide the aminos you need, he says. If your Prevention Healing Kitchen,
plant-based, and in the 2018 documen- diet is loaded with chips, cookies, and by Frances Largeman-Roth, R.D.N.
tary The Game Changers, even Arnold shakes, it won’t matter if they’re plant-
Schwarzenegger said he was eating less based—or made with pea protein. BLEND TOGETHER:
meat. That film, produced by director and
vegan James Cameron, argued that eat- A MATTER OF TASTE ½ CUP COCONUT WATER
ing animal products could harm athletic 2 TBSP LEMON JUICE
performance, hurt your heart, and impair DESPITE THE FACT thatHelmsknowsthe 1 RIPE AVOCADO, PITTED AND PEELED
sexual function. (Men’s Health, through research (and even conducted some of his
Getty Images experts, went on to debunk these claims, own), he still prefers whey to pea protein.
many of which were based on outdated,
faulty, or misinterpreted research.) “Whey has more than a decade of taste
and texture engineering behind it,” he says.
Couple the rise of vegan diets rebrand- It naturally dissolves more readily into liq-
ing as “plant based” with a decades-long uids, it has an appealing milky taste, and

BODY DIET DECODER

THE MILITARY DIET:

SUCCESSFUL MISSION OR FUBAR?
This Internet-famous plan supposedly offers a boot camp
in fat loss. Registered dietitian and Men’s Health nutrition advisor
DEZI ABEYTA weighs in on whether you should enlist.

WHAT IT IS THE PROMISE WHAT YOU THE GOOD THE NOT
CAN’T HAVE SO GOOD
Unlike many popular The Military Diet leads Beyond the artificial-
weight-loss programs, the to significant weight Snacks and booze, to help sugar thing (science There’s no actual
Military Diet doesn’t pro- loss—up to ten pounds a keep calories low. But arti- hasn’t yet found a defin- authority or science
hibit broad food groups. week—and all you have ficial sweeteners are also itive link between them behind the Military
For the first three days, to do is count calories. banned, because—and and insulin, by the way), Diet. Yes, severe calorie
you eat between 1,200 The name (wrongly) this is according to pro- the Military Diet doesn’t restriction often leads
and 1,500 calories a day, implies that it has been ponents of the diet—they demonize any food or to weight loss, but what
spread out over breakfast, used to help U. S. soldiers mess with your insulin food group. It can sound you’re likely losing is water
lunch, and dinner. The get into shape quickly and levels and cause weight counterintuitive, but diets and muscle. Worse still,
next four days “off,” it’s that it’s proven in the field. gain. For that reason, the with fewer restrictions are undereating (active men
recommended that you diet tends to push natural in fact easier to stick to. are supposed to eat about
stick to 1,600 calories a sweeteners like Stevia. 2,800 calories a day) can
day, and you’re encour- result in brain fog, poor
aged to eat healthfully. sleep, bad moods, and
cravings that may turn
into binge eating.

Just a Mess THE Food styling: Jamie Kimm. Prop styling: Nicole Louie.
VERDICT
The Military
Diet permits ice JUST BECAUSE
cream, but this
plan is still Whiskey you’re losing
Tango Foxtrot. weight doesn’t
mean that you’re
26 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH healthy—espe-

cially on this
too-low-calorie
plan that has no
scientific backing.
Even if you can
eat pretty much
anything you want
on the Military
Diet, this is no way
to live, soldier.

PHOTOGRAPH BY CHELSEA KYLE

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BODY

THE
VACCINE

MEN
AREN’T
TALKING
ABOUT

If you’re 45 or under, you can
get a vaccine to ward off a rising tide

of HPV-linked cancers. So
why do so few men go for it—or

even know about it?

BY SARAH ELIZABETH RICHARDS virus from their body within two years, a among men per year, and rates have been Alamy
small percentage don’t clear it. It’s that steadily growing amid the rise of hookup
TTHREE YEARS AGO, New York City physi- group that Dr. Aragones is worried about, culture and the spread of HPV.
cian Abraham Aragones, M.D., did two because they’re at risk of developing can-
things he thought he would never do: He cer later. The most recent data reports Yet there’s a way to stop it. This vac-
got divorced from his wife of 14 years, that there are roughly 2,100 cases of anal cine, which comes in a two- or three-dose
and he got a vaccination to protect him- cancer and 900 cases of penile cancer regimen depending on your age, can
self from HPV. among men in the United States per protect people from infection and, as a
Dr. Aragones, then 41, had dedicated year—the majority of which are linked to result, from the cancers the virus causes.
the previous 15 years of his career at a previous HPV infection. Although head and neck cancers tend to
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center have a high survival rate, the treatment
to promoting vaccination against the The types of HPV-related cancers can be agonizing. The field is peppered
human papillomavirus (HPV). That’s the that are most alarming to public-health with horror stories of brutal courses
rampant virus that’s generally spread experts are oropharyngeal, or “back of radiation or disfiguring surgery to
via skin-to-skin contact during unpro- of the throat,” cancers, which affect remove the affected part of the mouth or
tected sex and is linked to multiple kinds the base of the tongue, soft palate, and jaw, treatments that make it hard to eat,
of head, neck, and genital cancers in tonsils. There are about 11,800 cases swallow, or speak.
men. Until his marriage ended, he didn’t
think he needed the shot. He’d been
with the same partner, after all. But
with divorce came reentry into the dating
pool and the realization that he could
easily become part of the 85 percent of all
sexually active people who will get HPV
in their lifetime.
Although the vast majority don’t know
they’re infected and end up clearing the

28 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH

Unlike Dr. Aragones, however, most people to America’s sexual revolution— Seventy percent
adult men aren’t getting vaccinated, and cancers showing up in middle-aged of back-of-the-
a huge number of them don’t even know men were likely from HPV acquired a throat cancers
that they can be. This keeps the virus few decades earlier. Now 70 percent of are linked to
circulating—and the cancers growing. oropharyngeal cancers are linked to HPV, and they
HPV, and they affect men roughly five affect men
HIDDEN IN PLAIN SIGHT times as much as women. roughly five
times as much
IN 2006, the first HPV vaccine was People can get HPV in their genital as women.
approved for girls and young women aged region through vaginal or anal sex—
nine to 26 in what was widely regarded as a or in the back of their throat through they can get to clear the virus—you just
public-health victory. The shot could inoc- unprotected oral sex with someone who watch the areas it can inhabit to make
ulate them before they became sexually has the virus. The oral-sex connection sure there aren’t cancerous changes. In
active and were exposed to cancer-causing was an eye-opener for many who’d come women, if an HPV test is positive and the
strains of HPV. That recommendation of age believing that going down was safe virus has caused cancerous changes
was expanded to boys and young men in sex. After actor Michael Douglas famously in cervical tissue, that tissue can be
2009—initially to prevent genital warts, blamed his throat cancer on it in 2013, removed. Men don’t have that option.
but the vaccine was eventually approved to there was a spike in Google searches
prevent cancer in men, too, as shots devel- on the topic, says Michelle Mizhi Chen, Dr. Aragones says that men’s low
oped to tackle more HPV strains became M.D., a head-and-neck surgeon at vaccination rates are also partly due to
available. (The target age to receive one is Michigan Medicine. what he calls anti-vaxxer disinformation
between 11 and 12.) campaigns that incorrectly claim the HPV
One reason many men are in the vaccine impairs immune function and
In 2019 came a quieter HPV-vaccine dark about the availability of the causes infertility. “What frustrates me is
milestone: The CDC announced that 27- vaccine and how HPV is transmitted: that anti-vaxxers are using Covid’s anti-
to 45-year-olds might also benefit from Unlike women, who tend to see their vaccine sentiment to weaponize it and
the vaccine and suggested they discuss ob-gyn nearly every year and get routine hurt trust of the HPV vaccine,” he says.
it with their health-care providers. Even tests to screen for HPV, Dr. Aragones
though older men and women likely says, male patients take a more laissez-
have already been exposed to many faire approach. Let’s face it: Some
of more than 100 strains of HPV, the guys in their 20s and 30s don’t even see
thinking is that the vaccine could a primary-care doctor. Even if they do,
still protect some people from being the issue may never come up. The CDC
infected by a high-risk strain later. doesn’t recommend routine screenings
for most guys. (There is no FDA-approved
In fact, the announcement was so quiet test for men.) There’s also no therapy that
that when the University of Michigan
reported on Reddit this past April that SPOT THE IF YOU CAN’T GET THE VACCINE
HPV causes more cases of mouth and phar-
ynx cancers in Americans than it does cer- DANGER ALTHOUGH CONDOMS and dental
vical cancer, the post got more than 54,000 SIGNS dams could reduce your risk of oropha-
upvotes and 3,000-plus comments...and ryngeal cancers, experts know it’s just
the top comments were that users didn’t NOT EVERY head and neck not realistic to expect that people will
know the HPV shot was available to men. cancer announces itself with the always use them. That’s why Dr. Chen
same symptoms. But the most says public-health messages should focus
What’s more shocking about the common to look for include: on spreading awareness of the shot. “The
HPV-cancer story is that researchers only way to truly protect yourself is to get
didn’t even make the connection that the A sore throat that never vaccinated,” she says.
STI caused head and neck cancers until seems to go away
20 years ago. Before then, doctors thought Unexplained weight loss What happens if you’re over 45 and
that people who developed them were Persistent ear pain past the vaccination cutoff? The consen-
generally in their 60s and 70s and usually Difficulty or pain swallowing sus is that the shot is less effective as peo-
heavy smokers and drinkers. Then the A lump in your neck that lasts ple age: The older you are, the more likely
data began telling a different story. for more than a couple weeks you’ve already been exposed to HPV.
Persistent sores or white or Doctors suggest you can still safeguard
“When we looked at epidemiology stud- red patches on your tongue, your health by staying vigilant about the
ies, we started to notice young runners, your throat, or the lining of signs of head and neck cancers (see “Spot
vegans, nonsmokers, and very sexually your mouth the Danger Signs,” left).
active men,” says head-and-neck-cancer
expert Thomas E. Carey, Ph.D., of the But for men who still have the chance
University of Michigan Medical School, to get the vaccine? It’s a no-brainer, says
whose lab has studied HPV for 30 years. Dr. Aragones. “This is a safe and effective
Chalk up the rising incidence in young way to protect yourself against cancer.
Why wouldn’t you do it?”

MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 29

BODY FRONT LINE T H E E X P E R T : B R E T T T O R E S D A H L , M . D. , an assistant
attending physician at New York City’s Hospital for Special
Surgery, is the team physician for US Biathlon and served as
a physician at the Olympics in 2016 and 2018.

A SPORTS EAT WELL
DOCTOR’S
There’s a lot of talk about pro-
GUIDE TO inflammatory and anti-inflamma-
tory foods, but I’m not yet con-
HEALTHY vinced that there are foods that
JOINTS are universally good or bad for
joint health. It’s more important
IF YOUR joints don’t feel good, you to eat what keeps you at a healthy
weight, because weight-related
don’t feel good. That’s because there stress contributes to osteoarthri-
are about 300 of these connection tis of the hip and knee. I aim
points in your body, and many of to—with variable success—con-
them depend on one another. Yes, trol portions, minimize pro-
genetics shape the strength of your cessed foods, and consume a
cartilage (the stuff that cushions variety of fruits and vegetables.
joints), but there’s still plenty you When my wife and I go out to
can do to stabilize, fortify, and dinner, we’ll have a bunch of
pain-proof your joints. Here’s how vegetable sides and appetizers
Brett Toresdahl, M.D., 37, does it. and split a meat entree.

YES, RUN GET DOWN (DOG) CALL THE

I regularly run the two miles home I do about 15 to 20 minutes of RIGHT SHOT
from work. It doesn’t wreck my knees. yoga—runner’s flow yoga, wind-
In fact, it may help them. Some studies down yoga flow, or yoga core on Injections for joint pain
show that running may have some pos- the Nike Training Club app—a few have a lot of hype around
itive effects for joints, if your cartilage times a week. It improves the mo- them. Cortisone, hyaluronic
and alignment are healthy. That said, tion of the joints partly by keeping acid, and PRP (platelet-rich
the more old trauma there is, the hard- tendons, which support the joints plasma) can help manage
er it is for our bodies to adapt appropri- and muscles, from getting tight pain from certain joint prob-
ately. So if something hurts, get it and stiff. If they’re not elastic, you lems, but they have pros
checked out so you can build a consis- can start to develop bad habits and cons. Even though
tent running program the healthy way. in how a joint is used, which can stem-cell injections are be-
lay the groundwork for pain and ing marketed as a new hope
DON’T WAIT other issues down the line. for regrowing cartilage,
if I had joint issues, I
FOR THE WEEKEND wouldn’t get these. There’s
no evidence to show they
Our joints are adaptable, but it’s hard for them repair or prevent worn-
to adapt when you work—or “stress”—them down cartilage. Nothing at
only once a week. If I want to be able to run six this point—injection, medi-
or eight miles on Saturday or Sunday, I make cation, or supplement—can
sure I run at least a few times a week so I keep regrow cartilage, although
my body exposed to that kind of stress. Less the conversation may
frequent workouts are even harder for joints; in- change in five or ten years.
activity can cause them to lose the support and —AS TOLD TO ROZALYNN S. FRAZIER
stability needed to do the work you want them
to do. Then you can get into this bad cycle in Paedii Luchs/Stocksy
which pain keeps you inactive, inactivity keeps
you weak, and weakness keeps the pain going.

30 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH



From the Editors of Men's Health

Special

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CHANGE FOR THE BETTER

THE RISE OF THE

POWER BALDS
Why the hottest hairstyle right now is not having one. BY JOSEPH LONGO

MICHAEL JORDAN is an iconic power bald. So are forItaly.Don’t forget the bald-domination film fran-
chise Fast & Furious, whose hairless heroes include
Shrek and RuPaul. These trailblazers from the Dwayne Johnson, Jason Statham, Tyrese Gibson, and
worlds of sports, entertainment, and style shaved Vin Diesel—with Gibson and Diesel shining again in
the way for a whole crew of men who are glistening F9. Even singer and former Voice coach Adam Levine
in glory right now. recently adopted the no-hair-as-self-care look.

Drummer Travis Barker is the tattooed power bald Welcome to the world of power balds, a harried
squiring Kourtney Kardashian. Stanley Tucci is the yet hairless community in a state of transition. For
elegant power bald at the center of CNN’s Searching

ILLUSTRATIONS BY CHRISTOPHER LEE LYONS MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 33

LIFE BOLD MOVE!

the uninitiated, power bald is a surging movement of men who’ve after the “power bald” term arose, when Procter & Gamble debuted Garguibo/SplashNews.com (Levine after). Alamy (Gibson before). Getty Images (remaining).
shed their insecurities about being shorn. And while there is a jacked and ultra-virile version of Mr. Clean in a Super Bowl ad. But
obviously nothing new about going bald, a recent cultural shift it’s been carried on by people like four-time World’s Strongest Man
has shown there’s strength in grooming your way to a simple, champion Brian Shaw, who coolheadedly deadlifted a Hyundai
sleek appearance. SUV in a recent car commercial. One of the richest men on the plan-
et (Jeff Bezos), the highest-paid movie star in the world (Dwayne
“Close-cut haircuts are very in right now,” says Philadelphia- Johnson), and the highest-paid athlete globally (Conor McGregor,
based master barber Faheem Alexander. “It’s smooth and catchy, though it’s often reserved for beast mode) are all bald converts.
and guys love it because it’s easy to do it themselves and easy to
maintain.” The trend likely gained steam with quarantine Ben Whit, a London-based plus-size model notably featured in
buzz cuts, but many guys are keeping the look and going even a 2019 campaign for the UK-based menswear retailer Jacamo, is
shorter. Any presumed stigma around shaving it all has also been trying to expand the Power Bald Hall of Fame in an even more
debunked in recent years by University of Pennsylvania research- inclusive way. “[I hope] more men will realize, ‘Actually, I don’t
ers, who have found that bald men are perceived as stronger, more have to look like [the standard model] to be happy. He’s happy the
dominant, and even taller than their peers. way he looks, and I look the same as him,’ ” Whit says.

If any would-be power balds still remain uncertain about going Like Whit, Bennett doesn’t see balding as a personal defi-
full cue ball, they can always tune in to the virality of YouTube’s ciency anymore. “Going bald can be a deep emotional trauma for
Bald Cafe, which over the past three years has gained fame for a human being,” Bennett says. But he doesn’t stay in that head-
sharing candid videos of guys shaving their heads. After each space. He refuses to. “Even when my own family has forgotten my
transformation, these men seem to become immediately more name in multiple generations’ time, they can look down or look
optimistic and empowered, which may be part of why some videos up—wherever I end up—and just know that if this is my contribu-
have racked up millions of views. tion to the world, then that’s worth carving on a gravestone. He
gave the world the term ‘power bald,’ ” he says. “I’m going to have
That’s the true power of being power bald: allowing your self- to get a bigger gravestone than I imagined.”
worth to be defined by something other than a false and fleet-
ing sign of vitality. And besides, most of us don’t really have a Now that’s a power-bald move. Proof that you can start with
choice: We will lose our hair at some point. Roughly one in four nothing and still end up way ahead.
of the men who experience male pattern baldness begin the pro-
cess before age 21, according to the American Hair Loss Associ- THE POWER BALD:
ation, a nonprofit organization committed to increasing public
awareness about the emotional impact of hair loss on men. By BEFORE AND AFTER
age 35, two thirds of men experience it to some degree, and by
age 50, that jumps to 85 percent. ADAM LEVINE

Power balds consciously choose to let vain worry go and in doing The tatted-up
so can put their energy elsewhere. “Someone who is power bald, it’s singer shaved his
about the self-confidence in which you carry yourself,” says Roger head last sum-
Bennett, a cohost of the TV show and podcast Men in Blazers along- mer, putting the
sidefellow“baldbloke”MichaelDavies.Bald blokesalsoobviously focus even more
don’t have to keep spending money on revitalizing creams and on his voice.
pills, and in fact the annual revenue of the multibillion-dollar hair-
loss-treatment industry hit a ten-year low in 2020. TYRESE
GIBSON
Bennett and Davies are the unofficial architects of the term
“power bald,” if for no other reason than there’s little documen- The former
tation online of anyone else saying it. They’ve been using the famously power-
phrase since about 2016 and gained a loyal following as they bald teen has
bestowed the title on their favorite smooth soccer managers, rocked the look
like Pep Guardiola and Zinédine Zidane. full-time since
his late 20s.
The heady honor “is probably the one thing that really bonds
us, other than our love of football and America,” Bennett says. JEFF BEZOS
“Human beings who actually [go bald] with an incredible swag-
ger, those are the characters we’ve always hailed as power bald.” The tech titan
cut his losses
For many, the act of balding proudly seems to be a holdout in the nearly a decade
body-positivity movement, a shift that men are historically reluc- ago, before
tant to embrace. No surprise here: Men don’t know how to talk building rockets
about their bodies. “How do we build security as men?” psychia- and mastering
trist Drew Ramsey, M.D., asks. “Great pecs. Great arms. Great hair. the universe.
Is that what it means to be a secure, mature man?”

The answer—thank you, David Harbour and John Travolta—is a
resounding no. Some of the biggest stars and athletes have proved
the Samson theory a bust. This arguably started in 2017, shortly

34 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH

The Life-Changing POWER of 5 ESSENTIALS
SHAVING Your Head on YouTube
for a Smooth
Since 2018, Bald Cafe has carved out a small but mighty corner of the Internet. The Transition
100,000-subscriber-strong YouTube channel covers all aspects of losing your hair. But
most of all, it offers a shocking yet obvious solution: Why not shave your head? Personal There’s no greater power
videos of men doing just that have garnered tens of millions of views, a hint at the pow- move than going power
erful, purgative, and eminently gratifying act of seeing a man take control of a problem bald. Follow master barber
and conquer it. Here’s what Bald Cafe founder Harry James and two others learned by Faheem Alexander’s steps to
baring it all online. —MAX BERLINGER reveal the optimal chrome
dome. —GARRETT MUNCE
Courtesy Harry James/Bald Cafe (James, Horn, Carty). Courtesy manufacturers (products). HARRY JAMES, 30 DALE HORN III, 21 THOMAS CARTY, 24
Clip It First
“I was no longer hiding, “I felt like I was ‘aging’ too “It was a weight off my Wahl Elite Pro hair-
and I got so much relief quickly, which was not a shoulders once I finally clipper kit, $60
from that. I felt proud of good feeling. [Bald Cafe shaved my head. You are “Use adjustable clippers to
myself for not buying videos] showed me other never alone. We may not be cut your hair down as short
into [the idea that] I need men who were in my shoes, able to control this type of as possible without shaving
to do certain things to showing their vulnerable situation, but we can con- the surface.” Work your way down to
please society. It gave me side, taking the step to get trol how we react and how the lowest setting (no guard) to cre-
a newfound level of confi- balding over with and con- we think about it. So em- ate a close-cropped starting point.
dence. In all honesty, I tinue in a confident, healthy brace it! Embrace change!
felt more confident than life. By the time the deed Seek those in the Bald Cafe Shave Smarter
I did before because I’d was done, I already felt so community and be confi- Gillette Planet KIND
done this thing that was much better that I was okay dent in who you are. You are starter kit, $20
with sharing my story.” “Prep your head with
such a challenge.” more than your hair.” shaving cream and
start a wet shave with a
cartridge razor.” Go with the grain,
not against it, to avoid irritating
your fresh skin.

Prevent Bumps
Jack Black Bump Fix Acne,
Razor Bump & Ingrown
Hair Solution, $27
“Ingrown hairs can be a
problem when you shave
your head,” particularly if you have
curly, coily, or thick hair. Try a post-
shave balm that loosens clogs and
soothes swelling. Apply regularly.

Hydration Is Key
Shea Moisture Tea Tree
Oil & Shea Butter Bald
Head Moisturizer, $7
Finish off with a moistur-
izer to “replenish your skin
and keep that smooth feeling.” Look
for a lightweight moisturizer with
natural ingredients like shea butter.

Protect the Dome
MANTL Invisible
Daily SPF 30, $27
Wear a hat when you’re
outside and apply sun-
screen every morning to
protect against sun damage. Look
for a screen that’s clear (no white
cast!) and shine-free.

MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 35

THERE’S ONLY ONE RIGHT WAY TO...

COOK A STEAK

GO

HIGH HEAT

Superhot cast-iron pans sear
meat (and seafood!) as well
as a grill does. So set the pan
over high, open a window,
and crank your oven vent to
high as well. Things are about
to get smoky—and delicious.

12 3 4 Food styling: Jamie Kimm. Prop styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart. Kate Francis (illustrations).

SEASON THE STEAK GET FLIPPIN’ HAPPY TAKE A BREAK WHIP UP A SAUCE

Liberally season both sides Heat the pan on high. When it Transfer the steak to a Remove the pan from the
of a 1-inch-thick steak (T-bone, begins to smoke, add 1 Tbsp plate and let it sit. Some heat, add a glug or two of
strip, whatever—the tech- canola oil and swirl. Add the people call this “resting,” flavorful liquid (wine, beer,
nique works with them all) steak and sear, flipping every but you don’t actually get beef stock), and, using a
with kosher salt and freshly minute, for a total of about to take a nap, because wooden spoon, stir, scraping
ground pepper. Like several big 6 minutes for medium rare. that would be only about up the browned bits clinging
pinches of each seasoning on Frequent flipping allows you a 5-minute nap, which re- to the pan. Add 1 Tbsp butter,
each side. Some of this S&P will to keep a careful eye on how ally isn’t a nap at all. That stir until melted, and season
fall off in the pan, and because the crust develops. Letting sounds boring, you say. lightly with salt and pepper.
the steak is thick you won’t be the steak sit and flipping only Well then . . .  Pour into a small serving dish.
able to season the meat all the once halfway through leaves Spoon onto your steak.
way through anyway. it up to chance. Yikes.

36 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH PHOTOGRAPH BY CHRISTOPHER TESTANI

NEW CONVENIENCE PACK

MAX DAILY SUPPLEMENT

STRENGTH TO ENERGIZE
MEDICINE & REPLENISH*

LIFE 30/10

NOW, THOSE ARE

GOOD EGGS
Huevos rancheros are everything boring breakfasts aren’t:
vibrant, satisfying, and packed with nutrients. With a side, you’ll hit
30 grams of muscle-building protein and 10 grams of filling fiber.

30g HOLD UP. WHAT IS 30/10?
10g
30/10 brings you healthy, filling meals with 30 grams of protein and 10 grams of
fiber. For an entire month’s worth of recipes, head to MensHealth.com/30-10.

38 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH

Cookbook (out October 19), a collection of recipes created by a team
of world-class chefs.

THE PROTEIN 30g THE FIBER 10g

One whole egg has six or seven grams of protein, depending on the size, and The base recipe has you covered
about 80 calories. (We like Eggland’s Best in terms of flavor and nutrition.) for your 10 grams, so consider these
You could use any size in this recipe, but extra-large eggs will better cover as bonus produce.
small tortillas so that you get a little of each in every bite.
Queso Fresco
Huevos HOW TO MAKE IT
Rancheros Preheat the oven to 425ºF. On a large sheet
1. In a medium nonstick pan, heat 1 Tbsp oil over of heavy-duty aluminum foil, arrange 1 lb
WHAT YOU’LL NEED medium. Cook the tortillas till puffed, 20 to 30 red and/or golden beets (rinsed and patted
seconds per side. Remove each tortilla and place dry). Coat with 2 Tbsp olive oil and ¼ tsp
2 TBSP OLIVE OIL it between paper towels in a tortilla warmer or a salt. Seal the foil and place the packet
4 SMALL CORN TORTILLAS clean kitchen towel. seam side up on a large parchment-lined
4 EXTRA-LARGE EGGS 2. In the same pan, add the remaining oil and cook baking sheet. Roast till tender, about
1 CUP SALSA MACHA the eggs one at a time until the whites set and the 45 to 60 minutes. Remove from the oven,
yolks are still runny. Season with salt and remove allow to cool slightly, then peel and dice.
(SEE RECIPE BELOW) to reserve on a large plate. (Wear gloves to avoid staining your hands.)
1 AVOCADO, SLICED 3. Place 2 cooked tortillas on each plate followed Arrange the beets on a serving dish, dress
CILANTRO LEAVES AND GREEK by an egg on each tortilla. On each plate, add ¼ with ¼ cup salsa macha, and top with 1 cup
YOGURT OR LABNEH TO GARNISH cup of the salsa macha on each of the eggs and shredded queso fresco and 3 cups loosely
tortillas to cover the tortillas and most of the egg packed sorrel or arugula. Feeds 4
Nutrition per serving: 591 whites. Garnish each plate with ½ a sliced avo- Per serving: 230 calories, 10g protein, 16g
calories, 23g protein, 41g cado, cilantro, and a spoonful of Greek yogurt or
carbs (10g fiber), 39g fat labneh. Finish with flaky sea salt. Feeds 2

*Consuming raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shell-
fish, or eggs may increase your risk of foodborne illness.

MAKE WAY-BETTER-THAN-THE-JAR SALSA MACHA

You could use the premade stuff for these huevos rancheros, but then you’d be
missing out on worlds of flavor. So if you have the time, you should make your
own. (Can’t find some of the spices at the grocery store? Try penzeys.com.)

Food styling: Jamie Kimm. Prop styling: Carla Gonzalez-Hart. Kate Francis (illustrations). STEP 1: Pan-Roast STEP 2: Char STEP 3: Pulverize! STEP 4: Simmer Sweet Corn and Pepita
Guacamole 
Dry Chiles Fresh Ingredients Peel the garlic and add to a and Finish
In a large cast-iron In the same pan, blender with the charred Allow the greens In a large bowl, mash 3 avocados until
pan over medium add 1 serrano ingredients, rehydrated to wilt, stirring slightly chunky. Add the kernels from 2
high, toast 1 dried (stemmed), 4 Roma chiles, and 1/8 tsp Mexican occasionally, ears of grilled corn, ¼ cup pepitas, 3 Tbsp
guajillo chile and tomatoes, ½ white oregano. Puree till smooth. about 10 minutes. pomegranate seeds, ¼ medium red onion
1 dried morita or onion (peeled Clean the cast-iron pan. Season to taste (minced), ½ cup cilantro (chopped), 1 tsp
dried chipotle and quartered), Add 2 Tbsp olive oil and with salt. Add lime juice, and salt and pepper to taste.
(both seeded), just and 3 skin-on heat over medium high. ¼ cup minced Stir well. Feeds 4
a few seconds per garlic cloves. Char, Carefully pour in the puree cilantro leaves
side, then dunk turning with tongs and boil, stirring frequently. and stems. Per serving: 268 calories, 7g protein, 21g
them in a bowl now and then, 5 to Reduce the heat to medium Reserve. Makes carbs (9g fiber), 21g fat
of hot water to 10 minutes; remove low and add 1 large bunch 2½ cups
rehydrate, 10 to the garlic earlier to of greens (kale or Swiss MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 39
15 minutes. avoid burning it. chard, stems removed and
finely chopped).

PHOTOGRAPHS BY CHRISTOPHER TESTANI

IMPROVED SLEEP

BLUE LIGHT BLOCKING FRAMES

M E N S H E A LT H .C O M / E Y E W E A R

STYLE LIFE

2
3

1

LAYER UP! For the Office

Experienced hikers, deep-sea fishermen, and on-the- You want something that’s warm enough to fight
scene weather reporters know: If you don’t layer off the AC (why is it always on?) without causing mid-
your clothing, you’re at the mercy of the elements.
Here’s how to build your first (and second, and meeting sweats. An Armani Exchange sweater (1)
third . . .) line of defense, no matter the situation. is made of stretchy cotton, so it moves with you,
but it’s thin enough that you never feel stifled. Throw
PHOTOGRAPHS BY ALLIE HOLLOWAY on a blazer (2) and bring an unlined, lightweight

raincoat (3) for your commute home.

Raincoat ($140) by Baxter Wood; suit jacket ($220) and
sweater ($85) by Armani Exchange; pants ($248) by Boss; T-shirt

($35) by J.Crew; watch ($325) by Citizen.

MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 41

LIFE STYLE

For the Weekend

Who has the time to change when you have things to do?
Dress for a morning workout in a technical long-sleeved tee (1)
and stretch fleece joggers—all you need is a colorful hoodie (2)

for your post-gym meal. Then pop on an O.N.S utility
jacket (3) to run errands. It’s lightweight, with ample pockets

for stashing keys, billfolds, and receipts.

Jacket ($248) by O.N.S Clothing; shirt ($78) by Rhone; sweatshirt ($50)
and sweatpants ($45) by Old Navy; sneakers ($100) by Puma; hat ($32) by

the North Face; watch ($295) by Luminox; socks ($16) by Champion.

2 1
2

13

42 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH

For a Date 2

You want to look interesting, not loud. So stick with dressier wool 3
trousers (1)—because it’s fall, after all—and a denim jacket (2) 1
(we swear, they’re cool now). Or top off the denim with a
Ben Sherman track jacket (3). It’s colorful but not in an over-

doing-it way, and its tapered fit will give your torso that V shape.

Track jacket ($109) by Ben Sherman; cargo jacket ($70) by Old Navy;
polo ($100) by Frank and Oak; pants ($135) by DKNY Men’s; sneakers ($149) by

Moral Code; watch ($325) by Citizen; socks ($19) by Bombas.

3

Styling: Ted Stafford. Grooming: Scott McMahan/Art Department using Fekkai.

For Everything Else

When in doubt: Go dark. (Black really does go with
everything.) Start with a black polo (1)—the collar is

dressy without being fussy—and some dark-
rinse jeans. Add a dark Brooks Brothers half-zip
sweatshirt (2), which is sleeker than a hoodie. Then,
when the chill of night sets in, pull a packable Uniqlo

down vest (3) out of your bag to warm up.

Vest ($40) by Uniqlo; sweatshirt ($118) by Brooks
Brothers; polo ($40) by Fabletics; jeans ($250) by
Rag & Bone; sneakers ($120) by Sorel; watch ($325) by

Citizen; socks ($18) by Flint and Tinder.

MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 43

LIFE GROOMING

EEK. WHOA. That’s where the fungus is ac-
tively causing inflammation.
SOLUTION: If you’re not keeping
your junk clean, “you’re creating
a breeding ground for fungus,”
says Dr. Love. Wash at least once
daily and use an antifungal pow-
der spray (avoid creams, which
can make the area even moister)
twice a day to get rid of the rash.
Then spray once every other day
to keep it from coming back.
USE: Lotrimin AF Antifungal
Powder Spray ($13; cvs.com).

HMM. YOUR PROBLEM:

WHAT’S THAT? Roughpinkish patches
with tiny bumps
Bumps, rashes, spots—your skin can suffer
from all sorts of mysterious calamities. CAUSE: Dermatologists call
this keratosis pilaris, or, ahem,
You can wait for this stuff to go away or take chicken skin. Unlike the red,
action now. BY GARRETT MUNCE angry bumps of folliculitis, these
bumps are pinkish and dry. The
YOUR PROBLEM: until it clears up. Retinoids help SOLUTION: Wash with an antibac- condition comes from dead Matthew Salacuse
reset your skin cells’ cycle to terial body wash to help kill the skin cells plugging up the hair
Back and chest acne release clogs and help keep your bump-causing bacteria and apply follicles. Usually your skin sheds
skin breathing freely. an antibacterial cream until it dead cells naturally, but cold
CAUSE: Just like the pimples on USE: PanOxyl Acne Foaming clears up. If it doesn’t, a prescrip- weather can stall the process.
your face, pustules on your Wash ($10; target.com) and tion for clindamycin, which is both SOLUTION: Remove the dead skin
body are caused by excess oils Differin Adapalene Gel 0.1% antibiotic and anti-inflammatory, that’s blocking your pores. “You
collecting in your pores, which ($30; target.com). might be in order, says Dr. Love. can either use an exfoliant scrub
then attract bacteria called USE: CLn Body Wash ($36; that will help get rid of the top
P. acnes and result in white- YOUR PROBLEM: clnwash.com). layer of dead skin or an acid like
heads—and more bacteria. “It’s a salicylic or glycolic acid to dis-
vicious cycle,” says W. Elliot Love, Red, itchy bumps YOUR PROBLEM: solve the superficial skin cells,”
D.O., a North Carolina–based der- around your torso says Dr. Love.
matologist. Sweat, oil, hormone Jock itch USE: Lumin Pumice Exfoliating
fluctuations, and even irritation CAUSE: This condition, called Body Scrub ($8; luminskin.com)
from your clothes rubbing can folliculitis, appears as small CAUSE: A fungus (!) that thrives and Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha
cause blockages that lead to zits. pimples that itch. Basically, in “warm, moist environments,” Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment
SOLUTION: Start by washing your bacteria are attacking pore according to Dr. Love. And just ($58; sephora.com).
body with a benzoyl peroxide clogs around your hair follicles. because it’s called jock itch (or,
body wash, especially right after And because folliculitis likes medically, tinea cruris) doesn’t YOUR PROBLEM:
you work out or play sports. warm, moist environments, you mean it can’t live elsewhere—
“Benzoyl peroxide is antibacte- may see flare-ups after wearing like on your feet, thighs, or butt. Eczema
rial, but it also helps break down sweaty gym clothes for too long. You can tell it’s jock itch if the
clogs,” says Dr. Love. Then apply Inflammation causes the itching. rash looks redder or develops CAUSE: “With eczema, the mortar
a retinoid to the pimply area daily blisters on the outer edges. that’s holding your skin cells
together breaks down because
of dryness, and then your skin is
prone to inflammation because
it’s exposed,” says Dr. Love. From
the outside, this looks like a dry
red rash that can be itchy and
flaky. It can get especially bad
in cold months, when your skin
loses moisture more easily.
SOLUTION: Moisturize, moistur-
ize, moisturize. “Using moistur-
izer is like putting mortar back
between the bricks,” advises Dr.
Love. Try to keep your showers
to one a day (max), apply a rich
cream or lotion right after you
come out, and reapply as needed
throughout the day. For extra
healing, mix a dab of Vaseline in
with your lotion.
USE: Lubriderm Advanced Ther-
apy Lotion ($8; target.com) and
Vaseline Original Petroleum Jelly
($2; target.com).

44 OCTOBER 2021 | MEN’S HEALTH

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T H I S M O N T H ’S C O O L D A D : K E V I N S WA N is a Florida-based COOL DAD LIFE
writer and the founder of A Life Story Foundation.

CLASS WARFARE! moving my legs to get the blood flowing.
Back-to-school jitters are real—and your children might be Then the rest of our day we spent at parks
the ones who conquer them for you. BY KEVIN SWAN and playgrounds. This time became
increasingly special with every box of
I’VE ALWAYS been proud to be the product and because of the pandemic, I had to mac ’n’ cheese we shared at lunch. It was
pull the plug on the foundation I created idyllic—but her going to school loomed.
of public school. After all, public and to raise awareness about ALS—which is a
state schools are part of the backbone of pretty bad pun considering I need a ven- Like any responsible parent in a new
our country. My kid would follow in my tilator to breathe. Oh, and I also became town, I had Googled “best preschools
footsteps, I had decided. And by foot- a stay-at-home dad for a few months until near me.” One result had caught my eye.
steps, I mean tire tracks, because I have we could find a preschool for my three- The only problem was that it was a private
ALS and use a wheelchair. year-old daughter, Elliott Monroe. school. And this private school represent-
ed everything I was against. Did I want
If you aren’t familiar with ALS, it’s quite Despite being completely paralyzed, to be a private-school parent? It would
the shit sandwich. Not only did it put a with the exception of the little piggy that be a stretch on our finances. Would our
damper on my golf game; it has a life expec- went to market on my left foot, I tried daughter be not only the poor kid among
tancy of three to five years. Fortunately, I especially hard during those months to the wealthy but also the poor kid with the
have been an outlier, and I’m almost in my be as active and present in Elliott’s life dad in a wheelchair?
tenth year living with the “fatal” disease— as possible. Instead of me making her
and this past year was a doozy. breakfast every morning, she crawled My mind raced through decades of
into bed with me with some orange juice insecurities, ranging from not having
In September alone, amidst Covid, and a little box of raisins. There we’d enough money to never being quite smart
my wife and I bought our first house. We watch an episode of Paw Patrol on my enough for honors classes. Sure, the
decided to move to a new house in a new tablet before my caregiver would start private school offered a great education,
city, an hour away from any friends and but could I deal with picking her up in
family. My wife started her own business, my wheelchair-accessible van among
the parade of Porsches? I was a nervous
wreck. What was I thinking?

So I emailed the private school’s
admissions director and spilled my guts.
Unfortunately for my ego and fortunately
for our daughter’s future, the director was
lovely. My wife, who grew up in rural Ohio,
was supportive. And so we scheduled a
tour. I was relieved to find out that the stu-
dents were, in fact, diverse in background
and class. We enrolled her, despite what-
ever commitment I had made about where
and with whom she’d go to school.

I expected inner turmoil; instead I
found relief. For all my own issues about
joining a community that I had judged
from the outside, it was a personal victory.
Our job as parents is to put our kids in
the best situation and surroundings to
succeed—all the while not letting our own
baggage get in the way.

As for my fears about Elliott having
to deal with a dad with disabilities, she
quickly squashed those. During the
first week of school, she decided to ride
through the preschool’s quad on my lap.
The other kids were so impressed by my
hot wheels that Elliott was waving like
she was already on a homecoming float.

Considering that we just managed
to get Elliott potty-trained in time for
preschool, homecoming seems like eons
from now. And despite this annoying
“fatal” disease, I will be there.

ILLUSTRATION BY MADISON KETCHAM MEN’S HEALTH | OCTOBER 2021 47

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