Shall we start again? It’s a question that we routinely – if rhetorically – ask our readers as we conclude our orbit of the sun. But this year, we’re doubling down: this time, we really mean it.
The whole “new chapter, new you” sentiment is well worn, but it’s no less poignant for it. The beginning of January marks a natural turning point when goals are reset, objectives refreshed and factory settings restored.
But for 2021, turning a new leaf isn’t about atoning for a fortnight of Quality Street on IV or excess eggnog. It’s about setting out a positive stall in the hope that the coming year will be better. That our collective health, culture and livelihoods will re-emerge – though undoubtedly scathed – not quite fatally wounded.
Here, then, is an issue of Men’s Health that deals explicitly with transformation: transformation of mind and body, as you’d expect; but also of spirit, of circumstance and of perspective.
How to Build a Body for Life
Some men look like they were simply born swole, and MH’s fitness editor, Andrew Tracey, is one of them. But in reality, he’s just like you. What sets Tracey apart is that his process of transformation has been a lifelong journey of hard work and discovery. If you’re looking for short cuts, we have them in spades. Sometimes, however, taking the scenic route yields greater rewards.
The Best Foods to Eat Right Now
Nutrition should be a science, but it often feels more like a popularity contest, with scores of fitness gurus and food start-ups competing to convince you of the latest cure-all. So, how to tell the superfoods from the superfads? If you’re hungry for the facts, browse our definitive list of the ingredients worth piling high and those you can leave off your plate.
Mental Health and COVID-19
So preoccupied have we been with vaccines, tiers and R-rates that another catastrophe has crept up on us. The UK is on the brink of a mental health crisis. From the impact of social isolation to disrupted treatment programmes – plus the side effects of the virus itself – the pandemic has delivered a sucker punch to our collective well-being. But decisive action could turn things around. Dr Max Pemberton, an NHS psychiatrist, investigates the hidden cost of COVID-19.
The Showdown: Diet Vs Exercise
Whatever your ambitions for the year ahead, working out and eating well will always be sound strategies. But which is more effective? Are abs really made in the kitchen? And can you out-train a bad diet, or eat away a bad mood? Our experts weigh up their benefits in the ultimate health and fitness showdown.
The End of Smoking
More than 13 years since the introduction of the indoor smoking ban, cigarettes have lost much of their social capital – yet over 16% of British men still puff away habitually. When the world's leading preventable cause of death remains so readily available, how best to stub it out for good?
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