by Henry Gould – July 29th, 2019

Impossible to resist at happy hour, and until now (!) very hard to recreate at home. Not anymore!

Go the extra mile and make the blue cheese dip at home. It literally takes 30 seconds and tastes way way better than store bought.

Also, chicken wings are full of protein, and they’re not battered, so dare I say this is almost… healthy…?

Homemade Buffalo Wings w/ Blue Cheese Dip

• Chicken wings
• Olive Oil
• Hot Sauce of choice (Frank’s Red Hot Sauce being the classic)
• Butter
• Worcestershire Sauce
• Blue Cheese
• Mayonaise
• Black pepper
• Chives, finely chopped
• 1 lemon
• Plain Yogurt or Sour Cream
• Celery Sticks to serve

To make the wing sauce, melt some butter in a pot then add about 1/2 – 1 cup of hot sauce, depending how many wings you’re making. Add a few shakes of Worcestershire sauce and bring to a simmer, then turn off the heat and set side.

To make the blue cheese dip, crumble some blue cheese into a bowl, along with a little mayonnaise and yogurt. Mash with a fork and stir around until all is combined. Add some cracked black pepper and a squeeze of lemon juice, along with the chopped chives. Taste and adjust to your preferred consistency and seasoning.

Preheat your oven to 500F. Put the wings in a large bowl and coat with a little olive oil all over. The oil will help conduct the heat in the oven and crisp the skin up so they taste like they’ve been deep fried.

Spread the wings on a large baking sheet making sure the wings aren’t touching. If there’s too many, use two baking sheets otherwise they won’t crisp properly.

Stick in the oven and cook for 30 mins, but keep an eye on them. After 30 mins, take them out and have a look. Keep cooking until desired crispyness levels.

Once done, put the cooked wings in a clean bowl and pour over the sauce. Toss around to coat all the wings. Service with the dip and celery sticks.

The post RECIPE – Buffalo Wings w/ Blue Cheese Dip appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Henry Gould – July 19th, 2019

#YARDWORK2019 is one day away! With a fully sold out event this is shaping up to be one of the best days of summer. A huge thank you to everyone who signed up, volunteered, organized and supported this amazing event getting put together.

Make sure to stop by the DJ tent and say hello… requests always welcome, just no guarantees I’ll have your track in the record bag 😉

For those who did YARDWORK 1.0 in Stanley Park, you know it was no cake walk. Chains were hauled, tires were flipped, and kettlebells were speed-walked at a very brisk pace. There were a lot of sore bodies the next day, which means fueling up with the right nutrition before / during / after the event is crucial to minimizing soreness, maximizing gains, and overall performing at your best.

Below are a few meal ideas for tonight, as well as breakfast ideas for tomorrow, snacks for during the day, as well as a stretching protocol.

NIGHT BEFORE // #YARDWORK2019

• Curious about trying intermittent fasting or a Ketogenic diet? Now is definitely not the time to start! Save it for next week. Training the body to run on stored body fat takes time, and if you’re not used to it you might crash and burn on the 50 yard line, halfway through a tire toss.
• “Carb loading” is the cliche before big sporting events, but there is no doubt your muscles need to be full of glycogen to perform at their best (glycogen being how the body stores sugar for energy).
• The night before, keep it simple:
  • Protein (chicken breast, chicken thighs, pork tenderloin, steak, tofu, cooked chickpeas)
  • Simple carbohydrate (pasta, rice, potato, sweet potato, squash)
  • Vegetables (salad, green beans, stir fried zucchini, roasted asparagus)
  • Avoid excess salt as you don’t want to get dehydrated
  • Limit alcohol, or abstain for one night (save it for the margarita bar at #YARDWORK2019…)
  • Water, water, water
• Stretching
  • Stretching should be done throughout your day, every day of the week. If you’re active, your muscles will constantly be getting tight due to the hard work you’re putting in, so stretching helps lengthen the muscle fibers, improving flexibility and preventing injury.
  • Get in a long, 10 minute stretch of the back, calves, hamstrings, quads, groin and neck the night before.

MORNING OF // #YARDWORK2019

• Again, simple carbs are key as you want to eat something easily digestible. Eating fried eggs and bacon is a bad idea, as those foods are much harder to digest and could leave you bloated and lethargic when the opening whistle starts.
• I can’t live without coffee, but before an event the caffeine can mess with your digestion, as well as dehydrate you. If you can, skip it and stick with water.
• Breakfast:
  • Oatmeal with berries, nut butter, yogurt + scoop of protein powder
  • Toast with nut butter, jam, yogurt
  • Natalie Cumberbirch’s “Coconut Peanut Energy Balls”
  • Ashley Hildebrand’s “Chickpea Flour Banana Pancakes”
  • Henry’s daily breakfast shake
    • 1/3 cup rolled oats, soaked in 1 cup of water for 10 minutes
    • 1 pinch cinnamon
    • 1 tsp honey
    • 1 scoop chocolate vegan protein powder
    • 1/3 banana
    • 2 ice cubes
    • 3 tbsp’s kefir yogurt (optional)
• Stretching#2
  • There will be a group warmup before the Social & Competitive divisions, but stretching before you get to Thunderbird Stadium is a really good idea.
  • Start from the ankles and work your way up. If something is really tight, don’t ignore it just because it hurts. Push through it, and allow the muscle to relax. Remember, any discomfort during stretching is always better than being injured.

DURING & AFTER // #YARDWORK2019

• There will be lots of water and Gatorade available during the event, but bring your own bottle to refill as it’s going to be hot. Your sweat is full of salt, which means you need to replenish those salts throughout your activity to avoid cramping. Gatorade has salt in it, but consider bring a spare in your bag just in case.
• Bring sunscreen! It’s going to be hot and sunny.
• Lunch is provided by Big Day BBQ, but just in case, stuff some of these in your bag:
  • Energy bars or protein bars
  • Bananas
  • Potato chips (carbs + salt + fat = great recovery snack)
  • Protein shake (bring the dried powder in a shaker cup, fill with water at the event)
• Stretching #3
  • When you’re done a big workout, usually the last thing you want to do is stretch. Unfortunately, this is the time you really need to be stretching.
  • Grab your team, get a cold beer, and sit down for a quick 5 minute stretch to release those tight muscles. Your body will thank you on Sunday…

That’s it! See you tomorrow at Thunderbird Stadium.

#YARDWORK2019

The post Fueling Up // #YardWork2019 appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – July 10th, 2019

#YARDWORK2019 is approaching faster than a cheetah on rollerblades. Registration is now almost 75% full, so we want to make sure everyone that’s planning to come is signed up with their team ASAP !

We’ve heard from lots of people saying they have a team together and will “sign up later this week”… if you can, please turn later this week into RIGHT NOW, and help us get things locked and loaded.

What do you need to do? It’s all very, very vvvvvvery simple.

STEP 1

Grab yourself and 3 friends

STEP 2

Sign-up >>>>> HERE <<<<<

STEP 3

Get ready to pull some chains, throw some medicine balls, listen to some music, eat some BBQ and maybe crush a few cold ones.

STEP 4

Give yourself a pat on the back, knowing that all proceeds of your team fees go towards KidSport BC, a foundation dedicated to making sure all kids have access to play team sports.

STEP 5

Get your outfit planned, start stretching, and be ready for July 20th morning at Thunderbird Stadium in UBC!

#YARDWORK2019

The post Are You Registered? appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Henry Gould – July 9th, 2019

Credit where credit is due: those Starbucks sous vide egg bites are a welcome addition to the realm of “quick eats available most places”. Especially in airports where you don’t always want a $19 sandwich, the bites are high in protein, low in carbs, and still taste pretty good. And since you can’t go anywhere without tripping over the green mermaid, you always kind of know you’ll be able to find them in an unfamiliar environment.

But why not make them at home? The below recipe can obviously be made into a normal frittata, or poured into an oiled muffin tray and baked into “egg bites” which keep great in the fridge for a couple days.

The Greek flavors in this work really well, but obviously experiment to your hearts content.

Greek Frittata

• 12 free range eggs
• Feta Cheese (cow or sheeps milk)
• 1 bunch spinach, washed well and chopped
• 1 bunch fresh dill, washed and chopped
• 1 pinch dried Greek oregano
• 1 bunch green onions, chopped finely
• Extra virgin olive oil
• Sea salt
• Black pepper
• 1 lemon

Heat 2-3 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in a nonstick pan. Add the chopped green onions, withholding a small handful for later. Fry the onions for a couple minutes, then add the spinach and continue to cook until wilted. Season well with salt and pepper, and a pinch of the oregano. Cook until all the liquid has evaporated. Take off the heat and squeeze over some fresh lemon juice.

Crack the 12 eggs into a bowl and whisk well. Add some crumbled feta cheese (as much as you want), the chopped dill and the reserved green onions. Season with a little salt and pepper, and whisk again.

Add the cooked spinach mixture to the eggs and mix thoroughly.

If making a frittata, preheat your oven to 400F, then wipe out the pan used to cook the spinach and add a little more olive oil. Pour in the egg mixture and cook over low heat for 5 minutes, then stick in the preheated oven. Cook for 10 minutes then take out and check for doneness by poking in the middle with a knife. If it’s still runny, continue cooking until set.

If making the egg bites, take a muffin tray and wipe each section with olive oil. Spoon the egg mixture into each opening. Bake in a 400F oven for 10 minutes before checking for doneness.

The post RECIPE – Greek Frittata (Regular & “Sous Vide Bite” Style) appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – June 26th, 2019

The time has come! Yard Athletics is pleased to officially go live with “Yard Work 2019” at UBC’s Thunderbird Stadium, Saturday July 20th.

We are thrilled to once again partner with lululemon on this amazing day, with all proceeds going towards KidSport BC.

Below are all the details you’ll need, including a link to purchase tickets for your team on EventBrite. Sign up as soon as possible as teams completely sold out at Yard Work 1.0!

The post Yard Work 2019!! JULY 20TH @ UBC THUNDERBIRD STADIUM appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Yard Athletics – June 21st, 2019

Bad news! We got word through the grapevine that more of those pesky weightlifting myths were piling up in our absence… unacceptable!! There’s nothing worse than bad information, especially when it comes to health and fitness. We at Yard Athletics are very confident in the formula we use (fundamental movement patterns, done correctly and safely) and believe this will get you the results you want, every single time.

Today we hand the reigns over to Sam Shaw; mainstay of Yard Athletics since the early days, and guy who can lift double the weight of a man his size.

What’s todays myth all about? Diet. Let’s get right to it!

Q: Many people say “abs are made in the kitchen”. Is this true?

Sam Shaw: I would say it’s “partially” true. Studies have been carried out comparing the effect of dieting and exercising (or both) on overall weight and body composition that explain things pretty clearly:

• Diet focus alone can achieve more weight loss than strictly exercising and eating whatever you want
• Exercise in combination with diet leads to the most significant changes in body composition
• The combination of resistance training and diet is more effective than endurance training or a combination of endurance and resistance training at altering body composition*

*this conclusion is not based on one simple study but rather over 60 clinical studies that all came to the same conclusion

Essentially what I’m saying is that focusing purely on diet or “the kitchen” can lead to significant weight loss with some body composition change. However, a more balanced approach to dietary restrictions and exercise training will lead to more change in the long run.

First, determine your body composition goals. If your goal is to lose fat and gain more definition, then you’re going to have to eat at a calorie deficit. If your goal is to increase lean body mass and lose fat, then your diet and exercise regimen may look different.

At the end of the day, the most effective exercise/diet plan is one that you will be able to sustain. Once you determine the right approach for yourself, you can make it a lifelong habit. BRING ON THAT SIX PACK

Q: How important is diet to fitness and overall health? What do you eat and what should I be eating?

Exercise and diet are pivotal to determining a persons overall health, and making them both part of your lifestyle can make a dramatic difference in how you look and feel. While I may be a little biased in that my interests/career relate to these fields, a regular dose of dieting and exercise has been proven to lead to a host of benefits including increased energy, happiness, health, and longevity of life.

There are so many avenues of nutrition and fitness that I could go down, but no one wants to read “20 pages by Shawzo”. Let me just list you the main benefits I think about when talking to people about these concepts:

• Disease prevention (I mean… this alone should really be enough??)
• Mood and energy
• Sleep
• Weight

What I eat and what you should be eating might be completely different. Like I mentioned earlier, dieting should be specific to the individual as you will need to find the type and quantity of food (calorie intake, macro/micro nutrient intake) that is most suitable to your goals and lifestyle.

For me personally, I don’t really mess around with household ‘diets’ or energy restrictions because it effects my mood and sleep in a way I don’t really enjoy. That being said, I’m not eating whatever I want at every minute of the day.

My weekday diet mainly consists of a 5:30am smoothie (500cal – fruit, protein, almond milk, unsaturated fats), followed by a post workout meal (Roughly 1000+cal – simple carb, protein, heavy veg) and then a late night dinner as I am usually home between 7 to 9pm (Roughly 1000+cal – complex carb, protein, heavy veg). Throughout the day I will sprinkle in snacks ( fruit, nuts, bars or anything relatively low calorie that gives me enough energy to maintain a smile on my face throughout a 14 hour day :). Weekends are a bit of a write-off depending on what events are scheduled, but I do my best to not go overboard!

I have based my diet on years of learning how my body is impacted by particular macro nutrients. For some reason I respond well to carbohydrates and seem to be resistant to weight gain. This may not be the same for whoever is reading this. There, my advice would be to explore different nutrients or ‘diets’, find out what works best for you and then begin implementing dietary restrictions on a small scale as opposed to large scale change.

Most importantly, try to enjoy what you eat! At the end of the day, drastic dietary change that you hate will not be sustainable!

SHAWZO OUT

The post The Myths Of Weightlifting: PART 5 w/ Sam Shaw appeared first on Yard Athletics.

By Henry Gould – June 11th, 2019

The last few years have seen a huge uptick in a number of health and wellness trends, including stuff like ketogenic diets, fermented foods, intermittent fasting and High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT). Some we’ve covered on this blog before; others like intermittent fasting seem worthy of a longer discussion in the future.

One item that seems to have somewhat missed the “health buzz word” news cycle is something called Resistant Starch (RS). RS, as will be explained below, is a longer chain, less digestible form of starch (i.e. sugar) that is not as easily turned to glucose in the body, thus keep your blood sugar and insulin levels lower while still allowing for a feeling of fullness, a production of short-chain fatty acids, and other nutritional benefits.

I found it particularly interesting because many times when we think of the food we’re planning to eat, “carbs” all get lumped into the same negative pile. In reality they can have vast differences in terms of their effect on our body. A bag of skittles and a boiled potato are both technically carbs; both contain sugar, but one is going to have a much different impact on your health.

Let’s dive a a little deeper…

What is Resistant Starch (RS)?

RS is a form of starch (starch = large chain of glucose molecules) that is not digestible – resistant – in the stomach, or digestible only in certain forms (RS1, RS2, RS3).

What foods do you find RS in?

RS is found in many foods, however the temperature of the food can also play a factor in how much RS is available. For example, a cooked and cooled potato will contain more RS than a hot boiled potato, as the RS molecules have had a chance to consolidate and reform. When the food is hot, they denature and break apart, thus becoming easier to digest, and subsequently more glucose is available in the body.

Foods that are high in RS include oats, potatoes, legumes / beans, grains, green bananas, and cooked and cooled rice. As mentioned above, all these foods generally have more RS once cooked and cooled, or not cooked at all.

Why is RS good for you?

Despite what you might hear from strict followers of ketogenic or carnivore diets, the human body needs glucose to function. Typically that glucose comes in the form of fruits, vegetables and grains. All these items contain differing amounts of glucose, some in very simple forms (i.e. sugar in an apple), others are in longer chain, more complex forms (i.e. the RS in a potato).

RS is a chain of starch so long that is either not able to be digested, or can only be digested by gut bacteria fermentation. If it’s completely undigestible, the RS will pass through the body similar to fiber, thus helping to create regularity in the digestion which has its own positive effects on the body. It can also lead to a feeling of fullness without severely impacting the blood sugar. This can be particularly useful if one is trying to lose or maintain weight, but has a hard time feeling full after a meal. Many times we eat a healthy dinner (salad + protein) only to feel hungry an hour later, thus becoming prone to snacking on less healthy things, or just overeating entirely. If a small amount of cooked and cooled chickpeas are added to the same salad, the feeling of fullness is much greater without sacrificing an increase in bad carbs.

Since some types of RS are fermented by our intestinal bacteria, which can lead to the production of many beneficial compounds including short-chain fatty acids and butyrate. These and other compounds have a variety of benefits to the body including the promotions of healthy colon, lowered risk of colon cancer, as well as increased absorption and production of vitamins.

Some people have taken it to the very extreme, putting scoops of potato starch in water and drinking it on a daily basis. By all means try that out (it sounds disgusting!) but overall, eating a variety of fruits, vegetables and grains will likely help increase your RS levels.

The post What is “Resistant Starch”? appeared first on Yard Athletics.

By Yard Athletics – June 7th, 2019

For the last several months, Yard Athletics founder Ilan Cumberbirch has been teamed up with Blonyx nutritional supplements as a brand ambassador, helping to get the word out on their great line of products specialized for the #YardHard athlete out there.

Today we have the pleasure of chatting with John Abreu, director of sales and strategic partnerships at Blonyx, so help us learn more about their product line, as well some clear up some of the misconceptions around supplements in general.

Hi John! Tell us a bit about yourself?

Despite being born to parents who were both university professors, I was involved in sports through my youth – This eventually led to me studying Kinesiology, which satisfied both my academic and athletic sides.  From there, I went on to work in high-performance sport as a strength and conditioning coach, having the opportunity to work in the NCAA, and with a few Canadian Olympic teams. After a decade in the field, I decided to switch careers, and sought a job where I was able to be part of something special – That’s how I ended up with Blonyx.

Give us the Blonyx “elevator pitch”

At Blonyx, we’re creators of better sports nutrition products focused on fueling athletic ambition. Our mission is to instigate a revolution in the sport nutrition market bringing real science, simplicity and integrity back to an industry we feel needs to show more respect to the athletes it serves.

It seems supplements still get a bit of a bad rap, sometimes being lumped in with PED’s and steroids. How does someone in the industry set the record straight?

It starts with full transparency and education. Instead of relying on fancy marketing, one can aim to arm consumers with the knowledge to make educated decisions as to if a product works, if it’s right for them, or even what company they should buy from.  This can be done by directly linking scientific articles that back up a company’s marketing claims, sharing the way the company sources and manufactures their products, companies allowing themselves to be scrutinized by third-party testing, and also companies being transparent about who their products are or aren’t for.

Are the Blonyx products only for athletes, or can weekend warriors take them too?

Blonyx products are aimed at those who have athletic ambition, and that can cover a wide spectrum – From the professional athletes we work with, up to a “weekend warrior” who is working to post a better time in their next 10km race.

With that being said, we need to understand that having good lifestyle and training habits can provide more benefit to health and performance than supplements alone can.  If someone is pretty consistent with their lifestyle (including diet and sleep), and training (including frequency, duration and intensity), then supplements could certainly provide added value.

How does Blonyx differentiate itself from the competition?

Number one would be that we value the trust the athletes put in us when they buy our product, above all else.

We use three guiding pillars – Simplicity, depth, and integrity.  We keep our products simple, making them with as few ingredients and as little processing as possible, and simple to understand.  We only create products that are backed by a depth of scientific research on humans (not just cherry-picking animal studies), and base our research and development on the science as opposed to industry trends.  Lastly, we make sure to market all our products with integrity, opening ourselves to third-party testing, ensuring we only make claims we can back up with evidence, and providing education on all our products.

Is it true creatine makes you bloated?

Bloating is a bit of a broad term, but it is true that creatine increases total body water.  It is true that creatine draws more water into muscle cells, but it doesn’t cause a puffy or bloated look.  We get feedback that it helps people have a look of improved body composition, which makes sense, because as creatine draws more water into muscle cells, it increases the relative size of lean tissue.

If someone has never taken a nutritional supplement, what kind of things should they know first?

Before someone takes a supplement, I always start them with something that we all learned in school – The 5W’s and the H.

First, ask yourself – WHY are you considering taking a supplement? Is it for general health or performance? Am I just taking it because someone suggested it? How can you measure if something is working? For any intervention, you should always know your personal WHY.

Then, think about WHEN you should be taking a supplement. Is your lifestyle and training at a point where you could be getting the full benefit of the supplement?  Or are there other pieces you could be paying attention to first?

Once you know why you’re thinking of taking a supplement, look for WHAT you should take.  Don’t just listen to influencers or your peers, I suggest you always look into whether a product is supported by the science.

You’ll also want to be clear on WHO this product is intended for.  Some products have contra-indications or may not be necessary for an individual.

After you’ve done your homework, be clear on HOW you’re supposed to take it. What kind of training do I need to do to support the changes? Is there a timing that will help you get the most out of the product?

Lastly, do your research on WHERE to get your product from.  There is a price you can pay for choosing the lowest-priced options, so look for companies that share your values, that have good manufacturing practices, and that are third party tested for quality, purity, and cleanliness.

How did the partnership with Yard Athletics start?

I met Ilan when I was still working as a strength and conditioning coach.  We both wanted to network a bit and sat for a coffee to talk about different ideas, and he struck me as someone who wanted to strip away the unnecessary fluff from fitness, and build a community where he could bring back real training and hard work.  The more I got to know him, the more I realized he is also a good person who wants to see everyone around him get better, in or out of the gym. When I started with Blonyx, I knew he was someone I wanted to work with more, and the partnership has grown from there.

What is next for Blonyx?

We’re at a really exciting point in the journey of our company where we are starting to branch out into other markets and expand our product line with innovative (and tasty) products.  We are about to release the first ever egg white protein isolate, which we formulated with minimal processing and ingredients you’re likely to find in mom’s pantry – A true “clean-label” protein powder that is as close to real food as it gets.  We’re also releasing a few more products this year, and looking to continue working with our community to get the right products into the hands of the right people.

The post INTERVIEW: Yard Athletics X Blonyx appeared first on Yard Athletics.

By Henry Gould – June 5th, 2019

You know when you go to a great Mexican restaurant or taco spot, and the salsas are so good you can’t control yourself, so you end up completely soaking your food in them, resulting in potential discomfort a few hours later? Yaaaa… me too.

The great salsas at restaurants are usually a result of a healthy amount of salt (the “sal” in salsa comes from the latin word “salt”) in addition to lots of chilis (dry or fresh, or both) and acidity from lime, vinegar or something else.

The below salsa is amazing on any kind of Mexican food, but honestly it’s good on anything. It will keep for several days in the refrigerator.

The dried chilis can be found at South China Seas (Granville Island & Victoria Drive) or Los Guerreros Latin Foods.

Roasted Chili Salsa

• 4 dried guajillo Chilis, stems removed and seeds dumped out
• 4 dried chile de arbol, stems removed and seeds dumped out
• 2 fresh jalapenos
• 1 pinch cumin seeds or ground cumin
• 3 garlic cloves, unpeeled
• 4 tomatillos, husks removed and washed in cold water
• 1 tomato
• 1 lime
• Sea salt

Turn your broiler on high and set the oven rack to the closest level. Get a pan that can go under the broiler and put on your tomatillos, tomato, garlic cloves and jalapenos. Stick under the broiler and roast until the skins are dark brown, even blackened a little. Once done, peel the garlic cloves and throw into a blender, along with the tomato, tomatillos and jalapenos (stems cut off).

Put your dried chilis in the same pan and stick under the broiler for 10-20 seconds. Be careful as these can burn very quickly. Take out and add to the blender.

Add a little cold water to the blender along with a healthy pinch of sea salt and the pinch of cumin. Blend until smooth, ~30 seconds. If it’s not blending, add more water.

Add the juice of half the lime, blend again then have a taste. Adjust with more lime juice and salt as per your taste. Remember, it’s a condiment (not a soup) so it’s OK if it’s well seasoned.

Enjoy on everything.

The post RECIPE – Roasted Chili Salsa appeared first on Yard Athletics.

by Henry Gould – May 31st, 2019

It’s Friday morning! Instead of waking up and checking your phone for angry client emails and 1 million group chat notifications (no? just me?) why not browse a few interesting links from around the internet? All the news that’s fit to print, or rather, stuff I came across that seemed interesting and relevant to the lovely #YardHard community. Let’s gooooooooooooo.

“Why frozen fruit and veggies may be better for you than fresh” – CNN

You got my attention! Interesting read… it seems freezing is actually a very effective means for preserving plants, especially in terms of nutritional quality. Since many are picked at the peak of ripeness vs. being picked unripe and allowed to ripen during transport, freezing can often times be best.

“Vaping: how safe is it really?” – British GQ

Maybe I’m a normie, but I find the creeping popularity of Juul’s and other vape devices a little unsettling. If it seems too good to be true, generally it is (I’m looking at you, “bulletproof coffee”…) so this article grabbed my attention. It’s written by the GQ Doctor, answering a variety of questions on the subject. TL:DR, they might be better than a regular cigarette, but will likely lead to increased nicotine addiction, thus leading you to want a real cigarette. Evil genius…

“Persian Cantaloupe Drink” – Saveur

In North America we basically drink the juice of a handful of fruits (orange, cranberry, apple), and although most processed juice can have more sugar than pop, every once in a while it’s a nice treat, especially on a hot day. And cantaloupe… who doesn’t love cantaloupe?? This drink looks delicious, and apparently goes well with gin… summer cocktail party anyone?

“6 Mistakes You’re Making When Doing Squats” – Cosmopolitan

Unless you haven’t been paying attention when Ilan, Sam and Joce run you through a workout, Cosmo is here to set you straight.

“Burnout Classified as Legitimate Clinical Syndrome by World Health Organization” – Men’s Journal

Ahhhh, so we’re not supposed to feel completely run over by the world every waking hour of the day? Interesting! Now, I’m not sure doing an hour of expense reports qualifies as burnout, but the three aspects they do count (exhaustion & low energy levels, cynicism towards ones job, lowered productivity) definitely seem worthy of further exploration.

The post Health & Wellness Links From Around The Web! appeared first on Yard Athletics.