In the pursuit of summer bodies, massive muscles and weight loss feats, we often neglect the most important muscle of them all: our minds. Ultimately, if you aren’t keeping tabs on your mental state, no amount of reps will ward off a psychological crisis. That’s why we’ve devoted the new issue of Men’s Health (on shelves right now!) to the art of forging mental strength that lasts.
We’ve got tips for busting stress, building resilience and starting those difficult conversations that might ultimately save your life—plus everything you need to achieve a bulletproof physique. Here are seven big reasons you should grab the new issue today:
1. You’ll Learn How to Forge Real Mental Strength
Small steps will help you make massive waves, and we’ve got 18 (and a half) strides you can make for your mental health that are easy to weave into your everyday routine. For example, becoming less predictable—i.e., shifting your daily habits slightly so that you’re taking a few detours throughout your waking hours—has been linked to a happier life. That could mean changing your walking route during lunchbreak or swapping your doomscrolling sessions for a dose of meditation. That’s just one step: we’ve got 17 more.
2. You’ll Age-Proof Your Muscle
Our big workout this issue is all about building a physique that lasts—even as you get older. The programme is easy to follow and can be scaled to your current fitness levels, so there’s no excuse not to start sweating. Even just a few weeks of these monster moves can net you real results. You’ll find the workout (and a series of others designed to target every muscle) in our supersized Trainer section.
READ MORE: The 5 Exercises You Need To Add to Your Workout, According to a Biokineticist
3. You’ll Start the Conversation
Men are taking their lives at an alarming rate and this mental health crisis is showing no signs of slowing down. But we’re not shying away from the conversation, and opening up could be exactly what starts saving lives. We speak to real guys who faced real adversity and find out how they were able to hit the brakes and rediscover their purpose even in the face of debilitating psychological struggles. Plus, we give you the tools to stay afloat even when you’re taking the biggest hits.
4. You’ll Build a Marvel-Worthy Body
Superhero physiques require super focus, and Jonathan Majors—whose character Kang will be stepping into the void left by uber-villain Thanos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe—knows exactly what it takes to fill those massive shoes. We sat down with the actor to find out how to make mind and matter work in unison to conquer almost any goal.
5. You’ll Find New Ways to Turn Chicken Into Muscle
Poultry has been a gym goers’ favourite for decades of shifting tin, but this white meat can quickly get difficult to chew on (especially when it’s dominating your plate at breakfast, lunch and dinner). Don’t fret, we’ve got 28 new ways to take your chicken from fowl meal to your new favourite feast. Nuggets, roasts and healthy BBQ wings—we’ve got you covered, basted and everything in between.
6. You’ll Stay Ahead of the Curve
This year is going to be a big one for fitness, and you’ll want to stay on trend to make sure you reap the rewards of a rapidly shifting world. We’re talking about VR training, next-level CrossFit and tasty meals you can rehydrate into fine form. The future of fitness is here, we’ll make sure you don’t miss it.
7. You’ll Get Stronger with Just One Piece of Kit
You don’t need an armoury of machines to get fit. The proof? Parallettes. This highly functional training tool will help you net gymnastic-like gains. That means a rock-hard core and sleeve-straining shoulders and arms—everything you could want from your sweat sessions and more. In our new issue, we take you through the science, setups and moves that will net you the best results. It’s time to enter a parallel universe.