When we imagine an athlete’s path to Olympic gold, we think of thorough preparation, grueling training, and razor-sharp focus on the immense challenge that stands before them. For Red Gerard, the redheaded 17-year-old snowboarder from Ohio who won the men’s slopestyle gold medal in Pyeongchang on Saturday, that path involved staying up late the night before the event to watch Netflix, sleeping in the day of, and borrowing his buddy’s jacket as he rushed out the door to what he described as a “really relaxed” day of competition. If that’s not enough to make you want to fist-bump the guy, here are 5 reasons you should be rooting for him at his next competition on February 20th.

HE KNOWS HIS BINGE-WORTHY TELEVISION

Did we mention that Gerard stayed up late watching Netflix the night before becoming the youngest American man to win gold in the Winter Olympics since 1928? And he was watching Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a truly underrated gem of a sitcom. Seriously, if you haven’t seen it already, take note from young Red— it’s binge-worthy. To top it off, series co-creator Dan Goor told Yahoo that he “would love to do an episode where Jake Peralta and Mirai Nagasu chase an archvillain across a frozen-over parking lot, and just when he thinks he’s gotten away, Red Gerard and Charles Boyle snowboard out of nowhere and take him down.”

HE HAS HIS PRIORITIES STRAIGHT

The kid understands what’s important in life. Gerard slept in after all the Netflix watching and had to be woken up by his friend. And don’t think he stressed out about it: after borrowing a jacket because he couldn’t find his own, Gerard paused to enjoy a nice breakfast sandwich before heading out the door. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day: Gerard went on to score a combined 87.16 of 100 to top Canadian silver medalist Max Parrot.

HIS FAMILY HAS THEIR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT

The only thing better than Redmond Gerard may be Redmond Gerard’s family members, 18 of whom showed up to Pyeongchang to support him. They sent him a Snapchat while he was on the bus to the slopes of them shotgunning beers in his honor. And this was at 8:30 in the morning. The definition of the American Dream. The Gerards have got to be the most relatable family at the Olympics.

So, @NBCOlympics aired snowboarding on delay and still couldn’t delete the “holy f*ck” after Red Gerard won. #NBCdelayed #NBColympics #olympics pic.twitter.com/Z8sct2t8Qo

— bobby (@GoBobbo) February 11, 2018

HE IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE YOUNG

Gerard took to the podium Saturday in patterned socks with no shoes and proceeded to fist-bump the bronze medalist. Before that, he said “Holy f***” on live TV while celebrating his historic win, a slip that went miraculously uncensored in NBC’s delayed live broadcast, and no doubt led to some aghast expressions on older television viewer’s faces. The guy is a living model of what’s special about teenage joy, and he’s leaving older people (like horror author Stephen King) utterly confused.

HE IS SPECTACULARLY UNAWARE OF THE MAGNITUDE OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS

Winning athletes’ speeches at the Olympics are full of overtures to the importance of their achievements. But when Gerard was asked at a press conference what he would do with his gold medal, he said that he grew up watching Dew Tour and X Games more than the Olympics, but that he would “probably stare at [the medal] for quite some time.” Asked if there was anything he’d like to communicate to his family, he gave a casual “Yoohoo! We did it.” Gerard has yet to finish high school, but he could teach us all a thing or two about taking wins in stride.

The post 17-Year-Old Redmond Gerard is Your New Favorite Olympic Gold Winning Snowboarder appeared first on Mens Headlines.

Bryzgalova and her curling partner and husband, Alexandr Krushelnitskiy, lost their first match to the US, but went on to win Russia’s first-ever Olympic medal in curling after beating Norway in the bronze medal game 8-4.

Bryzgalova and Krushelnitskiy, who are both 25, were married last summer. They had to part ways with their former curling coach because he didn’t believe a curling couple who were a couple in real life could win in competition.

Bryzgalova’s gorgeous figure has the social media world swooning. Many are comparing her to Megan Fox and a young Angelina Jolie:

#OAR curler Anastasia Bryzgalova definitely has a #doppelganger, but is it #AngelinaJolie or #MeganFox?
via IG: a_nastasia92 pic.twitter.com/gRqWguwfpu

— Olympic Channel (@olympicchannel) February 14, 2018

The Russian curling mixed doubles team is led by Anastasia Bryzgalova, who looks like Angelina Jolie at 21 if she ever picked up a broom.

— James Stewart (@jamespstewart) February 8, 2018

She’s helping convert tons of new fans to curling, as well:

Didn't care about #WinterOlympics never mind #curling till today. Here's why #Anastasiabryzgalova Damn!!! pic.twitter.com/6SaIz27bjg

— Siphiwe Masoga (@SiphiweMasoga) February 10, 2018

I thought curling was a sport for old balding men but Anastasia Bryzgalova be looking like Megan Fox and suddenly I love curling #Olympics #curling pic.twitter.com/EA7pO3hV3R

— brooke (@sch0fieldb) February 8, 2018

All of a sudden I'm a fan of #Curling. Anastasia Bryzgalova is simply stunning #Pyongyang2018 pic.twitter.com/9H8AHuBSZ8

— Mac82 (@JMM7282) February 12, 2018

It’s easy to see from Bryzgalova’s Instagram posts why fan’s jaws have been dropping:

View this post on Instagram

2nd Mixed Doubles Curling Challenge 2017 #teamrussia #mixeddoubles #curling

A post shared by Anastasia Bryzgalova (@a_nastasia92) on Dec 17, 2017 at 9:22am PST

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A post shared by Anastasia Bryzgalova (@a_nastasia92) on Jul 22, 2017 at 11:27am PDT

View this post on Instagram

#spain #honeymoon

A post shared by Anastasia Bryzgalova (@a_nastasia92) on Jun 18, 2017 at 1:35pm PDT

You can make fun of curling all you want, but Anastasia Bryzgalova’s beauty is no joke.

The post Russian Olympic Curler Anastasia Bryzgalova’s Good Looks are Breaking the Internet appeared first on Mens Headlines.

It’s a special form of HIIT that chisels your abs like no other

The simplicity of this workout can’t be overstated. Created specifically to build muscle quickly, it is guaranteed to sculpt your core by taking the shortcut to shred that is the Tabata workout.

Pioneered by Japanese scientist Dr. Izumi Tabata and his team of researchers from the National Institute of Fitness and Sports in Tokyo, a Tabata workout is a kind of High Intensity Interval Training that lasts only four minutes, and is split up into 8 rounds of 30 seconds each. Compared to similar medium-intensity workouts, Tabata workouts have been found to outperform in both aerobic and anaerobic gains.

The workout takes a focused approach to core strengthening. While most core-centric routines require loads of crunches in slightly different forms, this Tabata workout works the entire abdominal group, as well as the back and arms, with just two exercises. The key to this simplicity is the high intensity of its intervals.

Because these exercises force you to stabilize your entire body while performing them rather than letting you flop around trying to do one more crunch, they train not just your belly but your transverse abdominal muscles as well. These are located deep in your core and help control your posture and the overall health of your back.

To perform this workout, do the exercises as listed below.

1. Pushups (maximum reps within 20 seconds)
2. Rest 10 seconds
3. Hollow hold (20 seconds)
4. Rest 10 seconds
5. That’s one round. Repeat 7 times.

The post Try This Crunch-Free Killer Core Workout appeared first on Mens Headlines.

You don’t need fancy vacations or public declarations of adoration to make your relationship rock solid.

Successful relationships don’t depend on big gestures like surprise vacations or a new car.

“When we consider what maintains our love in the long term, little things are of greater significance,” writes Dr. Aaron Ben-Zeev, Ph.D., author of the book In The Name of Love: Romantic ideology and its victims (With R. Goussinsky, Oxford UP, 2008). “These little things, be they gestures, actions, or words, are the many small things that we do every day and that naturally express our heart. They are not the result of calculations or intentions, but are rather spontaneous expressions of what we feel moved to do.”

There are countless small ways to express your love for someone, not just this Valentine’s Day, but every day. For some inspiration in how to show your affection to your loved one, think about the following 21 examples:

YOU’VE GOT MAIL

“Every few weeks I send my fiancé a handwritten love note to her office. Sometimes I send it with flowers.” —Danny

THE GOLDEN RULE

“When my girlfriend gives me a back rub or a foot massage, I make sure to give her one back soon after. As they say, do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” —Aaron

PARTNERS IN PAIN

“When I started having chronic pain after a car accident, I had to go to the acupuncturist or the physical therapist almost every day. My husband really showed me that he was there for me by attending all the appointments he could with me.” —Jen

ONE TO GO

“My husband is an avid gardener and a botanist. When I travel, he always leaves a pressed flower in my suitcase for me to remember him by, and a short note with it. It makes me feel so lucky.” —Catie

TWO SIDES

“I have always believed the saying: Men have sight, but women have insight. When I keep that in mind I can listen better to what my wife is telling me, and we argue less.” —Gerard

LIGHTEN THE LOAD

“It’s already a great thing that my husband and I actually split up household chores, as I know a lot of couples don’t. But what makes me really feel taken care of, is when I’m stressed or tired from work and he pitches in for my half of the cleaning.” —Anastasia

HONEY, YOU’RE HOME

“There’s nothing like coming home at the end of a long day at work and watching my wife drop whatever she’s doing and come say hello to me. I try to do the same for her, and it makes a big difference in both of our moods.” —Robert

BREAKFAST IN BED

“When I know my husband has to go to work in the morning— which is earlier than I have to get out of bed, I set out the tableware and some of the ingredients for his breakfast the night before.” —Janice

A LITTLE HELP

“I hang her coat and hat right by the door so she doesn’t have to look around for them in the morning.” —Glen

JUST RIGHT

“We share one car, so when I park it in the driveway and I know she’ll be the next to use it, I set the seat and mirrors back to her position, so she doesn’t have to. When I did this the first time, she called me from the road to tell me how good it made her feel.” —Jamal

PLAN AHEAD

“I must admit, I’m no good at planning, so when a big trip comes around my husband is always happy to plan it out. On the other hand, I’m more spontaneous, so I try to surprise him with a spur-of-the-moment date night.”— Alice

ALL THE RIGHT NOTES

“My girlfriend is a really good pianist—she won competitions when she was a kid. When I’m sick or not feeling my best she plays my favorite pop songs on the piano for me, and it cheers me right up.”—Miguel

GOOD, AND GOOD FOR YOU

“When I can, I pack my husband’s lunch for him. When he does it himself it’s just a sandwich and a soda, so I try to load his lunch bag with the sandwich as well as fruit, energy bars, and other healthy snacks that he’ll enjoy.” —Dana

BABY COME BACK

“When my wife’s on a business trip, I make a point to call her every day to chat. I always tell her that I miss her, and ask when she’s coming back, even if I know already. It makes her feel important.” —Samuel

ANGEL INVESTOR

“Years ago, when I was starting my business, I had a plan but was always scraping by. Things were tough. But my wife never wavered in her support of my dreams, and it made all the difference.” —Ken

HERE’S TO YOU

“At the end of a long day of work, or even a lazy Sunday, my wife and I always look forward to a glass of wine on the patio. She picks the bottle, I light a candle, and we watch the sun set.” —Seamus

SURPRISE PACKAGE

“My husband always shops online at REI— it’s a guilty pleasure of his, and every time a box comes in the mail he’s high-spirited. So years ago I took an old REI box from the basement and put two tickets to Costa Rica in it, under an old t-shirt. At first he was confused, then elated. We still talk about it to this day.” —Keira

ON THE ROAD AGAIN

“When we’re on a road trip, I can drive much longer hours than him. So in return, he keeps me awake and happy with a gentle shoulder massage. It shows me he’s in it with me.” —Blair

FRESHEN IT UP

“I do most of the house work, because my husband is in the office more than me. But laundry is not my strong suit, while for him it’s a cinch. When he has time he does it for us, and I get flutters every time from how well it’s done— perfect folds, that fresh laundry smell— it makes my day.” —Roberta

AN INSIDE JOKE

“On a trip to Peru we took, it became a joke to give one another endless bottles of the local soda there, which you can’t find back in the States. One day, years after the trip, he burst into my bedroom with a case of the stuff, and we laughed our butts off.” —Alexandra

JUST THE THING

“My wife had been complaining for weeks about how hard it was to find time to get her work clothes dry-cleaned. Then I got an unexpected day off, so while she was at the office I gathered all her clothes and had the cleaners do a rush job on it. When she opened up her closet that night, she was bewildered.” —Jared

The post 21 Little Things You Can Do for Your Partner on Valentine’s Day appeared first on Mens Headlines.

Eggs

Not only are eggs cheap, they’re packed with muscle-building nutrients. Most of these are located in the yolk, but the whites pack potassium and protein as well. And forget what you’ve heard about eggs being bad for your cholesterol levels—some natural cholesterol is good for the body and actually helps increase testosterone.

Salmon

Salmon has a good protein to fat ratio, and the Omega-3s it holds can improve recovery by preventing proteins from breaking down after a workout. Salmon also has been found to decrease the risk of diabetes by increasing insulin resistance. You can thank the fatty acids in fish oil specifically for that.

Oranges

That Vitamin C in oranges isn’t just good for keeping you from getting sick: according to bodybuilding.com, Vitamin C will boost your testosterone by lowering your cortisol levels.

Spinach

Popeye had it right: spinach provides the body with glutamine, an amino acid the creates protein and is especially good at building lean muscle. Spinach is also filled with its own protective steroids, called phytoecdysteroids, which can improve your ability to metabolize glucose, thereby keeping blood sugar and insulin levels down.

Broccoli

With more Vitamin C than even oranges, and plenty of dietary fiber to boot, broccoli should be on your shortlist for best post-workout foods. That’s because broccoli is a great source of folic acid, which repairs DNA and helps produce red blood cells, as well as a good source of zinc, which helps synthesize proteins and heal wounds.

Grass-fed Beef

It’s no surprise that red meat makes it on this list: the protein levels it provides are nearly unmatched, and it supplies a healthy dose of Vitamin B-12, which promotes good energy. Bodybuilders have relied heavily on red meat to gain mass quickly, and they’re on to something. But what makes grass-fed beef better than grain-fed? Aside from containing far less saturated fat per serving, grass-fed beef has less Omega 6s (which cause an inflammatory response in the body) and more Omega 3s (which improve heart health) than grain-fed beef.

Greek Yogurt

Greek yogurt is like yogurt, but better. With almost twice as much protein per serving and fewer carbs. All yogurts contain the remarkable conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a special type of fat that has been shown to reduce body fat.

The post 7 Crucial Foods to Build Lean Muscle Quickly appeared first on Mens Headlines.