As the calendar flips to August, NFL training camp season is in full swing, and the league has already started to muscle its way back to being the sun, moon, and stars of the American sports landscape. Hope springs eternal for the 32 NFL teams, even the bad ones, and they’ll be playing preseason games as soon as this Thursday night.
Every training camp spawns its own media industrial complex, because that’s the nature of the NFL’s beast. You may not care who wins a defensive tackle job for the Los Angeles Chargers, but you will have the option of reading several dozen stories about it, and there are thousands of people who will exercise that option. That’s fantastic. But some training camps are more interesting than others, and in that spirit, let’s run through a collection of NFL teams who will give onlookers a lot to talk about as we head into this season.
This article is an installment of The Everyday Warrior series, featuring advice, key interviews, and tips to live a life of impact, growth, and continual learning.
As cliché as it might sound, you must approach things just one day, one meal, or one workout at a time. It’s the basis of the ATTA concept, an approach to living that inspires greatness and promotes balance, coined by retired U.S. Navy SEAL Mike Sarraille, host of the Men’s Journal Everyday Warrior podcast.
When you first embark on a fitness journey, especially if you have a lot of weight to lose or have a long road ahead of you, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the bigger picture. Don’t let that discourage you as that often happens. Take the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, for example. I started training back in the fall of 2019 before COVID and the pandemic. I had no background in grappling or martial arts. Despite being somewhat athletic most of my life from playing sports I was like a fish out of water. It was hard to imagine after the first couple of classes how I would ever have any skill in the sport of BJJ.
Fast forward to the present: I recently received my blue belt. Not that I’m all that skilled now but I just truly personified the one-day ATTA time approach. All I did was show up two to three times per week for classes, drilled a lot, and got just a little bit better over time. That’s the key: continuing to show up and being consistent. You must apply this same approach to your fitness goals.
It seems overwhelming to lose 50 pounds when you’re just starting out. View it as a process goal versus just the outcome. What I mean here is you take that larger goal and break it down into smaller ones. Losing a substantial amount of weight is a daunting task, but losing the first 5 or 10 pounds isn’t as scary. Start by chunking things up into smaller, more manageable goals.
You realize that if you lose one to two pounds the first couple weeks, you’ll be there in no time. When you start exercising, increasing your daily activity levels, and start eating better it’s entirely possible. It’ll feel good to accomplish these micro-goals. Use that initial success as positive momentum in your journey to spring you forward. Momentum is a funny thing, too. Once you get some, it tends to keep you going for quite some time. Those little wins may not seem like much at the start, but watch them give you that forward momentum to keep pushing when times get tough.
It feels good to get some victories under your belt. Allow yourself to feel proud and celebrate seemingly small or minor wins.
Incremental changes will slowly add up and compound over time. If you truly live this approach and philosophy, you’ll be shocked at where you can be in a few months’ time. Stop putting off your fitness goals and shift your mindset toward getting started today. The sooner you get started, the better off you’ll be.
Nick Shaw is the co-founder of Renaissance Periodization (RP), a multi-million-dollar health and fitness company that has improved the lives of hundreds of thousands of clients around the world. His story – and the story of RP—has appeared in a Forbes feature story, which chronicled Renaissance Periodization’s rise from a small business into an influential tech company with an industry-leading app available through Apple’s app store and Google Play. Nick has also helped to coach numerous world-class athletes including CrossFit Games champions, international medalists in weightlifting, UFC fighters, Navy SEALs, and Olympians. Nick and his team at RP have sold hundreds of thousands of books over the years ranging from Nutrition, Training, Recovery, and creating Healthy Habits.
Sharing some ideas on how to set healthy examples for kids, teach them about health, and get them excited about nutrition.
Hi friends! How’s the week going? We’re having the dreamiest time in Hawaii; I never want to leave.
For today’s post, I’m answering a reader’s request about teaching kids about nutrition and setting a healthy example for kids as they grow up. While I’m not an expert in this (please keep in mind that I’m NOT an RD), it’s been important to me to model healthy behaviors our babies can keep for life. In today’s post, I’m sharing some of the things that have worked for us, and as always, I love hearing your input, too!
How to teach kids about nutrition
Show, don’t tell
This is my #1 tip and I could probably just end this post here. A lot of the things the kids know about nutrition, they’ve learned from watching us and how we eat, how we plan our meals, and how we shop. I don’t have to really “tell” them anything; kids are little sponges and are always soaking up information from the world around them.
I love the fact that our kiddos are adventurous eaters who seem to enjoy food as much as we do. They’re not picky and will try anything, and while they each have a giant sweet tooth (I do, too!), they also enjoy lots of fresh produce, protein, healthy fats, and nutrient-dense starches on their plates. One of my biggest goals for nutrition for the girls was to teach them about balance, which they can only learn if I model that myself. I’ll have a giant salad, but I’ll also have a cupcake or ice cream with them, and it’s no big deal. We order Domino’s pizza (they love it) and get donuts weekly. I never want anything to be *weird* or forbidden, and they know that we focus on colorful, fresh foods from the earth + room for the soul-hugging stuff in there, too.
(Their favorite snack: smoked oysters and skinless/bonless sardines. They eat them straight-up out of the can.)
This can be hard if you’ve grown up with a tricky relationship with food, but remember that kids are always watching. Enjoy treats guilt-free and don’t talk about how food affects your physical appearance. Instead, you can say things like, “I’m going to have so much energy after this salad” or “soup always makes me feel better when I’m under the weather.” Or, you could also say nothing. I find that whatever I’m eating, the girls want to eat, too. I’ll often make my portions larger because I know at least half will be “tasted.”
Eat the rainbow
I don’t think kids *need* to know the vitamin, mineral content, or macro balance of their foods. Instead, they can focus on eating the rainbow. You can ask them, “Hey, did you have anything green yet today? Do you want salad, broccoli, or zucchini with dinner?” “How many colors of the rainbow can we put on our plate for lunch?”
Having a little garden has encouraged them to try new things, too. They love going outside to pick carrots, bell peppers, or salad greens. (We have melons growing right now, too!)
Give them freedom within parameters
For this one, if I know they’ve already had more sugar during the day (like a boba tea AND an ice cream at the pool), I’ll give them some more nutrient-dense choices for other meals. “Hey, do you want chicken or fish tonight?” “What veggies or fruits do you want with your meal?” The girls know that for every meal they’ll get a few constants: a protein, a starch, a healthy fat, and always a fruit or veggie (usually both with lunch and dinner). I hope that by setting up our meals this way, they’ll inherently know how to balance a plate when they get older.
Let them go shopping with you and choose new produce options
This is definitely the most fun one! Whenever we go to the store or put in an online grocery order, I let the girls each pick a new fruit or vegetable. They often surprise me with their choices and we’ve been able to discover new things this way. This makes them excited to try these new options, and I find that it also keeps us out of the monotony of having the same fruits and veggies in our rotation. It’s also fun to take them to the farmer’s market and pick out some new finds that feel exciting to them.
Involve them in the cooking process
Kids are ALWAYS more excited to eat when they helped to prepare the meal. For our dinners, I try to find age-appropriate ways to let them help, whether it’s peeling carrots, putting a salad kit together (P can do the whole thing from start to finish), washing and seasoning vegetables, harvesting herbs or greens from the garden, measuring ingredients, or chopping (with supervision the whole time, obvs). Cooking with them usually takes a tiiiiiny bit longer, but it’s totally worth it. I want them to enjoy cooking and it’s another way that we can enjoy time together. If you’re looking for a kid-friendly cookbook, the girls LOVE this one. (Liv recently told me it’s “too easy” for her, so we’re looking for a new one!)
So, tell me, friends: what habits are you trying to set up for your kids as they grow? What are some resources that have helped you?
G-Shock has been on a roll lately. Hot on the heels of the titanium-clad, sci-fi-inspired GMW-B5000TVB, the brand has released a new lineup of metal watches: G-Shock GMB2100 series. The series contains three timepieces kitted out with full metal cases and bracelets, and each one features a different finish: silver, dark gray, and copper. They’re also equipped with polished octagonal bezels that recall the famed “CasiOak” series of metal G-Shock watches. If you’re a fan of the brand but not a fan of wearing a hunk of plastic on your wrist, this new collection definitely deserves a look.
The GMB2100 series includes three watches: silver-finished GMB2100D-1A, dark gray GMB2100BD-1A, and copper-finished GMB2100GD-5A. All the watches feature the hallmark CasiOak octagonal bezel, and G-Shock went to great lengths to make these watches shine (literally). The company used a three-step finishing process to create a circular hairline finish on the top surfaces of the watches, a vertical hairline finish on the sides, and a bright, mirror-like gleam on the bezel. Combined, these finishing techniques really show off the metallic construction of the three models.
The black dial utilizes a vapor deposition treatment on the indices for a sharp, hi-definition appearance, and G-Shock also put a lot of thought into the construction of the case. Resin buffers between the bezel and the inner part of the case absorb shocks to protect the watch’s inner workings, and G-Shock even managed to slim down the profile—the GMB2100 watches are 0.2mm slimmer than the GMWB5000, one of the brand’s previous full-metal watch releases. With its premium finishes and thoughtful construction, these new G-Shocks show the brand is putting an emphasis on upscale style without sacrificing its reputation for ruggedness.
The GMB2100 watches offer plenty of capability to go along with their polished looks. They’re equipped with G-Shock’s Tough Solar Technology, so they can derive power from the sun and even weak sources of light, and they’re Bluetooth-equipped to sync with the G-Shock Connected app. The app opens up all kinds of functionality, including automatic time updates, setting the time on the watch face, calendar reminders, and more. Of course, these watches are also built tough: They’re shock resistant and water resistant to 200 meters.
Back in 1992, for the 1,000th batch of Goose Island beer, the brewer Greg Hall, wanted to create something unique, a one-off beer. What resulted was the brewery’s first bourbon barrel-aged stout.
“At the time, we thought we’d never make it again,” says Hall, who left Goose Island in 2011.
As it happens, Goose Island is still making bourbon barrel-aged stouts 30 years later. It all began at a fortuitous dinner that put Hall next to Booker Noe, the legendary master distiller and grandson of Jim Beam. That chance meeting spurred the idea to age Goose Island stout in a bourbon barrel.
Over the last 30 years, the release of new Goose Island Bourbon County stouts has become somewhat of a spectacle, with people camping out to be the first to buy it big. Each year, the pressure is undoubtedly on Goose Island to make something memorable—once again. In past years, they’ve made bourbon barrel-aged stout variants flavored with Earl Grey tea, chipotle chilis, and blueberry juice (just not together). One of 2021’s stouts brought to mind strawberry ice cream bars. When it comes to pushing what a bourbon barrel-aged stout can be, 2022 is no different.
“We think about Bourbon County Stout every day of the year, and I hope this year’s releases show that.” says Mike Siegel, senior innovation manager at Goose Island.
This year, Goose Island has seven new releases that celebrate 30 years of making bourbon barrel-aged stout and push the process in seven new ways. From old favorites to tropical flavors, here’s the list of 2022 Bourbon County stouts you need to get your hands on.
Goose Island Beer Company
Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
Every year, Goose Island returns to the recipe for the first Bourbon County Stout from 1992. This year, the imperial stout is aged and blended from empty bourbon barrels used by Heaven Hill, Four Roses, Wild Turkey, and Buffalo Trace distilleries. Goose Island says you can expect flavors of vanilla, dark chocolate, toffee, molasses, almond, and dried fruit.
The dream for most of us gear heads is to have a car you drive to the track, spend the day racing, then take home—no trailer necessary. But most track-focused cars are too stiff and uncomfortable to drive very far on public streets, while road cars are too soft and supple to provide much of a thrill on a circuit. But what if there were one that was just right for both? The 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica might just be our Goldilocks answer to this quandary.
Yes, It’s Fast!
Last year, Lamborghini debuted the Huracán STO, a road car that prioritizes track experience over driving on public thoroughfares. It was certainly brilliant ripping laps at hellacious speeds, but it was quite evident the STO wasn’t a rig well-suited to bumps in the road. With the 2023 Lamborghini Huracán Tecnica, the Italian maker has effectively created an STO in street clothing. The engine, transmission, and braking system are essentially the same, but the chassis has been given a softer setup, making it more comfortable in everyday situations. Also, Lamborghini has stripped away much of the aero kit, as well as the massive scoop and wing, giving it a more conventional Lamborghini aesthetic.
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Of course those changes are not strictly visual, the Tecnica offers less downforce than the STO, but it does generate 35 percent more rear downforce than the Huracán EVO and 20 percent less drag. Also, Lamborghini has reshaped the underside of the car and the brake vents to keep them cooler and prevent stopping power from fading as you push it on the road or track.
To save a bit of mass, Lambo used lightweight materials including a carbon fiber hood and engine cover to reduce the weight of the Tecnica by 10 kg compared to the EVO RWD.
The aforementioned engine is a naturally aspirated V-10 that savagely throws 631 hp and 417 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels. At the 8,500 rpm redline, the sound is both staggering and addictive. Once you hear it, you want to hear it again and again, like your favorite song on repeat.
Controlling how the car deploys that staggering power, the LDVI (Lamborghini Dinamica Veicolo Integrata) system manages the totality of the car’s dynamic behavior. Drivers have the option of three driving modes: Strada provides maximum comfort; Sport mode sharpens the throttle input, revs higher in automatic, and adds a bit of oversteer to the rear wheels; and Corsa offers maximum lateral and longitudinal grip, the fastest shifting from the gearbox, and greater precision for sticking the line on the track while you try to find the limit.
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On the Road
There are some truly epic driving roads in Spain, especially around the Parc Natural de la Serra Calderona, and if you find yourself behind the wheel of the Tecnica, you’ll want to drive them all.
Pop it into the Sport setting and the Valencian hills come alive with the sounds of V-10 music. Give the Tecnica even a modest amount of throttle and it howls. Push the accelerator further and it screams. Gear shifts are intensely quick, whether you’re lazily rolling in automatic or using the paddles while cosplaying an F1 driver. The carbon ceramic brakes are so strong they could probably yank the Millennium Falcon from hyperspace to a dead stop in a few hundred feet, but the pedal itself feels a bit dull.
Moreover, the throttle response in Strada could be a little sharper. The Tecnica requires a forceful push of the accelerator to wake the engine from its slumber. But that massive V-10 power is only a stomp away. Minor gripes in the big picture.
The softer setup makes the Tecnica a reasonably comfortable place to grind out highway miles or saunter through town. Of course, for most customers, it won’t serve as a daily driver. But it’s certainly versatile enough that it could.
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On the Track
As good as the Huracán Tecnica is on the road, it’s equally adroit on the track. Flicking through turns and hammering the throttle on straights, it’s hard to find the edge in this car lapping the Circuit Ricardo Tormo. Raw speed comes so easily to the Tecnica what seems like hair-on-fire-fast in other cars feels easily manageable.
Rear-wheel steering gives the Tecnica both enhanced maneuverability at lower speeds and more lateral stability at faster ones, a feature you appreciate both on the track or during hairpin turns and hills on the open road. Optionally, the same custom Bridgestone Potenza race tires featured on the STO provide insane levels of grip that leave you with the impression there’s no line you can’t hold. But should you get a touch too aggressive, the traction control system can unwind all but the most serious mistakes.
Best of Both Worlds
For those who are going to live the dream and drive their race machine to the track, along with those race specific tires, customers should probably pick up a set of the Bridgestone Potenza Sport tires and some extra rims to swap for track days.
Those lucky few should also add the optional roll bar, though it does significantly diminish the already minimal rear visibility. But when you’re driving a Lamborghini, what’s behind you doesn’t matter…unless they have flashing lights and a siren.
Layering up for colder weather doesn’t mean you have to concede style. Here are the fashionable, purpose-built outerwear pieces that will help pull your fall wardrobe together.
Get the look (above): Nicgid Crossbody Bag ($25; amazon.com); K-Way Orange Le Vrai Jacket ($100; k-way.us); Filson Rail-Splitter Jeans ($250; filson.com); Burton Camo Jacket ($230; burton.com); Buck Mason Cotton Field Tee ($45; buckmason.com); Redwing Copper Heritage Classic Moc ($310; redwing.com)
Iron Heart America Cotton Selvedge Work Shirt ($365; ironheartamerica.com); Buck Mason Cotton Costa Curved Tee ($48; buckmason.com); Dior Men Brown Pants ($1,350; dior.com)
Colin Clark
Dsquared2 Cotton Black Sweater ($995; dsquared2.com); Zegna Linen Workwear Trousers ($1,495; zegna.com); Buck Mason Field Spec Surplus Tee ($45; buckmason.com)
If you love beer, you’re in the right place—at the right time. With over 9,000 breweries in the United States alone, there are more craft beer varieties, styles, and flavors than ever. And, every day, experimentation and innovation are taking beer in new directions. To keep track of what’s brewing, we’re taste-testing and calling out some of the best beers you can find. If you want to pick up something special to drink, check out our favorite beers available now.
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Full Sail Brewing Company Sesión Cerveza
Style: Mexican-style lager
Full Sail first started producing Session in 2005—and it was a big hit due to its drinkability. That line now includes Session Premium Lager, Session IPA, and Session Hazy Pale Ale. Sesión Cerveza is the brewery’s take on a Mexican lager—perfect for the dog days of summer. In 2017, the beer took home a silver for international-style pilsner category at the Great American Beer Festival and, in the same category, a gold at the U.S. Open Beer Championship. Sesión Cerveza boasts a pale straw yellow color with a quickly dissipating head. Its aroma has a combination of bread, yeast, and malt—though not overwhelming. It’s light and hoppy, with a slight bitterness to finish.
This article was produced in partnership with Pendleton Whisky
“I got your six” is a phrase that’s been around for more than a century. It was first coined by American fighter pilots in World War I.
Soldiers used clock positioning to inform direction. For example, twelve o’clock is straight in front of you and six o’clock is right behind you. So, when a WWI fighter pilot said, “I got your six,” it meant, “I got your back.” Enemy pilots would try to get behind your tail and shoot you down, but you trusted your wingman to protect your “six.”
As a former recon marine and retired US Navy SEAL Officer, I have many stories of amazing men and women who have picked me up, covered for me, and protected my “six.” I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for them—but one story in particular stands out.
It was September 29, 2006 (Saint Michael’s Day), during the Battle of Ramadi. It was one of the most violent battles of the Iraq War, and I was in command of a 12-man element comprising four Navy SEALs and eight Iraqi scouts. The mission was to provide sniper overwatch support for the famed 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment—the same unit from the HBO series Band of Brothers—as they cleared a highly contested district of the city. We snuck into the enemy-held district during the middle of the night and set up sniper positions on the third-story roof of a prominent building. When the sun rose, we were engaged in sporadic gunfights with Al Qaeda insurgents that remained throughout the day.
About mid-day, Navy SEAL Michael Monsoor, known as “Mikey” by our entire SEAL Platoon, assumed security. A SEAL was located three feet to his left, and I was three feet to his right. An enemy combatant utilized cover and concealment to sneak close enough to our position, then hurled a grenade onto the roof. The grenade barely cleared the lip of the wall, striking Mikey in the chest before settling on the ground. Mikey yelled, “Grenade!” and without hesitation jumped on it to absorb the blast. The other SEAL and I were wounded from shrapnel to the legs, but we survived because of Mikey.
This is the most selfless act anyone can do. Mikey was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, our nation’s highest award for selfless valor above and beyond the call of duty. Mikey’s story will soon be told in a book, due to be released this fall.
I consider myself lucky to have experienced this bond—this concept. No matter the circumstances or how bad things got, I knew my tribe always had my six. At the same time, we understood that this was a sacred pact of trust. I would never ask my comrades to break the law or violate their integrity to cover my six. It would defy the meaning of those words.
“I got your six” also means holding your brothers and sisters accountable when you see them violating the ethics and principles we hold dear. That doesn’t mean reporting them to a higher power, but taking a morally courageous action to confront them and provide corrective action to ensure it never happens again.
This notion was the foundation upon which our trust and camaraderie was built, further forged by shared adversity—going to hell and back with one another. This is one of the most powerful unifying principles for top-tier teams, regardless of profession or industry.
Of course, the idea of having one’s back is not solely reserved for military members and the profession of arms. In a non-war environment, this phrase can be used to comfort our fellow man: No matter what happens, I am here to support you. You can trust me. You have my loyalty.
As we approach Independence Day, we should remember and embrace the great many things that unite us as Americans. More than just a phrase, “I’ve got your six” represents an unbreakable bond with our fellow man, whether it be a family member, friend, co-worker, or even a stranger. Most importantly, it reminds us to treat one another with respect and a sense of loyalty, regardless of our personal backgrounds or beliefs.
Look around. There are countless examples of everyday acts of selflessness—a bystander pulling someone out of a burning car, a community rallying around essential workers during COVID-19, anonymous and plentiful donations to help a family that lost everything to a fire.
“I’ve got your six” can be integrated into everyone’s life. It starts with building genuine, trustworthy relationships and reminding yourself that it’s not all about you. Instead, it’s about selflessly caring for the well-being of others.
Building trust within our tribes and the greater American tribe will give us purpose beyond measure.
I’ve got your six, how about you?
Liz Nemeth
Introducing Pendleton Whisky’s ‘We’ve Got Your 6’ Limited Military Edition Bottle:
In partnership with the Bob Woodruff Foundation, Pendleton Whisky released its fourth-annual, limited-edition military appreciation bottle to honor veterans of the United States Armed Forces. Pendleton Whisky has pledged to donate $100,000 and a portion of proceeds to support the Bob Woodruff Foundation to help create healthy, positive futures for our service members, veterans, and their families.
I am proud to endorse Pendleton’s ‘We’ve Got Your 6’ Limited Edition Military Edition Bottle, which represents the military motto I hold dear to this day. Whiskey was the go-to libation for my units. Toast to a fallen comrade: shot of whiskey. Introduce a new team member: shot of whiskey. Wish farewell to a teammate: shot of whiskey. To this day, I take a shot of whiskey on every anniversary of a fallen teammate.
Yoga mats might seem like a simple piece of gear, but these six-foot rubber pads symbolize more. By unfurling one in a bikram yoga class or at home in front of your favorite yoga channel, you’re creating a physical space to move your body as well as a mental space to invite more mindfulness. Think of the mat as a landing spot for taking care of your entire wellbeing.
If you’re new to the practice or just looking to upgrade your yoga mat, you’ll want to consider a few different features before adding one to your shopping cart. The most noticeable feature on yoga mats is the material they’re made from. Most yoga mats are made from a blend of rubber and polyurethane to provide grip during sweaty workouts, but some mats are made from fabric and plant-derived materials. Yoga brands are being more conscientious about using earth-friendly ingredients, so keep an eye out for mats that are made with recycled content, are FSC-certified, and are chemical-free.
The next feature to consider is thickness. If you’re sensitive to hard surfaces or tend to have joint pain, opt for a thicker mat: It’ll offer more cushioning for your hands, knees, elbows, and feet when they make contact with the ground. You can also add a blanket, pillow, or block for extra support. Keep in mind that the thicker the yoga mat, the larger it’s going to be when rolled up. Thinner mats tend to be lighter and easier to roll up and transport.
Bonus features in some selections include antimicrobial additives, anti-slip coatings, lifetime guarantees, extra surface area, and the use of natural materials like grass and cotton.
To help you choose the right yoga mat, we compiled 15 of our favorites for all types of yoga sessions. Whether you’re planning on sweating out all your worries in a hot yoga class or just doing some after-work stretching, these are the best yoga mats for men in 2022.
