The three muscle groups behind knee stability, and how to train them
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Running, climbing stairs, squatting to pick something up from the floor: every one of these movements passes through the knees. It is easy to take that for granted until they start to complain. “Everybody could probably benefit from some sort of Read More...
Untracked daily walking beats step goals, and science explains why
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When University of Sydney researchers published findings from a study of more than 22,000 adults who didn’t engage in structured exercise, the results were not what most health researchers anticipated. The study, published in the British Journal of Read More...
What to actually eat after a workout, according to sports dietitians
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Anyone who has ever gone hard at the gym on a Monday and then struggled to get off the couch on Wednesday knows exactly what delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is. You do not need a clinical definition. DOMS is the stiffness, the tenderness, and the Read More...
More movement, more energy burned: new study challenges metabolism myth
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The idea that your body works against you when you exercise has circulated in fitness and science communities for years. Work out more, the theory goes, and your metabolism quietly dials back somewhere else (suppressing immune function, trimming reproductive Read More...
You can't spot-reduce belly fat, but you can lose it. Here's what the science says works.
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Every few years, a new product promises to "blast belly fat" or help you target your midsection. None of it works. Spot reduction, the idea that you can direct fat loss to a specific part of the body, simply isn't how human physiology operates. "You can't Read More...
7 pilates mistakes instructors notice (and what to do instead)
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORAL TEAM Pilates isn’t about going harder or faster. It’s about precision. To an outsider, it can look like “not much,” because the work happens in tiny, controlled ranges. “It might feel very different than what you’re used to,” says certified instructor Read More...
Challenge both mind and muscles with wobbly squats
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Squats are a gym staple, right? But what if this straightforward exercise also gave your brain a good workout? A recent study from Germany reveals that performing squats on unsteady surfaces not only develops your lower body but also improves your mental Read More...
A guide to the three kinds of movement your body needs every week
Making physical activity a priority has never been more important for our health in this fast-paced society when sitting all day is the standard. While walking has traditionally been regarded as a basic and accessible form of exercise, there is much more to achieving peak health than simply Read More...
Zumba: The workout that turns fitness haters into dance floor enthusiasts
One faithful day in Colombia in the 1990s, a fitness instructor realized he forgot his usual workout playlist and sparked a spontaneous dance session to loud Latin beats instead. This serendipitous move transformed his exercise class into an exhilarating dance party. With that, zumba was born, Read More...
"Shy girl workouts" are helping women build confidence in the gym
In a society overrun with fitness fads, there is one new phenomenon that is having a particularly positive impact on women's fitness journeys. Meet the "shy girl workout" craze, a warm and inspiring movement that has been gaining traction since late 2022. What is a shy girl workout? The beauty of Read More...