Men's Health AU 09.2022_downmagaz.net

MH GARAGE “It feels like it’s been screwed together by the same people who make submarines watertight” HEAD-TURNER: THE ALFA ROMEO TONALE IS PREDICTABLY GORGEOUS, INSIDE AND OUT. SEPTEMBER 2022 51

ONE IMPOSSIBLE CHALLENGE. SIX WEEKS TO TRAIN. GO BY ALEX MITCHESON PHOTOGRAPHY BY JACK BUSSELL Hunting High And Low For Mindfulness OUR WRITER ESCHEWS THE MEAT AISLE AT HIS LOCAL SUPERMARKET TO VENTURE INTO NATURE AND EXPERIENCE THE PRIMAL SENSATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH KILLING FOR YOUR DINNER If your survival depended on it, could you kill? 52 MEN’S HE ALTH

FOR AS LONG AS I can recall, HOPE AND PREY of trail running shoes, I’m given a a good while. Though we’d the evolution of man has pair of binoculars to wear across battled changeable weather fascinated me. How we went So, in the 21st century, where my chest and we head off into yesterday, we’d got our reward: from crawling around in dark does hunting have a place? Does the darkness. sipping coffee before a view I caves to sending 2am R u up? it even have a place? Time and won’t forget quickly; specifically, messages is a complex and again, I’ll find myself wandering The three of us had tackled a jet-boiler packet cappuccino at contentious journey. The long aisle after aisle of readily available some serious terrain the previous 1100 metres with nothing but and short of it is, as a species, we food, taking in attractively day, characterised by tall tussock valley floor beneath us — utter had to adapt and survive, and portioned cuts of meat or fish grass and hidden rocks – the serenity and not a pretentious those who did would pass on and wondering, Should it really perfect environment in which to barista in sight. their genes. A key element in be this easy? And while I’ll admit roll your ankle. Consulting my the wild kaleidoscope of early to having my fair share of anxiety smartwatch, I see there are Interestingly, the complete ancestorial life was hunting. If you — I mean, who doesn’t at some roughly 20,000 opportunities to lack of anything instils a failed to forage or return point these days? — it does make do so on some of the steepest considerable sense of calm successfully from a hunt, there me curious to know if hunting and deepest hiking I’ve seen in and a discernible drop in my were no shiny florescent-lit could play a role in improving supermarkets to save the day. mental wellbeing. Despite being armed and You went hungry. Or worse, ready, the hunters went after going hungry for a while, I wake to a stir outside my unrewarded on day one. you died. swag. A quick glance at my phone confirms it’s just gone Eamon Waddington has been 5am EST. Zipping back, the hunting and fishing for as long as dense cold air of the morning he can remember. Originally from hits me and I let out a long, Victoria, he migrated north and visible breath. It’s a chilly 6º now resides in Newcastle, and is Celsius. Generating a palpable air a part-owner/guide at Broadside of enthusiasm, the others mill Hunting in the Hunter Valley. The about slurping coffee, pulling on organisation offers hunting their camouflage gear and courses dealing in authentic rubbing weary eyes. I join the experiences (miles from screen activity and throw down a banana time) and a primal connection to and muesli bar, chasing them what once was. After a rural with much-needed liquid upbringing, he eventually found caffeine. It isn’t long before himself locked into the busy 9-5 Eamon, my guide for the day, carousel of adult life: eat – sleep grabs me and our other – work – party – repeat. He participant, Jack, and tells us laughs: “For me, going out and we’ll head out shortly. Apart from partying started to get old”. Fast camouflage gear and a trusty pair forward a few years, and a longing for something different Into The Wild: the quiet began to manifest. So, while and focus required for leaning into his countryside roots, hunting can make it a he would soon appreciate that form of meditation. Saturday mornings spent out in nature were just the tonic. It wouldn’t take long before hunting became a passion, and, along with a group of friends, he would secure a prime piece of unspoilt land in the Hunter Valley for regular hunting trips: Broadside Hunting was born. SEPTEMBER 2022 53

stress levels, which had been We didn’t need to get I know deep meditation can take us there are deer up ahead. high since I’d arrived at camp. I’m ourselves a kill to eat or years to master, but on the face Chances are high we will make a naturally a chronic overthinker, so survive, but the level of value of things, it appears hunting kill. “This doesn’t look too bad,” being sans phone signal —and concentration and mindfulness meets the criteria. I quip, noting the gradient. Eamon immersed in an environment required had an elevating grins back at me. “What you see which I know is unequivocally effect on my mood. Could THE KILLING FIELDS isn’t the whole picture,” he says. off-grid — has diminished the hunting be a form of “There’s a plateau and then chatter in my head. And though meditation? The Cambridge A new day breaks, and we find probably double again. I hope we didn’t manage to get anything English Dictionary defines ourselves standing at the foot of a you’re up for it.” on our first day, actively stalking meditation as the act of giving hill just as the first rays of sunlight prey has pushed everything else your attention to only one bathes the expanse of valleys, Before finding myself on the on my mind out of contention. I thing, either as a religious ridge lines and mountains around rugged slopes of the Hunter have been fully present from the activity or as a way of us in a lavender glow. Eamon has Valley – far removed from word go. becoming calm and relaxed. swapped his compound bow civilisation – I was aware the from yesterday for a rifle and tells going for this course was going to be rough. It was never going to Lethal Force: an involve leisurely trail-walking and unsuspecting deer has toasting marshmallows by the fire. Long days of negotiating seconds to live as a steep ascents/descents at skilled hunter takes aim. altitude and the possibility of humping our spoils back to camp The kill done, the made me want to arrive prepared. confronting task Rewind six weeks, and I had of skinning and incorporated climber-machine carving begins. intervals, long, slow spin-bike sessions and supersets of specific leg exercises into my regular training. Plus, whenever I found myself out for a surf, I tortured myself with a training method I’d learnt years back: for every second wave surfed, you paddle into the beach, turn around and paddle back out. Strange as it looks to anyone watching, it’s incredibly effective and a rugged lung-and lats burner. As we tuck into the first five minutes of climbing, I feel the dividends of these preparations, with my legs just about recovered from the previous day. Hunting is much more technical than most people think, and avoiding detection is your primary concern. Luckily, thermal effects provide the perfect cover. As day breaks, the cooler air at the top of the mountain runs down towards the lower ground, creating conditions favourable to remaining unsniffed out. Stopping to take in the towering escarpment in dim amber light, we spot two separate groups of deer. Observing from a distance, we discuss our options. There’s something dignified and tranquil about taking our time while 54 MEN’S HE ALTH

“SECONDS LATER, THE KNIFE HANDLE IS THRUST MY WAY – IT’S MY TURN TO GIVE IT A GO” watching these graceful cage and almost certainly It’s hard to explain, but a sort removed, we take the hind legs creatures. Even though I sense causing an instant or rapid death. of primal sense starts to override and back straps, taking turns that one of them will soon meet Jack and I pull the deer down to my emotions. I’m calm and carefully removing the meat its maker, I can’t help but feel a some flatter ground to start collected, somehow making between plumes of condensed sense of purpose and skinning and butchering the quick progress. “You’re actually breath. Once done, a strange commitment to the task at hand. animal; its legs and hoofs still feel pretty good at this,” says Eamon. sense of achievement washes We hatch a plan and steadily warm. With the morning sun now “Have you done this before?” I over me. approach one of the groups, striking our backs, it’s in this assure him I haven’t; the closest crawling and moving without moment I’m unsure how I’ll thing I can think of is skinning a It’s only now as I look back at haste. Eamon stops ahead, and handle the minutes to come. salmon fillet for a poke bowl. the carcass that I notice the I find myself looking over his Jack, our photographer, says Other than that, I’m with most glassy eyes staring into shoulder as the gun barrel is he’s keen to take the skin as a people and fall into the nothingness. In this moment, I brought into view. This is it. memento. In no time Eamon has ‘I like meat in a packet and ready feel the utmost respect for this swiftly pulled the animal onto its to cook bucket’. Confronting as it fallen animal and the visceral Moments pass before a loud back and made long incision is, though, the faster and easier experience it’s provided us. crack is followed by a swift lines across the torso, around the I peel back the skin, the more it bolt-action reload and another legs and shoulders, before becomes a cathartic process. Standing in this pristine shot. I see a deer up ahead drop, easing the thick skin away with And as bloodthirsty as this might environment — still early on a and the others surrounding it angled slashes of his blade. The seem (sorry, vegans), I find Sunday morning — having scatter instantly. sight transfixes me. Seconds gratification between the butchered an animal with my later, the knife handle is thrust my moments of discomfort. bare hands, I can’t help but smile. Standing over our fallen prey, way — it’s my turn to give it a go. I’d gladly take this over waiting in we can see the first shot was With the hide completely line for coffee and smashed avo deadly accurate, hitting the rib any day. SEPTEMBER 2022 55

MH

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With so much sport Hoodie ($110) and track pant on right now, from ($99) by Teamm8; cap ($79) the Commonwealth by Polo Ralph Lauren; watch Games to the Rugby ($19,800) by Hublot; Championship to sneakers ($160 by Puma; the FIBA Women’s socks ($80) by Rototo. Basketball World Cup in Sydney (tickets. womensworldcup. basketball/), it’s only fitting that you dress the part. 58 MEN’S HE ALTH

STYLE Windbreaker ($100) by Under Armour; polo ($139) and track pants ($219) by Polo Ralph Lauren. SEPTEMBER 2022 59

Tank ($69) and shorts ($79) by Teamm8; watch ($38,000) by Hublot; sneakers ($290) by Adidas; socks ($80) by Rototo. 60 MEN’S HE ALTH

STYLE Jacket ($420) and pants ($420) by SIR. X Jordan Barrett; shirt ($160) by Venroy; sneakers ($190) by New Balance; cap ($79) by Polo Ralph Lauren. SEPTEMBER 2022 61

Jacket ($198) by Under Armour; T-shirt ($59) by Lulu Lemon; shorts ($150) by Venroy; shoes ($160) by Adidas Original; socks ($80) by Rototo. Jacket ($198) by Lulu Lemon; shirt ($140) and shorts ($120) by Venroy; shoes ($359.95) by Ecco; socks ($39) by Futur. 62 MEN’S HE ALTH

STYLE Rugby jumper ($189) and tracksuit pants ($219) by Polo Ralph Lauren; watch ($19,800) by Hublot; sneakers ($290) by Adidas; socks ($25) by Nike. SEPTEMBER 2022 63



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TAG Heuer Carrera Chronograph $8500 GOOD SPORTS The casual versatility of the sports watch makes it more in demand than ever before EARLIER THIS YEAR, someone wrote into jobs have largely ditched the suit and tie, formal circumstances, too. Indeed, even WORDS: LUKE BENEDICTUS The New York Times with a style conundrum. with the likes of Goldman Sachs and JP at the Oscars, you’ll see tuxedoed men The woman’s husband was a scientist/ Morgan also switching to business casual. on the red carpet with chronographs or engineer who had long worked in Tokyo, Blame it on the prevailing work-from-home dive watches jutting out from beneath where the dress code was formal business lifestyle, but a sartorial reset has taken hold their cufflinks. attire. But he’d now moved to Silicon Valley that favours comfort and versatility over where things were considerably more pocket squares and Windsor knots. Essentially, a sports watch is the Swiss casual. “What to do with the 50-plus Army knife of timepieces in that it’s a jack of beautiful silk ties in his closet?” the dutiful When it comes to our wristwear, this all trades that will rarely let you down. This, wife asked. “I am thinking of turning them swing has triggered a rise in the popularity of in turn, makes it a good shout if you’re into a psychedelic quilt.” sports watches. To clarify, in horological looking for a one-watch collection. That speak, “sports watch” refers not to a also means you can probably justify Now, at Men’s Health, we, of course, timepiece you’d wear to time your splits in spending a little bit more on it than a enjoy psychedelic quilts as much as the next the gym, but one that offers solid water-and- watch you wheel out only occasionally. person. But this woman’s plaintive appeal shock resistance, has a screw-in crown and highlighted the changing nature of the way reasonable lume – as opposed to, say, a Consequently, sports watches are we get dressed. After all, when was the last fragile dress watch on a leather band that’d more likely to pass the “cost per wear” time that you willingly knotted a tie? Sure nestle under your dress-shirt cuff. equation – which breaks down to: total there are still weddings and funerals, job cost of the watch x annual maintenance/ interviews or those regrettable appearances The beauty of a steel sports watch is its number of days you’ll wear it. Given that a in court. But ties feel increasingly versatility. This is a wrist-bound companion well-made Swiss watch can happily last you anachronistic in the modern world, that’s sufficiently robust to withstand a quick for decades if treated with a modicum particularly after COVID accelerated the dip in the ocean or a bracing hike through of care, suddenly that hefty price tag might collective unbuttoning that was already the rain. Stylistically, a sports watch has not look quite so daunting. Plus, just think taking place on a grand scale. always been able to pass muster with about how much cash you’re going to T-shirt and jeans, but now – much like the save now you can make your own Today, even those with proper grown-up humble sneaker – it’s acceptable in more psychedelic quilts. 66 MEN’S HE ALTH



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HUNGRY HEART 70 MEN’S HE ALTH

TACTICS Knit by Acne from The Outnet; pants by Bassike. THIS ISSUE OF MEN’S HEALTH MARKS A RECORD-BREAKING FOURTH COVER APPEARANCE BY TV PERSONALITY AND FITNESS GURU TIM ROBARDS, WHO’S NEVER LOOKED FINER. BUT AS HE REVEALS IN THIS FRANK AND WIDE-RANGING PROFILE, HE’S ALSO NEVER BEEN MORE ACUTELY AWARE OF THE PASSAGE OF TIME, NOR SO RESTLESS TO FULFIL HIS AMBITIONS BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE BY DANIEL WILLIAMS PHOTOGRAPHY BY JODY PACHNIUK STYLING BY ALISON COTTON SEPTEMBER 2022 71

Shirt by R.M. Williams; corduroy jeans by Patagonia. 72 MEN’S HE ALTH

TACTICS OF ALL THINGS, THE BINS ON HIS STREET IN EASTERN SYDNEY HAVE BECOME SIGNIFICANT IN THE LIFE OF TIM ROBARDS. WHY? BECAUSE THEY’RE A MARKER OF TIME, AND TIME HAS BECOME PRECIOUS TO HIM. “YOU KNOW, I WALK PAST THEM, AND I SEE THE BINS HAVE GONE OUT, AND I THINK, THAT’S ANOTHER WEEK,” SAYS ROBARDS. IN THE ENSUING FORTNIGHT IT’S, “THERE ARE THE BINS OUT AGAIN . . . AND THERE THEY ARE AGAIN. THEY’RE A CONSTANT REMINDER OF ANOTHER WEEK DOWN. AND IT SCARES ME.” An approaching milestone birthday coming my way . . . there was a gap . . . But being flesh and blood (with his – Robards turns 40 on the 1st of a full-field 100 per cent sprint . . . and sights set on a goal that may or may October – has intensified this dread pop.” He ended up having the tear not be reachable), he does have of time slipping away while there’s still surgically fixed because he wasn’t worries, of course – and doubts – and so much to do. The clock’s ticking – prepared to stop sprinting as a they gnaw away at him. and every tick is a miniature explosion concession to ageing. And he’s proud in his head. of his rehab: the doc said he’d be in a The difference between Robards knee brace and on crutches for six and many of us, perhaps, is that he’s It hasn’t helped that, of late, his weeks post-op; Robards tossed them intent on doing everything in his famously cover-worthy body has after one. “I wouldn’t advise that for power to become what he wants been breaking down more than it everyone, but because of my to be: a big-screen actor of used to, buckling under the weight chiropractic background, I knew how consequence. Maybe, ultimately, he of stressors it might once have to protect it.” won’t quite make it. He accepts that. absorbed. He rattles off his most But it won’t be for want of trying – or recent injuries: a hamstring, ripped off Robards chats with Men’s Health for want of a plan. He keeps hitting the bone; a biceps, same thing; and on the balcony out back of The obstacles – mainly casting directors the last one, a rectus femoris Boathouse restaurant in Sydney’s who see, in Robards, a handsome (quadriceps muscle), torn at the start Rose Bay. It’s a pristine winter’s reality-TV regular rather than the of a touch-footy game. “I didn’t get morning and the harbour behind us accomplished actor he believes he the chance to do a proper warm-up,” is glistening in the sunshine. Defying can be. But he won’t quit. Robards recalls. “I managed a couple the chill in a T-shirt, Robards looks a of leg swings, a couple of high knees, million bucks. Watching him sipping “No one sees the work that I’m and at my age that’s not good his soy cappuccino, you’d reckon he doing behind closed doors,” he says. enough. Suddenly, the ball was wouldn’t have a worry in the world. “I’m working my butt off to be so good that they can’t say no.” SEPTEMBER 2022 73

TURNING POINT ambassador for health and wellbeing BY THE LOOK giant Swisse’s brand new Swisse Active OF THINGS You ask Robards how he feels about sports nutrition range. But it was his nearing 40. two-year stint (2018-20) on Neighbours It’s odd to hear a guy as striking and as billionaire businessman Pierce ripped as Robards talking about his “Whoa, yeah . . . hmmm,” he says, Greyson that illuminated for Robards looks as a limitation. Wanting to keep before falling silent. And straight away, what he’d like to do for a crust for the it real, you ask him when he first from a solid base, your respect for the next two or three decades. realised that his appearance gave him guy goes up a notch, because he’s a certain . . . power. doing you the courtesy of thinking, Alas, the frustration of it all! processing his feelings rather than Since before he arrived on Ramsay His response is to tell a roundabout pressing play on a stock answer. Street, Robards has been forking out for and thoroughly endearing story about acting- and voice-coaching, either in growing up in Newcastle, where, as a “Should I use the term midlife crisis? group classes or one-on-one. “It’s not bright Year 7 student at Lambton High Very mixed feelings,” he says at last. easy going into classes with new School, he yearned to try out for the “Part of me just keeps kind of . . . there’s people all the time,” he says, “and I sign rugby league team but doubted he was a little bit of a freak-out, you know? up for night classes, weekend classes. strong enough to play. So, he started Because in my head, I’m still 25.” Look, it’s a lot of learning lines that go using his mum’s modest gym set-up at nowhere, but that’s part of it. You just home, lifting weights most nights until, Back in 2012, Robards was want that opportunity. I’m coming in by Year 8, he’d added several kilograms approaching an earlier milestone – 30 late, and I’m kind of waiting for the of muscle to his frame, enough to try – while logging absurdly long hours as next job, and essentially between acting out for the team and make it as centre/ a chiropractor across three Sydney gigs you’re unemployed, so nothing winger renowned for his rugged and clinics. The physicality of the work, in our lives is secure when it comes fearless defence. combined with a sense of financial to finances.” stagnation, had unsettled him. To get to Casting directors have been Then, aged 14, something the point, an unusual offer arrived: the telling his agent that Robards is “too happened. Already fitted with braces for chance to star in the first series of The commercial”, a phrase Robards has his teeth, a few pimples appeared on Bachelor. Newly single and assured by pondered. What, he’d like to know, his face. His mother, Tanya, took him to recruiters he’d be choosing from 25 of does it mean exactly? That he’s too a salon, where a beautician prescribed the country’s most wonderful-in-every- recognisable from other gigs and an ongoing course of marine ampoules. way women, Robards said yes. “It was wouldn’t be believable in character? Robards believes those ampoules a bloody daunting decision,” he says. That he didn’t go through NIDA or turned those few spots into a stubborn He reckoned there was a 50-50 chance WAAPA so would be too raw for serious outbreak of cystic acne. the show would turn him into a pariah or dramatic roles? That he’s been tainted a laughing stock. “But, in the end, somehow by his reality-show “I did not feel like a good-looking I had to back myself that my values appearances? “Fortunately,” says guy at all,” he says. “I felt like the ugliest would come through no matter what Robards, “the problem is not that guy in the school. Imagine talking to the situation I got into. And my parents they’ve seen me [act] and don’t think girls, not knowing if one of your pimples backed me up on that: ‘You’re honest, I’m good enough.” has busted and you have pus on your you’ve got integrity,’ they said, ‘and that He’s come to believe that his best face. There’s nothing more confidence- will shine through’.” chance of breaking through lies in the killing than having to keep touching US, where his clean-cut look would your face to check whether it’s burst Unsurprisingly, Robards had been seem to be more in-demand than it is open.” When it came to self- benignly misled. Of the 25 maidens, in Australia. Here, he says, film and TV improvement, he reasoned, “the only he says, perhaps five were potential producers tend to prefer more lived-in thing I could do, the only thing I could partners; the rest were what he calls faces to fill grungier roles in darker work on, was my physique.” “characters” whose role was to drive the productions. If he were single and in his narrative and concoct drama. 20s, he says, it would be a “no-brainer” As it happened, Robards became a to make the all-or-nothing leap to LA – regular reader of Men’s Health (we tell Still, for Robards, The Bachelor was to jump off the proverbial cliff and hope you this only because it’s important to a personal and professional watershed. to grow wings on the way down. But his story, not to self-promote – promise). It was there he met lawyer Anna that’s not a responsible option for a Unlike the muscle-monsters featured in Heinrich, whom he married in 2018, young father. And, anyway, nowadays, a body-building magazines, the MH cover and in 2020 they welcomed a daughter, lot of auditioning can be done remotely guys inspired him; he wanted his Elle. The show bestowed on Robards a from the other side of the world. It’s just physique to look like theirs when he national profile, which he leveraged to that wretched ticking clock that’s was grown up, and he reckoned that become an online fitness entrepreneur making him nervous. was possible if he kept training (therobardsmethod.com) and go-to intensely and consistently. In the talent for the producers of reality-TV meantime, he figured, his workouts programs (Australia Ninja Warrior, would keep him robust enough for Dancing with the Stars, SAS Australia); footy. “Men’s Health was the only he’s also now the face of and 74 MEN’S HE ALTH

TACTICS Sweater by Jac And Jack; corduroy jeans by Patagonia; boots by R.M. Williams. I HAD TO BACK MYSELF THAT MY VALUES WOULD COME THROUGH NO MATTER WHAT” SEPTEMBER 2022 75

RAPID FIRE Singlet by Thrills; Prepare pre-workout Favourite exercise sachets by Swisse Active. Can’t go past the bench press. Least favourite Squatting. It hurts my knees, but I still do it twice a week. Favourite movie I loved Top Gun: Maverick. Last book you enjoyed Listening to Dave Grohl’s book, The Storyteller, had me tearing up in the gym. And Greenlights (by Matthew McConaughey). Cheat meal Spaghetti bolognese. Biggest fear Stagnation. Favourite holiday destination Italy. Childhood hero Arnie. Secret talent I play piano. 76 MEN’S HE ALTH

TACTICS FIND WHAT YOU’RE PASSIONATE ABOUT – AND DON’T HALF-ARSE IT” reference and inspiration I had,” he to maintain his appearance. While he’s to his holistic view of it. “There are a says, “apart from the odd Arnold never, he says, had any substance lot of things you’ve got to do to be Schwarzenegger movie.” injected into his face, he does get a healthy,” he says. “The better underlying facial now and then. And he dyes his balance that you have – your By the time he reached senior hair and beard to keep the greys at bay, homeostasis – the more likely it is that school, Robards’ braces were gone, his though this is a “professional necessity”: all these things that are out there to get face had cleared up, and he’d sculpted he reckons he’d struggle to land a role us will potentially bounce off you. That’s his body into a teenage work of art. as a thirtysomething were he a grey fox. what you want – balance between your “And suddenly, I had one of the cutest As for his rig, he says he’s never various systems – instead of looking for girls in the year wanting to date me. I touched a steroid and never would: that one magic hit.” was like the nerdy guy who went he would like to inspire young guys the through the ugly-duckling phase and way the MH cover models of yesteryear You mention to Robards how he’s came out all right.” inspired him; he wants to show that still married to the woman he chose on physiques like his are achievable via The Bachelor, and that you assume For Robards, the whole experience nothing besides hard work and strict he’s happy. “Yep. It’s a normal was a multifaceted lesson. Firstly, it nutrition. “Yes, I’ve got certain genetics, relationship, [so] you have your ups and showed him the value of focusing on but I’ve also worked my arse off,” he downs, but the thing I remember my those things you can change (in this says. “People say, ‘How long have you dad saying back in the day is that, if case, his body) and learning to live with been training for?’ My answer is, you’re ever questioning [your the stuff you’re stuck with for now ‘Twenty-seven years’. When this shoot relationship], the simple thing you come (braces, problem skin). “At that stage, comes out, that’s the product of 27 back to is, do they bring you up or do I was pretty much the only guy I knew years’ training, pushing myself to the they bring you down? And Anna brings who was training with weights. It was limit in the gym.” me up. There aren’t too many people my little secret weapon.” Secondly, he you can say, hand on heart, bring you realised that the patience, discipline THE PRIORITY up.” and dedication he’d developed by PRINCIPLE pumping iron could be applied to other You ask him what, as a father, he’d facets of his life. Recently, his iron- You sense with Robards that as much like to do just as well as his own dad forged mental strength has helped as he’s craving a break professionally, did, and something he’d like to do keep him upbeat while plugging away he’s a family-first guy. The oldest of better for Elle’s sake. He cites his dad’s at acting. “Because, day by day, you do three children, he was forced to grow work ethic and can-do approach, and these shitty little scenes and auditions up fast after his mum fell ill shortly after how he practised what he preached. On – and you suck – but you know that if giving birth to his brother, James, who’s the other hand, he says his dad had a you put the work in day after day after 11 years Robards’ junior. For seven relatively narrow take on how you make day . . . you just have to trust that, down years, she struggled with ME/CFS, the it in this world: study hard, go to the track, the results will be there.” symptoms of which included terrifying- university, find a career. to-witness seizures. Here’s another point about Robards’ “I’m a bit more open,” Robards says. frog-to-prince tale: because he’s lived “It was a struggle and a stress, and “I reckon you find what you’re the flip side of head-turning looks, at the same time it shaped me because passionate about, and when you find it, he seems to have none of the I had to find some strength for my don’t half-arse it. Do your best at it, and smugness you detect in those brother and sister,” Robards says. “Dad if your passion changes, then swap. Do who’ve been lifelong heartbreakers. [Colin, an accountant who became the more of what you love in life but commit owner of a building company] worked to it.” “I know I’ve got certain looks and it from eight in the morning to seven at helps with things,” he says, “but at the night, so I was half-raising the baby A BETTER MAN same time I don’t ever want to rely on while mowing lawns for money from the those. I hope it’s a mixture of everything age of 11.” Young Tim was close to If Robards’ various turns in the world of that people find inspiring. I would so his sprightly maternal grandmother, reality TV are stymying his acting much rather get a compliment about Doreen, a “sensei” who schooled him in ambitions, that would be spectacularly the way I made someone feel as the language of Chinese medicine and unfair. While it’s easy to sniff at these opposed to how I look. ‘You inspired the ways of the East. She was central to shows – at the hype, corniness, silliness me on Ninja Warrior . . .’ – that, to me, his burgeoning interest in health – and – look closer and you’d have to is worth 50 times someone going, ‘Oh, acknowledge that appearing on them you’re gorgeous – can I get a photo?’” takes more mettle than most of us That said, he feels some pressure SEPTEMBER 2022 77

I’M A GOOD LEARNER. AND WHEN I WORK HARD, I WORK HARD” Jacket by North possess. Take Dancing with the Stars: him as a pretty-boy impostor. Keen to win way at the time, “I kept him too simple”. Face; shirt by Aqua Blu; as a contestant, you’re going to need to them over, he showed them his most Even if his screen aspirations are corduroy jeans by work tirelessly to avoid humiliating serious side, knuckling down to the task Patagonia. yourself, and even then, the chance of of nailing scenes. Looking back, he never realised, acting has made him a failure at some level or another is knows he was green, but also that his better person, Robards says. “Because off-the-charts high. Why, you ask skillset expanded exponentially during his what it teaches you – and this is a great Robards, has he taken so many risks? stint. “You know, I’m a good learner,” he life skill – is to have empathy; to take the Why not lie down for a while in a says. “And when I work hard, I work hard.” time to understand where other people comfortable rut? If his acting wasn’t enough to change are coming from. Like characters in a minds and win admirers, he adds, he had show, people – no matter how “I was talking with [SAS Australia a trick up his sleeve in the form of his disagreeable they may seem – rarely if instructor] Ant Middleton about this chiropractic skills, which he used ever view themselves as fundamentally the other day, and he was saying successfully on various Neighbours flawed. To them, their behaviour is always [paraphrasing Dwight Eisenhower], ‘If colleagues when they were wracked by justified based on their unique view of you’re not progressing, you’re some pain or another. the world. regressing’,” says Robards. “And for me, again, time is of the essence. You’re put If he has a regret about Neighbours, “So, in everyday life, if I’m struggling on this earth for so many years. If I don’t it’s that he didn’t make Pierce Greyson as to get through to someone, or if I’m in feel I’m making the most of every single interesting as he might have been. Citing conflict with someone, or I just don’t day, then I feel like I’m taking life for how Samuel L. Jackson invariably gives like someone, I will now say to myself, granted, that someone else could be his characters an idiosyncrasy – a limp, a Okay, we’re obviously headbutting over doing it better, so give them a chance.” lisp, an afro – Robards says that “were I value systems, so I need to think like going back in now, knowing what I know, they think and see the world through A chance to prove himself was all I would probably give [Greyson] more their lens.” Robards hoped to receive from his quirks from the start, so then I would have Neighbours castmates in 2018, when he had more to play with.” But feeling his Yep – attitude is everything. All sensed some of them doubted him – saw Robards needs now is a way to see those bins without freaking out. 78 MEN’S HE ALTH

TACTICS Chino by Polo Ralph Lauren; shoes by Ecco. RAISE THE BAR “When I have only 20 minutes to smash a workout, I’ll do a barbell complex,” says Robards, who for this shoot was tipping the scales at 92kg (heavier – read: more muscular – than he’s been for quite a while). Give yourself 5 minutes to do these 6 moves as a superset – 10 reps for each. The time you have left is your rest period. Do 3 rounds. “You’ll be cooked.” 1/ Deadlift 2/ Bent-over Row 3/ Clean 4/ Military Press 5/ Squat 6/ Lunge (10 per leg) Note: Robards uses a 40kg barbell for the entire circuit. He also uses the new Swisse Active sports nutrition range – pre-, mid- and post-workout sachets – to stay on top of his high-calibre game. Disclaimer: To be consumed in conjunction with a nutritious diet-and-exercise program. Not a sole source of nutrition. SEPTEMBER 2022 79

Tree Change: what if life continues after leaves break from the branch? D eat h 80 MEN’S HE ALTH

MIND u o Be om s Y What happens when you die? It’s a question all intelligent mortal beings ask themselves at some point. The best people to ask? Those that have died and come back and, in many cases, changed their lives as a result. We sat down with one of the world’s leading researchers into Near-Death Experiences to discover what he’s learned from those who’ve met their maker and lived to tell the tale BY BEN JHOTY SEPTEMBER 2022 81

n the late 1960s, a young doctor named BRUCE GREYSON was eat- ing spaghetti in a hospital cafeteria when his pager went off. Startled by the noise, Greyson dropped his fork, splashing tomato sauce everywhere, including on his tie. He cursed under his breath as he wiped the sauce off with a wet napkin. It would leave a stain that would change the course of his life. As Greyson details in his book After: A Doctor Explores Sciences at the University of Virginia School of Medicine and was What Near-Death Experiences Reveal About Life and elected a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Beyond, after dialling the number on the pager’s Association. But he never forgot about Holly and her knowledge of display, he learned that a woman called Holly was in the his stained tie. emergency room following a drug overdose. Greyson grabbed his lab coat, buttoning it up to hide the stain on It would lead him to begin a sideline career studying the experiences his tie, before heading down to the ER. of those who’ve temporarily shuffled off their mortal coil, only to shuffle back on again. In the mid ’70s he worked with Dr Raymond He found Holly unconscious but in a stable state and Moody at the University of Virginia. Moody’s book, Life After Life, was after doing some routine checks, went to the family lounge the first to use the term Near-Death Experience and the acronym NDE. at the far end of the hallway. There Holly’s roommate Greyson would learn that his experience with Holly wasn’t unique; that Susan was pacing back and forth. Feeling a little hot in the there were accounts of NDEs dating all the way back to Ancient Greece. windowless room, Greyson undid his lab coat and moved a He would discover that NDEs are common, affecting roughly 10-20 per fan closer to him, before sitting down to talk to Susan. cent of people whose heart stops. And he would observe that NDEs don’t discriminate: they affect everyone from nannies to neuroscientists. He questioned Susan about her roommate, trying to establish if Holly may have been doing drugs or suffering Over the course of 45 years, Greyson compiled a collection from mental health problems. At one point he thought he of the accounts of over a thousand ‘experiencers’, who filled out saw Susan shudder slightly. questionnaires for him. He also established clinical guidelines to quantify NDEs that are still in use today. Known as the Greyson After concluding the chat, he returned to Holly’s room scale, the 16-point questionnaire attempts to measure the depth of an where she was still out cold, a ‘sitter’ confirming that she individual’s NDE. hadn’t stirred since he left the room. Greyson left for the night, quietly congratulating himself that no one had So, what are some of the key characteristics of an NDE? They often noticed his sauce stain. include a brilliant light; being drawn into a tunnel or darkness; a sense of overwhelming peace and unconditional love; a sensation of When he returned to the hospital the next morning, leaving the body, sometimes floating above it; a life review, or return of Holly was now awake and able to talk. He introduced memories from the past; and encounters with deceased loved ones or himself to Holly, who responded with a sentence that divine beings. Less common are experiences that may be frightening or would dumbfound Greyson. distressing rather than peaceful. “I know who you are. I remember you from last night.” Of the thousands of NDEs reported, one of the most puzzling and “You looked like you were asleep in the ER last night,” frequently cited is that of Pam Reynolds, an American woman who Greyson replied. “I didn’t think you could see me.” Holly’s reply: “Not in my room. I saw you talking with Susan, sitting on the couch. You were wearing a striped tie that had a red stain on it.” Holly proceeded to recount the conversation Greyson had with Susan, detailing all his questions along with Susan’s pacing and his moving the fan, without any mistakes. As Greyson writes in After, “the hair rose on the back of my neck and I felt goosebumps. She couldn’t possibly have known all that”. To this day Greyson still can’t account for how Holly knew what she did. Raised in a household that encouraged scepticism and critical thinking, the experience was, Greyson says, “a frontal assault on my worldview”. Greyson would go on to have an esteemed career in academic psychiatry. The 74-year-old is currently Professor Emeritus of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral 82 MEN’S HE ALTH

MIND Once your pulse disassociation, providing a possible explanation for out- stops does your of-body sensations. The appearance of deceased loved soul take flight? ones could be due to dysfunction in the brain’s dopamine pathways, with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s patients underwent brain surgery in 1991. Despite having her eyes taped shut known to have vivid hallucinations of ghost-like figures. and her ears blocked, upon waking she was not only able to describe an Similarly, oxygen shortage to the retina (retinal ischemia) NDE but the bone saw used to cut into her skull. has been identified as a possible explanation for the long tunnel and bright light many NDErs report. Throughout the course of his research, Greyson has tried to maintain an attitude of intellectual honesty and openness when Some researchers believe a sleep disorder called REM investigating cases such as these, while maintaining his natural intrusion, symptoms of which include paralysis and scepticism. He refuses to take sides in a binary debate between those hallucinations, could account for some of the fantastical who see NDEs as spiritual experiences and those on the materialistic elements reported in NDEs. A study at the University of side who insist they are the result of purely physical changes in the Kentucky of 55 people who’d had NDEs found 60 per cent brain prior to death. “I think there is enough evidence to take seriously reported some history of REM intrusion compared to 24 both a physiological mechanism for NDEs and continued functioning per cent in a control group. Others point to the cognitive of the mind independent of the brain,” Greyson writes in After. similarities between NDEs and the altered states induced by psychedelic drugs such as ketamine and psilocybin as If this sounds like fence-sitting, well, it is. But while even evidence of an exclusively brain-driven phenomenon. entertaining a spiritual explanation for NDEs invites a degree of scorn in scientific circles, in a field as confounding and difficult to One of the more compelling pieces of evidence investigate as this, you could argue Greyson’s is a rational position. supporting a materialistic position came from a 2013 study at the University of Michigan, in which researchers Consider for a moment the corporeal mechanics of NDEs. Heart euthanised rats with an injection of potassium chloride, failure precipitates a rapid decline in brain function, with brain waves causing their hearts to stop beating. For up to 30 flatlining within 11-20 seconds. At that point the brain is effectively seconds afterwards the researchers detected patterns of unplugged machinery, as useless as an old microwave you dump on synchronised, high-frequency electrical activity known as your nature strip for council pick-up. Or it should be. In fact, this is the gamma waves. The intensity of the spike, the researchers period, before resuscitation, in which researchers believe NDEs occur. speculated, could suggest that different parts of the brain were communicating with one another more actively Materialistic explanations for NDEs posit that in the event of than when the rats were awake. Could a similar surge of a health catastrophe, such as a cardiac arrest, oxygen deprivation activity occur in humans, they wondered? The answer is puts the brain on a war footing, as it frantically, possibly manically, a qualified yes. Recently, the journal Frontiers in Aging attempts to repel morbidity’s onslaught. A cascade of neurochemicals Neuroscience reported on a 2016 case involving an 87-year- may trigger euphoria. Stimulation of the brain’s temporoparietal old man, who exhibited a similar 30-second spike in high junction, a region associated with self-perception that may be gamma-type brain signals before cardiac arrest. This impacted early in a neurological crisis, can cause feelings of activity then declined for about 30 seconds after his heart stopped beating before ceasing completely. Greyson examines many of the accepted brain-based models in After, concluding that while each may address one particular facet of NDEs, none can convincingly account for the entire experience. In his opinion, the truth remains out there. One thing he does know for sure is that NDEs transform lives, turning atheists into spiritualists, entrepreneurs into philanthropists, sceptics into believers. Many experiencers, he says, feel more loving towards themselves and others, more compassion for others, have an increased sense of meaning and purpose in life and less interest in material possessions, personal recognition and competition. Perhaps most importantly, they often no longer fear death. “The fear of death makes us afraid of almost everything,” says Greyson, who appears spry in rimless spectacles and a blue polo shirt, as he chats to me from his house in Charlottesville, Virginia. “We don’t want to take chances because we don’t want to risk getting hurt and if you’re not afraid of dying anymore, then you don’t mind taking chances, which means you live life to the fullest. There’s a saying, when you lose your fear of dying, you also lose your fear of living.” Ultimately, whether you consider NDEs a spiritual gateway, afterlife appetiser or neurological fire drill, that may be their most important and lasting lesson. SEPTEMBER 2022 83

Return to Sender: life is often richer and more vibrant after a near-death experience. Men’s Health: You were drawn NDEs with an open but sceptical happened in NDEs that were not dies, the mind must die also. The into the world of NDEs initially frame of mind. Why is it important compatible with the materialistic mind has to stop, so that model through your experience with to take that approach in research worldview that the mind is simply cannot explain it. But there are the woman called Holly. Do you generally and NDEs in particular? ‘what the brain does’ and nothing problems with the other model that think you would’ve started BG Well, it’s very easy in any field else. Some of that comes from the mind and brain are separate researching them without that of research to let your biases affect people who leave their bodies things and somehow interact. I personal experience? either what you see or how you and can describe things can’t explain things that way either. Bruce Greyson: I think I probably interpret what you see. So, it’s accurately from a visual So, I don’t have an answer. I have would have because I had important to try to keep an open perspective outside the body. just the facts that it [an NDE] encountered a few other near- mind. I must admit that when I Some of it comes from people happened. I can’t explain how. death experiences in my clinical started looking into NDEs, I still had who claim to encounter in death work and found them very puzzling. that materialistic mindset and I just deceased persons that no one MH What do you make of the Then when Moody published his assumed that I was going to find knew had died yet. study on rats at the University of book Life After Life in 1975 and some physiological explanation for Michigan where after their hearts said that there were lots of these them because that’s the only world MH As you say, you’ve moved stopped beating there was a around, I thought, well, we don’t I knew. I didn’t know anything about away from the materialistic view burst of electrical activity in understand this, we better study a spiritual world. that the mind is a product of the their brains? it. I felt that was the obligation of brain and now believe they are BG I think it’s an area people a scientist: to study things we MH You say in the book that the separate, but related entities. Is should look at, but that rat study don’t understand. confounding nature of NDEs that the only way you can explain did not really show very much. would force you to become the possibility of the continuity of If you actually look at the data MH You grew up in a household sceptical about your scepticism. consciousness after death? they reported, it was a very tiny that fostered scepticism and you Why was that? BG Well, if the mind is just ‘what amount of electricity, not sought to approach research into BG Well, there were things that the brain does’, then when the brain anywhere near the activity of 84 MEN’S HE ALTH

MIND “P eoplecanseesurprisingthings theycouldn’thaveguessed” the brain before the rat was killed. It designed to filter out things that that reason, there may be more BG That’s right, they can be. lasted about 30 seconds and that’s aren’t important to us right now than just 10 to 20 per cent. I don’t They tend not to be as powerfully all. NDEs often go longer than that. in order to help us survive in the think it’s a huge number though, transformative as the positive If the rats were anaesthetised physical world. It’s not designed because if you look at how the ones and I think that’s because before they were killed they did to help us contact deceased loved experience changes people’s lives, the negative ones are so painful not have this burst, and of course, ones or a deity, if there is one. people who describe a near-death for people to remember and to many NDEs do occur under There are various things that can experience have much more talk about that they try to suppress anaesthesia. So, there are a lot disable or weaken the filters, one dramatic changes than people who it and not deal with it. But I do of reasons why this research didn’t of them being psychedelic drugs. come close to death, but don’t know many people who had really make sense when applied There are other ways that spiritual report an NDE. So, I tend to think frightening near-death experiences to NDEs. Now there have been traditions have developed over those people who don’t report and took that as a warning to people who’ve tried to do the the centuries. Meditation and NDEs probably haven’t had one if turn their lives around and they same type of work with humans so forth. But one of the most they don’t have the after-effects. have had very pronounced effects with variable results. By and large, reliable ways is by coming close from it. our clinical experience over the to death. MH There are so many last 70 or 80 years shows that astonishing stories that you cite MH For the people who have when people’s hearts stop, the MH The phrase often used by in the book. Is there one that positive experiences, what brain waves generally go flat NDEers is that their experience really stands out to you? specifically causes them to within a matter of 10 to 20 was ‘realer than real’. That same BG It’s hard to pick one. But the change their lives? seconds and there is no burst phrase is often used by people to story of Jack, who at roughly the BG Well, most of us define like that. describe lucid dreams. Between age of 25, was hospitalised and ourselves by fairly superficial lucid dreaming, psychedelic had his nurse go off on a vacation. things: our gender, our MH Some of the sensations drugs and NDEs, are these hints He then had a near-death nationality, our political common in NDEs can be that there is potential for the brain experience while she was gone affiliation, our profession and induced by psychedelic drugs, to do a lot more than what it does and he met her in the NDE, not so forth. People find themselves particularly feelings of oneness to survive? knowing that she had died in a car in an NDE without any of those and interconnectedness. You BG That’s right. I have looked at accident while she was on vacation. labels. Yet they feel better than speculate that the brain could lucid dreaming and I can’t say that No one else knew it at the time ever before. They feel more be a filter and that when different I’m very impressed by it. I am a lucid either. That really kind of blew me whole, more complete, more parts of the brain are allowed dreamer myself, but I don’t think my away. I couldn’t get my head loved and just more joyful. When to interact with each other, lucid dreams are realer than real around that one. There are others they come back into the body, that we might be able to and I have lucid dreams almost where people just have sort of it’s hard for them to take these access the full spectrum of every night. I know that I’m ‘routine’, if you can use that word, labels seriously anymore and stimuli available to us. Is that dreaming and I can, if I don’t like out-of-body experiences during an they tend to become much less what may allow NDEers to see the way the dream is going, change NDE and can see very surprising interested in things of this world, different perspectives on their it or wake myself up. But I know that things that they couldn’t have not only material possessions, body and their existence? it’s a dream when I’m having it and guessed. Those are also really hard but they also take less seriously BG Well, the idea that the brain it doesn’t feel like it’s real. to explain. I think as a psychiatrist, things like power, prestige, fame, filters the stimulation it gets is kind what has the most profound effect competition, because they see of an obvious thing. Right now, MH The proportion of people on me are the experiences that these things as being irrelevant you are listening to me talk to you whose hearts stop who have lead to dramatic changes in or very temporary and they’re and you’re not paying attention to NDEs is somewhere between people’s lives afterwards. much more interested in spiritual things like how your shirt feels on 10 to 20 per cent. Do you think things, not religious things your body or what your bowels it’s possible that many more MH Yes, as you say in the book, necessarily, but with spirituality. may be doing. Your body is people have them, but don’t the majority of NDEs are positive What they usually mean by that perceiving them, but your brain recall them? for people. Is that why they’re so is a connection to other things, is filtering them out, so you’re BG Well, there are certainly transformative? Obviously, the to other people, to the natural just paying attention to one thing. people who have them, but aren’t negative ones could be world, to the divine and that Our brains do that. They are willing to talk about them. So, for transformative as well. makes them much more SEPTEMBER 2022 85



PHOTOGRAPHY: ALISHA TODD “I became these ripples that were just going out in all directions” SEPTEMBER 2022 87

FITNESS EXTREMELY AND 88 MEN’S HE ALTH

H E A LT H INCREDIBLY HOW TO WORK OUT SAFELY AS CLIMATE CHANGE BITES AND IT BECOMES AND OUTSIDE BY MH WRITERS PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAN FORBES SEPTEMBER 2022 89



H E A LT H ERHEATING ELECTROLYTES: FRIEND OR TREND? able to resist heat better if you Do you need them? in 400 -800ml of water, says begin your workout with a lower dietitian Brian St. Pierre. Salty body temperature, says Casa. If you sweat a lot during an sweaters can go higher on If you’re doing something intense workout that lasts longer electrolytes; LMNT packets relatively short in duration, like than 60 minutes, a drink with contain 1000mg of sodium ($29 running a 5K or playing a game electrolytes is probably smart, for12; saltydownunder.com). where you can rest between says endurance coach Kim No idea how salty your sweat sets, precooling may help you Schwabenbauer, founder of Fuel is? Patches by Gatorade can perform better and stay in your Your Passion. estimate your sweat rate and groove longer. If your workout sodium loss ($240foratwo-pack; is over an hour, the impact wears What should you look for? ebay.com.au). off. Cooling techniques that cover a large part of the body – Sodium. Its loss is a limiting What about ice baths or exposure to cold air factor in performance as exercise other electrolytes? – are better than strategies like goes on. It also helps you retain iced wristbands. fluid and it keeps your thirst They’re nice but not required. mechanism working properly. Potassium balances sodium and SIP. SIP. SIP helps with muscle contraction. How much sodium Magnesium and calcium are fine, Water is your MVP. “Your do you need? but don’t obsess over amounts. body temperature goes up faster when you do intense exercise in You generally want a product to – MM the heat if you’re dehydrated,” provide 300 -400mg of sodium says Casa. No scientist will guesstimate how much you should drink during a workout, because that depends on how hot it is, what workout you’re doing, how much you sweat, and more. But guidelines from the American Council on Exercise say that after a workout, you should replenish about 700ml of fluid for every 500g of weight lost during exercise. – Marty Munson STICK TO A HYDRATION PLAN DRINK AHEAD OF TIME COREE DeANDRE WOLTERING, YEDLIN, Record-holding ultrarunner Right back, Inter Miami CF soccer team “ONE OF THE FIRST trail races I did was an Xterra in Vegas in AT THE WORLD CUP IN 2014, refs were given the authority April 2015. It was already over 100° F [38° C} on race day,” he to grant hydration breaks in the game. These happen if it’s says. Critical to making it through was adhering to a hydra- around 32° or warmer and last for three minutes. For Yedlin, tion plan: every mile, his watch beeps, which cues him to prehydration is the key. That means replacing every 500g of drink. He slugs 120-150ml ounces at a time, as noted by hash water he lost during practice the day before, stirring in Drip- marks he makes on the bottles in his North Face Hydration Drop electrolytes ($72 for 16 packets; desertcart.com.au). At Vest ($300; thenorthface.com.au). halftime, he usually dons an ice vest and cold, wet towels.    SEPTEMBER 2022 91

TAKE ACTION LET COOLER HEADS PREVAIL For my birthday last year, I made my own Paris Agreement: to personally slash my carbon footprint by about 30 per cent. One year later, I took stock. Far from being a buzzkill, the climate resolutions I made, below, have left me healthier, happier and blissfully immune to people scolding me about the occasional burger – BRAD WIENERS 1 GO ON A CLOTHING DIET 2 ONE DOUBLE-DOUBLE 3 CHECK THE FRIDGE OF ONLY 10 NEW ITEMS PER MONTH Clothing makers waste tonnes of Cutting meat out of your diet is Tempted to use an old fridge for water and spew out 10 per cent an efficient way to reduce carbon beers or meat storage? Don’t. of all the heat-trapping carbon emissions. But I live five minutes Refrigerants contained in air- emissions on earth. Even if you from an In-N-Out Burger, and my conditioners and refrigerators donate your hand-me-downs, too two teenage boys are growing by can be extremely harmful to the many items end up in landfill. So, the foot. By taking a “cheat day” environment. Recycle your old a clothing diet. Eleven months in, approach, I was able to slow my fridges to save on energy costs I’d added only eight items (not fast-food roll without feeling like and when buying a new one look including socks and undies). I prize a failure for caving once in a while. for the energy-rating label – the my new clothes – a pair of Allbirds, Next year, I’m stepping up to more stars it has, the more a Friends of Friends flat-brim hat weekday vegetarian. efficient the product is. – so much more. 4 DON’T FLY UNTIL MY 5 DUMP JUGS FOR STRIPS 6 GO ELECTRIC NEXT BIRTHDAY I bought my last bottle of laundry I found researching EVs The pandemic made it easier, but detergent in June 2021; from now overwhelming. First, I didn’t want this will be hard to abide by for on, it’s sheets (or strips) of laundry to pull an e-car into the driveway a second year. I’m not swearing detergent that dissolve in the only to charge it with fossil- off all flights, but I’m vowing wash and won’t fill landfills. This fuel-generated juice. So a big to take fewer, longer trips and move saved us some cash, too, first step was a rooftop solar explore other transit first. Almost because my sons never seemed to array. Now that that’s up, when everything that’s overheating get the concept of “concentrate” we switch, we’ll be driving solar- the planet is like flying, which and typically used three times as powered cars. I put $1000 down on “saves time” by allowing you to do much liquid soap as needed. Now a Ford Mustang Mach-E – the only something faster. Slowing down, they peel off one sheet. Done. Try way I could guarantee a test drive. even taking the long way, I’m Activated Eco Laundry Detergent (Any day now.) My younger boy is finding, is better for nature as well Strips ($36.95 for 32 sheets; asking for an e-bike, so we know as for my mental health. banish.com.au) what his summer job is for! EASY WAYS TO GREEN UP YOUR WORKOUT What to do Ways to do it RUN A GREEN Join a group like the Climate For Change to raise funds to support climate RACE action. The group is entering this year’s Melbourne marathon on Oct 13 (climateforchange.org.au). REFILL Plastic from those little nutrition packets builds up . . . and often ends up in our water ways. Cut down on waste with the GU Energy Flask ($10) – it holds five servings of MAKE YOUR energy gel. NUTRITION CARBON-NEUTRAL Sports-nutrition and protein-powder brands such as Vivo Life aim for zero- waste packaging and organic ingredients. Form, a performance-nutrition brand, uses compostable packaging and doesn’t include a plastic scoop. PLOG WHEN Originating in Sweden and gaining ground globally, plogging simply involves YOU JOG carrying gloves and a rubbish bag and collecting garbage as you run. – LISA JHUNG 92 MEN’S HE ALTH

H E A LT H STAY COOL WITH THESE ECO-MINDED FITNESS BRANDS Patagonia blends synthetic and natural in its Capilene Cool Merino shirt ($119.95) to keep you dry during brutal sweat sessions. Nike‘s new DriFit Aero-Bill ($35) has perforated panels for ventilation and is made out of 50 per cent recycled materials. “SLOWING DOWN IS Miir bottles, like the BETTER FOR NATURE Climate+ 20 oz Wide AS WELL AS FOR MY Mouth ($40), keep your water chilled MENTAL HEALTH” and are made using sustainable practices. Allbirds favour natural materials. Its Trail Runner SWT ($220) is made of merino wool, eucalyptus fibre and rubber. – LJ SEPTEMBER 2022 93

THE RISE OF FITNESS GE Since the dawn of dumbbells, there’s T HE FITNESS-EQUIPMENT been a stunning lack of diversity among landscape has never been this the owners and operators of fitness-gear expansive. Ever since the brands. Here’s how a new generation of pandemic sparked an uptick in sales of entrepreneurs is changing that BY MILO F. BRYANT home gym equipment, gear companies have been in overdrive, pumping out ANTHONY “BUDDY” LEE CHAD PRICE DANYEL SURRENCY JONES everything from adjustable dumbbells to 94 MEN’S HE ALTH connected cardio machines to fully wireless recovery boots. But amid all that innovation, something’s still missing. Scan the companies driving the next generation of workout gear and you’ll see little diversity. Most major fitness brands have overwhelmingly white ownership. While the equipment offerings have grown increasingly diverse, the faces that bring you that equipment have not.

FITNESS AR BRANDS “The disparities and inequality that exist businesses face immense challenges. to succeed or grow their company, these for Black people in general exist in so many According to a 2020 poll commissioned by Black fitness-brand owners stand as role ways [in the fitness industry],” says Percell Groupon and the National Black Chamber models – and proof that it’s possible to Dugger, founder of Fit for Us, an agency of Commerce, 74 per cent of Black overcome oppressive odds, even if you that advocates for and empowers Black small-business owners still struggle with shouldn’t have to. fitness professionals and underserved a lack of capital and investment resources, communities. Dugger can name only and 59 per cent say they experienced “They’re creating a new way of a handful of Black gear players. some form of racism or bias when they [succeeding],” says John Butler, “Being in business, the ability to grow, started their business. a professor at the University of Texas the scaling and marketing, it is vastly at Austin’s McCombs School of Business disproportionate. We don’t have the Despite that, a generation of Black who specialises in entrepreneurship. opportunities or network to attract the fitness entrepreneurs has emerged. They’ve It’s a way that hinges on lived experience support needed.” fought hard to get ahead while learning that allows them to see the world firsthand how much the lack of differently – and their products can There are few statistics about representation has hurt others like help everyone make greater gains. underrepresentation among fitness-gear them – and how it may be damaging the makers, but here’s what we do know: entire fitness-gear industry. For every Here, in their own words, is how regardless of industry, Black-owned would-be gear maker who hasn’t been able three successful Black entrepreneurs managed to forge ahead. SEPTEMBER 2022 95

Lee’s jump rope technology is a gamechanger. Powerhandz gives ballers a killer assist. TTHREAIL BLAZER VTHISEIONARY As president of Buddy Lee’s JumpRopeTechnology, ANTHONY “BUDDY” LEE, 64, originated the swivel-bearing tech that’s in jump ropes today DANYEL SURRENCY JONES, 46, created Powerhandz, weighted I WAS BORN in Birmingham, conditioning started increasing drastically. basketball gloves meant to Alabama, and raised in Richmond, Every good jump rope that’s out today improve your dribbling skills, Virginia. My dad was a Vietnam uses some form of our technology. in 2014. The product is now veteran, but he wasn’t the same when he sold in more than 80 countries came back. It was up to my mum to take care We are the originators and the pioneers of of six children. Honestly, we struggled. There jump-rope training and the swivel-bearing were many days I went hungry, but those are technology, but there are still issues. The only good lessons because when you’re at the loan I qualified for was a share-pledge loan, bottom, you grow to understand that the only where I had to have the same amount of way out is up. money in the bank. So a bigger business loan I was introduced to rope jumping by Mr to help me expand my company didn’t exist Herbert Rainey, my next-door neighbour. He in my mind. There was no way I could ever was a fourth-degree black belt in karate. He get the necessary capital, so I accepted was jumping rope one hot summer day and this reality. put that rope in my hand just before 5 pm; it was after 9 pm before I put it down. I took Other companies with deeper pockets that rope with me everywhere after that day and backing have copied our technology and – school, basketball courts, everywhere. I been able to do a tonne of marketing. You incorporated it into all my wrestling training, really can’t compete with that, but we’ve too. I’d jump with the rope to improve my done everything right in terms of our athletic conditioning and get my heart rate positioning to become the official rope for up, and then I’d go into a match and finish it the U S Olympic teams, which use our training off in one or two minutes. techniques. We were Michelle Obama’s I wanted to make the jump rope even spokespersons for fitness with the Let’s Move better, so 27 years ago my business partner campaign. We created a Preferred Course and I invented the swivel-bearing jump rope and jump rope for CrossFit, and we partnered that became a patented technology in 1997. with TRX – but now many companies have We looked at the smaller ball-bearing created their own branded ropes. technology they use for fishing rods and tested it on athletes, and their speed and I simply know that I cannot ever give up. My mission in life remains the same: to help the entire planet of people get fit and strong in mind and body. 96 MEN’S HE ALTH

B EING A COUNTRY Florida girl from Jacksonville, FITNESS becoming an entrepreneur was not included on my vision board. I wanted to be a nurse when I was growing RTHEEINVENTOR up, because my neighbour was a nurse. When you’re not exposed to different careers, you don’t tap into your passion; you do what is CHAD PRICE, 38, teamed up with two friends to normal. That is what you’d see in the history of the Black community start KettlebellKings 10 years ago. Since then, – until now. We are finally learning our strength. the company has rethought the classic kettlebell, I’m still astonished by what we’ve created with no blueprint. pioneered online kettlebell education and built a Powerhandz started with one vision and one mission in July 2014. fitness community that goes beyond its product The best ideas come from a personal need or solution. When Jason Williams revealed to Slam magazine that he used gardening gloves N EHEMIAH “BUBBA” HEARD and Jay Perkins are the to improve his electrifying ballhandling, it was game over, especially two other founders at Kettlebell Kings. We met when we once my cofounder added weight resistance to gloves to take his were 18. Bubba, who like me is Black, played football with training drills to a more complex level. me at Rice. Jay, who is white, lived in Austin and went to the Powerhandz was self-funded in the beginning. We have received University of Texas. After graduation, the three of us went into the loans and a line of credit and closed a few small funding rounds. corporate world, but it didn’t take long for us to realise that we were Understanding how to accomplish generational wealth and all too ambitious for that pace. The eureka moment for me was the obtain funding for a new venture were foreign conversations for actual results from using kettlebells to train. I saw results, but more first-time African American entrepreneurs. Our goal was to build importantly, I saw how easily the exercises translate to real-world a dope e-commerce brand, educate people and serve the community. improvements in your daily life. However, this one product and one mission gave birth to our global We started the company in 2012. To build awareness, we used mission in multiple sports. free content, such as videos and weekly workouts, to gather email I had been in the healthcare industry for 16 years prior to addresses and we partnered with the top organisations in the launching Powerhandz. I was the youngest, the only Black, and kettlebell community to officially support and sponsor their events. typically one of two female managers at the table. I will never forget But we had the toughest time getting funding. There were times we attending a boardroom meeting as a director at the age of 25 when would go into a bank and we would ask them to give us a road map one of the older executives looked around the room and decided to of the numbers that we needed to hit to establish lines of credit, ask me to get his coffee. Or when my VP informed me that he didn’t but no one ever offered that information. We certainly thought know how to manage women because we wear our emotions on our about sending Jay into the banks alone. That way the banks chest. These experiences led me to this very moment in time. would only see a white face. Instead, we initially bootstrapped it Today, I see a shift occurring for Black and women entrepreneurs. with what we had in our savings. We didn’t get any access to capital We have support from professional athletes like LaMelo Ball and until after our first five years in business, when we started taking serial entrepreneurs who are investors in our company. At one point some short-term small-business loans. We’ve been working with I told the team, “I wonder if we should let a white male be the CEO of pennies and reinvesting everything we can into the equipment for this company?” I wanted to let someone else be in the elite position our growing client list every single year, year after year. of a company we worked so hard to create, because that’s what I felt We’ve actually thought about dangling Jay out there for a lot of was going to help us gain access and scale quicker. Wow! In hindsight things! We were officially a Black-owned business, but we had to that discussion was heartbreaking. And I’m glad we didn’t do it. consider race and its impact on our business. We have to consider how racism affects getting our supply out of China and who represents the brand to a Chinese manufacturer, for example. A better example may be how the brand helps or promotes social change. The one #BlackLivesMatter post our company posted led us to lose social-media followers. It’s sad, but it’s true. Kettlebell Kings have cash registers ringing. SEPTEMBER 2022 97

JEFF BRIDGEShas played RUGGED,MYSTICALICONS like HIMSELFon film for decades (and decades!). He’s72 now. Never expected TO BATTLE CANCER and THEN COVID. And yet? He abides BY ALEX PAPPADEMAS PHOTOGRAPHY BY BE AU GRE ALY 98 MEN’S HE ALTH

TACTICS Jeff Bridges poses for Men’s Health at a studio in Santa Barbara, California. Jacket by John Varvatos; T-shirt by Buck Mason. SEPTEMBER 2022 99

WMOHAO,NW, man brain, he’s not quite sure) and then It’s JEFF BRIDGES.Alive andwell,at72. remembering, or just rolling on to the next thought, enjoying the journey Like, reallywell,from the looks of things. of the chat without stressing unduly over the destination. He’s walking around a photo studio in Santa the specific strain of neurosis with which Barbara on a hot, still Tuesday. When he he’s always approached his work, and about “He says this constantly,” says walks, he leads with his rib cage, his weight what he wants to leave behind when it’s Brenneman, who plays a divorcée who gets in his heels, his whole posture telegraphing actually all over. more than she bargained for when she falls a wide-openness to the world. for Bridges’s character on The Old Man. “He’s “Times like those,” he says, “when you’re like, ‘Don’t you think sometimes, like, the He’s been telling me where that posture facing your mortality, all of your game plans acting is just an excuse for us to hang out comes from – it’s thanks in large part to these come to the fore. Your philosophies, your and talk?’ ” isometric exercises he learned from a trainer spiritual beliefs. What’s made you you all named Eric Goodman, which are designed these years gets tested and brought to the fore “He’s just happy to talk about the way to get the muscles in the backside of your big-time. And that is only available in those the universe works for an hour,” says body to work together to support you better, times, I believe. But what’s fortunate is that Old Man cocreator Jonathan E. Steinberg, so that the burden of carrying your weight what you learn in those times can linger and “and it’s great. And it’s all coming from a around the planet doesn’t fall solely on your you can apply those to the rest of your life.” place of being just fascinated by the world. poor, embattled joints, and which have freed It’s fun to be around somebody who’s willing Bridges from some hellacious back pain – but HE’S FINE NOW. IN REMISSION. to kind of just see things and note them and he’d rather show me. be willing to talk about them and not be Done with everything – done with the special as concerned about what we’re supposed And that’s how he ends up standing over diet, done with the supplementary oxygen. to be doing today.” me, a fatherly hand on my shoulder, helping Back at work as if nothing even happened. me bend, saying, “Hinge! Hinge!” as I try Busy promoting his new FX series, The Old Another part of working with Jeff Bridges, and mostly fail to hinge myself, and then, to Man, on which he’s an ex-CIA operative his collaborators all say, is that every so often demonstrate how I should be holding my body, haunted anew by a lifetime of choices he made you find yourself stopping and thinking, he takes a bit of my hair and tugs it upward, in the past, a role that happens to be Bridges’s Holy shit, it’s Jeff Bridges. not hard, just firmly, directionally. first-ever series-regular TV gig in roughly 50 years of acting, a chewy part on a twisty spy His IMDb credits span seven decades. He doesn’t seem, at all, like somebody who series that lets him play off TV legends like He’s played cowboys and country singers, was on the verge of death just last year. He John Lithgow and Amy Brenneman. good men and flawed men and men who want was, though. In 2020, the Dude was diagnosed very badly to kill Iron Man. He came into the with cancer, specifically lymphoma, and just Bridges shot half of the first season business already halfway famous, because of as he was pulling through that, he caught before COVID and cancer and went back and the name he shared with his father – Lloyd COVID, and because the chemo that had finished the rest; he’ll tell you all about it. And Bridges, of Sea Hunt and High Noon and later knocked the lymphoma down to size had also about what he learned from almost dying. But Airplane! and Seinfeld – but he also came in left Bridges severely immunocompromised, he’ll tell you in a circuitous, Bridgesian way, with whatever intangible quality separates the COVID really kicked his arse, making circling around a point and riffing off into icons from mere actors. cancer look like a cakewalk in retrospect abstract space, forgetting things (sometimes, – and because he is Jeff Bridges, and was he says, “I ask my mind for a word and it As a younger man, he always had a rare already a pretty spiritual guy, all of this did just flips me the finger”, which could be a grace, and he’s aged no less gracefully – not engender anything you’d call a spiritual symptom of post-COVID brain or just old- The Old Man deepens and complicates the awakening. But it’s got him thinking more growly, inward-turned presence Bridges about things – about time, mostly, and about brought to recent films like Hell or High Water and Bad Times at the El Royale. If icon still feels, even after all these years, like an awkward descriptor to hang on him, it’s because he’s worn that status so casually for so long. Decades ago, legendary film critic Pauline Kael said he “may be the most natural and least self-conscious screen actor who ever lived”. The overall Jeff Bridges-ness of Jeff Bridges, his iconicity, sneaks up on you. Sometimes, Brenneman says, when she’s in a scene with him, she can’t help thinking of Peter Weir’s Fearless, from 1993, with Bridges as a plane-crash survivor whose experience scrambles his whole psychospiritual map. “Fearless is a huge movie in my internal landscape,” Brenneman says. “That look on his face as the plane’s going down – there’s moments that are kind of beyond language, 100 MEN’S HE ALTH