Personal Training
Mens Fitness VS Womens Fitness Magazines
I have always really felt like this but I figured I would share why I like reading men’s fitness magazines as supposed to men’s fitness magazines (for fitness related material) Whenever I pick up a ‘female focused’ magazine such as SHAPE or FITNESS or SELF, sure there are some great beauty articles, even some delicious recipes, but there is also an overarching theme of “lose weight, cut calories, eat 100 calorie snacks and perform 38453 leg lifts” I was comparing two articles about nutrition recently; one from a female fitness magazine and one from a men’s fitness magazine.
The men’s magazine suggested that in order to boost metabolism and shed fat, one should clean up the diet; include whole food sources, beans, healthy fats such as avocado, olive oil, fill most of your plate with veggies and protein and the other quarter with complex carbohydrates. Watch the sodium and drink plenty of water. Sounds like pretty good advice right?
This article also touched upon exercise when it came to boosting metabolism. They were big on HIIT training (such as this workout) and TABATA style workouts which increase your basal metabolic rate, thus help to increase metabolism. Keep steady state cardio to a minimal and lift heavy weights (this was just the gist of the article)
In summary the article suggested cutting out processed foods, sticking to WHOLE foods, using HIIT training as the main source of cardio and including regular weight lifting.
Then I turn open the pages of a women’s fitness magazine. First of all the front cover is loaded with catchy phrases and words such as “lose 10lbs in 30 days” “Healthy Detox Diet, For Real!””Why You Aren’t Losing Weight” “Get a Better Body In 2 Days!” There just seemed to be this overarching theme negative body image. I picture a young female picking up the magazine and thumbing through the pages, and not feeling so confident. Now, I completely understand that there are some great, well written articles in female fitness magazines, some solid workouts and recipes, however for the most part (at least from my experience) I have never picked up one of these magazines, read it front to back and felt empowered, strong and sexy. Most of the time I feel hungry, bored having lost 30 minutes of my time. (I am not including magazines such as Oxygen or Fitness RX in this category of ‘womens fitness magazines, by the way)
In one article from one of these magazines, there was a written meal plan (which is silly off the bat to follow because it is not customized to your body type) but regardless, there was a meal plan for females who were looking to get slim and ‘toned’ What I noticed? The crazy use of processed foods. Fat free salad dressings, ‘Skinny Cows’ Lean Cuisine or Healthy Choice entrees and soups, ‘fiber’ brownies, ‘low carb’ wraps, fat free cheese, fruit cups, fat free Swiss Miss Hot chocolate, Fat Free cookies
If one were to look at this diet, it is extremely based on calorie restriction, not to mention most of the foods in the plan are processed, made with fillers and chemicals that our bodies do not know how to digest. I am not suggesting that one should NEVER eat these foods; heck I eat them sometimes! The point is that this whole diet for a seemingly active female was severely calorie restricted and all based on processed foods.
I found this list on FItnessMagazine.com in an article entitled “The Best Foods For Dieters” This list describes the “Best choices for snacks”
14. Sunshine Right Bites Cheez-Its
Just as cheesy as the originals and a little bit crunchier, but with only half the fat.
Per bag: 100 calories, 3g protein, 15g carbohydrate, 3g fat (1g saturated), <1g fiber.
15. Quaker Rice Cakes White Cheddar
The hint of cheddar makes these rice cakes a winner.
Per cake: 45 calories, 1g protein, 8g carbohydrate, 0.5g fat (0g saturated), 0g fiber.
16. Baked! Ruffles Cheddar and Sour Cream
These chips are as good as the real thing, with almost no saturated fat. Testers couldn’t get enough of the cheesy flavor.
Per package: 140 calories, 2g protein, 25g carbohydrate, 4g fat (0.5g saturated), 2g fiber.
17. Muir Glen Organic Garlic Cilantro Salsa Medium
This thick, chunky salsa gives you just enough kick.
Per 2 tablespoons: 10 calories, 0g protein, 2g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated), 0g fiber.
18. Fiber One Chewy Bars Oats and Chocolate
Nutty, chocolaty, and delicious, with 9 grams of satiating fiber.
Per bar: 140 calories, 2g protein, 29g carbohydrate, 4g fat (1.5g saturated), 9g fiber.
19. Dole Mixed Fruit in Light Syrup
A healthy combination of apples, pineapples, pears, and peaches. The syrup adds the right amount of sweetness.
Per container: 80 calories, 0g protein, 19g carbohydrate, 0g fat (0g saturated), 1g fiber.
5/6 of these ‘snacks’ are processed, crap that will leave you hungry, unsatisfied and usually end up craving even more crap. The 6th item is the salsa which isn’t even considered a snack, it is a condiment. Is it really that hard to have a fresh apple and a baggie of almonds instead of mixed fruit packed in light syrup?
I get agitated that there are articles like this that suggest eating a fiber One chewy bar is a fabulous choice and enough calories for a snack for a (I think they are promoting) active females. I want to shout aloud and pass the word around to eat real foods. This is what our bodies recognize and these are the foods that help our bodies to stay happy, healthy and lean.
Some better snack choices for fat loss and energy
1. Piece of fruit and 20 almonds, cup of plain Greek Yogurt
2. 4 oz sweet potato, 3 oz chicken breast, any veggie of choice with some olive oil
3. 1/2 C oatmeal cooked in water with 1/2 banana, 1/2 T nut butter and 2 hard boiled eggs
4. 1 slice ezekial bread toasted with 3oz turkey breast, mustard, apple and 10 almonds
5. Can of 3oz tuna mixed with 1/3 avocado, salsa topped on Whole Wheat Pita or Whole Grain Bread
For on the go! 6. Homemade protein bar (1/2 C oats, 1/2 T nut butter, 1 scoop whey protein, 1/2 T honey, water to make a paste…mix and freeze…grab and go!)
Want even more ideas? Click here
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With all of this said, I have to say that I do like some of the articles written in the female fitness magazines, as well as I do not like all articles written in men’s fitness magazines. I am not trashing them completely. Like I mentioned before, some of the recipes and beauty advice is great and even some of the workouts are decent. I read them here and there to stay in the ‘know’ about what most likely some of my female clients are reading about. It is a great way to see the newest trends in the female fitness world and I like to stay on top of these things so if a female client of my refers back to something she read in this months issue of “SHAPE” I can relate to her and express my opinion. There are also usually some decent articles about stretching and flexibility in the female mag’s that I do enjoy for the most part. I just sometimes wish there was a magazine out there that combined some of the aspects of men’s fitness and some of the aspects of women’s fitness magazines into one.
To be honest, I much prefer reading blogs of fitness professionals that have incredible knowledge and stay up to date themselves. I learn more surfing the web for 30 minutes for free than spending $4.99 on a magazine I will most likely donate to my gym.
Some of my favorites to read up on!
Girls Gone Strong
Nick Tumminello
Bret Contreras
EliteFTS
Kellie Davis
Marianne from MyOhMy
Nia Shanks
Jen Comas Keck from Beauty Lies In Strength
Ben Bruno
Jon Goodman
Eric Cressey
Tony Gentilcore
Molly Galbriath
Mike Robertson
Precision Nutrition
Functional Movement Systems
Jillfit
Dean Somerset
T-Nation
Dan John
Mike Boyle
Neghar Fonoooni
When it does come down to magazines, I stick to Oxygen Magazine. It promotes strong, healthy women who raise the bar, kick a$$ in the weight room and know the importance of fueling for workouts. It is a great magazine for both newbies and veterans keeping workouts fresh and easy to follow each month. The recipes are based on whole, unprocessed foods and usually DELICIOUS. (One of my recipes was even featured!) I also love Oxygen magazine because besides nutrition and fitness, the magazines preaches about health in the most well rounded of ways; mental and spiritual in addition to the physical. There is always a health section that ranges in topics from ways to stay positive, other ways to exercise your mind, enjoying life and staying happy. Staying Happy is CRUCIAL to good health. Sure, some articles here and there in Oxygen are silly and a have a bit of ‘fluff’ to them, but for the most part, they are well written, well backed up and very user friendly.
These are just my thoughts! I am not ‘hating’ on those who enjoy magazines like FITNESS or SHAPE. I am just sharing some thoughts of mine that I have noticed.
Do you have any favorite magazines or prefer reading men’s versus women’s magazines?
I love this and could not agree more! I just found your blog and as a fellow fitness professional it is a welcomed site to see!
Your blog is amazing! Thanks for recommending others as I am brand new to this and it will help me pinpoint a manageable few to follow. p.s(modified) pumpkin smoothie OMG so good- I may already be addicted. Thanks and keep up the good work!
I loved this Naomi 🙂 Great post and thanks for the links!
Very interesting difference! It would be cool to hear a psychologist’s perspective on this.
This is such a great post…I currently have a subscription to SHAPE but am so tired of seeing so many of those exact articles that promote small amounts of processed foods to “lose those calories!” It’s getting so old…Yes, there are some things I like about that magazine, but I’m pretty sure I’m switching to Oxygen this summer–I only hear great things about that magazine!
I noticed this about reading GQ vs. women’s mags — when GQ wrote about a restaurant, it was about enjoying a good meal or fine dining, whatever. if a women’s magazine wrote about eating out, it was always about picking the lowest calorie option on the menu that was lowfat. it’s really ridiculous that a men’s magazine was promoting the aspect of enjoying something you really want to be eating/whole foods and women’s do the exact opposite. it’s kind of a bummer too because i do think so many people have trouble losing weight because certain foods become demonized or they eat “diet” food.
This is a great comparison. I really want to write for women’s magazines, but I know I will face this paradox when I get my first gig.
I used to be a huge magazine junkie, and women’s fitness magazines were my favorite. I remember how I’d get a new issue in the mail, scan the headlines on the cover and feel excited that this time I’d finally stick to whatever exercise/diet/weight-loss plan they were promoting, even though I’d never managed to stick to any of them in the past (and they never really change). It took me years to realize most of the articles in those magazines were just recycled junk and never seemed to offer any realistic lifestyle changes, just the latest fitness or diet trend of the month. So glad that I’ve quit wasting money on those things!
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“women’s mags” make me sad sometimes. I HATE the 1600 meals plans full of processed foods and labeling foods good and bad. I still read ’em tho but mostly because I like to be critical : ) I do like some of the articles though
I’ve read womens fitness mags in the past but found them so patronising and often saying the opposite of what my PT was telling me. Now I prefer to do my own research or find blogs like yours on the internet.
Thanks for this great post!
Can I just say…I heart you. You are SPOT on. You would be a great motivational speaker to the tween/teen girl set. If I had only heard your words/advice on health, foods and fitness when I was younger. Great work and love your posts and tips.
I have been reading blogs for years and have never commented before now. I just stumbled upon yours and I love this. How refreshing! Thanks for the sound advice and the recommendations for other good blogs. I’m excited to read more of your posts.
Ewww! I can’t believe that snack list- how disgusting! It is so aligned with the “Hungry Girl” mentality of eat as much as you can for as few calories as possible- who cares about all the chemicals and crap that will probably give you cancer in the long run?! YUCK!!! I agree, let’s eat REAL foods! When we eat these fake foods, we are not truly feeding our cells the nutrients they need- and then we are left scouring the cabinets and binge eating as a result of trying to properly feed ourselves the nutrients we need to survive and thrive! GRRR!! These articles make me so mad!
Awesome post Naomi!
I have been meaning to switch to mens magazines. Whenever I see one, I definitely snatch it up! I agree that I like the advice in them much more. Thanks for the awesome snack ideas! I’ve been needing some new ones and those sound awesome!
Exactly why I picked up Men’s Health at the doctor yesterday instead any of the womens’ mags. I made myself several notes from it!
This is such a fantastic post. I hear from my friends all of the time that they ate some “100 calorie snack pack” because such-and-such magazine said it was a good snack for weight loss. So frustrating!
Have you read Experience Life Magazine? It is, by far and away, the most legit mag I’ve ever read! I think you’d love it! Plus their fitness editor, @JenSinkler (on Twitter), is always right in the trenches digging up the best info out there. http://experiencelife.com/
definitely a post to think about! its interesting how different men and women’s magazines are. even comparing like, women’s health vs. men’s health….very different. i like womens health ok but mens health might be better. oxygen is def one of my favorites: great recipes and hard workouts!
Naomi, I just found your blog this morning and I love it. Can’t wait to try some of your workouts and recipes! Great post and comparison. I used to have a subscription to self, fitness and shape but found myself reading the same thing over and over so I recently started reading oxygen and find it much more informative. I’m looking forward to following along 🙂
When it comes to men’s vs women’s fitness magazines I totally agree with you. The women’s ones typically suggest lots of light weights at high reps. I definitely prefer the mens ones.
LOVE your blog! I am a certified personal trainer, but am not currently training (working on building up my bank account a little more with a 9-5 before I can start with an unpredictable training schedule).
I couldn’t agree more with your thoughts on female fitness magazines vs. male fitness magazines. I would much rather read Men’s Health than SHAPE or Oxygen instead of Fitness. I was subscribed to all those female fitness magazines, and have let my subscriptions run out (now I just have to deal with the constant “re-subscribe!” cards I get in the mail – ugh).
Also, thanks for the blog suggestions. I read most of those, but there are a few that are new to me. So, thanks! And keep up the great work!