Men's Health

“PEPPER JACK. THAT NICE SPICE GIVES ME EXACTLY THE BUMP I’M LOOKING FOR.”—BRETT WILLIAMS, CSCS “I’M A MANCHEGO STAN. GREAT ON ITS OWN AND DELICIOUS TOPPED WITH A WALNUT HALF AND SOME HONEY.”—BRIAN UNDERWOOD “WHATEVER KIND OF CHEESE THEY MELT DOWN TO PUT ON FRENCH FRIES, TATER TOTS, AND NACHOS.”—OLIVIA LUPPINO “BRIE. IT’S LIKE THE PEANUT BUTTER OF CHEESE: VERSATILE AND SUITABLE FOR ANY OCCASION, EVEN PAIRED WITH BREAD AND JAM.”—DEZI ABEYTA, RDN, MH NUTRITION ADVISOR “A SHARP AND CRUMBLY NEW ZEALAND CHEDDAR. THE CHEESE OF MY CHILDHOOD. SIMPLE AND PERFECT.”—DORENNA NEWTON “I LIKE FETA BECAUSE IT INSTANTLY ADDS A KICK AND PROTEIN TO EVERYTHING FROM SALADS AND EGGS TO ROASTED VEGGIES AND GRAIN BOWLS.”—DEANNA MARTIN…

How to climb a rope. @sv_risico Be hard-working, motivated, and consistent in every aspect of your life. @dfgraves1 Believing in myself and that I can achieve my goals as long as I put in the work. @itsaronnie Don’t compare your Chapter 1 to someone’s Chapter 10. @hunter__gregory Your teammates are counting on you. @paoli.chris To breathe in critical circumstances. @daveaceituno Understanding everything that comes with saying “Yes.” @markpacificar…

WHEN I WAS growing up in Ohio, football was a foundational pillar of my identity. I played for 15 years in the state, starting at age 7, through high school, and at Kenyon College (and later I played pro football in Germany). The sport is essential to the region’s social fabric, from towns rallying on Friday nights to tailgating on Saturdays and Sundays—and there’s no team more important than the Ohio State University Buckeyes. When I visited Columbus to experience the defending champs’ offseason training earlier this summer (page 66), I was reminded of a crucial aspect of football culture: building bonds through shared sweat. I watched the Buckeyes run and lift across two days in June and witnessed a group of guys focused on getting better, together, in ways…

SHOE SMACKDOWN From Air Jordans to Adidas Samba OGs, we logged hundreds of miles in running, training, hiking, and work-ready sneakers to find the best. Go to MensHealth.com/sneaker-awards-2025. STRESS TEST We asked Chris Hemsworth, Dave Franco, and others about their most nerve-racking roles in our brand-new video series. Watch at youtube.com/MensHealthMag. STACK STRATEGY We analyzed the studies and talked to the experts about everything from ashwagandha to zinc to build one definitive guide to all things supplements. Check it out: MensHealth.com/supplement-guide.…

Q. Why do I always feel so tired around the holidays? A. Oh, let me see. First, winter is rough. Less daylight means new sleep patterns and adjusting workout routines. Then there’s the stress fatigue of navigating family dynamics, travel, hosting, gifting, and religion. If you drink, you probably drink more often because of all the holiday parties, which can lead to more disrupted sleep, and down you go the candy-cane spiral. My advice is to remember the core of the holidays: gratitude, service, faith, family. That stuff should be a wellspring of energy for us.…

ALEX SCHNEIDER STATS AGE: 33 OCCUPATION: NYPD detective, MLFD firefighter LOCATION: Queens, New York MEN’S HEALTH MVP members gain access to the best health, fitness, and entertainment coverage anywhere. And each month, we survey our MVPs to choose one guy who is changing his life. Sign up at MensHealth.com/signup and you could see yourself here one day. THE MEAL I CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT Chicken parmigiana and pasta with vodka sauce. IN MY GYM BAG Wrist wraps, Rogue Monster bands, AirPods. HOW I STAY MOTIVATED The choices I make to be physically prepared today could be the difference between me coming home—or not—tomorrow. DREAM CELEBRITY WORKOUT PARTNER Mark Wahlberg. MY ROLE MODEL Nick Bare (athlete and podcaster). MY PUMP-UP BAND Killswitch Engage. WHAT MAKES ME FEEL STRONG An upper-body HIIT/hybrid workout.…