By Lou Schuler
The best way to zap some of life’s biggest dilemmas may be the greatest defensive weapon known to man: exercise. Check out these seven sweaty solutions to everyday problems.
Best Exercise #1
Best Exercise for Opening a Jar
The oversize-grip deadlift. You do it just like a standard deadlift, but increase the thickness of the bar by wrapping a towel (or two) around it. The thicker bar and heavy weight force the muscles of your forearms to work harder than ever, which will give you a hand-crushing grip—perfect for popping the lid off a pickle jar.
Do this: Stand in front of a barbell with your feet shoulder-width apart and grab the bar with an overhand grip, your hands placed just outside of your legs. Lift your chest, pull your shoulder blades back, and focus your eyes straight ahead. Now, push down through your heels and stand up.
Best Exercise #2
Best Exercise Before Your Big National TV Appearance
Sharpen your brain with 30 high-intensity minutes on a treadmill. Researchers at the University of Illinois found that men processed information faster and more accurately 50 minutes after their exercise session than they did prior to the session. The benefits won’t last all day, but the residual effects will probably keep you sharp long past that 50-minute marker.
Do this: Run on a treadmill for 30 minutes at 80 percent of your max heart rate.
Best Exercise #3
Best Exercise for Winning an Arm-Wrestling Contest
The overgrip chinup works your forearms (which will give you a strong grip and wrist strength) as well as your biceps and back (to help you pull your opponent’s arm down).
Do this: Perform a regular chinup using an underhand grip, but use a bar that’s at least 2 inches in diameter. The side of a power rack works well—or simply wrap a towel around a normal-size bar. Do one to three sets of as many repetitions as you can.
Best Exercise #4
Best Exercise for Powering Up Your Sex Drive
Work your thrusting muscles with the hanging leg raise.
Do this: Grasp a chinup bar with an overhand grip and hang from it at arm’s length, with your knees slightly bent. Without bending your legs any more, lift your knees as close to your chest as possible by rounding your back and curling your hips toward your rib cage. Pause, then slowly lower your legs to the starting position. (If that’s too hard, perform the exercise while lying on the floor or on a slant bench.) Do three sets of as many repetitions as you can.
Best Exercise #5
Best Exercise for Sweeping Your Girlfriend off Her Feet
You need strong legs. But you also need to hold the weight the same way you’d hold her. The solution? The Zercher squat.
Do this: Hold a barbell in the crook of your elbows and stand with your feet shoulder-width apart. Keep your torso as upright as possible (lift with your legs, not your back) and squat until your thighs are parallel to the floor. Do three sets of eight to 10 repetitions.
Best Exercise #6
Best Exercise for Throwing a 90-mph Fastball
You want to throw the heater like Randy Johnson or Roger Clemens? Then develop power—that is, speed and strength—in the muscles of your thighs, hips, and shoulders with an exercise called the dumbbell snatch.
Do this: Grab a dumbbell in your throwing hand and hold it just in front of your body at arm’s length. Bend at your knees and waist so that the dumbbell is hanging between your legs. In one explosive movement, push up with your legs and pull the dumbbell up and over your head with your arm and shoulder until your arm is straight. Do three sets of six repetitions.
Best Exercise #7
Best Exercise for Hitting Your Tee Shot 300 Yards and Convincing People You’re Tiger Woods
The medicine-ball rotation throw works the muscles in your hips and midsection—the power source for your swing. Now if only you could learn to chip like Tiger. Or putt like Tiger . . .
Do this: Grab a medicine ball and stand with your left side toward a concrete or brick wall. Hold the medicine ball next to your right hip and throw it against the wall by rotating your upper body and hips, while keeping your feet in place. Catch the ball as it rebounds off the wall and reverse the movement until the ball is back in the starting position. Do three sets of 10 repetitions for each side.
Let me know how it turns out.