Thursday, March 31, 2016

The Real Reason Your Wrists Hurt

“I have weak wrists.” I've heard this excuse given countless times when someone can't perform an upper-body exercise. I understand why pain in the wrist during a push-up or pull-up might lead you to believe your wrists are the problem, but it's often more complicated than that.

The Real Reason Your Wrists Hurt

The Real Reason Your Wrists Hurt

“I have weak wrists.” I've heard this excuse given countless times when someone can't perform an upper-body exercise. I understand why pain in the wrist during a push-up or pull-up might lead you to believe your wrists are the problem, but it's often more complicated than that.

The Real Reason Your Wrists Hurt

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Jeff Stelling and Coach March South to Fight Cancer


News


Jeff Stelling's Men United March finishes at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday






















Advertisement



21st March 2016: to Hartlepool, for the first leg of Jeff Stelling's daunting 260-mile walk on behalf of Prostate Cancer UK, which has been snaking its way south to Wembley over the past week. The route takes in a marathon a day, bouncing off every football ground it encounters in its path.


Day One, Step One was taken at Hartlepool's Victoria Ground with “celebrity” walkers Ray Wilkins – sporting an immense pair of mittens – and Tony Blair's former communications artiste Alastair Campbell joining the parade. Besides Coach, 50 or so other enthusiasts made up the “squad”, including one chap whose idea of warming up was running the 30-odd miles from Newcastle to Hartlepool.





The route passed along the Hartlepool seafront, out into the countryside and into Middlesbrough for lunch at the Riverside Stadium, where Coach missed a golden opportunity for a “Hello Cleveland!” tweet.


The spin doctor Campbell demolished the buffet before making his excuses, muttering something about “dinner at the embassy”, and the procession continued through some of the region's grimmer industrial landscapes, including the immense Redcar steelworks, recently closed. The plant produced the steel for the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Tyne Bridge and a long, glorious etc, Coach was informed by a marching scaffolder, who had recently been made redundant from the plant, and who was walking in memory of his late wife. Indeed, many of the walkers were there because cancer had made itself unwelcome in the lives of loved ones.


Eventually, the rust gave way to the sand of a last couple of miles of dazzling coast and a brass band finish at Marske FC (Ebac Northern League, Div 1), delayed while our heroic leader shook every hand, attended to every selfie, charmingly answered every question. In Jeff Stelling, prostate cancer has a formidable opponent.





Why is Jeff Stelling standing next to a roundabout in the nort...

Jeff Stelling is walking from Hartlepool to Wembley for Prostate Cancer UK.


Posted by Coach Mag on Thursday, 24 March 2016




RECOMMENDED: Why Jeff Stelling is Walking 10 Marathons in 10 Days


What you Should Know About Prostate Cancer


Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. In the UK, one in eight men will get it; among black men the number is one in four. It tends to target the over-50s, but at amy age it is much easier to treat if caught early. You can read about the symptoms at prostatecanceruk.org. If you're suspicious, don't put off going to the doctor – let the professionals tell you if it's nothing or not; don't convince yourself it's “something else”; and tell the most important person in your life – that way, you can be sure someone will make themselves enough of a pain that getting checked out is the least troublesome option.


Coach is proud to be a charity partner of Prostate Cancer UK. Text “Jeff” to 70004 to donate £3 or visit MenUnitedMarch.org to give more




Ed Needham

30 Mar 2016

You Need to See Dennis Hopper's Lost 1971 Documentary, 'The American Dreamer'

"How can I be [the] 'American Dreamer' without broads?" asks director and actor Dennis Hopper, in this evocative clip from The American Dreamer, a 1971 documentary that captures Dennis Hopper in his most wild - and you might say creative - days. On cue, three women appear in the bathtub, Hopper standing awkwardly above them in an attention-grabbing red a...

This article originally appeared on www.mensjournal.com: You Need to See Dennis Hopper's Lost 1971 Documentary, 'The American Dreamer'

Jeff Stelling and Coach March South to Fight Cancer


News


Jeff Stelling's Men United March finishes at Wembley Stadium on Wednesday






















Advertisement



21st March 2016: to Hartlepool, for the first leg of Jeff Stelling's daunting 260-mile walk on behalf of Prostate Cancer UK, which has been snaking its way south to Wembley over the past week. The route takes in a marathon a day, bouncing off every football ground it encounters in its path.


Day One, Step One was taken at Hartlepool's Victoria Ground with “celebrity” walkers Ray Wilkins – sporting an immense pair of mittens – and Tony Blair's former communications artiste Alastair Campbell joining the parade. Besides Coach, 50 or so other enthusiasts made up the “squad”, including one chap whose idea of warming up was running the 30-odd miles from Newcastle to Hartlepool.





The route passed along the Hartlepool seafront, out into the countryside and into Middlesbrough for lunch at the Riverside Stadium, where Coach missed a golden opportunity for a “Hello Cleveland!” tweet.


The spin doctor Campbell demolished the buffet before making his excuses, muttering something about “dinner at the embassy”, and the procession continued through some of the region's grimmer industrial landscapes, including the immense Redcar steelworks, recently closed. The plant produced the steel for the Sydney Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Tyne Bridge and a long, glorious etc, Coach was informed by a marching scaffolder, who had recently been made redundant from the plant, and who was walking in memory of his late wife. Indeed, many of the walkers were there because cancer had made itself unwelcome in the lives of loved ones.


Eventually, the rust gave way to the sand of a last couple of miles of dazzling coast and a brass band finish at Marske FC (Ebac Northern League, Div 1), delayed while our heroic leader shook every hand, attended to every selfie, charmingly answered every question. In Jeff Stelling, prostate cancer has a formidable opponent.





Why is Jeff Stelling standing next to a roundabout in the nort...

Jeff Stelling is walking from Hartlepool to Wembley for Prostate Cancer UK.


Posted by Coach Mag on Thursday, 24 March 2016




RECOMMENDED: Why Jeff Stelling is Walking 10 Marathons in 10 Days


What you Should Know About Prostate Cancer


Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men. In the UK, one in eight men will get it; among black men the number is one in four. It tends to target the over-50s, but at amy age it is much easier to treat if caught early. You can read about the symptoms at prostatecanceruk.org. If you're suspicious, don't put off going to the doctor – let the professionals tell you if it's nothing or not; don't convince yourself it's “something else”; and tell the most important person in your life – that way, you can be sure someone will make themselves enough of a pain that getting checked out is the least troublesome option.


Coach is proud to be a charity partner of Prostate Cancer UK. Text “Jeff” to 70004 to donate £3 or visit MenUnitedMarch.org to give more




Ed Needham

30 Mar 2016

You Need to See Dennis Hopper's Lost 1971 Documentary, 'The American Dreamer'

"How can I be [the] 'American Dreamer' without broads?" asks director and actor Dennis Hopper, in this evocative clip from The American Dreamer, a 1971 documentary that captures Dennis Hopper in his most wild - and you might say creative - days. On cue, three women appear in the bathtub, Hopper standing awkwardly above them in an attention-grabbing red a...

This article originally appeared on www.mensjournal.com: You Need to See Dennis Hopper's Lost 1971 Documentary, 'The American Dreamer'

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

Getting Dental Implants Abroad: One Man's Dental Tourism Adventure in Hungary


Advice


Coach correspondent Matthew Wilcher joined the thousands of British people who are turning their face ache into a happy holiday






















Advertisement



“Dental tourism” is a trend that is rapidly on the up – and with ever-increasing costs and lengthy waiting times for dental treatment in the UK, that's no surprise. A growing number of people in the UK are now opting to get their dental work done abroad for a fraction of the price, cutting out waiting times and providing an excuse for a holiday at the same time. Every year over 50,000 people in the UK travel overseas for medical treatment – and 40% of these do so for the sake of their teeth.


This says a great deal about the difficulties patients face in getting NHS-provided dental surgery in this country. When you're in mind-numbing pain from a tooth infection, the last thing you want to hear from your dentist is that you face a three-month wait for your operation. Added to this, there's also a referral process which may take a further few weeks. I recently found myself in this rather sticky situation – I also had additional dental work to get done including a crown and dental implants, so the outlook was pretty bleak.


Faced with the prospect of a three-month toothache, I started to research the alternative options. I looked into having my teeth done privately, but the costs were astronomical and my company's health insurance was useless. I was in so much pain I remember joking with my friend that maybe he could pull my tooth out for me (YouTube provides numerous video examples of those who have gone down this route). Later that day, I stumbled upon a DIY dental kit in the local supermarket (yes, I'm afraid these things do exist) and found myself contemplating a horrible last resort.


RECOMMENDED: The Secrets of Dental Health


Fortunately, one of the many colleagues I was moaning to at work explained how she had travelled to Hungary when she had needed her tooth crowned. The surgery had cost a fraction of the private fees I had been weighing up in the UK, she had been treated a matter of days after enquiring, and she assured me that Budapest was a fantastic city which truly lived up to its reputation as the “Paris of the East”. It all seemed too good to be true.


At first I was a little apprehensive, imagining myself arriving at a back-street dentist in a dark corner of an unfamiliar European city, sitting down to have my teeth removed with a pair of pliers. However, after a few hours of research online I saw that this relatively novel practice of dental tourism had been covered in almost all of the national papers – it seemed to be a legitimate and popular choice, and more importantly, I wasn't going to be a pioneer. Budapest also seemed like a good choice of destination – it's one of central Europe's dental tourism hotspots, came recommended by a friend and offered the chance for a welcome break in a city brimming with culture.


The differences in prices can be huge – a standard filling can start from as little as £6 in Hungary, compared with £51.30 on the NHS and £100+ when done privately. With such obvious savings to be made and some positive coverage in the UK press, I no longer felt alone in the dental tourism wilderness. Armed with my new-found knowledge, I decided to take the plunge. By using budget airline scanner momondo.com I found flights for £77 return – meaning that the whole trip remained a cost-effective alternative to private treatment.





Budapest as a tourist destination did not disappoint. I wandered the city's picturesque streets, relaxed in its iconic thermal baths and enjoyed a tranquil cruise down the Danube – not bad, even with a violent toothache. I had my surgery done in a modern, tasteful practice called Nador Dental, located in a charming old building just a stone's throw away from the picture-postcard Houses of Parliament. The level of treatment was like nothing I had experienced before, and far better than I had expected. I found myself in a beautiful waiting room where all of the receptionists spoke perfect English. The head surgeon greeted me and explained what I was to expect. The actual operation was over quickly and seemed to go flawlessly. It felt as though I had been treated in a spa rather than a dentist's.


As part of the package, Nador Dental also included accommodation situated just two doors down from the surgery. My room was comfortable and beautifully furnished, and I was greeted with a welcome surprise after my journey – a batch of home-made zsemle, a Hungarian bread, had been left on the counter for me to try my new teeth on.


The whole trip lasted just three days, and then I was on the plane back to London, with the journey back giving me some time to reflect on my experience. Initially I had been somewhat sceptical, but in the end I returned a satisfied customer. I saved myself a considerable amount of money by avoiding going private. I also skipped the queue and saved myself three months of agonising pain waiting in line for the NHS, with my surgery being completed the first weekend after I made the call to Nador. Three months on, and I have no troubles whatsoever with my wisdom tooth, so clearly it was a job well done. I also have the lasting memory of a fantastic few days in one of Europe's most exciting and vibrant cities. Certainly beats getting a lollipop on the way out.


Nador price list



  • Extraction of wisdom tooth: £50

  • Ceramic crowns per tooth (porcelain fused on metal): £194

  • Titanium implant without crown, Alpha-bio System: £480


nadordental.hu


In the UK, the surgical removal of a wisdom tooth could cost up to £500 and then £1,000 per crown. Some practices would be cheaper; London dentists tend to be even more expensive. Dental implants would cost £2,000-£2,500 per tooth.


Top Dental Tourism Destinations


Five other countries whose dentists are among their worthwhile tourist attractions.


1. India


The savings aren't great enough to pay for your trip, but with tooth extractions from just £6, you'd be crazy not to include a visit to a dentist as part of an Indian holiday. Waiting times are much shorter than in the UK and the standard of care is generally high – dentists will train for four years as an undergraduate and undertake a year's internship before specialising for three years. English is also widely spoken.


2. Poland


A short low-cost flight from the UK, dentists in Poland train for five years and are required to pass further exams every five years to continue practicing. Most major cities, including the capital Warsaw, offer care for visitors from overseas and prices can be up to 50% cheaper than in the UK.


3. Costa Rica


According to the UN, Costa Rica has the best healthcare system in Latin America and is ranked in the top 20 worldwide. It's popular with Americans seeking dental treatment as many materials are approved by US agencies and imported from the United States. Costs can be around 25-33% cheaper than in the UK.


4. Czech Republic


Not just for stag dos, Prague is an emerging hotspot for dental tourism owing to high standards of treatment and prices around 15% lower than the UK. All dentists in the Czech Republic must be registered with the Ministry of Health and the Czech Dental Chamber. While the capital is more expensive than the rest of the country, it has the highest concentration of dentists and a reputation for advanced care.


5. Thailand


Marketed as the Land of Smiles, Thailand seems an obvious place to get your gnashers seen to. Prices are around 50% cheaper than the UK and some 1.2 million dental tourists visit each year. The Thai government's Ministry of Health is actively trying to make Thailand a leading spot for health tourism and as such English-speaking dentists and modern clinics can be found easily.




Matthew Wilcher

29 Mar 2016

Jimmy Buffett and Jim Harrison Had a Helluva Good Time in the '70s

On Sunday Jim Harrison, the brash, uncompromising author of more than 30 books passed away while writing at his cabin in Patagonia, Arizona. Lifelong friend Jimmy Buffet, who first met Harrison in the 1970s, remembers the good tim...

This article originally appeared on www.mensjournal.com: Jimmy Buffett and Jim Harrison Had a Helluva Good Time in the '70s

Getting Dental Implants Abroad: One Man's Dental Tourism Adventure in Hungary


Advice


Coach correspondent Matthew Wilcher joined the thousands of British people who are turning their face ache into a happy holiday






















Advertisement



“Dental tourism” is a trend that is rapidly on the up – and with ever-increasing costs and lengthy waiting times for dental treatment in the UK, that's no surprise. A growing number of people in the UK are now opting to get their dental work done abroad for a fraction of the price, cutting out waiting times and providing an excuse for a holiday at the same time. Every year over 50,000 people in the UK travel overseas for medical treatment – and 40% of these do so for the sake of their teeth.


This says a great deal about the difficulties patients face in getting NHS-provided dental surgery in this country. When you're in mind-numbing pain from a tooth infection, the last thing you want to hear from your dentist is that you face a three-month wait for your operation. Added to this, there's also a referral process which may take a further few weeks. I recently found myself in this rather sticky situation – I also had additional dental work to get done including a crown and dental implants, so the outlook was pretty bleak.


Faced with the prospect of a three-month toothache, I started to research the alternative options. I looked into having my teeth done privately, but the costs were astronomical and my company's health insurance was useless. I was in so much pain I remember joking with my friend that maybe he could pull my tooth out for me (YouTube provides numerous video examples of those who have gone down this route). Later that day, I stumbled upon a DIY dental kit in the local supermarket (yes, I'm afraid these things do exist) and found myself contemplating a horrible last resort.


RECOMMENDED: The Secrets of Dental Health


Fortunately, one of the many colleagues I was moaning to at work explained how she had travelled to Hungary when she had needed her tooth crowned. The surgery had cost a fraction of the private fees I had been weighing up in the UK, she had been treated a matter of days after enquiring, and she assured me that Budapest was a fantastic city which truly lived up to its reputation as the “Paris of the East”. It all seemed too good to be true.


At first I was a little apprehensive, imagining myself arriving at a back-street dentist in a dark corner of an unfamiliar European city, sitting down to have my teeth removed with a pair of pliers. However, after a few hours of research online I saw that this relatively novel practice of dental tourism had been covered in almost all of the national papers – it seemed to be a legitimate and popular choice, and more importantly, I wasn't going to be a pioneer. Budapest also seemed like a good choice of destination – it's one of central Europe's dental tourism hotspots, came recommended by a friend and offered the chance for a welcome break in a city brimming with culture.


The differences in prices can be huge – a standard filling can start from as little as £6 in Hungary, compared with £51.30 on the NHS and £100+ when done privately. With such obvious savings to be made and some positive coverage in the UK press, I no longer felt alone in the dental tourism wilderness. Armed with my new-found knowledge, I decided to take the plunge. By using budget airline scanner momondo.com I found flights for £77 return – meaning that the whole trip remained a cost-effective alternative to private treatment.





Budapest as a tourist destination did not disappoint. I wandered the city's picturesque streets, relaxed in its iconic thermal baths and enjoyed a tranquil cruise down the Danube – not bad, even with a violent toothache. I had my surgery done in a modern, tasteful practice called Nador Dental, located in a charming old building just a stone's throw away from the picture-postcard Houses of Parliament. The level of treatment was like nothing I had experienced before, and far better than I had expected. I found myself in a beautiful waiting room where all of the receptionists spoke perfect English. The head surgeon greeted me and explained what I was to expect. The actual operation was over quickly and seemed to go flawlessly. It felt as though I had been treated in a spa rather than a dentist's.


As part of the package, Nador Dental also included accommodation situated just two doors down from the surgery. My room was comfortable and beautifully furnished, and I was greeted with a welcome surprise after my journey – a batch of home-made zsemle, a Hungarian bread, had been left on the counter for me to try my new teeth on.


The whole trip lasted just three days, and then I was on the plane back to London, with the journey back giving me some time to reflect on my experience. Initially I had been somewhat sceptical, but in the end I returned a satisfied customer. I saved myself a considerable amount of money by avoiding going private. I also skipped the queue and saved myself three months of agonising pain waiting in line for the NHS, with my surgery being completed the first weekend after I made the call to Nador. Three months on, and I have no troubles whatsoever with my wisdom tooth, so clearly it was a job well done. I also have the lasting memory of a fantastic few days in one of Europe's most exciting and vibrant cities. Certainly beats getting a lollipop on the way out.


Nador price list



  • Extraction of wisdom tooth: £50

  • Ceramic crowns per tooth (porcelain fused on metal): £194

  • Titanium implant without crown, Alpha-bio System: £480


nadordental.hu


In the UK, the surgical removal of a wisdom tooth could cost up to £500 and then £1,000 per crown. Some practices would be cheaper; London dentists tend to be even more expensive. Dental implants would cost £2,000-£2,500 per tooth.


Top Dental Tourism Destinations


Five other countries whose dentists are among their worthwhile tourist attractions.


1. India


The savings aren't great enough to pay for your trip, but with tooth extractions from just £6, you'd be crazy not to include a visit to a dentist as part of an Indian holiday. Waiting times are much shorter than in the UK and the standard of care is generally high – dentists will train for four years as an undergraduate and undertake a year's internship before specialising for three years. English is also widely spoken.


2. Poland


A short low-cost flight from the UK, dentists in Poland train for five years and are required to pass further exams every five years to continue practicing. Most major cities, including the capital Warsaw, offer care for visitors from overseas and prices can be up to 50% cheaper than in the UK.


3. Costa Rica


According to the UN, Costa Rica has the best healthcare system in Latin America and is ranked in the top 20 worldwide. It's popular with Americans seeking dental treatment as many materials are approved by US agencies and imported from the United States. Costs can be around 25-33% cheaper than in the UK.


4. Czech Republic


Not just for stag dos, Prague is an emerging hotspot for dental tourism owing to high standards of treatment and prices around 15% lower than the UK. All dentists in the Czech Republic must be registered with the Ministry of Health and the Czech Dental Chamber. While the capital is more expensive than the rest of the country, it has the highest concentration of dentists and a reputation for advanced care.


5. Thailand


Marketed as the Land of Smiles, Thailand seems an obvious place to get your gnashers seen to. Prices are around 50% cheaper than the UK and some 1.2 million dental tourists visit each year. The Thai government's Ministry of Health is actively trying to make Thailand a leading spot for health tourism and as such English-speaking dentists and modern clinics can be found easily.




Matthew Wilcher

29 Mar 2016

Jimmy Buffett and Jim Harrison Had a Helluva Good Time in the '70s

On Sunday Jim Harrison, the brash, uncompromising author of more than 30 books passed away while writing at his cabin in Patagonia, Arizona. Lifelong friend Jimmy Buffet, who first met Harrison in the 1970s, remembers the good tim...

This article originally appeared on www.mensjournal.com: Jimmy Buffett and Jim Harrison Had a Helluva Good Time in the '70s

Monday, March 28, 2016

Fix Your Feet to Lift More Weight

People hammer away in the weight room to hit the large muscles of the body, but forget that every rep of every set is anchored by the same small muscles and structures: the feet. Strong, functional feet are a huge factor for lifting success. If yours aren’t in good condition, it can mean weaker lifts, chronic pain, or even an acute injury. Here are three simple tips to build your feet. <...

This article originally appeared on www.mensjournal.com: Fix Your Feet to Lift More Weight

Fix Your Feet to Lift More Weight

People hammer away in the weight room to hit the large muscles of the body, but forget that every rep of every set is anchored by the same small muscles and structures: the feet. Strong, functional feet are a huge factor for lifting success. If yours aren’t in good condition, it can mean weaker lifts, chronic pain, or even an acute injury. Here are three simple tips to build your feet. <...

This article originally appeared on www.mensjournal.com: Fix Your Feet to Lift More Weight

Friday, March 25, 2016

The NFL’s New Rules Show the League Is Actually Listening to the Fans

Much has already been stated and hypothesized about how the NFL’s most recent rules changes will affect football moving forward, but the most important thing to come out of this week’s owners meetings is continuing proof that the NFL is willing to evolve, if not for the better, at least to make the sport more interesting.

This week the owners, hoping to protect their...

This article originally appeared on www.mensjournal.com: The NFL’s New Rules Show the League Is Actually Listening to the Fans

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Pickup Secrets from Bartenders

Picking up people at a bar is a time-honored tradition. More often than not, it’s also an exercise in failure. But why? The bartender knows. We talked to four of our favorite tenders of bar — from Rochelle’s in New York to Greco’s in Frisco, Colorado — about how to better approach the late-night post-drink pickup.

Pickup Secrets from Bartenders

Al Murray Outstepped Tess Daly for Sport Relief


News


He won Fitbit’s Steps for Good challenge, but lost his love-handles






















Advertisement



Al Murray’s alter-ego The Pub Landlord is a portly, beer-swilling, opinionated loudmouth but, in reality, the man behind the pints is firmly at the opposite end of the spectrum. So how does he keep his waistline in check in between all the on-stage swilling?


What did you do for Sport Relief?


I did the Fitbit Celebrity Step-a-thon. Tess Daly and I had to try and achieve 100,000 steps between us in five days – I beat her hollow, so I’m quite pleased with myself. I did 109,000 steps, and she did something in the region of 60,000. Smashed it. All the journeys that I’d have normally done by tube, I walked. I think I walked about 16 miles. My love-handles have gone, too.


How would you rate your fitness on a scale of one to 10?


I would say I’m probably a good seven at the moment – I think I’m blessed with quite a good level of “natural fitness”. Also, when I’m gigging, I do a show every night, which involves me walking and talking for two hours solid, so that keeps me pretty fit, in a hidden way. But I’m not a gym bunny.


What do you do, fitness-wise?


I can’t bear running, it’s boring and it makes me feel dreadful, but I love going for a good long walk – you can have a proper think, listen to some music or a podcast, or make calls. I also play the drums – if you do that for an hour or so a day it’s really good for your cardiovascular fitness. Clem Burke, the drummer from Blondie – they hooked him up to a load of machinery and found that he was athlete-fit just from playing.


What will you never do again?


I remember I had some TV work coming up, so I went for some boxercise and at the end of it, I just thought, “You know what? I don’t mind looking a bit chubby on television.” It puts weight on you anyway – people always tell me I’m not as fat as they thought I was on the television. It really is the cameras – it’s 10lb a camera, and we used to have ten cameras...


Al Murray and Tess Daly took Steps for Good in the Fitbit Celebrity Step-a-thon to raise £100k for Sport Relief.




Gary Ogden

24 Mar 2016