Jacques Fagan

USN-SPONSORED ATHLETE JACQUES FAGAN IS THE  CURRENT POINTS LEADER IN THE IFBB PLATINUM LEAGUE’S MEN’S ATHLETIC PHYSIQUE DIVISION. Since his last appearance on the cover of this magazine, Jacques has overhauled his approach to training and nutrition, to deliver a year-round aesthetic that delivers results, be it on the competitive bodybuilding stage, or for his sponsors as a loyal brand ambassador. We share an exclusive look into how he has constructed his formula for success, which now transcends all areas of his life.

Crossfit's Competitive Season In Full Swing

The Crossfit Open And Regionals Have Come And Gone, And For The First Time Since The New Format Was Implemented, South Africa Has A Male Athlete Heading To The Crossfit Games.

Saddle Up!

New study finds that cycling does not damage men’s sexual or urinary functions

Dominate Your Digestion

Before getting into the particulars of digestive inflammation, it’s important to understand that acute inflammation in general is a natural immune response that plays an important role in recovery and tissue repair.

Kelly Ainsworth

Living and loving life, one competition, unicorn, donut and deadlift at a time...

Wayne's World Of Fitness

Fresh From a Top 10 Finish at the Recent Wbff World Championships Held in Toronto in August, Wayne Coetzee Is, Understandably, on a High. Having Worked as a Professional Photographer and, More Recently, as a Fitness Model, Wayne Has Been on Both Sides of the Lens. Add This to His Growing Wealth of Experience as a Competitive Pro Athlete and as a Successful Personal Trainer, and He Has a Lot of Valuable Insights to Share.

Take A Load Off

Recent Research Challenges the “lift Heavy to Grow” Gym Paradigm

Ryan Terry Hits The Big Time

We Catch Up With Ryan To Get The Inside Scoop On What It Takes To Win.

Taurine On Trial

TAURINE IS ONE OF THE MOST ABUNDANT AMINO ACIDS IN YOUR BODY, YET YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF IT. IN FACT, IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE SECOND MOST ABUNDANT IN THE BODY’S MUSCLES AFTER GLUTAMINE.Not only has taurine been widely used by the pharmaceutical industry, along with caffeine, to improve mental focus, but it also commonly features as the go-to ingredient in most energy drinks and pre-workout formulas available on the market today aimed at boosting athletic performance.

The Florida Effect: The Power Of Priming On Performance

We all like to think that we are in complete control of our actions, our mindsets, and, subsequently, our performance. But what if that weren’t true? Could it be that the words you hear on the radio or read on billboards or the pictures you see on your way to the change room could affect your subsequent performance in the gym, through their impact on your subconscious mind?Well, it just might, at least according to numerous studies into behavioural psychology that have looked at a concept known as the priming effect.

Stay Ahead Of Injury

Why A Proactive Approach To Body Maintenance Is Your Best Defence Against Bio-Mechanical Issues.

Buying Time Is Expensive

At The Sharp End Of Any Professional Field, The Equipment Being Used Has To Be The Best – Made Of The Highest Quality Material To Be The Fastest, The Lightest, And The Most Aerodynamic. When Physiology Is Equal, Which It Usually Is At The Top, It Is Equipment That Can Give An Athlete That Edge Over Their Competitors. It’S Often In These Areas Where The Marginal Gains – 3 Grams Here, 1 Degree Cooler There, 2 More Watts Here – That Modern Sports Science Creates Add Up To A Few Extra Seconds On The Finish Line.

Protein Paucity

“SIGNALLING PATHWAYS THAT GOVERN SKELETAL MUSCLE MASS INCLUDE THE MYOSTATIN, MTOR, FOXO, NF-ΚB, MAPK AND β-CATENIN PATHWAYS.”

Grooming

5 ESSENTIAL SUMMER GROOMING TIPS

CNS Recovery

THOSE WHO TRAIN FOR AESTHETICS ARE GENERALLY LESS CONCERNED ABOUT RECOVERY THAN GYM-GOERS WHO TRAIN FOR STRENGTH OR PERFORMANCE. But does training just one muscle group at each workout really insulate your body from the cumulative stress of multiple hard sessions?

De-Training

HOW QUICKLY DOES THE DREADED DECLINE IN CONDITIONING OCCUR WHEN YOU STOP EXERCISING?

Single-Arm Overhead Kettlebell Squat

SQUAT VARIATIONS KEEP OUR TRAINING FRESH AND INTERESTING, without having to skip out on the most effective exercise we can do in the gym. In this way we keep making gains, while also challenging our bodies and minds to master new moves.

Living The Dream Thanks To EMS

Luke Gericke and Riana Booysen are your quintessential fitness couple – they live to train, love to eat clean, and even get up on stage occasionally to compete in physique competitions. It’s a passion they’ve shared in their personal lives, and it’s now shaping their professionals lives, too.

The School of Crossfit

How lessons we learn in the box help prepare us for life.

Total Recall

Uncovering the mechanisms that deliver the muscle memory effect.

Shannon Cornell

Shannon Cornell is a buzzing socialite who loves to set the competitive stage alight with her dropdead gorgeous physique and her sparkling personality.

Count On Your Health

YOUR ‘SWIMMERS’, OR LACK THEREOF MAY INDICATE BROADER HEALTH ISSUES, SUGGESTS NEW RESEARCH

It's All In The Head - Learning To Handle Pressure

ALMOST ALL ATHLETES WHO WANT TO IMPROVE THEIR SPORTS INTELLIGENCE NEED TO FOCUS ON LEARNING THIS VITAL SKILL, WRITES DR GARRATH ROSSLEE.

Overhead Lunges

Overhead Lunges

Protein Going Green

STUDY SHOWS BROWN RICE PROTEIN DELIVERS COMPARABLE RESULTS TO WHEY

On The Seventh Day, Do I Rest?

Determining your recovery needs can be extremely complex as there are so many interrelated factors involved

Isobel Goodchild

BRAINS, BRAWN AND BEAUTY... THAT’S THE COMPLETE PACKAGE THAT WBFF BIKINI COMPETITOR, FITNESS ATHLETE AND SELF-CONFESSED GYM ADDICT ISOBEL GOODCHILD BRINGS TO THE STAGE. WHEN SHE’S NOT TOILING UNDER A LOADED BARBELL WORKING TIRELESSLY TO IMPROVE HER WEAK POINTS, SHE’S PAINTING, PLAYING PIANO OR BRUSHING UP ON HER PSYCHOLOGY READING. SHE’S ALSO GOT AN ECLECTIC EAR AND LOVES TO LAUGH. IT’S A COMPELLING MIX OF TRAITS THAT HAS US CAPTIVATED, AND WE’RE SURE YOU’LL AGREE.

Unleash Your Torque

BETTER HARNESS YOUR INTERNAL CAPACITY TO GENERATE POWER.

Accelerate Recovery With Heat

THE OPTIMISATION OF POST-EXERCISE RECOVERY IS ONE OF THE MOST PROLIFIC RESEARCH SUBJECTS IN THE WORLD OF EXERCISE SCIENCE.

Feeling Deprived

Q The quality of my sleep has taken a dive over the past few weeks due to a number of late nights spent working and all the stress that goes with it. I also find that I struggle to fall asleep after working late into the night and never feel rested when I wake up these days. What’s worse is that it’s now starting to affect my performance in the gym. What can I do to get my sleep back on track? Michael via email