LAST YEAR, I DECIDED
I wanted to learn how to eat healthier. (Surprise! We're not all macro-tracking bodybuilders over here at Men's Health.) So I searched Google, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube. And my research all seemed to lead me to the same kind of advice: one-size-fits-all directives, delivered by confident and attractive social-media stars and online influencers, all hawking video courses, e-books, YouTube channels, podcasts, and specially formulated vitamins. Their collective pitch: They alone hold the secret knowledge that will propel me to achieve my goals for a price, but hey, it works for hundreds of thousands of their followers. And there are so many of these advice givers.
"There's garbage out there because there's a demand," says Katy Milkman, Ph.D., author of How to Change. "This is the thing about human nature: We're always looking for ways to get better." And we'll spend good time and money on that improvement. The U. S. personal-development industry (that's courses, coaching, and workshops centered on self-improvement), already valued at a massive $11.5 billion, is expected to grow an additional 5.5 percent over the next seven years, according to Grand View Research. The category that will see the most growth? Online-based personal development.
So in order to filter out the trusted experts (they do exist!) from the supplement-shilling, anecdote-spouting, cherry-picking, "subscribe-to-my-podcast" influencers, I looked into the research behind giving advice and talked to credentialed authorities on the subject. What I found was that learning how to seek out and take advice about self-improvement is, like everything else in life, a skill-which means you can improve it.
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Men's Health US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the March 2023 edition of Men's Health US.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Beyond Obesity
Ozempic! AirSculpt! Body positivity! The revolution in how we gain and lose weight and how we think about gaining and losing weight is just beginning.
Are Weight-Loss Drugs Right for You?
If you're thinking about taking anti-obesity drugs, peep this expert-backed* chart to see if you qualify, then make an appointment with your doctor.
6 A.M. With...The CEO of Robinhood
Regular sweat sessions help Vlad Tenev feel confident and in control even when the stock market is all over the place.
"I'm Big and I'm Strong"
These guys have dealt with fatphobia, body shaming, and the pressure to lose weight their entire lives. Here's how they developed a mentally healthy approach to the number on the scale.
JOHN BRZENK IS STILL GOING STRONG
At nearly 60 years old, BRZENK is holding his own at arm wrestling tables the world over. What the hell?
THE BODY BIBLE
THE QUEST TO BUILD THE BODY YOU WANT FEELS NEVER-ENDING. BUT IT'S POSSIBLE, AS LONG AS YOU UNDERSTAND THE EVER-EVOLVING SCIENCE OF TRAINING. OVER THE NEXT 22 PAGES, WE'RE GIVING YOU CUTTING-EDGE TIPS TO TRAIN EVERY MAJOR PART (LEGS, GLUTES, BACK, ABS, CHEST, AND ARMS)-ALL FROM THE FINEST ATHLETES AND TRAINERS ON THE PLANET.
THE NEW (AND OLD!) WEIGHT-LOSS METHODS
There are many ways to lose weight these days. We spoke to four guys about the method they chose, and how it affected their lives.
WHERE HAS YOUR ATTENTION GONE?
If you're feeling distractedstay with me-there are fixes.
WHAT THERAPY TAUGHT ME
How talking to a psychotherapist helped the author and multi-hyphenate superstar understand his past and better navigate the future.
STREEEETCH YOURSELF IN 2024
Stressed about the state of the world and/or your sanity? We've got four tools to help you adapt and succeed over the coming year.