Men's Journal's Blog, page 89

Fitness Expert Reveals the One Thing He Wishes People Knew About Progressive Overload

Progressive overload has become a bit of a buzzword in the fitness world, and for good reason. At its core, it’s a simple training method that involves increasing the demands placed on your body gradually over time. These small tweaks push your body to adapt, leading to more strength, muscle, and endurance.

Related: This Popular Diet Habit Might Be Messing With More Than Just Your Gains, New Study Finds

What is Progressive Overload? 

"When it comes to lifting weights, a lot of people hear 'progressive overload' and they just think weight on the bar," Layne Norton, Ph.D., one of the world’s top experts in nutrition and fitness, said in an interview with Peter Attia, M.D. "And that is the [simplest] way to explain it."

To put it simply, Norton breaks down what progressive overload looks like for beginners. Let’s say you’re brand new to back squats and start with 95 pounds in week one. If you bump that up to 100 pounds in week two and 105 pounds in week three, that’s progressive overload in action. You're gradually challenging your body to do more—and that’s how you grow.

What to Do When Adding Weight Isn’t Working

But progressive overload doesn't just apply to novice lifters. While most people view the method as a way to increase weight, Norton emphasizes it can really refer to anything. 

"When I was at the University of Illinois, they were conducting a study on frail elderly, so people who basically couldn't really walk," he recalls. "And they just started progressively overloading them. And that looked like basically squatting to a really high chair to start. In 12 weeks, they actually had people who could squat down to a below-parallel chair and come back up." 

He says that when it comes to progressive overload, people should take a note from the powerlifters' playbook—nobody can progress the amount of weight they're lifting forever. If you're at that plateau, you could also add more repetitions or sets, add more hard sets, or shorten your rest periods between sets to keep the intensity high.

Tiger Woods Turns Heads With Rare Public Appearance

Tiger Woods' 2025 season ended before it began after he underwent surgery to repair a torn Achilles in March.

"As I began to ramp up my own training and practice at home, I felt a sharp pain in my left Achilles, which was deemed to be ruptured. This morning, Dr. Charlton Stucken of Hospital for Special Surgery in West Palm Beach, Florida performed a minimally-invasive Achilles tendon repair for a ruptured tendon," he said in a statement at the time.

Despite not being able to compete, Woods is still being spotted on the course. On Thursday, June 5 the 15-time major winner was on hand for Florida's 108th Amateur Championship in Palm Beach Gardens as his son, Charlie, teed it up.

Photos of Woods sitting in a cart while watching his son hit social media and caused quite a stir amongst his fans.

"Don't see a boot," one fan noted.

"Already out of the boot," added another.

"Tiger Woods is back on the course! He was out watching Charlie today at The Florida Amateur Championship today. The appearance is one of the first we’ve seen since he underwent surgery to repair his Achilles," TWLegion said on X - formerly Twitter.

🚨👀🐅 #TIGER SIGHTING — Tiger Woods is back on the course! He was out watching Charlie today at The Florida Amateur Championship today. The appearance is one of the first we’ve seen since he underwent surgery to repair his Achilles. Let’s go @NUCLRGOLF
(📸: Palm Beach Post) pic.twitter.com/I6Zfu44F09

— TWLEGION (@TWlegion) June 6, 2025

His son, a junior, was back out on the course for his second round at the BallenIsles Country Club East Course on June 6 where he'll enter the weekend tied for 31st place at 2-over for the tournament after firing an even-par, 70 on Friday.

He sits six shots back of the leader, Derek Busby.

Related: Vanessa Trump Shares Tiger Woods Announcement Before the Masters

Why Procter & Gamble Is Cutting 7,000 Jobs Despite Billions in Sales

Procter & Gamble plans to lay off 7,000 employees over the next two years, slashing about 15% of its non-manufacturing workforce as part of what it calls a push toward “digitization and automation.”

The announcement comes as P&G, maker of household staples like Tide detergent, Bounty paper towels, and Pampers diapers, faces a slowing global economy and what it describes as a "challenging environment." But to the average worker, it signals something else: even the biggest and most stable companies are shedding jobs in a rush to cut costs and streamline operations.

The layoffs won’t hit factory workers, but corporate and support staff are in the crosshairs. While P&G didn’t specify which regions or departments would be affected, the scale of the cuts is raising alarms, especially as more companies lean on AI, automation, and smaller teams to "boost productivity."

P&G said it’s aiming for an "even more agile, empowered and accountable" organizational structure, phrasing that may sound familiar to anyone who's been through a round of corporate downsizing. It also hinted at potential "brand divestitures" but declined to say which names might be on the chopping block.

Related: Disney Lays Off Hundreds as Streaming Wars Reshape Entertainment

This move comes on the heels of slumping sales. The company reported $19.8 billion in revenue last quarter, down 2% from the year before. While that’s still a massive haul, it wasn’t enough to prevent cuts. P&G’s next earnings call is scheduled for July 29, and more details are expected then.

It’s not just P&G. Across industries, job cuts are rising fast. In May alone, CBS News reports layoffs across the U.S. jumped 47% compared to last year, according to outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas. "Companies are spending less, slowing hiring and sending layoff notices, said the firm’s senior VP Andrew Challenger.

For workers, it’s another warning shot in a labor market increasingly shaped by automation, cost-cutting, and corporate buzzwords.

Related: Tech Professor Issues Stark Warning About the Future of Humanity

Wayfair Has a $1,326 Queen Mattress on Sale for Just $305, and Shoppers Love How It 'Contours to Your Body'

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Sleep is vitally important to your health, but if your sleep routine is constantly interrupted by lumps and saggy spots, maybe it’s time to rethink your mattress. Surprisingly, a great place to start looking is Wayfair. The retailer has great deals on some of its bestselling mattresses right now, including this 14-inch hybrid model that's nearly 80% off.

The Home 14-Inch Queen Soft Hybrid Mattress is on sale for just $305 at Wayfair, a whopping 77% discount compared to its full price of $1,326. An ideal balance of comfort and support, shoppers cannot help but gush about this mattress's performance, giving it over 150 five-star ratings while noting “it contours to your body,” and that their “body aches have diminished greatly.” Right now, it's available on sale in queen and king sizes, and comes with free shipping. 

Home 14-Inch Queen Soft Hybrid Mattress, $305 (was $1,326) at Wayfair

Courtesy of Wayfair

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Much thicker than your average mattress (8 to 10 inches), this 14-inch hybrid model features a combo of pocket coils and memory foam. It can accommodate both side and back sleepers, and even those who sleep on the edge of the bed, whether from significant others, pets, or by choice. The gel memory foam helps adapt and contour to your body, while remaining cool to the touch to help regulate your body heat. To top it off, it has low motion transfer, so if you are sleeping with a partner, it doesn’t affect the other individual.

“This is an awesome mattress,” said one shopper. “The top of it has some kind of cotton-feeling layer that is soft and gentle to the touch, thus giving you an expensive mattress feel. Coils give the mattress nice stiffness, and the top memory foam gives your back very good support. The mattress is not bouncy and gives you a nice and firm feeling when you sleep on it.”

Home 14-Inch King Soft Hybrid Mattress, $360 (was $1,562) at Wayfair The Home 14-Inch Queen Soft Hybrid Mattress.

Courtesy of Wayfair

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“The quality, so far, seems very good," another shopper said. "The expectations are spot on, and above expected so far. The edge support seems better than my last two mattresses—Leesa and Casper.”

The Home 14-Inch Soft Hybrid Mattress, in any size, is the perfect way to make sure your sleep is as good as it can get. With a price this low and other sizes already gone, it's likely to sell fast, so make sure you don’t wait and grab yours today.

Keanu Reeves Sets Off Engagement Talk With Girlfriend Alexandra Grant

John Wick star Keanu Reeves and his girlfriend Alexandra Grant set off engagement talk.

The buzz ignited because of the couple's red carpet appearance in Los Angeles.

A ring on Grant's finger got people talking.

According to People, Reeves, 60, showed up at the world premiere of the movie From the World of John Wick: Ballerina on June 3 holding hands with long-time girlfriend, Grant.

The couple posed for many pictures on the red carpet, and the photos from Getty Images show her with rings on both of her hands. People described Grant as an "accomplished visual artist."

According to Elle, Grant showed up to the premiere with "a noticeable diamond ring" on her left ring finger," sparking "speculation that the pair might have quietly gotten engaged."

It's not the first time that Grant has been spotted wearing a ring; she flashed one in April when she was photographed getting close with Reeves, Page Six reported.

Alexandra Grant, Keanu Reeves at Lionsgate's "Ballerina" Los Angeles special screening held at the TCL Chinese Theatre on June 03, 2025 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Variety via Getty Images)

Michael Buckner/Getty Images

Reeves gushed about Grant in an interview with Entertainment Tonight in 2024 during another red carpet appearance, so the couple has been going strong for some time.

"We got up and it was very exciting and just kind of nerve-wracking in the car, getting out. It's really special to be side by side," he told ET. He said of seeing Grant in her dress then, "The heart just opens."

Reeves and Grant met at a dinner party in 2009, but they weren't connected romantically for another 10 years, according to Page Six. According to Page Six, the couple were dating for "years" before the public figured it out.

Fans enjoyed the June 3 photos. "Love to see Keanu smiling :) and they seem so natural together. Well wishes :)," wrote one fan on X.

"They are so cute together. Glad to see Keanu has someone in his life. Special gal for a special guy," wrote another.

Related: Tom Cruise Stuns Fans With Jaw-Dropping Stunt Video

Luigi Mangione’s Chilling Diary Reveals Motive on CEO Killing

A red notebook could hold the motive behind one of the most jarring killings in corporate America.

ABC News reported that according to a new court filing, diary entries written by 27-year-old Luigi Mangione reveal his thinking before he allegedly gunned down UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan last December. Mangione, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, was arrested hours later at a McDonald’s in Pennsylvania.

The handwritten entries detail Mangione’s rage against the health insurance industry and his belief that a high-profile killing could ignite a broader conversation. “The target is insurance,” he wrote in August 2024. “It checks every box.”

The Manhattan District Attorney’s Office filed the notebook excerpts in response to Mangione’s legal team, which sought to pause or dismiss the case. Prosecutors argue that the writings—alongside the fact that shell casings at the scene were etched with the words “delay,” “deny” and “depose”—show clear intent to commit murder in furtherance of terrorism.

Mangione, a former Ivy League student from a privileged background, allegedly viewed the killing as a way to strike at what he saw as systemic greed. “Do you bomb the HQ? No. Bombs=terrorism,” he wrote. “Targeted, precise and doesn’t risk innocents.”

Prosecutors say the killing triggered a cascade of threats against health insurance employees, forcing UnitedHealthcare to pull executive headshots from its website, hire private security, and advise employees to stop wearing branded clothing.

Despite the violence, Mangione has become a cult-like figure to some online. A legal defense fund has raised more than $1 million, and many frustrated with rising health costs have voiced support.

The motive, authorities argue, wasn’t personal. It was symbolic. “He chose UHC solely because they were the largest,” the filing reads. The entry explains Mangione's motive in this high-profile, shocking case.

How to Watch the NBA Finals 2025: Online Livestream & TV

The NBA Finals have arrived.

How can you watch the NBA Finals on TV or via livestream? The games are airing on ABC.

They are also available online via Fubo. A free trial is available.

Game 1 arrived on Thursday, June 5, 2025.

"The NBA Finals are presented by YouTube TV and will air LIVE on ABC," ABC wrote.

"In what's sure to be another thrilling battle between two of the NBA's elite teams, you can watch every moment live on ABC.com. Just sign in, select your TV provider and WATCH! Go to the menu and select 'LIVE' to sign in, select your TV provider and WATCH!"

The 2025 NBA Finals "can also be accessed on ESPN Radio, ESPN Deportes, and the ESPN App," ABC wrote.

According to ABC, this is the full schedule for the NBA Finals:

Game 1 - Thursday, June 5

@ 8:30 ET/5:30 PT

Game 2 - Sunday, June 8

@ 8 ET/5 PT

Game 3 - Wednesday, June 11

@ 8:30 ET/5:30 PT

Game 4 - Friday, June 13

@ 8:30 ET/5:30 PT

Game 5 (if necessary) - Monday, June 16

@ 8:30 ET/5:30 PT

Game 6 (if necessary) - Thursday, June 19

@ 8:30 ET/5:30 PT

Game 7 (if necessary) - Sunday, June 22

@ 8 ET/5 PT

"The top-seeded Olahoma City Thunder advanced Saturday after taking down the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference Finals," ABC wrote. "In the East, the Indiana Pacers punched a ticket to the championship matchup by outpacing the New York Knicks in six games."

FAA Head Says Newark Airport Problems Should Be Fixed by October

The head of the Federal Aviation Administration has given a major update on the problems at Newark Airport.

That will likely interest travelers, who have dealt with delayed and cancelled flights since the issues emerged.

However, passengers shouldn't expect a quick fix at Newark Liberty International Airport. FAA's acting head, Chris Rocheleau, said the technology and staffing problems at the Newark airport won't be fixed until October.

“The (transportation) secretary has been very clear with me that we need to fix this, and we’re fixing this now,” Rocheleau said June 4 at a budget hearing before Congress. “The second piece to that is the staffing. I think by October, we will be very healthy in there at staffing levels that we need.”

According to CNN, the FAA previously caused controversy by moving responsibility for the Newark airport's air traffic control from New York to Philadelphia.

Rocheleau's comments came after there were "four air traffic control system outages in recent weeks, leaving pilots and controllers without communication at times," CNN reported, noting that there are concerns about "staffing shortages for controllers" and a runway's construction.

On June 2, the FAA announced that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey have "completed construction of Runway 4-Left/22-Right at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)."

On May 20, the FAA issued a temporary order limiting flight arrivals and departures at Newark.

“Our goal is to relieve the substantial inconvenience to the traveling public from excessive flight delays due to construction, staffing challenges, and recent equipment issues, which magnify as they spread through the National Airspace System,” said Rocheleau in a news release at that time.

Related: Southwest Airlines Announces 'Unprecedented' Change Amid Free Bag Outrage

Joe Rogan Unnerved When Guest Oz Pearlman Guesses His ATM PIN Code

Joe Rogan was visibly unnerved by a guest's surprise revelation.

Oz Pearlman is a "mentalist."

Mentalists are performing artists who use their "mental skills and intuitive abilities to interpret body language, behavior, and energy."

And Pearlman put this skill to the test on Rogan's June 4 show.

Pearlman asked Rogan to come up with a fake four-word ATM PIN code. Rogan chose the code 2020.

Pearlman used that answer to guess - correctly - Rogan's real ATM PIN code.

Pearlman's ability to do so visibly troubled Rogan.

"How'd I do, Joe? Is that your ATM PIN code?" Pearlman said, showing Rogan the numbers he wrote on an erase board but hid from the audience.

"Yeah," Rogan said, pausing for a long moment with a scowl on his face.

"That's weird," Rogan finally said.

Then he said, "I'm skeptical because I got that PIN code in the mail."

Pearlman joked that Rogan was going to call his bank and ask if "this guy has been playing the long game.

"Yeah, I don't like that," Rogan said.

Pearlman's website says, "Oz’s unique blend of mentalism and mind-reading create an interactive experience that is redefining the very nature of a magic show…one that truly needs to be seen to be believed."

First, Pearlman asked Rogan whether his wife knows his Social Security number. He said no.

Pearlman then decided to pick something else since you can't change your Social Security number.

He switched to ATM PIN codes. Rogan said his wife wouldn't know the PIN code.

"Lie to me. Don't tell me your real ATM PIN code unless you want to. Make up a fake four-digit number off the top of your head. What feels to you utterly spontaneous," Pearlman told Rogan.

Rogan then came up with 2020.

Crazy.

A “mentalist” is able to correctly guess Joe Rogans PIN code and he’s rattled pic.twitter.com/c2Udof0CNv

— Dudes Posting Their W’s (@DudespostingWs) June 5, 2025

Pearlman then used that number to guess Rogan's real PIN code.

"Statistically men will lie bigger, women smaller. Women like to lie by saying things are bigger," Pearlman said.

Pearlman said that he assumed Rogan would use two numbers in repeat because he had done so with the fake code. He assumed that he did not use any of the real numbers in the fake code.

Related: Tom Cruise's Latest 'Mission Impossible' Stunt Has Fans in Disbelief

Christian Bale Looks Totally Unrecognizable in New NFL Biopic

Christian Bale has made a career out of disappearing into roles, but his latest transformation may be one of his most dramatic yet. The Oscar-winning actor was recently spotted on the Atlanta set of "Madden," a biopic about legendary NFL coach and commentator John Madden. He’s nearly unrecognizable as late Raiders owner Al Davis.

People reported that photos from the set show Bale, 51, in full character, wearing a receding hairline wig, bleached eyebrows, leather jacket, black slacks and several championship rings. The era-specific look is a bold and uncanny match for the larger-than-life NFL figure he’s portraying.

The biopic, directed by David O. Russell, reunites Bale with the filmmaker behind "The Fighter" and "American Hustle." The story follows Madden’s rise from Super Bowl-winning coach to beloved broadcaster and namesake of the blockbuster football video game franchise. Nicolas Cage stars as Madden, sporting his own transformation with a wavy blond wig and bright blue tracksuit.

Bale’s role as Davis is central to the story. Davis was the principal owner of the Raiders from 1972 until his death in 2011 and helped shape the team’s famously aggressive identity. He and Madden worked together during the team’s most successful stretch, including their victory in Super Bowl XI in 1977.

Your first-look at Nicolas Cage as John Madden and Christian Bale as Al Davis on set of the upcoming film, Madden. Production is currently underway. 

The film follows Madden’s remarkable journey—from his Super Bowl-winning partnership with Al Davis and the Raiders, to creating… pic.twitter.com/jmmF4uy8LR

— Amazon MGM Studios (@AmazonMGMStudio) May 14, 2025

Amazon MGM Studios describes the film as a tribute to Madden’s “remarkable journey,” chronicling his coaching legacy, cultural influence and longtime partnership with Davis. Also joining the cast are John Mulaney as Trip Hawkins, Kathryn Hahn as Virginia Madden and Sienna Miller as Carol Davis.

Madden coached the Raiders from 1969 to 1978 and went on to become one of the most recognizable voices in football. He won 16 Sports Emmy Awards, helped launch the Madden NFL video game series and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2006. He died in 2021 at age 85.

Amazon MGM Studios has not announced a release date for "Madden."

Related: ESPN’s Jay Harris Just Gave Men a Wake-Up Call They Can’t Ignore