Walking occupies a strange space in the fitness world. It’s unquestionably good for you, but because it doesn’t leave you gasping for air or struggling to climb the stairs the next morning, it can be easy to dismiss as something less than a “real” workout. So, can all those daily steps actually build muscle? The answer is a qualified yes — particularly for beginners — and a few simple changes can make your regular walk considerably more challenging. Find out how here.
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Mindfulness
Psychology Might Explain Your Netflix Paralysis
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Spoiled For Choice: Netflix has been having a rough year. A look at its top shows found that audiences declined by 30% to 70% after their second seasons. Some of that comes down to cancellations and a shrinking content pipeline, of course. But part of it may also be connected to choice overload, which is what psychologists call the exhausting experience of facing an endless wall of options.
The Study: In 2000, researchers Sheena Iyengar and Mark Lepper set up a tasting booth at a grocery store. One day they displayed 24 flavors of jam. Another day, they displayed just six. More people stopped to sample the bigger selection, but customers who saw only six flavors were far more likely to make a purchase. The same pattern showed up when students were offered extra credit essay topics, where fewer options led to more completed assignments and better writing.
The Takeaway: Too many choices can make us freeze instead of act. So if you find yourself getting stuck scrolling quite often, pick two or three options ahead of time and choose between just those.
Keep in Mind: Choice isn’t always a bad thing. People with strong preferences or expertise often do fine with bigger selections.
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Nutrition
Why Pickle Juice Is Summer’s New Sports Drink
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The Trend: Pickle juice is the new sports drink. Once reserved for pickleback shots, the salty brine is now showing up in sports drinks, sparkling waters, cocktails, and aid stations at endurance races. The numbers suggest it’s more than a passing fad: The global pickle juice drinks market is projected to grow from $920 million in 2025 to over $2 billion by 2034, while analysts say Gen Z and Millennials are fueling demand for bold, sour flavors with a functional twist. In the UK, 56% of Gen Z and young Millennials say “challenging” flavors make drinks more exciting, compared with 36% of consumers overall.
What People Are Saying: Fans claim pickle juice helps prevent muscle cramps, replace electrolytes after sweaty workouts, and supports post-exercise recovery. Indeed, pickle juice is rich in sodium, so drinking it can help replenish what’s lost through sweat. Research also suggests its famous anti-cramp effect may come from triggering nerve receptors in the mouth. Some call pickle juice the “pumpkin spice of summer.”
What to Know: Pickle juice is extremely high in sodium, so if you’re watching your salt intake, it’s best to skip this beverage. It also contains very little potassium, so it may not be the best fit for everyone’s hydration needs.
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Fitness
Can Playing Video Games Burn Calories?
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You Should Know: Fair or not, playing video games doesn’t have the best reputation among non-gamers. Chief among them? Gaming often equals too much screen time and too much sedentary time. In 2021, however, an e-sports platform funded research that got quite a lot of media attention, particularly as gaming had increased during the COVID-19 lockdown. The study found that male gamers burned 420 calories in a two-hour gaming session (the equivalent of doing 1,000 sit-ups), but new research appears to have debunked this claim.
Going Deeper: Perhaps unsurprisingly, a recent systematic review of five studies on calorie expenditure while playing video games found that gaming does not actually burn many calories. The metabolic output is more along the lines of light physical activity — certainly not on par with running or cycling. Gamers’ heart rates did increase while playing, but researchers attributed that to a stress response to competitive play, not physical exertion.
Takeaway:Gaming can offer benefits for stress relief, emotional regulation, creativity, and cognitive growth, but burning calories isn’t one of them.
Bottom Line: If you want to play video games, play video games. If you want to burn calories, work out.
GABA Goes Beyond — This calming brain chemical may do more for your body than you think.
Social Agility — Find out why other people may be your best agility-training tool.
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What We're Cooking
The Best Egg Salad Sandwich
Courtesy: Serious Eats
Serves: 3-4 | Cook Time: 5 minutes
The secret to this egg salad is its texture: instead of chopping the eggs, they’re gently crushed by hand to create creamy yolks with larger, tender pieces of egg white throughout. Scallions, celery, fresh lemon juice, and lemon zest cut through the richness of the mayonnaise, adding brightness and a subtle crunch without overpowering the eggs. Ready in just five minutes, it’s a simple lunch that feels fresh, balanced, and satisfying on everything from sandwich bread to toasted rolls.
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Super Age x All Healthy
Learn the Science and Practice of Awe
Courtesy: Super Age
The Power of Awe is a self-paced mini course from Super Age taught by Dacher Keltner, PhD, professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center. Drawing on more than two decades of research, including studies of awe narratives collected across 30 countries, Keltner teaches awe as a trainable skill rather than a rare event. The course includes five short teachings, five guided practices, and lifetime access.
A daily walk doesn’t require complicated equipment, but the right shoes can make it more inviting. Skechers AERO shoes combine lightweight construction, responsive cushioning, and breathable uppers for walks, runs, and wherever your routine takes you.
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HEALTHY HABIT
Make One Thing Easier for Tomorrow
Before you end the day, do one tiny favor for tomorrow you: fill the coffee maker, pack a snack, set out workout clothes, prep lunch, or put your keys where they belong. The point is not to become a productivity machine. It’s to remove one dumb obstacle before it can annoy you.
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Final Thought
Self-care is never a selfish act — it is simply good stewardship of the only gift I have, the gift I was put on earth to offer others.”
