Fitness & physical performance | Veedma's evidence-based men's health articles

Henry Cavill weight training: The physiology behind the Man of Steel’s physique

Dr. Bruno Rodriguez, DPT, CSCS: Strength, Recovery, and Physical Therapy Expert

Dec 07, 2025 · 10 min read

Henry Cavill’s “superhero” build (reportedly ~190–210 lb on screen) is achieved by combining high‑mechanical‑tension lifting to stimulate hypertrophy with metabolic work (including fasted cardio) that increases lipid oxidation, allowing simultaneous muscle gain and fat loss (“recomposition”). Here’s how recovery, neuromuscular adaptation, and joint-protective programming make that body composition sustainable instead of short-lived “ego lifting.” “When ...

What do elliptical trainers do for your physique and longevity?

Dr. Bruno Rodriguez, DPT, CSCS: Strength, Recovery, and Physical Therapy Expert

Dec 07, 2025 · 13 min read

Elliptical trainers are more than a backup plan when every treadmill is taken. Here is what they actually do to your muscles, joints, heart, and hormones, and how men can use them for real results. “When guys ask me what do elliptical trainers do, they usually underestimate them. Used with real intent and proper form, ...

How many calories do you burn lifting weights, really?

Dr. Bruno Rodriguez, DPT, CSCS: Strength, Recovery, and Physical Therapy Expert

Dec 06, 2025 · 12 min read

Harvard’s exercise tables estimate that 30 minutes of weight training burns about 112 calories for a 155‑pound man and about 133 calories for a 185‑pound man (roughly 223–266 calories in 30 minutes if the lifting is vigorous). That’s less per minute than running, but the payoff is that consistent strength training helps preserve muscle and ...

Can low testosterone cause joint pain?

Dr. Susan Carter, MD: Endocrinologist & Longevity Expert

Dec 06, 2025 · 13 min read

Low testosterone can contribute to joint pain by increasing chronic inflammation and weakening the muscle, bone, and cartilage support that stabilizes joints, and studies have linked low levels to about double the risk of developing osteoarthritis. If aching knees or stiff shoulders come with fatigue, lower libido, or shrinking strength, it’s worth seeing how hormones ...

Lifting in Converse: The biomechanics, benefits, and risks of flat sole training

Dr. Bruno Rodriguez, DPT, CSCS: Strength, Recovery, and Physical Therapy Expert

Dec 04, 2025 · 10 min read

Converse-style zero-drop, incompressible flat soles can improve center-of-pressure stability and force transfer for deadlifts, but for squats they remove the 0.75–1 inch heel lift that aids ankle dorsiflexion—potentially increasing knee and lumbar torque when mobility is restricted. Here’s how to know when flat shoes are the right tool for your mechanics, and when a heeled ...