Men have been getting designs inked into their skin since time immemorial. In prison, tattoos denote toughness, while sailors use them to size each other up. The Maoris consider face tattoos the ultimate badge of honor, while gang members use them to denote fallen comrades. 

You probably just want one because it looks cool. You're right, but there's plenty that can go wrong. Here's what you need to know before you get your first tattoo. 

DON’T GO HIGH--OR WISH YOUR TATTOO GOOD-BYE

Possibly one of the most common mistakes people make while getting a tattoo is to be absolutely shit-faced or otherwise impaired when making the decision to get one. You may be tempted to hit to bottle to dull the pain, but consider the fact that you may just end up with a ridiculous design. So it's simple: go sober, or go home. 

HYGIENE, BECAUSE IT’S CLEAN!

Abhinandan Basu, freelance tattoo artist, says that if the artist does not even bother to clean out the area and swab it dry with spirit, the  chances of developing rashes, boils etc. increase. However, that's hardly the worst outcome possible. An unsanitary parlor that does not properly sterilize its equipment can risk passing on HIV or hepatitis to its customers. So do your research and make sure that the parlor and artist you choose are above board. 

PLAN THE DESIGN--IT’S WORTH YOUR TIME
 

“Your tattoo design needs to relate to who you are as a person. No one else should play a factor in a decision as important as this. People need to understand the gravity of the words ‘for life’,” states Nick, of Nick’s tattoo studio. Think about it and don’t leave the basic outline of what you want up to anyone but yourself. Of course, once you’ve narrowed it down to one concept, spend as much time developing the idea with your tattoo artist. The more involved you are in your own project the better. After all, your body is the canvas for this work of art.

TEST YOUR SKIN – FOR THE WIN

It’s possible to get special tattoo paper that can temporarily print your idea of choice onto your skin. Think of it as a test drive. After all, if you can't put up with the design for a few days, how are you going to handle it for life?

LOOK WITHIN
 

A tattoo is a commitment. As you'll see below, care is important, and things can go seriously pear shaped if you're not diligent about following instructions. You'll also need to consider the ramifications--is the design something that will age well? Some companies have a no-visible-tattoo policy, so make sure you're getting it in a place that can be covered up if need be. Also consider the fact that what you're doing to your body is permanent--laser removal is expensive and extremely painful. Once you're sure, pull the trigger and embrace the ink!

Here's a montage of some brilliant tattoo designs for you to draw inspiration from:

CARING FOR YOUR INK
 

Now that you're all inked up, it's time to make sure that the wound heals properly. Here's the definitive guide to tattoo care from Abhinandan Basu, freelance tattoo artist extraordinaire.

-The reason your tattoo artist wrapped up your fresh wound is so that airborne bacteria and dust particles stay as far away as possible. Keep this bandage intact, because failing to do so will mean a nasty infection.

-You're going to have to keep your tattoo away from the sun for at least 2 weeks after you get it. We know you're eager to show it off at the beach, but hold your horses. 

-Most tattoo artists will advise you to avoid soaking your fresh tattoo in water for at least a week. For best results, Abhinandan suggests you wait a month; showering, however, is okay. 

-Even though you need to avoid contact with water, you do need to moisturize the spot of the tattoo with vaseline or other oil-based creams. 

-Excessive scabbing indicates done tattoo, but a certain amount of scabbing is to be expected. Avoid picking at or scratching the scab; instead, apply a warm compress to relieve the itching. 

All this may seem like a lot of work, but it's advice compiled over years of experience--all designed to keep the ink fresh looking and reduce the risk of infection to a bare minimum. Follow these rules, and you really can't go wrong with your tattoo experience. 

If you've always wondered what the actual process is like, here's a close up look--from start to finish: 

-Pictures © Thinkstock-

So you’re on the edge of your seat, nails in your mouth, fingers and toes crossed and what not. We need 10 runs from 4 balls against Pakistan and there’s pin-drop silence all over the city and probably the nation. Just then you hear a shrill “ Honey, can we go get something to eat now?!” Akhtar bowls, Yuvraj misses and we lose a ball. Is it possible that even the cricketers got distracted by that terribly timed request from your partner? 

We can hear the collective nodding. And a solution is probably not as far off as you think. If only you could get her to sit still and maybe just maybe, even get her to enjoy the cricket. Well, at least you can try but be ready for a fight. She’s not going down that easy!

Here’re our top 5 methods to get your woman interested in the sport that has 3 billion fans, most of which are probably not women.

GOSSIP-MONGERING

It is common knowledge that nothing fixates women more than a juicy bit of gossip. Next time you find her fidgeting with her nails or getting restless watching Shane Warne ready himself for the next ball try a simple “ Darling did you know that Shane Warne and Liz Hurley had an affair?” or “you won’t believe who Zaheer is dating now!” 

This should spark some interest in the game and hopefully she’ll focus on trying to spot the women you mentioned in the stands, earning you some peaceful respite. 

A word of caution: conversations have a way of veering entirely off topic with women. Make sure it doesn’t go into a “Would you ever cheat on me?” played off Shane Warne’s infidelity!

COMPROMISE WITH COMPARISONS

If you’re lucky enough, she’s agreed to sit down with you and watch the game, maybe even try to understand it a bit more. Keep things interesting. If she hasn’t quite figured out a no ball yet compare it to something she does understand. Like fashion or exercise or even a sport she’s actually interested in!

BARGAINED BRIBES

When in doubt, strike a deal. They say a relationship is all about compromise so what are you waiting for? Promise her a romantic evening in that wonderful new restaurant if she watches the entire match with you. Or at the very least, gives you moral support when you and your team most need it. Don’t forget to compliment her by telling her how lucky she is for your team.

THE NAKED APPEAL

When all else fails write to the BCCI. Or even the cricketers themselves. Make an appeal. Ask them to follow the footballers’ guide to sexy and take off their shirts any chance they can! Sure, it won’t really work for you but it’ll have your woman glued to the television like never before. Why else do you think women watch football anyway?!

CUTE CHARTS

Keep the interest flowing with conversation that is bound to interest her. Ask her to rate cricketers on their level of sex appeal, cuteness etc. Ask her to make a list and then discuss it with her during drinks and innings break. 

That’s it, good soldier--you’re on your own from now on. Just do your research, follow our advice, and cricket-watching with your significant other should be a far more enjoyable experience from now on. 

-Thumbnail and Picture © Thinkstock-

Cognac is one of those drinks that can be quite intimidating. That's because its expensive, French, and is usually placed at the very top of the bottle displays at bars. There's a good reason for that--it really is the king of all liquors. Here's all you need to know on how to appreciate cognac.

HOW TO APPRECIATE COGNAC: GET THE RIGHT HOOCH

There's no real way to do this on the cheap. There are basically three grades of cognac: VS, or Very Special, is essentially high-end brandy, and a bottle of this retails for about Rs. 1300. VSOP, or Very Special Old Pale, is the first grade of cognac, and is particularly recommended if you've never tried cognac before. This will run you about Rs. 1800. XO, or Extra Old, is the really good stuff, and costs about Rs. 5000.

HOW TO APPRECIATE COGNAC: DON'T BENCH THE FRENCH

For something to be officially certified as cognac, it needs to be from the Champagne region of France. Only these producers are allowed to call their stuff "fine Champagne cognac," and that's what you should be drinking. Some of the more popular brands are:

-Remy Martin

-Hennessey

-Martell

-Courvoisier

-Camus

HOW TO APPRECIATE COGNAC: EQUIP YOURSELF

You can experiment with mixing later, but your first taste of cognac should be neat. For this, you'll need a snifter (pictured above). Pour a measure of VSOP or XO in, swirl it around and check out the golden-brown colours. Let your palm warm the glass, as this will release a bouquet of aromas for you to savor. Then drink up.

It's too hot in India to drink the stuff neat, so you can then dilute it with water or ice. Cola is also a common mixer, but only for VSOP--the XO is too good to mess with. 

HOW TO APPRECIATE COGNAC: MIX IT UP

There are a bunch of cognac cocktails out there you can fool around with. The most popular of these is a sidecar.

Sidecar: .75 ounces Cointreau + .75 ounces lemon juice + 1.5 ounces of cognac. Shake well with ice and serve in a cocktail glass. 

There are many other variants out there, so get a bottle and experiment away.

HOW TO APPRECIATE COGNAC: KNOW YOUR STUFF

Cognac has a long and storied reputation. Now that you're a true cognac connoisseur, you'll appreciate the fact that the fiery liquid makes you feel extremely warm. As a result, it's consumed by those in cold climates, and is even the stuff that the St Bernard rescue dogs carry around their necks in the alps to warm up stranded climbers and explorers.

Cognac is also good for a sore throat. Mixed with honey and warm water, it's a great elixir for a hoarse voice or throat itch. 

Cognac consumption was limited to the upper classes, until American rappers embraced it as their drink of choice. Videos like the one below served as extremely effective advertising, and sales soared. It's also the drink of choice for dictators--Kim Jong Il of North Korea reportedly buys the stuff by the crate.

So turn up the volume, break out that cognac, and taste the good life:

.

For more on the history of cognac and the process by which it's made, click here

Picture © Thinkstock/Getty Images

You've all seen them; late at night, you hear the roar in the distance, followed by a symphony of tyre squeals as pedestrians and other traffic compensate for their boneheadedness. Four, five, no, six young wannabes on bikes zip past, living some sort of deranged Hell's Angels fantasy.

You've just seen a pack of crotch-rocket riding morons. How did they get there, you ask? Well, it started off innocently enough. They saw a Dhoni motorcycle ad on TV or heard about John Abraham's recent Hayabusa purchase, bought a bike, and it was all downhill from there. Get ready to piss off a lot of people as we get you in on all you need to know to be a crotch rocket rider.

THE BASICS 

You need a bike, of course. Not just any bike. And definitely not a reasonably-powered, well-designed get-me-from-A-to-B bike. You need the loudest, most overpowered piece of engineering there is. And the blingier the better. The dream for any crotch rocket rider is a Suzuki Hayabusa or a Kawasaki Ninja. But those require serious cash, so they're likely to settle for the next best thing. 

TRICK IT OUT

Silencers are evil, and are meant to be ripped out and cast away. Anything that makes your bike louder is better. Ditto for anything that draws more attention to it--decals, LEDs, the mind boggles at the possibilities. If it gives you a headache, you want it on there. 

STYLE UPGRADE

Now that your bike is sorted, you need to focus on yourself. A helmet and motorcycle jacket are the norm, but the design is where you get to really express yourself. A skull lets you know the world you mean business, while a naked woman helps compensate for the lack thereof in your life. A visit to the barbershop is also on the cards, if only to get the latest Dhoni/Abraham haircut. Some piercings will help enhance your stature as a tough guy, and tattoos will show your crew that you're the real deal. 

FIND A PACK

No true crotch-rocket rider ever rides alone. You'll have to find a bunch of like-minded fellows. Remember, a big part of the lifestyle is hanging out and comparing sizes. Of bikes and such. Each pack has a leader, who's usually a goon of some short. If he's flunked out of college, bonus points. 

RIDE STRONG AND LOUD

Now that you're ready, it's time to announce your arrival. Ride past hospitals, nursing homes and residential neighborhoods without a care--you're above the law, aren't you? Harassing single women is part of the initiation process, and every family you leave un-terrorized is a missed opportunity. Come on, you guys are the kings of the road--it's time to lay claim to the kingdom!

Seriously though, crotch-rocket riders are the bane of our existence, and we'd love for a pack to run right into a likeminded cop or two and get a taste of some lathi justice. If a friend displays any of the above signs, run--because he's about to turn into a crotch rocket rider!

Well, here's an excuse to get out of viewing yet another 'Rom-com' with the wife/girlfriend, if ever there was one. When she asks you why you won't let her rent the 'Just Go With it'  DVD, just send her a link to this post. And if she doesn't relent, I feel for you, I really do. What's a guy to do? Get drunk. Really drunk. 

Yup, the movie's that bad. It's not that it's the worst movie of all time--it's just that with the cast it has, and the budget it had access to, you'd expect much, much better. You would think the combination of Adam Sandler (since he actually is quite the comedian) and Jennifer Aniston (since she has played this character enough times for her to be called seriously boring) peppered with cameos from Nicole Kidman and Minka Kelly would be unbeatable in the land of lovable comic capers. Think again. 

I'm not sure what's worse--Aniston's seen-it-a-hundred-times-before role, or the plot, which is ludicrous, and even that's putting it kindly. The set up is trite--Sandler is a successful plastic surgeon who has to pretend that Aniston is his wife so that…you know what, I can't even be bothered to tell you what the plot is. Yup, the execution is that horrible. 

From the usual terribly stereotypical jokes (read: racial, sexual and penis humor) that aren't even funny, the film is rife with a crudeness that is unique only to bad direction and worse writing.

Don't believe us? See what this selection of heavyweight critics had to say about the film:

"An early contender for worst movie of the year. If they were showing this on an airplane, I'd ask for a parachute." - Richard Roeper

"Sandler should know better." - Stephen Whitty

""The experience of sitting through Just Go With It, Adam Sandler's umpteenth comedy directed by good buddy Dennis Dugan, is akin to watching a bad sit-com that never ends." - James Bernadinelli

"Sandler has mellowed into an appealing garlicky, old-school mensch, and Aniston, as a self-sacrificingly practical woman in a race against time, is a genre unto herself." - Richard Brody

"Danny and co.'s elaborate ruse, and the movie's impersonation of a comedy, continues with bad fake accents (Cockney, German), more schtick and a dash of homophobia. But there's still room for sexism!"- Brian Gibson

Our concluding advice? Think of yourself as an activist for the revival of decent cinema. If you actually contribute to the earnings of this movie, you'd be encouraging a whole spate of even worse cinema. So please - Just don't go with it!

We're always scouring the web to bring you the best articles and information out there for guys. This piece on the Huffington Post caught our eye because knowing what not to do when eating at a fancy restaurant is applicable to the Indian fine dining scene as well.

Dining out is getting fancier and pricier, and there's no reason you can't expect the best when you're splurging on a meal. Knowing what to and what not to do when eating at a fancy restaurant will improve your general dining out experience as well.

-Don't accept a table you don't like
 

-Food is getting more and more complcated, so don't be afraid to ask questions
 

-Don't salt your food before tasting it
 

-Rather than ask the chef to leave off an ingredient because you don't like it or are allergic, order something else instead
 

-Don't stay mum when something's wrong
 

For more on why you shouldn't do the above, and more tips, read more here.

Growing up in a generation that idolized Dharmendra, Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjay Dutt and Sunny Deol, worshipping physical strength comes naturally to us. As kids we fantasized about becoming S-T-R-O-N-G! This childhood dream instilled in us a macho desire to be the protectors of our tribe.

What they told us

But later in our lives, we were told that brawn is no match for the brain, and we were preached the famous ‘pen is mightier than the sword’ adage. We were brainwashed into believing that we must be sensitive, and that being sensitive and manly were not compatible. You know what? That is complete BS! Men can have feelings and can still be manly.

When someone says something negative about you, you can and should defend yourself instead of crying about it alone at night. Instead, we are taught to be “politically correct” all the time, when we could simply get rid of a lot of problems in our lives by speaking our minds and letting the other person know that we are not pushovers.

Ladies’ man

Every straight, red-blooded male wants a hot female/s in his life. Unfortunately, today many men try to impress women by trying to look good and by dressing well; in other words, by becoming metrosexuals.

I have nothing against metrosexuals. But, if you really want to impress a woman then have the guts to ask her out, instead of trying to dress up and hope that she will come running after you. Women still love men with powerful personalities, who can ask them out, rather than someone who spends hours trying to pick the right.

Muscle talk

Moving onto the fitness world, as an instructor I hate men who are the typical “I don’t do weights, I only do cardio” crowd! It’s hard for me to hide my disgust, and very often I don’t. Especially, when I see men who are into aerobics and dancing, and avoid strength training because it’s “too barbaric” and “primitive”.

I am not implying that men should be selfish, rude and uncaring. Yes, men are supposed to care for their family and friends, but they should also not be wimps and definitely should not be vulnerable to insults.

Getting testy

Testosterone is the hormone that is known to make us manly and bring about an urge to dominate and be the best that we can. The benefits of having high testosterone levels are:

• Better sexual health
• Reduced chances of having a heart attack
• Better bone health
• Greater stamina and strength
• Better mood

It helps in being more productive, and competitive. Compared to that a guy with low testosterone will often be a pushover with many health complications like being fat, weak, having poor sexual health, fatigued, depressed, etc. So what do you want to be?

It is clear that being manly and taking charge of your life equals great health. Hence, your blood work is going to be great, and so is your mood. And more success you get in life the better it gets, as your T levels also rise.

To improve your manliness and overall health, keep these points in mind –

Living and psychologically

• Take charge of your life and the responsibilities that come with it.
• Don’t become a pushover. Often times standing up to a challenge brings about a lot of pleasant changes rather than being a doormat.
• Be competitive and goal oriented in your life. You don’t necessarily have to compete with someone else; you can often be your own biggest competition.
• Have (safe) sex more often.
• Reduce stress, and get rid of the unnecessary junk in your life. Try meditation.
• Get 7-9 hours of sleep every night.
• Avoid smoking.
• Keep body fat in control. The fatter you are, the greater the estrogen dominance in your body.

Nutrition

• Don’t restrict your food intake a lot for too long. Eat enough high quality food to get the required nutrition in your body.
• Keep your fat intake around 25-30 % in your daily food intake. Whole eggs, red meat, coconut oil, nuts, dairy are all good for you in limited quantities.
• Include cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, etc in your diet.
• Avoid processed foods and most simple sugars.
• Limit your consumption of alcohol and soy products.

Training

• Keep your training short and intense. Marathons are not great for your T levels.
• Engage in intense weight training and lift heavy weights that do not allow more than 10 reps.
• Stick to heavy compound movements like rows, pull ups, squats, clean and press, dead lifts, etc.
• Avoid overtraining.
• Focus on getting stronger.

Remember that our modern lifestyle makes it easier for us to be estrogen-dominated men with poor health. Never let things like andropause or hormone replacement therapy become part of your life. Take charge of your life and make things happen rather than blame others for your misfortune. After all it is what real men do!

ANGELINA JOLIE:

She's the only real 'Hollywooder' on our list. And that's because she's got like 20 of 'em kids, not all her own either. This mommy sacrificed and worked terribly hard to adopt 3 children (to whom it made a tremendous difference in their quality of life, we might add). To top it all off she raises them with superstar husband Brad Pitt and has 3 of her own to add to never-ending lis--twins and a baby Shiloh. She pretty much forced us to coin the word 'rainbow family' and just to add a little depth she's got a seriously sexy tattoo on her arm which comprises of the co-ordinates of all her  childrens' places of birth, respectively. The famous brood seems to have had Jolie do an about turn from a drug-fuelled, i'll-try-anything-once-mentality to a loving nurturing family woman. She was recently quoted saying, "I'm lucky to have so many children who can keep me very, very grounded." Just another feather to her many-feathered cap we say.

JACQUELINE KENNEDY ONASSIS:

Ah, the lone matriarchal figure behind the Kennedy political family. This list would be severely undernourished without her presence, not to mention her kids. She conducted life first as a political wife and then a political mother with immense grace and support through very trying times indeed. She was well known for her unwavering devotion towards her children and managed to leave a distinct mark on American politics and the White House just by being so.

INDIRA GANDHI:

This famous Indian Prime Minister was the picture of power, grace and strong lineage. Her being the daughter of Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first prime minister, set her up for a life of political involvement and intrigue. She was also rather infamous. What with her declarations of an emergency state, a ploy she used to sterilize half the male population of India in the 70s (her attempt to control the out-of-control population), she received a well-deserved reputation for being a real Iron Lady. Despite all these flaws, she was a strong and visible influence on her son Rajiv Gandhi's life, graciously accepted a foreigner (Sonia Gandhi) for a daughter-in-law all the while running a country with an iron fist. For all this and more, she finds an easy spot on this list.

MOTHER TERESA:

So scientifically speaking, she never gave birth to her own children. But that's only because she was a nun and it's not to say she didn't cherish and love millions of ailing and unwanted people in ways even a real mother might be unable to do. In fact, she funded the Missionaries of Charity and focussed her life on serving the dying and suffering. She loved unconditionally and truly, so much so that she became one of the only women to be beatified by Pope John Paul 2 in 2003.

A famous Mother Teresa Quote: "We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty." - only a real mother, could have spoken with such wisdom.

MOTHER NATURE:

Meet the Big momma. The mother of all mothers. The creator of all things. You get the drift. You may also argue that it's unfair to include something that's not really a person but you might as well concur right here because we can argue it back. Sure she can be a bit temperamental, what with her earthquakes and floods and massive destruction, but her soft side is softer and more beautiful than any other mother's we've ever witnessed. And that puts her right up there on our list.

Prepare to have your jaw drop in wonder, your nose scrunch up in disgust, your stomach turn at the horror and your lips curve up in a smile for the truly miraculous. We bring to you the freakiest 'mother' records ever.

MOST KIDS EVER:
Brace yourself. A Mrs. Vassilyev of Russia is said to have given birth to a whopping 69 children between 1725 and 1765. She is said to have managed this insane feat from just (not to trivialize it) 27 pregnancies. 16 sets of twins, 7 sets of triplets and 4 quadruplets. Whew! We wonder whether she even felt it the last 30 times! And why didn't anyone take a picture of this wonder womb?!

YOUNGEST MOTHER EVER:
Sick, twisted behaviour and incest make regular appearances in this story. Lina Medina gave birth in 1939, when she was only 5 years old. A lump in her abdomen became a growing cause for concern and when examined, it was found that she was pregnant. Her father was immediately arrested for incest and Lina, it seems, had been getting her period since she was 3, which, in case you don't know, it freakishly early. 

OLDEST MOTHER EVER:
Rosanna Dalla Corte, of Italy, gave birth to a baby boy when she was 63 years old, in 1994. Bet that boy didn't know his grandparents thats for sure!

HEAVIEST NEWBORN:
Italians must be eating right because Signora Carmelina Fedele gave birth to a 22 lb 8 oz boy in Italy, in 1955. Guess too much pasta and pizza will do that to your baby!

TINIEST NEWBORN EVER:
Rumaisa Shaik, born in 2004, weighed only 8.6 ounces when born. Yes, she survived!

ONLY MALE MOTHER EVER:
We've all heard this one. Man (Thomas Beatie) gets sex change operation but retains all his feminine parts because his wife can't have children. At 34 he actually managed to do the impossible and give birth. Wow!

OLDEST 12 YEAR OLDS EVER: 
In May 2003, twins were born from 12-year old preserved embryos.  It’s reported to be the longest human cryopreservation. The boy and girl born weighed five pounds each. 

NATIVE AMERICA: 

Women belonging to their tribes are honoured (and have always been) with the name, "Life of the Nation," signifying their gift of motherhood to the tribes. Or their gift of life.

CHINA:

You may be surprised to find them featured on this list, given a pretty deep lack of empowerment of their women at so many levels but their family names often begin with a sign that means 'mother.' It is their own way of paying tribute to their mother's lineage.

CHRISTIANITY:
Eve is referred to as "The mother of all the Living" in the Bible.

HINDUISM:
Hindus deeply worship Kali Ma, whom they refer to as the Great Mother. The credit her with many inventions, ranging from writing using alphabets to pictographs and beautiful sacred images. She is one of the most powerful deities in the whole religion and she is a mother, albeit a rather violent and terrifying one.

ANCIENT GREECE:
Post celebrating mother's day in the spring they would wake up early to sweet honey-cakes, fine drinks and flowers at dawn. Perhaps the breakfast in bed tradition of mother's day arose here?

BUDDHISM:
In Buddha's own words - " As a mother, even at the risk of her own life, loves and protects her child, so let  a man cultivate love without measure to the whole world." He honoured birthing women everywhere with this simple statement.

Well there you have it. A large majority of the worlds religions and cultures have been impacted by the mother. Now go honour yours!

Troops by Kevin Rubio



Hardware Wars by Ernie Fosselius



Star Wars Gangsta Rap by Bent Frame


 

Who are they?

Seal Team 6 is one of the United States' two secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units (SMUs); the other such group is the Delta Force.

Here's what they look like:

 

What's their training like?

These operatives are first and foremost Navy Seals. "S.E.A.L" stands for SEa, Air, and Land, reflecting the fact that these baddasses can operate anywhere and anytime. Here's some of the rigorous training they go through: 

What was the Bin Laden raid like?

The mission to kill or capture Bin Laden was a highly dangerous one. The risks ranged from detection by Pakistani authorities and being mistaken for an Indian commando raid, incorrect intelligence, being taken hostage by Bin Laden's guards, suicide bombers, and several other intangibles. In the end, it all went like clockwork; the SEALs weren't even fazed when one of their helicopters was rendered inoperational. How did they respond? In true badass style, they blew it up. This was probably because the chopper was a top-secret stealth model that evaded detection by the Pakistani authorities because of its tiny radar signature and transponder spoofing technology. Here's more on the actual raid: 

"Lose 50 pounds of flab in 10 weeks!"

"Lose 6 inches of your waist in 6 weeks!"

"Gain up to 10 pounds of lean muscle in 8 weeks!"

"Add 2 inches to your arms!"

No, I am not endorsing any supplement as you might suspect. I am just trying to give you an idea of the type of catch-lines that are used by people to sell their products and services. Some of the ads do deliver what they promise, whereas the rest just promise. The important thing to note is that in most of the health and fitness advertisements you will notice there is very little that is said in terms of strength gain. Sure, there are some advertisements that claim to improve strength, but most talk about some sort of change in terms of physical measurements.

Why I am I talking about strength? If you want a simple answer then let me just tell you that being strong could probably be the most important factor in helping you achieve most of your physical goals. It is also very vital for being healthy. A body that is weak in appearance is never attractive and neither is it healthy. Ever found an old man or woman with a weak and crouching body sexy? That’s exactly my point! Of course, lets not forget the potential of getting injured. A weak body is far more likely to get injured than a strong body simply because a strong body can withstand physical punishment much better.

Before I proceed, I must remind you that strength is not something you can have simply by wishing for it. It is something that you work for and achieve. Even if you are very strong do not take it for granted that you will be so forever. Work hard to build or maintain your strength, it is not something to be avoided in your training program. I do however realize that most of you out there will not be motivated to train solely for strength. Unless strength training helps fulfill some other purpose you will not want to focus a lot on it. Well keeping that in mind let me discuss some of the cases where you MUST focus on getting stronger to achieve your goals.

Fat loss - You must think, I’m mad! Isn’t it better to do circuits and high reps for fat loss? Training for strength while trying to get lean makes no sense, right? Well let me share with you a little history. A few decades ago, aerobics for fat loss was THE way to go according to most experts. Thus, everyone wanting to lose fat hopped onto cycles, treadmills, and steppers in hopes of losing fat. These equipments got them some results, but in most cases it did not provide major results. Most trainees lost about 5-10 pounds or so and then hit a plateau (I guess at this point some of you might be feeling that it is exactly what happened to you too).

In the last few years a lot of trainers have developed a very successful business with small studios where there are no or just 1-2 cardio equipments. Yet they mostly specialize in fat loss! So what do they use? They use strength training in various forms like traditional weights, body weight, kettlebells. etc. Does that sound like a new fitness studio that's just opened in your neighbourhood? Well it just might be, cause such training centres often deliver great results for fat loss clients. To help you understand why let me tell you that strength training is vital in raising your total metabolism, including resting metabolism. Yes you actually burn more calories even when you are resting after strength training, this helps you get much leaner than doing only aerobics.

Now you might have been doing what you perceive as strength training using 2 kilo dumbbells and just the empty bar till now; and you must be failing to get any results. This is because the weight that you are using is too insignificant for your body to feel the need for losing fat. Its only when you progressively lift heavier weights that you will start to see the fat melt. Now, before you start freaking out let me assure you that I am not talking about lifting weights like an Olympic weight lifter. I am simply referring to lifting the heaviest weights possible. Circuits and super sets are great for fat loss, but only when there is a significant weight involved. Thus, you must build strength to ensure that you can lift respectable weights during your circuits. Simply lifting 1-2 kilo dumbbells will not help.

Mass gain - I agree that most people trying to gain mass do try to increase their strength. However, there are some that are so focused on the "pump", they take each muscle group to absolute failure, and hit it from all possible angles. Such people ignore trying to get stronger on basic lifts. Look at the bench press, squat, and dead lift numbers of all great big bodybuilders and you will notice that they all lift real heavy weights to build their bodies. Obviously there is no way that you will lift weights near their capacity, unless you are strong. Thus even if pure size is your goal, strength development must not be ignored.

Athletes - Athletes need to fast, flexible and agile. Muscular endurance is more important than sheer muscular strength. I am sure that you must have heard athletic coaches say this often. My question to you is this, if you feel that muscular endurance is the most vital factor then what are you trying to endure - low levels of strength? I hope not! Without adequate strength, muscular endurance is worthless. Imagine if you could kick a football 500 times a day, but could not kick it far then will all that endurance help? Thus, even if you are an athlete you must ensure that you have adequate levels of strength before trying to think of muscular/strength endurance.

General fitness - Some of you might not require any fat loss/muscle gain and certainly aren’t athletes. So, you want to train for general fitness and want to ensure that you never have any chronic disease like diabetes, hypertension, etc. A lot of popular media channels might have told you how walking 3-6 times a week for 30 minutes is enough for general fitness levels. If you have been brainwashed into believing so, let me awake you to the reality and tell you that simply walking is NOT enough to be the healthiest that you can be. Strength training is equally, if not more, important to prevent chronic diseases. What is the image that you have of old age in your mind? I am sure that it must be someone weak who needs a walking stick and crouches. Maybe even needs others to help them get up from bed. What do you think is lacking in this picture. Obviously physical strength! One of the best ways to fight old age is strength training.

What about chronic diseases? Strength training helps in fighting them too. For example, regular weight training has shown to help the body better absorb glucose, which means it is required for diabetics. Strength training is the best way to exercise to prevent Osteoporosis. Even for hypertension strength training has been found to be beneficial. Thus, it is obvious that for those seeking general levels of fitness, strength training is essential.

So, whatever physical goals you may have ensure that you focus on strength development too. If you fail to do so, you will never achieve your goals fully.

Always remember that fitness is fun... and its for everyone!