Pre-Order Your Copy of the 2025 Men's Journal Fitness Special Now!
I am diametrically opposed to the “New Year, New You” trope that pervades media this time of year. It’s the “Live, Laugh, Love,” equivalent of self-optimization. That’s not to say I don’t believe in adopting better habits to engineer a more resilient mind and body; I’m just a realist.
Rather than give you a laundry list of resolutions you’re apt to ditch come February, we focused on highlighting actionable service and stories from people forged by flame who keep their cool under pressure.
Take our cover star, Sam Worthington, for example. The Avatar: Fire and Ashactor went from living in his car in Perth to headlining half a billion dollars’ worth of studio movies in the first 30 months of his career. That kind of trajectory is often a fast track to megalomania and self-destruction, but Worthington navigated it with steady resolve.
Notably absent from tabloids, the 49-year-old got sober after the birth of his kids and readily admits he’s “always hated training.”
He’s an unlikely hero in Hollywood, where leading men radiate machismo.
“He’s utterly unafraid to be vulnerable, to cry, to bare his soul,” James Cameron told Men’s Journal contributor Jesse Will.
Pre-order the 2025 Men's Journal Fitness Special HERE!
John Russo
Arnold Schwarzenegger shares a similar mindset in our “Last Word” column. “Real masculinity is about responsibility,” he says. “People have this idea that asking for help isn’t manly. Whether you need help mentally or physically, getting it is real strength.”
In light of that, we explored how fitness is the perfect conduit for navigating turmoil.
“Running Through It” is an essay in defense of the personal-crisis-to-marathon pipeline, while “Recovery Culture Hits the Gym” highlights how a non-profit is reshaping sobriety via a nationwide fitness movement.
To arm you with the knowledge to feel your best, we tested countless gym essentials to find the best shoes, equipment, tech, and recovery tools; sourced the wildest bodyweight workout to boost mobility, flexibility, strength, and muscle simultaneously; and curated nonalcoholic beverages with real health benefits, which I urge you to enjoy past January.
We also did a deep dive on some of the most hot-button topics in sport, longevity, and wellness. “Testosterone Nation” dissects its growing prevalence and what it means for modern masculinity.
“The Cure for Male Loneliness” delves into the world of wellness clubs, where men unplug, reset, and build camaraderie. And “The Legal Doping Advantage” examines how elite endurance athletes are using science-backed methods to eke out their fullest potential. It complements our feature on Jim Walmsley brilliantly. The prolific ultrarunner details how he keeps breaking his limits—finding elation at elevation.
“Whether it’s a pain cave or suffering that’s a bit beyond you, we take away a lot of growth when we’re put in uncomfortable situations,” Walmsley says.
I hope 2026 is the year that encourages you to seek purposeful discomfort, whether that’s rethinking how you unwind, deepening your self-worth, or investing in pursuits that expand your thresholds.
If the journey doesn’t scare you to some degree, go bigger and wilder.