Crunchy Nut-Raisin Granola Bars

Munching a granola bar during training it’s one of the best things in the world. They're crunchy, delicious, and packed with energy that can propel you throughout your routine. 
Granola bars are evidence that sportman also enjoy a good snack, it’s not only about sweat and tears.  
I have to confess, I’ve tried almost all granola bars available on the market, and I have some favorites.
However, there’s nothing quite like making your own. My absolute favorite homemade granola bar is this Crunchy Nut-Raisin bar.

Wanna Live Longer? Regular Jogging Shows Dramatic Increase In Life Expectancy

Wanna live longer? Then you should give jogging a go.
Why? Because undertaking regular jogging increases the life expectancy of men by 6.2 years and women by 5.6 years, according to the latest data from the Copenhagen City Heart study presented at the EuroPRevent2012 meeting, in Ireland.
Peter Schnohr, MD, who is chief cardiologist of the Copenhagen City Heart Study, revealed that the study most recent analysis (still unpublished) shows that jogging at a “slow or average” pace, as little as 20 minutes, three times a week delivers optimum benefits for longevity.

Female = Ironman

This post is dedicated to all our women readers.
When we started TheIronYou we thought that this blog would have been much more appealing to a male audience than a female one.
Well, we were pretty wrong. Today we have lots of women readers, probably even more than men. And this post is our way to thank y’all for that!



As you can see you girls have a clear advantage on us, because you’re already an Ironman to start with. We, instead, have to do so much in order to become one!

The Iron You

You Can Eat Whatever You Want As Long As You Workout: True Or False?

There's a popular belief postulating that you can eat anything you want as long as you exercise and burn those calories off.

Every Accomplishment Starts With The Decision To Try

I love this quote by Gail Devers, a three-time Olympic champion in track-and-field.
It’s great because it perfectly points out that in order to achieve something you must believe in yourself, and you should give it a shot.
Once you started, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication will actually get you there.


Everything and anything that seems impossible can easily become your reality, it just depends on how determined you are.
If you’re doing everything you can to achieve it; all your crazy and unreachable dreams can get closer, within reach; and ultimately they become reality.
And once you reach them, set new ones and start again.
There’s really nothing you can’t do if you just set your mind to it!

Double Chocolate Protein Muffins

I’m very picky when it comes to chocolate muffins. I almost like only those that my friend Matt’s Nanna makes. They’re truly unbelievable: fluffy, comforting, decadent and (of course) packed with calories. Nanna still lives in Tennessee, hence I can have her awesome muffins only when we go visit.
However, I wanted to create an “IronYou” version of them. That’s why I called up Nanna and kindly asked her for the secret recipe. She gave it to me but made me swear that I would not reveal it. I’m planning on honoring such promise. What you’ll find below it's the healthier version of Nanna’s double chocolate muffins.

Greens Help Repairing Damages Caused By Strenuous Workouts

Working out is one of the best things we can do for ourselves, we all know that. And if moderate exercise is good for us, high-intensity training increases dramatically the demand on our bodies and this can cause damages to our DNA.
In other words if you’re an Ironman, a triathlete, an otherwise endurance athlete or just a workout junkie that enjoys putting his body to test quite often (such as myself) you want to be extra careful in addressing the “DNA issues” related to strenuous exercise.
How? According to a new study, published in the latest issue of the British Journal of Nutrition, from scientists at Edinburgh Napier University and the University of Ulster, eating green leafy veggies (such as watercress) can prevent some of the damage caused by high intensity exercise and help maximise the benefits of a tough workout.
In other words, the more you workout the more green leafy veggies you want to include in your daily eating regimen.

Green Coffee Beans: The Next Miracle Weight-Loss Food?

Whenever I hear of a miracle weight-loss food my usual reaction is: “Whatever...” Losing weight entails too many variables in our body for just one single food to work the magic. Eating less, eating better and exercising is what usually works when one wants to drop a few pounds.
But, my beliefs can be wrong, as scientists have just reported striking new evidence that green coffee beans can produce a substantial decrease in body weight in a relatively short period of time.
So that might be it? All we need is to chew some green coffee beans and all our fat-related problems will suddenly disappear?
As usual, it’s not that easy, but there might be something going on here.

Book Review: The Ghost Runner - The Tragedy of the Man They Couldn't Stop

This is one of those books you just can’t stop reading once you started. The story is well written and I was so involved I stayed up into the night to finish it. I liked it so much that I keep talking about it to everybody.
In other words, if you really want to read a true inspiring story: that’s your book.
Because this is one of the most moving, engrossing, and tragic, tales in the history of athletics I’ve ever heard of.

The Heath Benefits Of White Button Mushrooms

I always considered white button mushrooms as some kind of neutral food. Very light taste, almost calories free but, from a nutritional standpoint, not that relevant.
Boy I was wrong. Not as to taste or calories wise, but nutritionally; as they’re in fact quite special.
And if you think that white button mushrooms represent around 90% of the total mushrooms consumed in the US, well, we can be happy with our eating choices, at least for once.
White buttons mushrooms are said to be a wonder for our immune system, according to a research conducted by scientists funded by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS).