Which Fitness Magazines Do YOU Like?

There is a fitness magazine for every type of health nut, from soccer moms and weekend warriors to hardcore bodybuilders and professional athletes. Whatever your fitness level, whatever your interests, gender, age… someone out there is writing a magazine just for you. Which is it?

Take One of the Polls Bellow or Skip to the list of magazines for descriptions.

Below we profile a whole range of health, sports and fitness magazines to give you a better idea of which one is right for you.

Men’s Fitness Magazines: (Click here to skip to women’s)

• Men’s Health:
  This is a staple in the reading diet of thousands of men around the world. Men’s Health is for the everyman, and doesn’t just stop at advice about fitness. In any given issue you might read about financial advice, prostate cancer, travel and relationships. But there is always a healthy dose of nutrition and workout tips.
• Muscle & Fitness:
  M&F is like a mix between Men’s Health and Maxim magazine. It isn’t for hardcore bodybuilders, but it isn’t for weekend warriors or people who aren’t serious about their training either. They like to mix in pictures of hot chicks and a typical title might be “Add Two Inches to Your Chest With These Pec Exercises”.
• Iron Man:
  This magazine is for bodybuilders. Similar to Flex, it focuses on training routines, bodybuilder interviews and supplement reviews. It is much more serious than a publication like Men’s Health, but not as hardcore as something like Muscular Development.
• Muscular Development:
  This is our favorite bodybuilding magazine. Every issue is as thick as a book and chock full of well-researched information backed by studies that are cited in the footnotes of every page. Awesome photos of the top bodybuilders and all of the competitions, interviews and regular columns by the biggest guys on the stage. MD articles are for hardcore bodybuilders and they often talk candidly about steroids and proper use.
• Planet Muscle:
  Similar to Muscular Development in that they aren’t afraid to talk about things like steroids. But not as content-rich, as well researched or as developed as MD in our opinion.

   

• Flex Magazine:
  The first crown jewel in Weider publications, Flex is about as mainstream as a bodybuilding magazine can get. You’ll see plenty of photos, including lots of old shots of Arnold, and read about the training schedules the pros use. It is rather advertising heavy, and we think a bit hypocritical to ignore (at best) steroids or bash (at worst) them when the every picture is of an IFBB pro that probably takes more juice than ten ten Barry Bonds combined. Still, the magazine is huge and has a lot of great articles, interviews and photos. It is a great introduction for any budding bodybuilder.
• Fitness RX for Men:
  FRX for guys is similar to men’s health but without all of the fluf. The magazine isn’t written for bodybuilders, but for guys who want to stay in shape and feel good about themselves. The last issue we read had a cover story called “The 300 Workout Challenge”.
• Exercise:
  Not our favorite magazine, ‘Exercise For Men Only’ can’t make up its mind whether it wants to be a serious exercise magazine or another Men’s Health. In the end, it gets stuck somewhere between the two and doesn’t quite engage us as much as the others.
• Men’s Workout:
  Another bodybuilding-slash-fitness-slash-health magazine that just doesn’t do it for us. If I want to read about having a better sex life or what the latest fashions are, I’d pick up a copy of Maxim or GQ. When I buy a bodybuilding or fitness magazine I expect solid information about losing fat and gaining muscle. Nothing more; nothing less.
• Life Extension Magazine:
  A magazine for the 35-and-older man, Life Extension covers everything from prostate health and cancer prevention to workouts and hormone replacement therapy.

   

• Runner’s World:
  The popularity of running as an exercise can’t be denied. This magazine is for the serious runner who would rather pound the pavement than spin the treadmill wheel.

   

• Outside:
  I like this magazine very much. Although I love to be in the gym, sometimes on a nice summer afternoon I can’t bring myself to be inside on a treadmill when I could be kayaking, climbing, hiking… “Outside” is about enjoying the outdoors while staying healthy and fit.

Women’s Fitness Magazines:

• Shape:
  This is my wife’s favorite magazine. She loves the practical advice and the inspirational stories that appear in each issue. My friend Abby was even featured in one of them! Shape is one of the most popular women’s health and fitness magazines in the entire world. Read it and find out why.
• SELF Magazine:
  a quality publication, Self makes no apologies for being an everywoman sort of magazine. Topics range from “Peeling Off the Pounds” to “Love Your Love Life”.

   

• FitnessRX for Women:
  FRX for women is 90 percent looking good and 10 percent being healthy. Each issue of FRX features well-researched articles on diet, exercise, cosmetics and general health. A recent story was called “Hollywood’s Hot Bods” and another was “The Orgasmic Diet”.

   

• Prevention:
  is one of the world’s most widely-read women’s health magazines, and for good reason. The writing is stellar and the focus is on overall health and wellbeing, as opposed to looking good in a bikini (although there’s some of that too). Many of the women you’ll see on the cover of Prevention don’t look like super models. The advice is real; not just meant to sell you the latest gimmick from advertisers.
• Oxygen:
  This magazine is for fitness-oriented women who are just as concerned about the health of their body and mental wellbeing as they are about their physiques. Typical article titles may include things like “Best Exercises for a Flat Stomach” or “Learn To Love Your Legs”.
• Ms. Fitness Magazine:
  This magazine is for women who are serious about their physique, but still like to maintain a womanly body. Typical stories would include titles like “Striking a Balance Between Family and Training” and “Ten Fat Loss Tips for a Smokin’ Summer Body”. If you’re looking for fad diets, this isn’t the magazine for you. But if you want solid dieting information and real-life solutions, check it out.
• Women’s Health:
  Probably the leader in health and fitness magazines for women, this publication provides solid advice about living a healthy lifestyle and staying in good shape. It is written with the average woman in mind and is filled with practical and actionable advice.
• Muscle & Fitness Hers:
  Another great fitness magazine for women that aren’t afraid of building a little muscle, but don’t want to look like a bodybuilder. Typical story headlines might include: “Lose Ten Pounds in 4 Easy Steps” or “How to Green Your Workouts”.
• Her Sports + Fitness:
  This magazine is for ladies who are into sports as a way to stay active, healthy and happy. Whether your drug is running, weight training, tennis, or rock climbing, Her Sports + Fitness will be an educational, entertaining and inspiring read.
• Yoga Journal:
  THE authority on yoga and living a healthy, yoga lifestyle, this magazine is a must-read for anyone (man or woman) who wants to achieve greater health and wellness via the yogic path.

   

• Natural Muscle Magazine:
  A serious magazine for serious female bodybuilders and fitness models. A typical article title might be: “Six Exercises for Strong Arms” or “How to Motivate Stubborn Calves”.

   

• Weight Watchers:
  When most people think of Weight Watchers they think of weekly meetings, weight-ins and bland microwave dinners. Despite their poor taste in food (pun intended) the folks at Weight Watchers have managed to put out a high-quality health and weight loss magazine that doesn’t bombard you with images of super models in bathing suites.
• Natural Health:
  is a practical guide to living healthy the natural way. It focuses on holistic wellbeing of the mind, body and spirit through nutrition, exercise and self-care.

   

• Health Magazine:
  This publication bills itself as “the smart women’s guide to life” and it covers everything from beauty secrets to nutrition and exercise routines.

   

• Alternative Medicine:
  If you are sick of doctors telling you to take a pill to wake up; take a pill to go to sleep; another one to increase your appetite and another to lose weight… this is the magazine for you. Learn how to handle many health problems the natural way.