The following article was produced in partnership with Helm.

Let’s be real. We all have our issues. But sometimes it’s harder to change than it is to continue on with the inertia of our self-destructive behaviour. Whether you love a slap on the pokies, drink a six-pack on the daily or enjoy getting beaten to a pulp in a parking lot (Fight Club style), no one likes to be told they need to change.

Speaking of which: we’re not here to tell you how to spend your pay cheque or improve your MMA. We all need the odd blowout. But… if you feel like levelling up in 2023, and improving your relationships, friendships, finances and physique, then we’ve got some New Year’s resolutions for you, brought to you in collaboration with Helm.

Helm is a new behavioural health service designed to provide counselling and other support to men having a hard time managing their relationships with alcohol, drugs, gambling and even their emotions. It also offers support for those struggling in their relationship with their intimate partner. It’s like that friendly mate who is non judgemental and a good listener – except it’s there on demand. 

Before you write this off as some ~cringe~ list. This isn’t airport self-help. It’s not a mental health manifesto. It’s down-to-earth life advice, for guys, tailored to 2023. And it’s more relevant now than ever. Whether you’ve been trying to manage stress or things got a bit out of control over the holidays or you’ve had a particular incident make you question what you’re doing with your life, these resolutions are for you. 

Life has never been easy, but in 2023, with interest rates going wild, technology changing faster than you can say “Who’s the CEO of Twitter?”, social media addiction rampant, the economy on the brink and traditional support services for men struggling to catch up to the demands of life, it’s easy to see why a lot of guys are turning to harmful habits to handle stress.

Enter: Helm. There to help you navigate new changes to your life (like having a child, getting a new job, mortgage pressure or seeing your family over Christmas), Helm is there for you when you feel tempted to ‘send it’ on the beers or drugs (or for when you get tired of the consequences of doing so). 

Helm will talk you through your challenges and understand your goals, providing counselling and other support services that are confidential, flexible – judgement free – and tailored to you. Helm helps guys realise all coping mechanisms are not equal. It can also help you leverage this often emotional time of year into growth (not frustration), teaching you to harness your energy the right way.

As the Behavioural and Health Specialists at Helm attest, if you address your problem behaviours, your relationships will improve too, creating a positive cycle of everything going more and more the right way. Sound good? There are lots of ways you can make positive changes in your life. Have a look at the following resolutions for men to level up, which have been put together by DMARGE to help you on your journey in 2023.

Quit your gym membership

F*ck gyms. They’re boring, sweaty and full of headphone druids. If you want your fitness resolution to last the distance (and put you in touch with a community of like-minded souls) take up an action sport (or a sport with a community). 

Why? Taking up an activity that gets adrenaline flowing could be the difference between beers being a crutch for you, and beers being an occasional tool for celebration. Also, it’s all well and good to tell yourself to kick your negative habits, but that in itself is rarely enough. 

Usually, to make a sustainable change, you need a community of like-minded supporters. It’s much easier to stop yourself from doing self-destructive things by replacing them with something awesome rather than simply focusing on a negative. 

Popular obsessions of 2023 on this front include surfing, endurance running, road biking, golf (if you must) and Brazilian Jui Jitsu (this one is especially great if you love hugging). Why not give one a whirl?

Figure out your pain points

You might think you have a problem with drugs or alcohol (and you very well might), but everything is interconnected. As the Behavioural Health Specialists over at Helm point out, even dudes who seek help for their drinking or drug use often tell how it impacts their relationships, and how their partner was the trigger for them to seek help. They also often say the reason they hit the beers or bags so hard is to deal with stress caused by problems in their relationships, with their partner, at work or with their friends.

See a counsellor

Rather than wait until things get so bad you go: “Sh*t, I need a counsellor,” why not go and see one proactively? Not that a dramatic breakup, dropping $5 grand on a fake greyhound race and crawling along the sticky floor of a pokie room at 4am doesn’t make for a good story, but if you see a counsellor and figure out what’s munching at you before you get to that point, you could be the mate helping a brother out, rather than the one recreating scenes from Wolf of Wall Street…

Have more ‘real talk’ with your mates 

Dr Lars Madsen, a clinical psychologist, once told DMARGE a lot of men struggle to communicate their vulnerabilities. To overcome this, he says you need to lead a conversation with your own vulnerability. 

“I think people go: ‘yeah, yeah, sure – all good mate,’ but the key we have to talk about and what changes all of that is leading with vulnerability.” 

“Leading with your own struggles changes the dynamic completely.” 

Dr Lars Madsen

“If you’re worried about them, leading with vulnerability changes the dynamic, it changes it insofar as it suddenly means it’s ok – it’s like they suddenly don’t feel alone – they feel like you’ve made yourself vulnerable before you’re expecting them to do it, and that’s one of the key things that I think would actually be a very, very powerful thing.”

Talking to a specialist at Helm could be another great way for you to practice these skills (and have someone listen to you).

Give ice baths a crack 

From helping one man quit cocaine to helping others boost their stamina (and giving them a real sense of accomplishment), ice baths can be a great way to kickstart your day (and provide a framework for other more positive habits). There are also communities of cold water swimmers all over Australia. And if there’s one thing we know about community, it’s that it feels good (and is good for you).

Follow your passion  

A lot of guys endure lives of “quiet desperation.” To avoid this, prioritise your passions.

As Joe Rogan once said: “You have to take a path that’s dangerous…the safe path leaves you stuck in quiet desperation – almost every time. It’s hell: you’re selling insurance or some other shit that you care zero about.”

“The way you can change, you have to plan it out… You have to put aside enough money to give yourself a window; you have to spend all your waking hours outside of whatever sh*t job you do planning your escape and you have to come to the realisation very clearly that you fucked up.”

“You got yourself stuck, so whatever you’re doing, you have to do it like your life depends on it…attack [it] like you’re trying to save the world.”

“You don’t want to drown…you have got to be caffeinated and motivated. You have got to get after it; you got to have discipline. Most people don’t have those things. Most people don’t know what it’s like to really go for something and… the consequences of not doing that are horrific.”

Get better at communicating with your partner

Communication is key in any relationship, particularly the one with your partner. None of us are mind readers, and so healthy and open communication is crucial to avoid hurt feelings, misunderstandings, resentment or confusion. To communicate with your partner better, try setting aside time to talk without your phones or TV, thinking about what you want to say in advance, talk about what is happening in your relationship and your life and how it makes you feel and communicate what you want, need and feel.

 Invest in some ‘non-dodgy sh*t’

We’re not talking the latest crypto pump and dump or an ant farm in Sierra Leone that you heard your finance mate talking about down the pub. We’re talking about seeing a professional and developing a well-rounded portfolio. And topping up your super (if you can). 

Learn some stress hacks

Download a meditation app, take up skateboarding, fix your sleep cycle, stop eating junk food – there are a lot of ways to have a crack at reducing your anxiety. You could also, if you feel so inclined, make a booking at Helm. 

The counsellors and behavioural health specialists at Helm “gets it.” As we mentioned earlier, they provide counselling, change programs and other support services in a way that fits in with your life. Helm is supportive and understands that when big changes happen in life, sometimes problem behaviours can get in your way.  

Helm is available online and in-person with appointments available now with qualified counsellors, psychologists and social workers. It can be accessed quickly, confidentially and with zero judgement. It’s there to help you take charge of your life.

Take the Helm

The post An Actually Useful Guide To Getting Your Sh*t Together In 2023 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

In the 1980s and 90s, Byron Bay was a sleepy surf village. Now it’s a meme, the home of arguably Australia’s worst-ever reality show, and (not to be dramatic but) an often trotted-out example of everything that’s wrong with modern Australia. But are things really as bad as they seem? In a recent online community thread, Australians shared the various ways Byron Bay has changed over the last 30-40 years – and it’s not all doom and gloom.

I may have met more assholes in 2 days in Byron Bay than two years in Sydney, but I still think the whinging about Byron Bay is overhyped. Of course, if you visit during peak season it’s going to be crowded, but that’s just part of its vibe these days. If you like a place that’s buzzing, it’s even part of the charm (even if it means there’s more road rage than you’d expect in a town with a sign telling you to calm your farm as you drive on in).

That being said, judging by a recent Reddit thread, I’m in the minority when it comes to this view. If we extrapolate out the comments from the thread, even, it seems safe to assume the majority of (online) Australia thinks the place is, to put it politely, f**ked.

One Reddit user wrote: “Chalk and cheese. Sleepy surf village in the late 80s. Now, it’s an overpriced crowded look at me instagram influencer hole. Greed has killed the joint.”

More aggrieved comments included: “I sadly only visited it for the first time a decade ago and it was bursting at the seams with dickheads then… It’s only gotten worse… No vibe any more, just wankers,” “It’s gone from poor shitty scumbags to rich shitty scumbags” and “In the 80 I used to camp in the beach carpark and no one gave a shit now it’s up 100000$ fines.”

“Too many fucken range rovers.”

Reddit user r/Ok-Cantaloupe6542

Another social media swanabout wrote: “Tourism changed the face of it basically. It was a surf town, but once businesspeople saw a draw, they invested heavily.”

Another keyboard warrior talked further about the formerly chill town’s commerce, opining: “While businesses were, until relatively recently, owned by locals, there are now more commercial enterprises that exist in the town.”

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The same Reddit user added: “For a while there, in fact, Guzman Y Gomez was the only chain food outlet there. There’s now a Palace Cinema, a Woolworths and some of the hospitality venues are owned by large groups.”

“The businesses also know they have a captive audience there, so their prices cater to tourists rather than locals, with the exception of a few places, and there are rarely sales like you would see in a large city with a lot of competition.”

This does have its bright side, with one Reddit user saying: “As a result of all the investment, the food and drink are pretty bloody great for a place that is basically a large town.” However the flip side to that is that, as the same Reddit user bemoans, “it’s become the ideal for wanderlust-driven city people who want all the natural wonders of the area, but still expect city grade dining and an expertly made oat latte.”

The audacity!

Not content with this, “a lot of these people chose to move up to Byron, thereby inflating the housing market and driving locals further out.” Ok, that’s actually pretty heavy (and a serious problem that has been reported on previously).

One Reddit user put it, in a delightfully down-to-earth summation (and one that arguably outdoes that iconic Vanity Fair hit piece on Byron): “This Linen Mafia rubs shoulders with bohemian hippy types who live in their vans and want to try and capture a piece of what the place used to represent, which usually means doing a fucking drum circle on the beach, ripping bongs and getting maggot on Little Fat Lamb and whatever the cheapest case is at the Beachy bottle-o.”

“At least they still have Mullum and Nimbin (for now).”

The pile on didn’t end there. More choice comments delved into the exodus of old(er) locals to neighbouring places like Lennox, Ocean Shores, Suffolk Park and Bangalow and how “the same thing that happened to Byron is now happening to those places.”

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Another Reddit user who claimed to have grown up in Byron wrote about the town’s problem with violence, typing: “I grew up in Byron. Went to the primary school and high school there too. Early 2000s it got pretty dangerous. Lots of youth fights. The top park (park next to beach across road from beach hotel) on a Friday or Saturday night was filled with teens beating the shit out of each other.”

“Middle park (where Rails pub is) used to have homeless that would mug you. Stretch of road from town towards Suffolk would get you beaten up or molested. Basically – I remember it being a town where the locals hated the tourists, had no outlet, so took it out on each other.”

Another social media user observed: “My parents took us to Byron in the 60’s, and we watched in horror as a whale was carved up in front of us. A sight I never can erase from my mind. Another time, not too long ago I was on a bus that collected passengers from Byron, and I had to sit behind a filthy set of dreadlocks for hours. No pleasant memories there.”

• You’ve Got To Be Joking’: Yuppie Coffee Order Leaves Byron Bay Barista Stunned
• Living In Byron Bay: What I Discovered After Moving From Sydney

The post Australians Reveal How Byron Bay Has Changed Since The 80s appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Some child actors crash and burn, but Frankie Muniz – best known for his starring role in Malcolm in the Middle – is looking to burn some serious rubber instead.

Even during his Malcolm in the Middle days, Muniz (now 37 and has a 1-year-old son) was in love with motorsports. While some celebrities pour their money into designer brands and other frivolities, Muniz used his fame and fortune to pursue his passion for racing, especially stock car racing.

Now, after a solid two decades of racing experience, including competing in categories as diverse as Formula BMW, Champ Car Atlantics and even driving the pace car for the Daytona 500, Muniz has now made the leap to competing in stock cars full-time.

It’s just been announced that Muniz will drive the No. 30 Ford for Rette Jones Racing in NASCAR’s ARCA Series, a feeder series into the three national touring series of NASCAR, for the 2023 season.

“I know people might have maybe a negative expectation of what I can do… I’m ready to prove them wrong,” Muniz said in an interview with NASCAR in July last year.

Finally making my dream a reality, this one is for my son and showing him that you can always chase your dreams.

Excited for this opportunity with Rette Jones Racing, Ford, and our partners to go full time racing for an ARCA National Series Championship in 2023. pic.twitter.com/OhbFnlMNKW

— Frankie Muniz (@frankiemuniz) January 11, 2023

RELATED: Aussie F1 Hopeful Jack Doohan Reveals Michael Schumacher Gave Him His Start In Racing Cars

Frankie also spoke about how ever since Malcolm in the Middle wrapped, he’s been dedicated to his racing career, even turning down film roles that interfered with his racing schedule.

“I don’t think any of them believed me,” he said about his agents. “Or they thought that maybe it was like oh, give him a couple of weeks. But then they were sending me these offers for movies, and all of a sudden, I’m like, ‘No, no. I’m serious. Here’s my schedule. I’m on the road every week.’”

“I wish I got back in a race car sooner… Because I didn’t realize how much I loved it until I started again. I’m not letting the opportunity pass this time.”

Frankie Muniz

The 2023 ARCA Menards Series season will begin at Daytona International Speedway with the Lucas Oil 200 on February 18.

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The post Frankie Muniz Abandons Acting Career To Race In NASCAR Full-Time appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

A bright green comet is going to streak across the sky in early February 2023. The last time this comet could be seen from earth, the world was in an ice age, megafauna roamed the land and Neanderthals walked alongside ‘modern’ humans. If you want to see it, read this guide to learn when and where you’ll be able to do so.

When someone says something is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, they are usually exaggerating. But when it comes to the upcoming bright green comet (with two tails) soon to grace our skies, it’s legit. To see the C/2022 E3 (ZTF) – as it has been dubbed by experts – you’ll need to direct your eyeballs at the sky at the right time. Some reckon it will be visible to see with the naked eye from Australia, others recommend you use a telescope to see it properly.

Here’s all the information you’ll need to catch this rare appearance (according to scientists, the C/2022 E3 ZTF comet will never return to Earth again).

When will the comet be visible from Australia?

The comet is due to be at its closest to Earth on the 1st or 2nd of February, when it will come within 42 million kilometres of us, making it visible for those of us in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time in 50,000 years.

Do you need a telescope to see it?

Short answer: no. Long answer: binoculars or a telescope will help you see it better. According to Bintel.com, even if you are able to spot the comet with your eyes, it will appear as a faint, small fuzzy object. For this reason they say “a much better idea would be to try viewing it with a telescope or even in binoculars.”

How do I maximise my chances of seeing it?

Go somewhere with little light pollution. Take binoculars.

Who discovered the comet?

This comet was discovered by astronomers in California in March 2022. It has come from way out in outer space. It is said to be getting brighter as it gets closer to the sun.

Why is the comet so special?

It’s an incredibly rare occurrence and one that may never happen ever again.

Why is the comet green?

Its bright green colour comes from the ‘dirty snowball’ glow that surrounds it – an effect whereby the sun causes the comet’s old and icy exterior to turn to gas (which we see as green).

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The post Where & How To See The C/2022 E3 (ZTF) Comet appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Joe Rogan has sparked a discussion that it appears America is not yet ready for, taking to Instagram to share a so-called study that claims Lucky Charms are healthier than steak.

America is not ready for a lot of things. From the revelation that bigger isn’t always better to the epiphany that baseball is not a global sport, there are a lot of lightbulb moments that await.

Among those lightbulb moments may be the realisation you can’t trust everything you see online. Something Joe Rogan has thrust into his audience’s consciousness with a tongue-in-cheek Instagram post this morning.

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A post shared by Joe Rogan (@joerogan)

Criticising a so-called study which Rogan says claims Lucky Charms are healthier than steak, Rogan wrote: “Thanks to the large collection of legitimate nutrition experts with independent shows distributing information based on solid research, we know this is bullshit.”

“Complete, undeniable, indefensible bullshit. But yet this government funded recommendation chart is here to let you know they suck at giving food advice too.”

He added: “Repost: @goodranchers Lucky Charms healthier than steak? If this food pyramid is what was found at the end of the lucky charm rainbow, then we no longer want a pot-o-gold. Give us steak instead!”

Then for good measure he tacked on: “Get the full story by clicking the link in our bio!”

Stanford Neuroscience Professor Andrew Huberman chimed into the comments section with the following comment: “Unbelievable… and yet, (sadly) believable. Avoiding highly processed food seems to be the one thing all the true experts agree on and yet, this from the government side. We urgently need people in government who understand and care about actual public health.”

Former health and science reporter, author and nutrition coach Max Lugavere wrote: “The problem with following the science is that the science follows the money. Glad we were able to discuss this abomination during our conversation together!”

Winner of the Ultimate Fighter (and vegan) James Wilks wrote: “While we have pretty opposing views on nutrition @joerogan I’d obviously agree that this graphic is ridiculous.”

RELATED: Lebron James’ Ketogenic Diet Could Be Your Ticket To Becoming A Shredded Beast… But At What Cost?

Whether or not you believe this is a legit study, or whether you think Rogan could have been trolled (though the graphic does appear to be real, having allegedly originated from Tufts University), Rogan’s point made one thing clear – many American netizens no longer trust the media or the government.

You used to have two camps. First, you had those who believed in traditional wisdom, the old-school food pyramid; The New York Times. Second, you had those that trusted their gut, anecdotal evidence; fitness influencers like The Liver King (who has now been exposed for lying about steroids).

Now though, seeing as everyone’s objectivity has been called into question, it’s hard to find a good baseline. Vegans will tell you too much meat gives you cancer; Michaela Peterson will tell you going on an all-meat diet it helped solve almost all her problems (from depression to arthritis).

According to Cancer Council NSW, “There is strong evidence that eating red and processed meat increases the risk of bowel cancer.”

Cancer Council NSW says: “Processed meat is meat that has been preserved by smoking, curing, salting or by adding the preservatives nitrates and nitrites. This includes ham, bacon, salami, frankfurt, prosciutto and some sausages such as cabanossi and kransky.”

Cancer Council NSW says: “By reducing your intake of red meat and avoiding processed meat you can reduce your risk of cancer.”

The same Cancer Council NSW page adds: “Lean red meat is a good source of iron, zinc, Vitamin B12 and protein. You don’t need to stop eating red and processed meat, however, it is best to cut down the amount you eat and include more plant foods such as fruit, vegetables and wholegrains.”

RELATED: Red Meat Benefits: Nutrition Coach Explains How Red Meat Is Good For You

Back to America though… Keto dieters will say carbs are the enemy, vegetarians will say you need to make sure you eat enough fibre. The only source of hope seems to be the momentum credible sources like Andrew Huberman seem to be getting with their fairly reasonable advice videos on things like the pillars of health.

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In the end, the one thing that seems to be fairly uncontroversial to say is that avoiding highly processed food and food high in sugar is smart. This is where the Lucky Charms quandary comes in. It seems the scientists behind the so-called study believe either their whole grain or fibre content somewhat makes up for their sugar content. On the other hand, meat lovers like Joe Rogan think it doesn’t redeem Lucky Charms at all (relative to steak).

This is an important conversation to be having, and one we hope gets cleared up soon. While we need more serious study into the wilder experiments of Rogan and co (see: World Carnivore Month), when it comes to Rogan and co.’s scepticism over sugary carbs being put in the middle of the food pyramid, maybe they are onto something worth questioning.

RELATED: Plant-Based Meat Flawed In A Big Way, Study Finds

The other way of looking at it is that the study in question never said Lucky Charms were particularly healthy, but that it thought consuming red meat was particularly unhealthy – another area America does not seem ready to agree on at all, with environmental advocates and many scientists saying we should eat much less meat (and that eating too much of it can give you cancer) and with many nutritionists and health coaches saying red meat is one of the most nutritious and least inflammatory things you can put on your fork.

RELATED: It’s Still Possible To Get Ripped On A Plant Based Diet. Here’s How

It would be handy if the government could provide some more solid advice on this, so netizens don’t have to rely on online debates between unqualified gurus, personal experimenters (even humble ones like Joe Rogan) and nutrition experts (even if some of those experts are professors at respected institutions), where each Big Revelation seems to contradict the next and where many of these Qualified Personalities provide us with a different take on what’s healthy.

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The post Joe Rogan Sparks Nutrition Discussion America Is Not Ready For appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Josh Giddey is only 20 but he’s shaping up to be not only one of basketball’s most exciting talents but also one of its best-dressed stars… He’s also got great taste in watches, as one of his latest fit checks demonstrates.

The Melbourne native, who plays point guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder, shared a drippy photo to his Instagram last week showing off a creamy puffer jack and turtleneck outfit, which might just be the hottest ensemble the South has seen for a very long time.

Even cooler was the somewhat lowkey but undoubtedly underrated Rolex the young baller paired to perfection with his outfit: a two-tone Rolex Datejust 41 (ref. 126303-0014) worth AU$20,150.

Two-tone watches are a bit of a divisive option in the watch community – people either love them or hate them. They tend to go in and out of fashion in broad cycles, too: they were big in the 80s and 90s, they’ve been a bit less popular in recent years, but they’re coming back into fashion.

Giddey’s model in particular (there’s so many different Datejusts) is crafted from Oystersteel and 18ct yellow gold, is mounted on a Jubilee bracelet and features a black sunray dial with yellow gold-accented indices. It’s pure class.

RELATED: Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson Revives One Of Rolex’s Most Underrated Watches

This Rollie isn’t the only watch in Giddey’s burgeoning collection. He’s also been spotted wearing a Hublot Classic Fusion Chronograph on numerous occasions as well as a nifty OMEGA Speedmaster.

Perhaps the watch was a bit of a celebratory purchase. On the 10th of January against the Miami Heat, Giddey secured a coveted NBA record, joining Luka Dončić, Grant Hill and fellow Aussie Ben Simmons as the only players in NBA history to record at least 1,000 points, 700 rebounds, and 500 assists in their first 100 career games. If you were in any doubt he was one to watch…

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The post Josh Giddey, Australia’s Most Stylish NBA Star, Flexes A Very Lowkey Rolex appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Nick Kyrgios is the talk of Australia in the run up to the 2023 Australian Open. Here’s why we reckon this year is his best shot yet at taking out the whole tournament.

The Canberran tennis sensation has found himself very much on centre court in the early episodes of ‘Break Point’, the upcoming tennis documentary equivalent to ‘Formula 1: Drive to Survive’, which released on Netflix on Friday 13 January.

Looking at Kyrgios’ breakout year in 2014 – where he shockingly defeated then-defending champion Rafael Nadal at the tender age of 19 – the documentary delves into the Australian’s struggle with his mental health and drinking during the start of his professional career, all the way to the beginning of last year, where he was considering quitting the sport altogether.

However, after a hugely successful 2022, where the tennis star won the Australian Open men’s doubles with Tanasi Kokkinakis and was the runner up in the men’s singles at Wimbledon, fans are speculating that the 2023 Australian Open may be the tournament that sees Kyrgios finally win a singles Grand Slam, a feat which has so far eluded him.

Competing in both the singles and doubles this year, Kyrgios will first take to Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena on Friday – coincidentally the same day as the documentary aired – where he played rival Novak Djokovic in a sold-out practice match, prior to the tournament starting.

The Serbian was the one to defeat Kyrgios in the Wimbledon final last year.

But before he suits up for the tournament, read on as DMARGE takes you through all the reasons why 2023 could be Kyrgios’ best chance to win the Australian Open.

He’s coming off the best year of his career

As we’ve established, 2022 was the year the Nick Kyrgios finally came into his own as one of the best players on the ATP circuit.

The 27-year-old has long been considered one of the most talented players in the world, with former player John McEnroe calling him, “probably the most talented player the sports has seen in the last decade.”

But it was only really 2022 where Australia’s number one ranked player started to put it together consistently.

Alongside his doubles Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open and reaching a Wimbledon final, he also defeated world number one Daniil Medvedev on two occasions, the latter to advance to the quarter final of the US Open for the first time in his career, in what was a stunning performance.

Kyrgios will be looking to build on these results in 2023 and a singles victory at the Australian Open would be the perfect way to start. Breaking the Grand Slam levee and ending his major drought would cement him as one of the best tennis players in today’s game and would hopefully propel him to success in future Grand Slams down the line.

His mindset

As the Netflix documentary alludes to, the early stages of Kyrgios’ career were plagued with mental health struggles and drinking problems.

His trainer and long-time friend Daniel ‘Horse’ Horsfall recalls having to track Kyrgios’s location on his phone and at times had to search clubs on the night before matches to drag him out.

More recently, the pandemic meant Kyrgios played very little tennis in 2020, and a poor 2021 – by his lofty standards – which was eventually cut short due to injuries, purged the tennis star of his love for the game.

RELATED: How Nick Kyrgios Gained A Mental Edge Over Daniil Medvedev

However, 2022 marked a significant rejuvenation in his mindset and ultimately his career. In February of last year, he revealed to The Guardian that he had, “completely turned himself around.”

“[I] have a completely different outlook on everything,” he said, “I don’t take one moment for granted.”

“This life is beautiful.”

As well as managing his own mental health struggles, Kyrgios has also overcome a significant mental roadblock following his doubles victory as last year’s Australian Open.

Speaking on the Break Point documentary, Kyrgios said:

 “When people say Nick Kyrgios didn’t achieve this, didn’t achieve that; all that I’ve gone through led to a grand slam. It’s there it’s never leaving now.”

He continued, “I’m here to show you that I’m one of the best players in the world. I don’t see anything holding me back.”

Overcoming this bugbear may be exactly what Nick Kyrgios needed in order to win the elusive Australian Open in 2023.

A break before the tournament

Nick Kyrgios has come under fire as of late for missing a string of tournaments in the run up to the Australian Open this year.

He pulled out last-minute of the United Cup in December citing ankle worries, which drew the criticism of former Australian Grand Slam winner Lleyton Hewitt for his “lack of communication.” Most recently he pulled out of the Adelaide International 2, the last event before the Australian Open.

While some could argue that the lack of tennis may serve as a hinderance to Kyrgios, the tennis star regularly cuts down the number of tournaments he plays every year to allow more time at home, which has translated to better finishes in Grand Slams as of late.

One can only hope that his absence in Sydney and Adelaide means he is fully focussed on the Australian Open and fans can expect him to put on a show in both the singles and doubles this year.

His Girlfriend

By Nick Kyrgios’ own admission, his 22-year-old girlfriend Costeen Hatzi has played a huge part in his recent success.

“None of this could have been done without her,” he told The Australian Associated Press.

He said, “It’s been a very successful year, not only on the tennis court but just in general. I’m feeling really good about everything and just enjoying life.”

“And meeting Costeen was probably my favourite moment, probably the best thing that’s ever happened to me – and the year I’ve had as a highly motivated and highly pushed player, has been because of her.”

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A post shared by Costeen (@costeenhatzi)

Despite no formal announcement, Kyrgios recently commented on Ms Hatzi’s Instagram saying, “Our wedding soon”, insinuating the couple may tie the knot in the near future, despite having only been dating since December 2021.

With his girlfriend maintaining such a positive influence on the tennis player’s life, we hope that Kyrgios’ happiness off the court translates to success on the court.

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It is fair to say that Nick Kyrgios is likely the most polarising figure in tennis today.

His critics point to his on-court antics as bad sportsmanship and refer his off-court troubles with the law as a reason not to support him.

However, he also has legions of fans – especially on Australian shores – who support him through thick and thin.

He is undoubtedly one of the biggest draws of the Australian Open in 2023; even his pre-tournament practice match with Novak Djokovic sold out in under an hour, prompting him to poke fun at his haters.

He sarcastically tweeted, “Wow Nick Kyrgios is bad for the sport! Wow what a disgrace, a national embarrassment! How dare he sell out another stadium, the arrogance.”

Kyrgios will certainly have the crowd on his side in Melbourne in January, who will be louder than ever after the year he’s just had. They will blow the roof off of the Rod Laver Arena should he be victorious.

Love him or hate him, Nick Kyrgios is certainly a box-office success, who has a real chance to make history this year.

Imagine the scenes should he pull it off.

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The post 2023 Is Nick Kyrgios’ Best Shot Yet At Winning The Australian Open appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Society has an unhealthy obsession with six packs. But it’s a very real ~goal~ of many. And so long as you don’t take it too far, having a strong core is sick. That in mind, here is an excellent way to scorch your stomach.

Shredding and bulking personality Romanestrng has taken to TikTok to share a crazy ab workout with his 1.8 million followers. The workout comprises 3 x 10 side plank rotations, 3 x 10 V tuck variations, 3 x 10 V sits and 3 x 5-10 rower pikes. Watch him demonstrate how each exercise is done in the video below.

Watch: crazy core workout to get you shredded

This isn’t the only core workout Romanestrng has shared with his followers. Another workout he has blasted across the airwaves, if the above torture was not enough, comprises of kneeling lateral D-ball slams (3 x 10-12), cable V ups (3 x 10-12), high plank forward taps (3 x 12-20) and hanging knee tucks (3 x 5-10).

Try it if you dare.

As for the Internet’s reaction to this workout, TikTok commenters are clamouring for more. Followers have chimed in with remarks like “are these for women” “I want to be friends with you” and “bro got 10 abs… are you batman or something?”. Another user asked Romanestrng how his body was “so prominent” to which Romanestrng responded “Low body fat percentage currently bro.”

RELATED: The Greatest Core Exercise Is One You’ve Never Heard Of

As for the benefits of working your core, Harvard Health Publishing encourages you to think of it as follows: “Think of your core muscles as the sturdy central link in a chain connecting your upper and lower body.”

“Whether you’re hitting a tennis ball or mopping the floor, the necessary motions either originate in your core, or move through it.”

The same page adds: “No matter where motion starts, it ripples upward and downward to adjoining links of the chain. Thus, weak or inflexible core muscles can impair how well your arms and legs function. And that saps power from many of the moves you make.”

RELATED: Work Out Like This For Next Level Core Strength

“Properly building up your core cranks up the power. A strong core also enhances balance and stability. Thus, it can help prevent falls and injuries during sports or other activities. In fact, a strong, flexible core underpins almost everything you do.”

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The post Insane Core Workout For Six-Pack Abs appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Not everyone is a talented cook. But no matter how dependent on Uber Eats you are, and no matter how dodgy your fry up skills, Hayden Quinn has a genius – and fairly easy – leftover roast chicken recipe you should be able to master.

The Bachelor’s Handbag (aka a roast chook), is an institution. Not only is it a quick and easy meal in the moment though, but if you have leftovers, you can turn them into something even better than your original feast. Don’t believe us? Check out the following clip from Australian celebrity chef Hayden Quinn.

Taking to Instagram on Tuesday, Hayden shared with his 106K followers a mouth-watering leftover roast chook recipe you really need to try. He captioned the clip: “The bachelor’s handbag turns into a perfect taco for this weeks #tacotuesday.”

WATCH: Hayden Quinn shows you how to make tacos out of leftover roast chicken

In the comments, Hayden’s followers were quick to flex their comedic chops. One wrote: “Finally the bachelor gets some taco action.” Another said: “Shit that looks good.” Others praised the inventive use of the English language in Hayden’s use of the phrase “Bachelor’s handbag.”

RELATED: Wrangling Sydney’s Best DUDE FOOD With Masterchef’s Hayden Quinn

For the full recipe and ingredients, see Hayden’s caption and instructions below (all via Instagram).

Ingredients

12 soft flour tacos, warmed
3 cups rotisserie chicken, shredded (plus the juice or ‘jelly’ from the bag)
1/2 onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tsp ground cumin
2 Tbsp chipotle in adobo*, chopped

To serve

1/4 white cabbage, shredded
Sour cream
Extra chipotle in adobo sauce
Fresh coriander
Lime wedges

Method

Step 1. Fry the onion and garlic in olive oil until soft. Add the cumin and season with a little salt. Add the chipotle sauce and chicken jelly (if you have it) with 1/4 cup water. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes.

Step 2. Add the chicken and stir through the sauce (add more water if needed to moisten).

Step 3. Serve the chicken with warm, soft tortillas, extra chipotle sauce, sour cream, shredded cabbage, coriander and lime.

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The post ‘Bachelor’s Handbag’ Taco Recipe Every Man Needs To Know appeared first on DMARGE Australia.