“Do you have to resign yourself to the fact that highly charged, erotic sex is a thing of the past if you choose monogamy?”While you might expect this question from Cleo, our sex lives are now sputtering so hard they’ve leaked over as a topic into the Sydney Morning Herald.Enter (or rather, exit): the ‘honeymoon period,’ a term Urban Dictionary defines as “a short period of time after two people get together, where everything is going well and they are very much in love with each other. After this period ends, fights can happen and couples can often fall out of that pure love obsession they were once in.”

“It happens to everyone and often means there’s no more love.”

Or does it? The Women of Reddit suggest that no, it doesn’t mean the love has gone from a relationship at all. On the contrary, the end of the honeymoon stage can actually signal the true start of a relationship. Likewise, experts over at The Sydney Morning Herald (and Elite Daily) have some tips that could see your relationship sizzle again soon.

 

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So even though Reddit users like Emptyplates compare the end of the honeymoon phase to an everyday essential item of clothing (“It’s like being wrapped in your favourite sweater. Sure it’s a little baggy and doesn’t hold its shape, maybe a little faded, but it’s your very favourite sweater and you’ll never get rid of it because of how warm and comfortable it is”) it doesn’t have to be this way.Sure: it’s cute, but in the end you still want a bit of heat, if you can get it. If this sounds like your train of thought then look no further: these are the best (if somewhat arbitrary) non-cliché tips you need to spice up your long term relationship.

Try ‘the amazon’

Athletically challenging but sexually rewarding, the amazon is a woman-on-top position which our Sydney Morning Herald reviewer gave “a big thumbs up.”

Get counselling

Beyond complacency (solved by trying new things and/or getting a new partner/spending time apart) the main barrier to good sex in a long term relationship is resentment. As The Sydney Morning Herald puts it, “In a long-term relationship, the first imperative is to like each other… Talk, get relationship counselling, and become friends again, before you even think about sex.”

“You cannot enjoy sexual intimacy if you have major issues.”

Have fun together

Borderline cliche but so important it still deserves a mention. Forget “working on” your relationship and instead mess around together. As Elite Daily recommends this could include anything from “cranking up the flirting” to organising unconventional date nights.

Stop calling foreplay, foreplay

“It implies there are sets of hurdles you need to jump in order to get to the real sex,” – Sydney Morning Herald delivering the good again.

Stop relying on alcohol to solve your problems

It might help you relax but it also deadens the senses. In other words: dry January might not be as parches as you think…

Read Next

• Women Reveal The Surprising Qualities That Make Them Lose Interest In A Guy
• Why Rebound Sex Could Actually Be A Smart Post Break-Up Choice

The post Spice Up Your Relationship: Tips Revealed By Experts appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

According to convention, the girl you’ve been chasing will leave your sorry ass for a bad boy. But are these dudes of questionable morals anything without their precious cars? We believe that behind every bad boy is a bad-ass car. Falling short of holding up your local 7-11, here are our selection of iconic cars that will garner you a many raised eyebrows from the authorities without the shooting you bit.

Porsche 964 Turbo

How can one go past the Porsche 964 Turbo packing a 385hp 3.6 litre boxer engine. This iconic car of the ’90s was literally in a film called Bad Boys starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence as well as being Hank Moody’s choice of ride in Californication – it got smashed up by a guy after David Duchovny’s character slept with his girlfriend in the opening episode. If that’s not bad-ass enough, inanimate objects will also blow up behind you as you drive away (see image).

Vorsteiner GTRS3 BMW M3

If you don’t find your BMW M3 imposing enough, luxury European car tuner Vorsteiner have the perfect solution for you – make the car as wide as the lanes on your local roads. This blue example takes the elegant lines of the E92 M3 and cranks it up to “I’ve done something illegal and I’m running”.

KTM X-BOW RR

No other car screams bad ass more than the KTM X-Bow RR. Really, it has no roof. Surely that must warrant some form of an “I don’t give a damn” kind of attitude – a true trait of the bad boy. The X-Bow RR is the top of the range model that has performance figures that are determined by the specification the owner chooses. As reference, the model below the RR has a turbo-charged 300hp engine and weighs 790kg with a top speed of 231km/h. See those number plates? Indeed it can be road registered in selected countries.

Shelby Mustang GT500

Ah Eleanor, how could we leave you out. Classically American and made famously bad-ass by Nicholas Cage in Gone in 60 Seconds, the Shelby Mustang GT500 of the 1960s has as much charisma as it does wheel spin credibility. A respectable 400hp is derived from the 5.7 litre V8. Nitrous oxide is optional.

Mercedes Benz C63 AMG Black Series

With its serious track presence, the C63 AMG Black Series is a car that can easily double as a diamond thief’s getaway car. It’s made meaner and faster than the “standard” AMG variant with aggressively pumped fenders, gaping front air ducts, vents and a fixed carbon rear wing. The naturally aspirated V8 is easily capable of 517hp with 620Nm of torque. It does weigh a bit at around 1,700kg, but that doesn’t stop the car from hitting 0-100km/h in 4.2 seconds and a top speed of 300km/h.

Brabus B63s – 700

What’s better than four wheels on a Mercedes? How about six. The Brabus tuned 6 x 6 G-Wagen is pretty much a luxury tank designed for desert duties and driving through buildings. It affords 700hp from the 5.5 litre V8 and does the 0-100km/h sprint in 7.4 seconds – insane for a car that weighs four tonnes. There’s also a Brabus front spoiler, carbon fibre bonnet scoop, dark-tinted LED lights, and a cabin decked in red leather, TV screens in the rear headrests, stainless-steel scuff plates and aluminium finishings. Your girlfriend’s dad will most likely not dare ask what time you’ll be bringing his daughter home.

Ford Focus RS500

The Ford Focus RS500 exudes the goods (bads?) even without trying. Based on the final edition of their celebrated rally car of 2009-2010, Ford of Europe decided to go out with this sinister looking hot hatch. From the factory, it’s wrapped in matte black along with blacked out wheels. The kicker? All of the 261kW and 461Nm of torque drive the front wheels. Ford’s patented RevoKnuckle technology along with trick limited slip differentials help keep the car from torque-steering off a mountain. As the name suggests, there are only 500 in the world and getting your hands on one will see to it that you’re left well alone at the McDonald’s carpark. Performance? The 2.5 litre 5-cylinder turbo gets this little rocket to 100km/h in 5.6 seconds with a top speed of 265km/h.

Ferrari F40 LM

Based on the already rare F40 platform, the LM was made for Ferrari’s most favoured clients. As you can probably tell, it was upgraded for performance and somewhere along the line it’s become an iconic bad boy car that you probably couldn’t afford even if you found one. The body work is re-designed for better downforce and the twin-turbo V8 engine now produces somewhere between 850 – 900hp. Want one? there are only 17 of them in the world.

Dodge Viper SRT – 10

The Yanks do know a thing or two about building some mean looking cars. The Viper SRT-10 is one of them. With its menacing blacked out exterior and a single red stripe that extends across the car, it definitely fits the bad ass bill. But does it go? Well it has an 8.4 litre V10 from a truck which produces 640hp, so we suppose that’s a yes.

Lotus Espirt Turbo

You can’t go past a bad boy, good guy icon like 007. So it’s only fitting that we included one of his most iconic cars from the ’70s – the Lotus Esprit Turbo is actually the follow up Lotus to the S1, which also doubled as a submarine in the movie prior. This version isn’t as ambitious but it still carries the bad boy persona with its copper paint, roof mounted snow gear and obligatory 007 vinyl – because every spy needs to let their enemy know whom to shoot. Now that’s bad ass. It does 0-100km/h in 6.1 seconds with a top speed of 240km/h. There are only 45 of these vehicles in the world.

The post Iconic 'Bad Boy' Cars That Still Ooze Cool appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Scarves are seen as perfectly acceptable additions to every modern gent’s wardrobe, but any variations are still met with some uncertainty. By variations, we mean accessories such as the ascot tie, or the cravat. But fellas, if you were ever in doubt as to how you might pull off the latter, take a good look at Pierce Brosnan.

His latest outing – at the opening night performance of The Last Ship (a musical created by Sting), in Los Angeles, California on January the 22nd, 2020 – offered up a masterclass in how to effectively pull off the cravat. While we’d recommend neckwear newbies to opt for a solid colour, Pierce goes straight in with a pattern, which he teams expertly with a three-piece charcoal twill suit and white shirt with a suitably wide opening to be able to tuck the cravat in.

The ex-James Bond actor has been popping up on a regular basis here at D’Marge lately, and for good reason. His style game has been on another level lately, and he can be seen as an inspiration not just for gents closer to his age of 66, but for the slightly younger generation, too.

It might be a far cry from his tuxedo-wearing days as Britain’s foremost secret agent, but Pierce still looks as debonaire as ever. The Irish-American actor will appear in The Misfits later this year, as Richard Pace, a master criminal who gets himself caught up in a gold heist.

Read Next

• How To Wear A Scarf – A Modern Man’s Guide
• Pierce Brosnan Is At It Again And This Time He Outdressed All Of Paris

The post Pierce Brosnan Wears Cravat Like A Boss appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

‘Aspiration’ is a word that is often used when we talk about watches. Something that shows others who we are, where we’re at, and the direction we’re heading in. What a Rolex says is something a little different, things like ‘I’ve made it’, ‘catch me if you can’ and ‘I bet you wouldn’t mind being me?!’

Although most people will associate Rolex watches with Switzerland like the majority of major watch manufacturers, the brand was actually founded in London, England, in 1905. Back then the company was called Wilsdorf and Davis. It wasn’t until after the First World War in 1919 when the company upped sticks and moved to the more neutral (and more tax-friendly!) surroundings of Geneva that the watchmaker took on the name it is so fondly known as today.

Since those humble beginnings, Rolex has led from the front in terms of design and innovation. In 1926, they produced the world’s first-ever waterproof watch, the Oyster, with its airtight casing that ensured optimum movement when in and around water, and even sat on the wrist of Mercedes Glieitz as she swam for 10 hours non-stop across the English channel. This flirtation with swimming propelled Rolex into other sports and even aviation – and was seen by many during the era as the innovative time teller for innovative times.

In more recent years Rolex has been about perfecting their creations, incorporating small, yet effective, details into their designs to maximise functionality, practicality and overall aesthetic – whilst testing the limits of an everyday watch. These days, Rolex is perhaps the world’s most iconic luxury brand and one of the world’s biggest watchmakers.

Despite the fact that Rolex makes thousands of watches a year, their insane popularity means it’s often exceedingly difficult to purchase one at retail. Waiting lists for popular models can extend into the years. If there’s a particular model you’re after, we recommend scouting out your retailer of choice, building up a relationship, and being patient.

RELATED: Rolex Watch Prices You Can Expect To Pay In 2022

Whilst you’re waiting, here’s our list of the best Rolex watches to buy in 2022.

Rolex Oyster Perpetual 36

Reference Number: 126000-0001
Case Size: 36mm
Material: Stainless Steel
Bracelet: Oyster
Price: AU$8,150

Let’s kick things off with the Oyster Perpetual, Rolex’s entry-level model. Available in a wide variety of case sizes, dial finishes and materials, it’s a no-nonsense time-only piece that is as close to ‘affordable’ as a Rolex gets.

This 36mm silver dial model is as plain-jane and unassuming as Rolexes come… But actually, that’s what makes it so cool. It’s the epitome of stealth wealth.

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Rolex Datejust 41 ‘Mint Green’

Reference Number: 126334-0028
Case Size: 41mm
Material: Stainless Steel / White Gold
Bracelet: Jubilee
Price: AU$14,300

Next up we have the Datejust, which is similar to the Oyster Perpetual but includes a date window, visible through a magnifying ‘Cyclops’ lens. The Datejust is one of the most versatile watches in Rolex’s catalogue and continues to be a popular choice among collectors.

Also, like the Oyster Perpetual, the Datejust comes in many different sizes, case materials and so on. This example is made from Oystersteel (what Rolex calls their proprietary stainless steel alloy) with a white gold fluted bezel, is mounted on a Jubilee bracelet (one of a few signature Rolex bracelet designs) and features an in-demand mint green dial, a new option introduced in 2022.

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Rolex Submariner ‘No Date’

Reference Number: 124060-0001
Case Size: 41mm
Material: Stainless Steel
Bracelet: Oyster
Price: AU$12,600

The Rolex Submariner is arguably the most recognisable watch on the planet. First introduced in 1954, it was the first watch to be waterproof up to 100m, and while few professional divers wear Submariners on the job these days, it remains one of the most popular luxury dive watches on the market.

While most Submariners Rolex makes today feature date windows, this one doesn’t, much like the original model. It’s the most ‘pure’ Submariner – and also the cheapest, at least at retail. Because the Submariner is one of Rolex’s most popular models, waiting lists for the watch are exceptionally long.

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Rolex GMT-Master II ‘Pepsi’

Reference Number: 126710BLRO-0002
Case Size: 40mm
Material: Stainless Steel
Bracelet: Oyster
Price: AU$14,800

The Rolex GMT-Master II ‘Pepsi’ is one of the most coveted Rolex models – even people who don’t know anything about watches have heard of the ‘Pepsi’. The nickname (which, by the way, is totally unofficial – you’ll never hear Rolex calling it a Pepsi) comes from its red and blue bezel. These days, the GMT-Master II comes in a number of different bezel colour combinations, but red and blue is the OG colourway.

It’s a GMT watch, which means it can tell the time in multiple time zones – a very practical complication, especially if you travel frequently. Indeed, the watch was originally designed in collaboration with Pan American Airways for use by their pilots and navigators back in 1954.

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Rolex Cosmograph Daytona ‘Panda’

Reference Number: 116500LN-0001
Case Size: 40mm
Material: Stainless Steel
Bracelet: Oyster
Price: AU$20,400

Ahh, the Daytona. Rolex’s famous chronograph is inarguably the brand’s most sought-after model and waiting lists for stainless steel examples like this one are as much as 5 years long. This one’s called the ‘Panda’ thanks to its white and black look.

As it happens, Paul Newman’s personal Rolex Daytona holds the record for the most expensive Rolex and third most expensive watch ever, having sold at auction back in 2017 for a whopping US$17.75 million.

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WATCH our guide to the most expensive Rolex watches of all time below.

Rolex Day-Date 40 ‘President’

Reference Number: 228238-0003
Case Size: 40mm
Material: Yellow Gold
Bracelet: President
Price: AU$52,850

No other watch screams ‘old money’ quite like the classic Rolex Day-Date ‘President’. The nickname specifically refers to the yellow gold version of this watch on a ‘President’ bracelet and refers to the fact that every US President from LBJ to Clinton wore one of these bad boys while in office.

As the name implies, it features a day and a date window, the former spelling out the day of the week in full. The Day-Date is only ever made in precious metals (primarily gold) and is available in 16 different languages. This year, Rolex even released a fully platinum version of the Day-Date – but the buttery, yellow gold President is a timeless classic.

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Rolex Explorer II ‘Polar’

Reference Number: 226570-0001
Case Size: 42mm
Material: Stainless Steel
Bracelet: Oyster
Price: AU$13,300

Often mistaken for a GMT-Master II, the Rolex Explorer II is also a GMT watch, but is slightly larger at 42mm and features a fixed stainless steel bezel as opposed to the ceramic-topped directional bezel of its more famous sibling.

It also features a stark white dial (hence ‘Polar’) although it’s also available with a black dial if the white look is too much for you. We love the orange GMT hand and dial lettering… Honestly, we’re not sure why more people don’t buy a Polar over a Pepsi, for example.

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Rolex Yacht-Master II

Reference Number: 116680-0002
Case Size: 44mm
Material: Stainless Steel
Bracelet: Oyster
Price: AU$26,300

The Yacht-Master II is perhaps Rolex’s most misunderstood watch. Not only is it one of the biggest Rolexes currently in production at a hefty 44mm, but it also features a rather unusual complication: a regatta timer.

A regatta timer is used to count down the amount of time remaining before yachts competing in a race are allowed to cross the start line – a highly specialised and complex complication. Few Yacht-Master II owners use their watch for its intended purchase. But it’s pretty cool, right?

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Rolex GMT-Master II ‘Sprite’

Reference Number: 126720VTNR-0001
Case Size: 41mm
Material: Stainless Steel
Bracelet: Oyster
Price: AU$15,500

Unveiled this year at Watches & Wonders Geneva and also called the ‘Destro’, the Rolex GMT-Master II ‘Sprite’ is one of the most unusual and out-there watches Rolex has released in years. It’s a left-handed watch (i.e. designed for those who wear their watch on their right hand) but unlike most leftie watches, the date window and the crown are mounted at 9 o’clock instead of 3 o’clock.

If that wasn’t unusual enough, the Sprite/Destro also features a brand-new and totally exclusive bezel colour combination, black and green. While it’s designed for lefties, people of all sorts of handedness have been snapping these up, and demand is fierce.

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Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea D-Blue ‘James Cameron’

Reference Number: 136660-0003
Case Size: 44mm
Material: Stainless Steel
Bracelet: Oyster
Price: AU$20,000

If the Submariner’s 300m of water resistance isn’t enough for you, then there’s the Sea-Dweller. On top of that, you’ve got the Deepsea, Rolex’s biggest and most capable dive watch, which is rated at 3,900m. It’s easily distinguished from other Rolexes and Submariners thanks to its thick rehaut and date window sans Cyclops lens.

This reference’s ‘D-Blue’ dial commemorates movie director and aquanaut James Cameron’s record-breaking 2012 solo descent to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the Earth’s ocean, in the Deepsea Challenger submersible.

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Rolex Sky-Dweller

Reference Number: 326238-0009
Case Size: 42mm
Material: Yellow Gold
Bracelet: Oysterflex
Price: AU$56,450

The Sky-Dweller is Rolex’s youngest model, having only hit the market in 2012, and is one of the brand’s largest and most unique watches. It’s Rolex’s first and only annual calendar timepiece – which also happens to feature dual time zones – and is an interesting hybrid between a dress watch and a tool watch. It’s also a rather hard Rolex to acquire, especially this reference on Rolex’s super-comfy hybrid rubber ‘Oysterflex’ strap.

A GMT watch like the famous GMT-Master, the Sky-Dweller has a truly unique approach to telling time that’s quite unlike any other watch. The dial of the Sky-Dweller indicates the local time and date via the centre hands and 3 o’clock date window – so far, so normal – but also indicates the month by the small rectangular windows next to the hour markers, which change from white to red. The 24-hour disc in the middle of the dial displays a second time zone, intended to be your home time.

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Rolex Air-King

Reference Number: 126900-0001
Case Size: 40mm
Material: Stainless Steel
Bracelet: Oyster
Price: AU$10,350

From the hyped to the overlooked: the Rolex Air-King is an unassuming time-only piece that used to be one of the easiest Rolexes to get at retail – but thanks to a 2022 update, the spotlight’s been shone on the Air-King again.

The new Air-King now features a crown guard and the five-minute marker now read ’05’ instead of simply ‘5’, giving the watch a more symmetrical and consistent aesthetic.

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Rolex Cellini Moonphase

Reference Number: 50535-0002
Case Size: 39mm
Material: Rose Gold
Bracelet: Leather
Price: AU$37,750

The Cellini is the most atypical Rolex of all: highly dressy and without many of the same design codes as other models, it’s always been an outlier and in our opinion, criminally underrated.

Not only is the Cellini Moonphase the only watch Rolex currently makes with a moonphase complication (go figure) but it’s also the only model currently available on a leather strap and features a unique-for-the-brand date hand. It’s nice, it’s different, it’s unusual.

Rolex Watches FAQs

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The post The Best Rolex Watches To Buy In 2022 appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Common Projects with running socks. Off-the-rack blazers. Mankles. This is a fashion crisis. And unlike the generational faux-pas of previous eras, we don’t even realise it’s happening. Why? Because we’ve been sold a lie – the lie that a pair of fresh white sneakers will make up for our other sins.

Sorry to break it to you, but purchasing a pair of ‘fresh kicks’ is not a silver bullet solution. Trust me: I’ve tried – just as fast as my heart lept when I heard I could not just “up my style” with sneakers, but also wear them with a suit, shorts and just about every other outfit I own, it sank when I realised I hadn’t solved the core problem – not owning a decent rotation of outfits to begin with.

I didn’t come to this realisation straight away though. In fact, the day I bought my first pair of Oliver Cabell’s, I thought I was cooler than Luka Sabbat. All good things must come to an end though. And this is how it came about – these are all the reasons fresh kicks are not the ‘magic’ product you’ve been sold.

They don’t stay fresh for long

 

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A post shared by Dimitris Kolonas (@dimitris_kolonas) on Aug 24, 2019 at 8:10am PDT

While not as pricey as Common Projects, Givenchy; Versace, my $188 ‘Projects were still expensive enough for me to fear puddles, dust and stair edges almost as much as I feared the world suspecting I had started dressing myself at the behest of an internet guide.

You soon come to realise purchasing ‘box fresh’ sneakers every two months to compensate for not owning a fitted suit (and proper casual clothing) is actually less financially sustainable than going to the tailor and dropping $1,000.

RELATED: I Wore The Official F*ckboi Footwear Of 2020 For A Week & It Changed My Life

They make you paranoid

It’s not just stair edges; the judgement of others is actually a lot more painful when you are wearing an eye-catching pair of kicks. In fact, wearing one ‘trendy’ item brings more attention to the rest of your outfit’s failures than if the whole thing is a mess.

They don’t magically transform you into Luka Sabbat

Did I mention this? Heart breaking.

They won’t instantly get you a date

Unlike the blue denim jacket (which we have on good authority is almost guaranteed to get you a date), shoes tend not to feature in most Tinder DP’s. And – as we mentioned earlier – a good overall outfit is key to impressing mates, co-workers and dates.

They will make you bleed

There’s nothing worse than turning up to that big meeting or work event looking like fire… only to look down and realise there is blood pouring from your ankles. Neither band-aids nor that awkward hobble you are forced to put on when you have blisters are a good look.

You will have to buy new (invisible) socks

 

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A post shared by Men’s Fashion Outfit Grid (@manfashiongrid) on May 28, 2019 at 7:53am PDT

The only thing worse than not owning a quality pair of ‘fresh kicks’ is owning a pair and then wearing them with visible socks.

Read Next

• 20 Best Luxury Sneaker Brands For Men In 2020
• 30 Best Men’s White Sneakers To Buy Right Now

The post The Biggest 'White Sneaker' Lie Men Have Ever Been Sold appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

NASA collaborations are nothing new these days, with the likes of Heron Preston, Vans, Puma and Alpha Industries all getting involved. To be honest, most of the stuff that has been released is either ugly or too expensive. The space administration’s latest collab with Timex, however, which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the moon landing, is another story.Since 1854 Timex has been making stylish, affordable watches that don’t sacrifice on quality. The collab between the two brands combines both their history and aesthetic to create a watch that really impresses. The watch is based on Timex’s Acadia, a 40mm field style watch with a quartz movement, date function and nato strap.Aesthetically, the watch is simple, available in either black and white or all navy, they reference NASA’s colour palette. Combine this with the NASA branding and simple dial featuring 12 and 24 hour time and you’ve got yourself a very good looking watch.Priced at $69 it’s very affordable for a watch and the perfect addition or start to any collection.Shop Timex x NASA Acadia Watch $69

Read Next

• The Rolex Pepsi Inspired ‘Timex Q’ Is Back In Stock For A Limited Time

The post Timex NASA Watch You Might Actually Wear appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

At first glance, you’d be fooled into thinking that these are like any other high top Converse. But they aren’t, they’re called the ‘Chuck 70’ and feature a few small changes to normal Chuck Taylor’s that make them far, far better.If you hadn’t already noticed, the Chuck 70’s are inspired by the original shoes from the 1970s. To achieve this vintage look, Converse has used a heavier-grade canvas, a different, sturdier midsole and more intricate stitching. Not only do these subtle changes make them look great, but it also makes them far more durable and comfortable.If you’re looking for a timeless essential that will help lift any wardrobe, a slick pair of Chuck 70’s can’t go amiss. Pictured here in the off white, they’ll look great with anything you pair them with, from tracksuits to suits. Priced at $85, you really can’t go wrong.Shop Converse Chuck 70 In Off-White $85

Read Next

• These Are The Best Common Projects Alternative In 2020
• Three Must-Have Men’s Sneaker Investments For 2020

The post Converse Chuck 70 Is A Must Have For Men appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

I’ve always thought group fitness is a cop-out. Pre-planned intensity and structure may be great for those with no motivation (or the army), but it’s not for me. Furthermore, my opinion of F45 was somewhere between ‘meh’ and ‘whatever’ but after trying F45 for seven days straight, I’ve come to realise being part of this cult community can transform – even if you consider yourself a ~motivated~ individual. Consider this my F45 review.

Having trained in Biggest Loser coach Libby Babet’s former studio AGOGA for close to five years, I’m well versed in running, jumping and burpee-ing. F45, on the other hand, always seemed a little extreme – not to mention a sure way to injure myself and ensure my chiropractor is driving a new Porsche 911 before me.

That was until I caught my friend Olivier on his daily morning pilgrimage to F45 Bondi Beach. Olivier is about my age (let’s say late 30’s) and in similar shape. After 12 months of F45, his results are nothing short of impressive, even if his underpants are questionable in the ‘after’ photos.

RELATED: David Beckham Jumps Aboard 2020’s Hottest Fitness Trend

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by F45 Training Bondi Beach (@f45trainingbondi) on Oct 3, 2019 at 11:10pm PDT

With that inspiration, I decided to stop pooh-poohing F45 as the mecca of sports injuries and over-enthusiasm and experience this Bondi born – and Mark Wahlberg ‘endorsed’ – fitness franchise that’s quickly taking over the world.

This F45 trial would be taking part at their #1 studio in Bondi Beach – the same place Olivier became the underpants-wearing-god he is today. It’s also home to the F45 World Champions of 2019.

For the small cost of $55 for a 7-day trial pass (yes: I paid – this is not a sponsored piece or a PR stunt), I was allowed to take part in the early (7:30am) sessions each weekday and later sessions (9:30am) on the weekend.

I subsequently realised F45 Bondi offers a ‘locals-only’ pass for even less – something which I missed the memo on… but I digress.

In any case: I began the 7-day trial with tennis elbow and a niggling facet joint issue in my back, so I plan to work at 80%- 90% capacity and with a strict list of no go exercises from my Chiropractor to ensure I don’t make matters worse. Here’s how it went.

Day One

Class: Varsity (Cardio)
Length: 45 Minutes
Calories Burnt: 454

After a brief tour of F45’s massive blue, white and red studio I get the feeling the stars and stripes colour combo is a clever marketing appeal to an American audience. Regardless, the spacious Bondi studio is soon full with 30 something bodies of all ages, shapes and sizes. Props to Sally, who classifies herself as seventy-plus, and who gets in there every day and gives 100%.

Our instructor, Bill Cunningham, aka Wild Bill Cunningham is a man who needs no microphone. Bill’s loud, fish market loud, but has plenty of encouragement and high fives should you need one.

Wild Bill and his enthusiastic Instagram-ready assistant Nicole take the class through each of the exercises at a frightening pace. You can be sure not a single person asks a question, instead, we work it out when the bell goes. Like the workout demonstration, the warm-up is also at breakneck speed: 90 seconds, 10 quick ‘jumpy jumpy’ exercises and you’re done.

A gentle jog to the studio may have been more beneficial at this point, regardless I push on, getting luke-warmed up and begin 40 minutes of cardio.

As it’s my first session, I find watching the screens (and the 10-second breaks) confusing. It’s also irritating keeping pace with everyone else. But then, as the class pushes on I’m glad of the 10 seconds here and there. As for watching screens, I stare at them like a moron for the first round, then my short term memory kicks in.

My form has always been an issue for me – and with only two instructors on the floor for 30 plus people in a room I’m not exactly feeling the love. My gut feeling is they tend to focus on those who desperately need help. Maybe it’s my fancy Nike sneakers; maybe it’s my matching shorts; maybe even – by some miracle – my form is good; whatever the case, the trainers leave me alone, which makes the experience a little ‘loveless’ in comparison to my old studio AGOGA.

Whilst it may sound like I need a hug, it’s not (just) that, it was more about being part of something which on the outside has a reputation for lacking soul. I was determined to find out if this was true.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by F45 Training Bondi Beach (@f45trainingbondi) on Oct 29, 2019 at 7:46pm PDT

The Varsity session is simple and cardio-based. No running machines. Plenty of bodyweight squats and sprints spread across nine stations. We rinse and repeat three times for 20 seconds, 30 seconds and then (somehow) for one minute per exercise. I even get a little vommy on the battle ropes toward the end.

The class ends, my life doesn’t, and there are a few high fives with those poor souls I was paired up with. Like the luke-warm warm-up, there’s a non-existent warm down. Like rats fleeing a sinking ship the class dashes off to make their 9am appointments in Bondi.

Remarkably, the instructors remember most of the class’ names on their way out.

Day Two

Class: MKATZ (Resistance)
Length: 45 Minutes
Calories Burnt: 511

I wake to find my hamstrings tighter than a snare drum, nothing unusual as I’m remarkably bad at stretching my legs. A quick one-two on the foam roller and we’re out the door on the way for our 7:30am MKATZ session. MKATZ may sound like a Jewish deli which makes great pastrami sandwiches, but according to F45 it’s “the new Drop Set workout on the block… for those looking to build quality lean muscle mass.”

“Building quality muscle is not only about compound lifting. We want to challenge muscles on different angles, with different timing, and various tempos.”

Wild Bill isn’t on today, rather the friendly Lucy Francis takes the class. We’re warmed up and on our way in a flash for this resistance training session. More weights, slower tempo, much more intensity. As someone who enjoys working out in the gym – more so than cardio – this class is a turning point. I see how people still get weights workout feels mixed with that all-important cardio blast.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by F45 Training Bondi Beach (@f45trainingbondi) on Jan 16, 2020 at 4:47pm PST

Yesterday’s soreness is only felt during squats and leg work – and there’s a lot – however, it is mixed with a healthy amount of bench work, kettlebells, dumbells and TRX suspension training. It’s a really solid mix of toning and conditioning exercises that you can go heavy on.

Speaking of heavy, my back is so far holding up well, as is my tennis elbow. The trick here is not to lift beyond your limit. Overhead exercises and deadlifts are my danger zones, so moving carefully with lighter weights is a must.

I move onto the next day feeling the love and beginning to see what all the fuss is about.

Day Three

Class: Miami Nights (Hybrid)
Length: 45 Minutes
Calories Burnt: 530

I wake up on Friday morning surprisingly sore. This is due to the various exercises you do in a class. These muscles feel like they’ve not been used in my entire life. Increased core work and functional movements will have something to do with this. Regardless, I punch down a pre-workout drink (and some creatine) and push on to the morning’s class.

F45’s various workouts mean you’re never bored. There seems to be no shortage of different names and exercises in each session, so the variety is spot on. Plus: there are no treadmills or running in the classes, which will suit a lot of people. Personally, running tends to drop too much weight off me and I soon have terminal illness vibes about my physique, so I’m hoping the resistance classes combined with increased-but-lean eating will get me to a goal weight of 88kg with <10% body fat.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by F45 Training Bondi Beach (@f45trainingbondi) on Oct 2, 2019 at 6:58pm PDT

Miami Night is one of their ‘hybrid’ training sessions. Lots of resistance work and body weights with enough iron-pumping to keep the beefcakes (or aspiring beefcakes like myself) happy. Miami Nights quickly becomes my favourite class so far. The perfect mix of everything. Which may be why they call it hybrid.

At this point in the week, I’m learning how hard to push myself without gassing out mid-class. I’m also beginning to see the same faces each morning and the trainers are almost remembering my name. It’s addictive. The soul that I thought was never there is actually there. I’m even high fiving strangers. Who have I become in 48 hours.

Day Four

Class: Hollywood (Circuit)
Length: 60 Minutes
Calories Burnt: 629

Saturday has arrived and it’s time to test myself for an hour at F45’s infamous Hollywood class. My body is getting more tired each day, and this is compounded by the lack of sleep thanks to a sick girlfriend. She wouldn’t sleep on the balcony as requested (rude), so we endured a night of restless coughing and mediocre sleep (my Fitbit Charge 3 can confirm).

Hollywood involves 60 minutes of flat out training over 27 stations twice over. Burpies, pull-ups, rowing, box jumps, squats, military presses. This is the F45 pizza with the lot. I’ve never seen so many people crammed into a class. Strangely enough, it works. Not once do I bump into someone. There’s a method to the madness that appears to have been well thought out by some clever sod.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by F45 Training Bondi Beach (@f45trainingbondi) on Nov 19, 2019 at 5:38pm PST

I leave Hollywood a dripping mess. My class endurance continues to improve so the 60 minutes isn’t as bad as you think. Muscle soreness quickly fades once you get moving and that glistening six-pack is just a workout away. Maybe two… Twenty-seven stations breeze by as quickly as the time. Calories burnt? A respectable 629.

I quickly learn a singlet and shorts are definitely the recommended attire for F45 in Summer. T-shirts are pointless. Give the people two tickets to the gun show because you’re going to schvitz your schvantz off.

Day Five

Class: Wingman (Hybrid)
Duration: 45 Minutes
Calories Burnt: 501

Three nights on the fold-out Ikea sofa bed are beginning to take their toll on me. My back muscles continue to ache and my shoulders are sore in places I didn’t know I had. If there was ever a time to stay in bed it is this morning.

Alas, I get up.

The numbers in the class swell again. Still amazed the system works. Wild Bill is back on the floor with lots of encouragement even for the fittest (starting to feel the love, now).

Wingman’s workout description that you ‘buddy up’, which sends additional human contact chills down my spine. Rather, you’re broken up into groups of three. Quick introductions and handshakes and you’re off. ‘Hybrid’ combines resistance and strength training, all body, lots of push-ups and squats. Mixing functional movement and ab work.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by F45 Training Bondi Beach (@f45trainingbondi) on Nov 26, 2019 at 2:09pm PST

I finish the class with some rehab on my tennis elbow, which one of the trainers has recently experienced. The solution is the flex resistance bar, which you twist and turn to strengthen the muscles around the forearm.

Even more people this morning than the day before. The machine continues to run smoothly, and I’m starting to see why: if you’re looking for a fit date, F45 could be the perfect wingman…

Day Six

Class: Athletica (Cardio)
Duration: 45 Minutes
Calories Burnt: 464

With this intense training every day your body needs good sleep and better food. I’ve been eating My Muscle Chef meals all week, so my carbohydrate and protein intake is easy to track (and spot-on according to My Fitness Pal). Sleep, on the other hand, continues to be an issue. Five hours seems to be running total. According to most studies, eight hours is optimal for building muscle. For now, five will have to do.

The weather’s warm so I use the opportunity to warm up with a brisk 2km walk on the way to the studio. It’s enough to get better range in the legs before training. Athletica is nothing new. More cardio, 45 mins of ‘go go go,’ followed by a token one minute warm down and we’re out the door.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by F45 Training Bondi Beach (@f45trainingbondi) on Aug 21, 2019 at 12:09am PDT

By now I’m doing the classes in autopilot. I’m still enjoying them, still looking forward to the session the night before and still making the effort to take care of my injuries through stretching each night or as I wake up. With a specific goal in mind, doing this every day is a definite possibility – but let’s see how day seven goes first.

Day Seven

Class: None (Rest… there’s a good reason)
Duration: All-day

Or doesn’t go…

The combination of the annual car service and good waves at Bondi mean day seven of my experiment is put on ice. Why? I workout often and with enough intensity that there was no revelation to be had by doing it (and: did I mention? There were decent waves. At Bondi).

The point of the trial was to get over the initial hump of hating on F45 for no good reason, my worries about injuries have almost been alleviated and I’ll no doubt be there again at 7:30am tomorrow.

Ricky the local F45 trainer also agrees “some people just go too hard and don’t listen to their body. Taking a break is a good idea, otherwise, you’ll get injured.”

The big take out here is rest, moderation and variety. Some mornings a surf will be more important than training, other mornings, I will surf for an hour followed by an F45 session.

Training six days out of seven is no big deal, F45 does allow you to move at your own pace without fear of being bullied to lift heavier or faster. You’re there to do the work, it’s up to you how many calories you can burn and level of intensity with which you move.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by F45 Training Bondi Beach (@f45trainingbondi) on Aug 12, 2019 at 9:21pm PDT

That said, the feeling of being cattle, getting shoved in and pushed out of classes never went away. F45 is a money-machine and every minute counts. It’s up to you to make warming up or down a priority as you arrive and leave the classes. Perhaps that’s why F45 does have the unfounded injury stigma. It’s not rocket science, look after your body in these classes so you can train harder, more often and ultimately look better… maybe even look like old mate Olivier one day.

With F45 Training you get out of it what you put in. Do one class a week and you’ll see one class a week results. Give 50% in the classes then you’re only going to burn half the calories and that body fat percentage will not drop. Other HIIT studios may help you burn more calories, but that often involves running, which is not for everyone. Personally I tend to drop too much weight running so this could be the best solution for me. Lastly, with whatever F45 lacks it more than makes up for in variety and getting the job done.

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The post What’s The Truth About F45 Training? appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

The automotive world is constantly evolving. Each year brings with it a slew of new technologies for cars – both on the inside and out – all of which aim to improve the driving experience, and to (usually) be more considerate of the environment.With the new decade firmly underway, we thought it best to take a look at the cars coming your way in the year ahead, but to help sort the wheat from the chaff, we spoke to some of Australia’s leading motoring journalists to find out the cars they’re most looking forward to driving.

Mike Sinclair, Carsales

Carsales’ Editor-in-Chief Mike Sinclair lists the new Land Rover Defender on his ‘to-drive list’ in 2020. The iconic Landie was first released back in 1983 (although it can be traced back to 1948 before Land Rover introduced the ‘Defender’ moniker), with production ceasing in 2016. After a three-year hiatus, Land Rover announced it would bring the model back to our roads.Mike says of the upcoming model: “The all-new, new generation Defender is a step-change for Land Rover and must fire if the brand is to proper.”

“As a Defender fan from way back, I’m also interested in whether the all-new vehicle can retain some of the character of the old classic Landie, within the bound of much-improved ergonomics, mechanicals, emissions, and safety. Most importantly, will it be as good off-road?…”

 

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A post shared by Land Rover (@landrover) on Jan 16, 2020 at 4:30am PST

Also on Mike’s list is the Porsche Taycan. It’s not a new car anymore – we’ve driven it ourselves on the roads of Finland – but Mike “wants to see how it performs on our [Australian] roads and conditions. Stunning repeatable and streetable performance is the claim, along with decent range and proper refinement.”

“Our taste-test of the extra-rapid four-door in Germany make the car seem oh so tempting, but how will it work Down Under?”

Rounding out Mike’s top three cars for 2020 is the Ford Fiesta ST, so often regarded as one of the best affordable hot-hatches. Mike says of the spritely car: “Ford builds great hot hatches but so often they are not available in Australia – or watered down to pale imitations of what the Euros get.”“The newest three-cylinder turbo tearaway from Ford should deliver true pocket-rocket performance with approachable, fun to drive dynamics and all at a decent price…Should! Let’s hope it proves to be the case…”

Alex Inwood, WhichCar?

Mike isn’t the only journo to put the Defender on his list; Which Car’s Alex Inwood also agrees. Their reasoning? “JLR (Jaguar Land Rover) know the value of heritage, and are experts at tapping into this while delivering all the comfort and convenience buyers want in a 4×4.”

“This is an off-roader that will make you want to plan an adventure.”

However, the motoring experts add that if you decide to order one, “just say no” to the optional 22-inch wheels.It’s all about speed in 2020 for Which Car? too, as the BMW M2 CS also makes their list of cars to look forward to in the year ahead. The M2 arrived as a superfast, but compact car. The introduction of the limited-edition CS model will make it even more bonkers. “It’s a two-door, rear-drive coupe with M4 levels of stonk in a diminutive package. Make that several boxes ticked.” says Which Car?

 

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A post shared by BMW Bosna i Hercegovina (@bmw_bosnaihercegovina) on Jan 21, 2020 at 8:05am PST

“The S55 straight six packs 331kW and 550Nm of turbocharged goodness, enough to propel the CS to 100km/h in 4.0-seconds.” If you want one, you best head to a BMW dealer soon and put your name on the waiting list.We all know Australians love a big, burly truck too, and in 2020, you’ll be able to get yourself a Ford Ranger with a beast of an engine under the hood. The Raptor V8 will arrive down under later this year, with, as the name suggests, a 5.0-litre V8 plucked straight from the company’s Mustang GT. Why does it make the Which Car? list?“It’s a Ranger Raptor with an engine its off-road-focused suspension deserves – finally.”

“The brakes will be approproately upsized too – which is good to know when you’re hauling down the road in a more than two-tonne dual cab.”

Jesse Taylor, Evo Magazine

Jesse Taylor, Editor of Evo magazine, has also weighed in with his choices, and they’re all cars your kids will want posters of on their bedroom walls. He starts with the Chevrolet Corvette C8, which he admits won’t actually arrive in Australia until 2021, however “it will be the first Corvette officially sold in Australia and it will be the model’s first mid-engined generation – a dramatic change from the seven previous generations that date back to 1953.”

“The new C8 is claimed to offer supercar performance, handling and looks, for about a third of the asking price of traditional exotics.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/B0FTePogD18/Speaking of exotic cars leads nicely into Jesse’s second choice: the Ferrari SF90 Stradale. “It’s set to launch internationally in March and due in Australia just before Christmas, the SF90 starts at $846,888. Tick a few boxes and you’re well over a million.”But if you think that’s a lot of money, rest assured you’ll get an awful lot of car, as Jesse adds: “For that, you get Ferrari’s first-ever plug-in hybrid that combines a twin-turbocharged 4.0-litre V8 with three electric motors for an enormous power output of 736kW/986hp.”The final car to make Jesse’s list is the latest iteration of the Porsche 911 Turbo. “The rumoured hybrid drivetrain won’t eventuate this time, but the Turbo and Turbo S will still offer plenty to excite middle-aged motoring enthusiasts who may or may not have had a poster of a 911 Turbo on their bedroom wall nearly 40 years ago.”Gentlemen, start your savings now.

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