PICTURE THIS
We’re not sure how hard you actually have to work to achieve the promise made by “Maximum Muscle Plan” (Rodale, $22.95) to increase your buff factor in just 12 weeks,” but authors Thomas Incledon and Matthew Hoffman do make you want to try. This black-and-white training guide, from Men’s Health, includes an easy-to-follow exercise program and straightforward explanations of why it’s all worth the effort.
FRESH POWDER
Sometimes the last thing you want to do when rushing outside is to rub on sticky sunscreen. The cosmetic company Colorescience offers a solution to that problem with its Sunforgettable line of powdered SPF 30 sun protection.
Colorescience claims that the powder, made up of mineral particles, reflects and scatters the sun’s harmful rays. The powdered sunscreen has its advantages, but it’s more expensive than a trusty bottle of Coppertone. A brush with powder in the tube costs $45. Go to colorescience.com for store locations. | LOS ANGELES TIMES
BY THE NUMBERS
To make sure the cardio portion of your workout is as effective as it can be, you’ve got keep your heart rate up. To find out how the pumper’s performing, you could take your pulse and try to do math and try not to fall off the treadmill, but you can remove some of the variables with the Solo 900 Heart Rate Watch. Hold down the big button on the face, and a few seconds later you’ve got your heart rate. No fuss, no chest belt. This budget friendly, unisex monitor also does duty as a watch, stopwatch and alarm clock. Put to a gym test on the eliptical machines, bikes and running, the monitor worked great. If you want fancy bells and whistles to let you know if you’ve blown past your maximum target heart rate or calculate the calories you’ve burned, upgrade to the Solo 920. Sportline Solo 900, $39.95, Sports Authority. | DANA COFFIELD
