Amor Fati: How Loving Your Fate Helps You Grow

Every day of your life you face challenges of different complexity and importance.

Some challenges are so small and easy to master that you hardly consider them a challenge. But every now and then you have to face a challenge in your life that can be so significant that it feels like you will never overcome it – and if you do, it could make your life never feel like it be the same.

For example, the most difficult challenge you might face one day is accidentally knocking over a drink, and the next day you may face your own mortality in your doctor's office as he or she explains your new diagnosis.

The size and scope of the challenges you face may change from day to day, but the mindset that you use when facing these challenges should remain the same.

This way of thinking I am referring to is Amor Fati, translated from Latin and means "love for destiny" or "love for one's own destiny".

Cupid Fati in history

Amor Fati is a concept that has been attributed to many philosophers over the years, and the stoics of ancient Greece and Rome were some of the earliest supporters of the principle.

The Roman emperor and stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius never explicitly used the term amor fati in his writings because he wrote in Greek rather than Latin. In his meditations, however, he wrote:

Accept the things that fate binds you to and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so wholeheartedly.

Epictetus, another Stoic philosopher, said something similar in his enchiridion:

Don't try to make events happen the way you want them to, just try to make them happen the way they are and everything will be fine with you.

The purpose of Amor Fati, as the Stoics wrote, is not only to accept whatever happens to you, but to accept it with enthusiasm, rather than wishing that something else has happened.

Many centuries later, at the end of the 19th century, the German philosopher Friederich Nietzsche adopted Amor Fati as the pillar of his own philosophy:

My formula for the size of a person is amor fati: you want nothing to be different, not forwards, not backwards, not forever. Not only endure what is necessary, hide less … but love it.

A few decades after Nietzsche, the Austrian psychologist Viktor Frankl wrote in his book Man & # 39; s Search for Meaning about his experiences during an internship in Nazi concentration camps.

After his wife, parents, and brother were murdered by the Nazis, after witnessing the deaths of countless people in the camps, and after experiencing immense pain and suffering, Frankl realized:

If a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer, he must accept his suffering as his job; his only and unique job. He will have to acknowledge the fact that he is unique in suffering and alone in the universe. Nobody can free him from his suffering or suffer in his place. His unique opportunity lies in the way he carries his load.

Loving one's own destiny means loving both the good and the bad that life brings with it, and refusing to think about what could have been. When faced with the absolute worst that humanity had to offer, Frankl discovered this ancient wisdom that opened his eyes to the beauty of human condition and enabled him to persevere through the torture of the Nazis.

Amor Fati is just as relevant to modern life as it was millennia ago.

Love a person's fate in the face of physical extremes

In 2014, as part of my Twelve Labs project, I tried to break the world record for most pull-ups within 24 hours. As the clock counted down and the number of pull-ups increased, my body began to collapse due to the physical strain of the challenge.

My hands started to snap because I had been holding the pole for so long. Volunteers rinsed out and wrapped my wounds in chalk for hours before each set.

As the day approached dawn, my kidneys failed and my urine looked like barrel-aged whiskey. As the light went dark, my mind went dark, too, and freed familiar demons from their prisons: doubt, fear, regret, insecurity.

With 2,200 pull-ups, tendons broke and muscles tore through my biceps and forearms. I continued with another 1,000 repetitions because people promised wounded vets when I hit certain benchmarks for the record.

I also continued because my pride, ego and fear didn't let me give up. Learning the difference between unbridled pride and a determined goal in the middle of a crucible was a hard truth and an invaluable lesson that was learned and never forgotten.

After 17 hours and 3,202 pull-ups, I could no longer grip the bar … I had failed and was subsequently hospitalized for days.

Amor Fati: How loving your destiny helps you to grow - fitness, endurance, love, thinking, tiredness, mental hardness, growth, neuromuscular, challenge, decision fatigue, pull-ups, Amor Fati, mental readiness

During my recovery, Amor Fati helped me to concentrate again and finally to return to training after I was released. Sure, I could have been a victim of despair – mostly because I was no stranger to the dark, cold corners of the mind – but instead I learned through my failure instead of thinking about a result that could not be changed. Only one thing left to do – prepare for my second try.

On my second attempt to break the world record for most pull-ups within 24 hours, I mastered the 5,804 pull-up challenge with a 30-pound backpack.

Amor Fati: How loving your destiny helps you to grow - fitness, endurance, love, thinking, tiredness, mental hardness, growth, neuromuscular, challenge, decision fatigue, pull-ups, Amor Fati, mental readiness

Amor Fati should be the answer to every situation that will and must arise. If you choose to take a positive view of a situation and choose to get better, you can save yourself from potentially worse situations.

Being lost in negativity and blind to the possibility of change can lead to “repeat offenses”, to do the same thing over and over again in a vicious circle of ignorance and the associated suffering.

Then, in 2018, I started training Colin O’Brady to prepare for his completely unsupported solo hike through Antarctica.

I developed a training regiment for Colin that Amor Fati incorporated into his routine because I knew that he had to focus on the present moment without paying attention to mistakes or mistakes to survive the harsh and unforgiving conditions of Antarctica. that could occur during his hike.

His training had to be both physically and mentally effective and he had to be able to fall into a fluid state at will.

I designed his routine according to this concept and offered him the opportunity to accept his fate at the moment by using Amor Fati as a shortcut to mindfulness.

Colin had previously completed mindfulness training so I knew he could do it, but the biggest obstacle to achieving mindfulness would be the harsh conditions in Antarctica.

So I used various training stimuli to put stress on his body, and then let him control his breathing while doing complex tasks that would challenge his critical thinking and fine motor skills.

One of those tasks was to let Colin hold a plank position for a full minute while he kept his hands immersed in ice and let him tie a series of knots after the minute.

Another task was a high-intensity weightlifting course, in which he held a wall seat with a weight plate on his lap and feet in ice buckets. Colin had to hold the position until he finished a Lego set on the weight plate in a certain time.

In Antarctica there would be no time to think about past mistakes or anticipate the future – the present moment would be the only thing that matters.

In the end, I think this training paid off for Colin. Right at the start of his hike, before he could even take his first step, he bent to attach a strap to the sled that he wanted to pull across the frozen continent – and the strap broke. How did he react to what some might find a bad omen? With laughter.

That answer was Amor Fati in action; So he trained to react to such events. Colin accepted his fate with humor and an open heart and continued his journey by crossing Antarctica alone and in 54 days without help.

The practical applications of Amor Fati

Most people will not face the extreme physical challenges that Viktor Frank, Colin O & # 39; Brady or I have faced, and you may be wondering how Amor Fati could help you in your daily life .

Amor Fati is useful in every situation, not just physical extremes.

Relationships are the foundation of society and everyone has them. They are one of the reasons why mankind has come as far as we do – in the face of need, social bonds are strengthening and people are coming together to put the needs of their community above the wishes of each member.

These interpersonal relationships that we experience are a matter of course for many, because they are only perceived as another part of the average human experience. It is nothing new and nothing out of the ordinary.

However, when these relationships end – especially when they end abruptly and without warning – we often feel the worst emotional stress we will ever experience in our lives.

That deep feeling of fear that comes with the loss of a loved one and that comes after the end of what appears to be an average part of human experience – that is also average.

It is something that every single person will experience, and yet it is so deeply felt that it can bring us to our knees and bring everything in our lives to a standstill.

During such an event, Amor Fati offers an option for a different response if the usual response is to grieve excessively and think about the negative feelings of loss and fear.

Instead of thinking about the pain caused by the sudden loss of a loved one, Amor Fati teaches us to accept it with enthusiasm. In the case of death, the prevailing notion is that it is the ultimate evil: the worst thing that could ever happen to a person and that it should be avoided at all costs – everything that is related to death is bad. Cupid Fati would disagree.

Death is a natural part of life – you cannot have one without the other. Loving your own destiny means loving everything that happens to you and getting the best out of every situation.

If a loved one is gone instead of focusing on the grief you will experience (which is a natural reaction and should not be suppressed), you should instead celebrate the life that has been intertwined with your own for a while.

There is no way to go back in time to correct the mistakes you made with that person, but you can accept that those mistakes were part of the experience you shared with them, and it is one of the many Things that made your relationship so rich. meaningful and unique.

Amor Fati teaches us to look back to look ahead. These mistakes you made in the previous relationship can teach you lessons that you can apply to other relationships in your life to improve them or to avoid the pitfalls that you once got into.

In this way, you can live in a state of constant improvement by not letting yourself hold on to the negative feelings that come with regret and using those feelings more positively instead.

Amor Fati can also be applied to health and fitness goals.

When trying to meet the challenges associated with health and fitness goals, it is important not to address mistakes or shortcomings, but to use them as opportunities for learning and growth.

For example, if your goal is to develop healthier eating habits and one day you indulge excessively and eat a large portion of unhealthy foods, you don't have to beat yourself up. Instead, look back at this moment and examine it as you consider why you have spoiled yourself too much.

Once you understand the reason, you can look forward to the next time this moment occurs and use the lesson you have learned to avoid it and achieve your health goal.

The principle of loving one's destiny can be applied to every moment of life. No matter what obstacle you are facing, Amor Fati gives you the opportunity to look at it with pleasure. As Robert Greene, author of 48 laws on power and mastery, says:

Accept the fact that all events occur for a reason and that it is in your ability to view that reason as positive.

For many, an obstacle or challenge is often viewed negatively as something to be avoided rather than something to be celebrated. This perception is based on fear of failure, but with the right attitude, this perspective can be changed to something much more positive.

Instead of looking at an obstacle as something that could trip and overturn you can consider it as something that needs to be overcome and that will lift you up. It is not a failure that you should focus on, but an opportunity to succeed.

If there is an obstacle ahead of you, thank yourself: "Oh no, what can I do?" You may ask yourself, "What will I do? How will I use this opportunity to grow? "

Include what fate has in store for you

We face many unexpected challenges in life and are often forced to endure adversity.

It is important to remember that certain things are beyond our control, but all things have a cause. There is a reason why things happen, and it is up to you to decide whether you think it is positive or not.

Amor Fati teaches us to put our energy and effort into what will be most effective in our lives so that we don't waste our time worrying about things that we cannot change. Adversity is not just about accepting it passively or just thinking about it positively.

Rather, the goal is to greet it cheerfully – to say: "That should be so, and I am happy to be better for it!"

Amor Fati should be the answer to every situation that will and must arise. If you choose to see a situation positively and choose to get better, you can save yourself from other, possibly worse, situations.

Being lost in negativity and blind to the possibility of change can lead to “repeat offenses”, to do the same thing over and over again in a vicious circle of ignorance and the associated suffering.

Embrace what fate has in store for you and don't waste time wishing it would change – it won't be, no matter how much you wish. Instead, wish it to be the way it is and strive to get the best out of every situation with a happy heart and open mind.

Then, as Epictetus said, you will be fine.

Training for Size, Training for Mass

Bryan Haycock is the creator of hypertrophy-specific training, HST for short. In this episode we delve deeply into:

  • Exactly what flows into HST, including what actually does muscle growth
  • The principles of programming for hypertrophy
  • The mistakes most athletes make when it comes to training for size
  • The misunderstood concept of strategic deconditioning and science prove it 20 years after the concepts behind HST were developed

If you liked this podcast and you cared about it, rate and rate it so that we can spread the word and motivate and inspire others to take their performance to the next level. More podcasts of this kind can be found on the Six Pack of Knowledge page.

Your host Tom MacCormick is a personal trainer and online coach whose goal is to be the curator of the world's greatest hypertrophy experts. If you are interested in working with Tom or learning more about him, follow him on Instagram @tommaccormick or visit his website www.tommaccormick.com.

What Is A Dry Oil And Are You Using It Properly?

So you've decided to try a dry oil in your skin care routine, but you're still confused about what it means. You ask yourself the questions: "What is a dry oil?", "If there are dry oils, are there also moist oils?" and finally: "How can something be liquid and dry at the same time?" We know that solving it is quite a mystery. So let's dive into the paradox of dry oils and help you find some answers.

What is a dry oil?

It is easier to understand the name "dry oil" when we explain that the dryness relates less to the properties of the oil than to the finish that the oil leaves. According to NewBeautyDried oils are body oils that are absorbed so quickly that they sink ”immediately into the skin without leaving any residue. " These oils, which are usually rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, not only absorb quickly, but are also light and do not leave a heavy or sticky feeling on the skin. MindBodyGreen lists commonly used dry oils such as avocado, borage, rose hip seeds, squalene, sesame, grape seed, safflower, camelina, sunflower and evening primrose.

Eminence Organics Wildflower Ultralight Oil is a fine example of a dry body oil – and one 2019 Allure Best Of Beauty Award Winner in the Clean Beauty category. Allure's beauty experts say, "This is the indoor version of jumping through a meadow with arms wide open. The wild bouquet is full of primroses, echinacea, and lavender, giving hair, skin, and nails smoothness." This dry oil moisturizes the skin and immediately leaves a smooth, satin finish.

Product selection

Eminence Organics Wildflowers Ultralight oil

Wildflowers Ultralight oil

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What is a wet oil?

If the skin care contains dry oils, moist oils must also be present. "Wet oils" are indeed the term for Oils that linger on the surface and absorb only slowly. Examples of moist oils are neem, coconut, castor, jojoba, tamanu, baobab, sweet almond, hemp seeds and apricot kernel. Though effective to moisturize the entire body, they tend to stay on the skin, making them smooth and greasy for your clothes. A positive note is that these heavy oils are perfect for reducing transepidermal water loss. If you are battling extremely dry or dehydrated skin, moist oils are the perfect solution.

How to use a dry oil

Like most dry oils, our multi-purpose wildflower ultralight oil is designed to be used in three ways for 1] body, 2] hair and 3] nails.

body

To give the skin maximum moisture everywhere, we recommend applying it after a warm bath or shower. Smooth the clean skin and this dry oil binds moisture and leaves a flawless finish.

hair

For light hair, this light oil tames frizz and gives shine without weighing it down. Simply add a few drops of Wildflower Ultralight Oil to your strands to get a smooth and shiny finish.

Nails

And for your hands, the oil strengthens and cares for both nails and cuticles. Gently warm the oil between your palms and massage it into cuticles and nail beds to soften and moisturize it.

In this video you can learn more about our Wildflower Ultralight Oil:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQNDryh9h6I [/ embed]

Can I use a dry oil on my face?

Now that dry oils are less puzzling, you might be tempted to apply them on your face too. But not so fast. According to Alicia HawthorneIt is not recommended to "apply a dry oil to the face as it may not provide enough moisture for most skin types", our product support representative at Eminence Organic Skin Care.

To get effective oils for the complexion, we recommend facial oils such as Eminence Organics Facial Recovery Oil or Triple C + E Firming Oil. These oils are specially formulated for the face and provide the necessary moisture, nutrition and benefits for the complexion and target the appearance of aging.

This entry was originally published in June 2018 and has been updated for accuracy and completeness.

Amor Fati: How Loving Your Fate Helps You Grow

Every day of your life you face challenges of different complexity and importance.

Some challenges are so small and easy to master that you hardly consider them a challenge. But every now and then you have to face a challenge in your life that can be so significant that it feels like you will never overcome it – and if you do, it could feel like your life was going to be because of it never be the same it.

For example, the most difficult challenge you might face one day is accidentally knocking over a drink, and the next day you may face your own mortality in your doctor's office as he or she explains your new diagnosis. The size and scope of the challenges you face may change from day to day, but the mindset that you use when facing these challenges should remain the same.

This way of thinking I am referring to is Amor Fati, translated from Latin and means "love for destiny" or "love for one's own destiny".

Cupid Fati in history

Amor Fati is a concept that has been attributed to many philosophers over the years, and the stoics of ancient Greece and Rome were some of the earliest supporters of the principle. The Roman emperor and stoic philosopher Marcus Aurelius never explicitly used the term amor fati in his writings because he wrote in Greek rather than Latin. In his meditations, however, he wrote:

Accept the things that fate binds you to and love the people with whom fate brings you together, but do so wholeheartedly.

Epictetus, another Stoic philosopher, said something similar in his enchiridion:

Don't try to make events happen the way you want them to, just try to make them happen the way they are and everything will be fine with you.

The purpose of Amor Fati, as the Stoics wrote, is not only to accept whatever happens to you, but to accept it with enthusiasm, rather than wishing that something else has happened. Many centuries later, at the end of the 19th century, the German philosopher Friederich Nietzsche adopted Amor Fati as the pillar of his own philosophy:

My formula for the size of a person is amor fati: you want nothing to be different, not forwards, not backwards, not forever. Not only endure what is necessary, hide less … but love it.

A few decades after Nietzsche, the Austrian psychologist Viktor Frankl wrote in his book Man & # 39; s Search for Meaning about his experiences during an internship in Nazi concentration camps. After his wife, parents, and brother were murdered by the Nazis, after witnessing the deaths of countless people in the camps, and after experiencing immense pain and suffering, Frankl realized:

If a man finds that it is his destiny to suffer, he must accept his suffering as his job; his only and unique job. He will have to acknowledge the fact that he is unique in suffering and alone in the universe. Nobody can free him from his suffering or suffer in his place. His unique opportunity lies in the way he carries his load.

Loving one's own destiny means loving both the good and the bad that life brings with it, and refusing to think about what could have been. When faced with the absolute worst that humanity had to offer, Frankl discovered this ancient wisdom that opened his eyes to the beauty of human condition and enabled him to persevere through the torture of the Nazis.

Amor Fati is just as relevant to modern life as it was millennia ago.

Love a person's fate in the face of physical extremes

In 2014, as part of my Twelve Labs project, I tried to break the world record for most pull-ups within 24 hours. As the clock counted down and the number of pull-ups increased, my body began to collapse due to the physical strain of the challenge. My hands started to snap because I had been holding the pole for so long. Volunteers rinsed out and wrapped my wounds in chalk for hours before each set. As the day approached dawn, my kidneys failed and my urine looked like barrel-aged whiskey. As the light went dark, my mind went dark, too, and freed familiar demons from their prisons: doubt, fear, regret, insecurity.

With 2,200 pull-ups, tendons broke and muscles tore through my biceps and forearms. I continued with another 1,000 repetitions because people promised wounded vets when I hit certain benchmarks for the record. I also continued because my pride, ego and fear didn't let me give up. Learning the difference between unbridled pride and a determined goal in the middle of a crucible was a hard truth and an invaluable lesson that was learned and never forgotten. After 17 hours and 3,202 pull-ups, I could no longer grip the bar … I had failed and was subsequently hospitalized for days.

Amor Fati: How loving your destiny helps you to grow - fitness, endurance, thinking, fatigue, mental hardness, neuromuscular, challenge, decision fatigue, pull-ups, Amor Fati, mental readiness

During my recovery, Amor Fati helped me to concentrate again and finally to return to training after I was released. Sure, I could have been a victim of despair – mostly because I was no stranger to the dark, cold corners of the mind – but instead I learned through my failure instead of thinking about a result that could not be changed. Only one thing left to do – prepare for my second try.

On my second attempt to break the world record for most pull-ups within 24 hours, I mastered the 5,804 pull-up challenge with a 30-pound backpack.

Amor Fati: How loving your destiny helps you to grow - fitness, endurance, thinking, fatigue, mental resilience, neuromuscular, challenge, decision fatigue, pull-ups, Amor Fati, mental readiness

Amor Fati should be the answer to every situation that will and must arise. If you choose to take a positive view of a situation and choose to get better, you can save yourself from potentially worse situations. Being lost in negativity and blind to the possibility of change can lead to “repeated crimes” to do the same thing over and over again in a vicious circle of ignorance and the suffering that goes with it.

Then, in 2018, I started training Colin O’Brady to prepare for his completely unsupported solo hike through Antarctica. I developed a training regiment for Colin that Amor Fati incorporated into his routine because I knew that he had to focus on the present moment without paying attention to mistakes or mistakes to survive the harsh and unforgiving conditions of Antarctica. that could occur during his hike. His training had to be both physically and mentally effective and he had to be able to fall into a fluid state at will.

I designed his routine according to this concept and offered him the opportunity to accept his fate at the moment by using Amor Fati as a shortcut to mindfulness. Colin had previously completed mindfulness training so I knew he could do it, but the biggest obstacle to achieving mindfulness would be the harsh conditions in Antarctica. So I used various training stimuli to put stress on his body, and then let him control his breathing while doing complex tasks that would challenge his critical thinking and fine motor skills.

One of those tasks was to let Colin hold a plank position for a full minute while he kept his hands immersed in ice and let him tie a series of knots after the minute. Another task was a high-intensity weightlifting course, in which he held a wall seat with a weight plate on his lap and feet in ice buckets. Colin had to hold the position until he finished a Lego set on the weight plate in a certain time. In Antarctica there would be no time to think about past mistakes or anticipate the future – the present moment would be the only thing that matters.

In the end, I think this training paid off for Colin. Right at the start of his hike, before he could even take his first step, he bent to attach a strap to the sled that he wanted to pull across the frozen continent – and the strap broke. How did he react to what some might find a bad omen? With laughter.

That answer was Amor Fati in action; So he trained to react to such events. Colin accepted his fate with humor and an open heart and continued his journey by crossing Antarctica alone and in 54 days without help.

The practical applications of Amor Fati

Most people will not face the extreme physical challenges that Viktor Frank, Colin O & # 39; Brady or I have faced, and you may be wondering how Amor Fati could help you in your daily life .

Amor Fati is useful in every situation, not just physical extremes.

Relationships are the foundation of society and everyone has them. They are one of the reasons why mankind has come as far as we do – in the face of need, social bonds are strengthening and people are coming together to put the needs of their community above the wishes of each member. These interpersonal relationships that we experience are a matter of course for many, because they are only perceived as another part of the average human experience. It is nothing new and nothing out of the ordinary.

However, when these relationships end – especially when they end abruptly and without warning – we often feel the worst emotional stress we will ever experience in our lives. That deep feeling of fear that comes with the loss of a loved one and that comes after the end of what appears to be an average part of human experience – that is also average. It is something that every single person will experience, and yet it is so deeply felt that it can bring us to our knees and bring everything in our lives to a standstill.

During such an event, Amor Fati offers an option for a different response if the usual response is to grieve excessively and think about the negative feelings of loss and fear.

Instead of thinking about the pain caused by the sudden loss of a loved one, Amor Fati teaches us to accept it with enthusiasm. In the case of death, the prevailing notion is that it is the ultimate evil: the worst thing that could ever happen to a person and that it should be avoided at all costs – everything that is related to death is bad. Cupid Fati would disagree.

Death is a natural part of life – you cannot have one without the other. Loving your own destiny means loving everything that happens to you and getting the best out of every situation. If a loved one is gone instead of focusing on the grief you will experience (which is a natural reaction and should not be suppressed), you should instead celebrate the life that has been intertwined with your own for a while. There is no way to go back in time to correct the mistakes you made with that person, but you can accept that those mistakes were part of the experience you shared with them, and it is one of the many Things that made your relationship so rich. meaningful and unique.

Amor Fati teaches us to look back to look ahead. These mistakes you made in the previous relationship can teach you lessons that you can apply to other relationships in your life to improve them or to avoid the pitfalls that you once got into. In this way, you can live in a state of constant improvement by not letting yourself hold on to the negative feelings that come with regret and using those feelings more positively instead.

Amor Fati can also be applied to health and fitness goals.

When trying to meet the challenges associated with health and fitness goals, it is important not to address mistakes or shortcomings, but to use them as opportunities for learning and growth. For example, if your goal is to develop healthier eating habits and one day you indulge excessively and eat a large portion of unhealthy foods, you don't have to beat yourself up. Instead, look back at this moment and examine it as you consider why you have spoiled yourself too much. Once you understand the reason, you can look forward to the next time this moment occurs and use the lesson you have learned to avoid it and achieve your health goal.

The principle of loving one's destiny can be applied to every moment of life. No matter what obstacle you are facing, Amor Fati gives you the opportunity to look at it with pleasure. As Robert Greene, author of 48 laws on power and mastery, says:

Accept the fact that all events occur for a reason and that it is in your ability to view that reason as positive.

For many, an obstacle or challenge is often viewed negatively as something to be avoided rather than something to be celebrated. This perception is based on fear of failure, but with the right attitude, this perspective can be changed to something much more positive. Instead of looking at an obstacle as something that could trip and overturn you can consider it as something that needs to be overcome and that will lift you up. It is not a failure that you should focus on, but an opportunity to succeed.

If there is an obstacle ahead of you, thank yourself: "Oh no, what can I do?" You may ask yourself, "What will I do? How will I use this opportunity to grow? "

Include what fate has in store for you

We face many unexpected challenges in life and are often forced to endure adversity.

It is important to remember that certain things are beyond our control, but all things have a cause. There is a reason why things happen, and it is up to you to decide whether you think it is positive or not. Amor Fati teaches us to put our energy and effort into what will be most effective in our lives so that we don't waste our time worrying about things that we cannot change. Adversity is not just about accepting it passively or just thinking about it positively.

Rather, the goal is to greet it cheerfully – to say: "That should be so, and I am happy to be better for it!"

Amor Fati should be the answer to every situation that will and must arise. If you choose to see a situation positively and choose to get better, you can save yourself from other, possibly worse, situations. Being lost in negativity and blind to the possibility of change can lead to “repeat offenses”, to do the same thing over and over again in a vicious circle of ignorance and the associated suffering.

Embrace what fate has in store for you and don't waste time wishing it would change – it won't be, no matter how much you wish. Instead, wish it to be the way it is and strive to get the best out of every situation with a happy heart and open mind.

Then, as Epictetus said, you will be fine.

Power Up Your Training Inside and Outside the Gym

In addition to skipping warming up, gross strength can be the most neglected attribute in the gym. People often think that they don't have to train strength because they are not an athlete. They believe they don't have to dive basketball or fire the quarterback. However, you would be wrong.

What is power?

Force and acceleration determine the power, P = F x A.

Force is the pushing or pulling of the interaction of the object with another objecttlike gravity or the concentric phase of pushups.

Acceleration is the speed at which an object changes speed, e.g. For example, if you sprint to catch a bus or car that is driving from a dead stop.

The advantages

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  • Better cardiovascular function – Exercise encourages the heart to pump more blood with each pump and return to a resting heart rate faster after exercise.
  • Increased strength – Most strength exercises involve fast contractions that build and improve fast twitch muscle fibers.
  • Increased calorie burning – Using the large muscles of your arms and legs increases calorie expenditure during exercise and up to 24-48 hours later.
  • Better power absorption – Every time your feet touch the ground, the triple force comes back directly through your body. Training force prepares you better for this.
  • Other benefits include being a bad guy and being a great stress reliever. If you are having a bad day, throw a medicine ball into the wall instead of hitting a hole in the wall.

    Hopefully I have convinced you that training strength is not only important, but also fun. Now let's start.

    When do you train power?

    Or if you are training your upper body, a Med Ball Slam will wake up the quick twitches of your back. Do three sets of 8-12 reps.

    How many repetitions?

    When you train strength, you have to be as explosive as possible. The moment you lose pop, you stop exercising – you are training muscle endurance.

    For most people, this is somewhere between 4-12 reps or 10-20 seconds of effort.

    How much rest?

    Although you may feel recovered after around 30 seconds, it usually takes (for most people) between 60 and 180 seconds to fully recover to get the most out of your next power pack.

    However, play with your rest periods to find out what works for you.

    If you have never trained strength before?

    Don't you? That's a shame. It's usually better to have a strength base, but the movements here are the most basic part of the spectrum when it comes to power.

    And when you do it, you get stronger. It is a win-win situation.

    Upper body strength

    My power favorites are medicine ball throws. They are easy to do, very effective and fun. Most gyms have hidden them in a corner, unclean and unloved, but once you use them, you will never let them go.

    The following exercises are best performed on upper body days so that you can suppress your bumps and moves. However, they can be done at any time, because who should I tell you what to do?

    When doing these exercises, be sure to pull your arms through. This tracking helps bring the ball back to you, which allows for a smoother transition between repetitions and gives you a little more momentum.

    2. Lower body strength

    There is a variety of exercises to choose from. For the sake of simplicity The following exercises are relatively safe, easy to do, and provide an excellent introduction to overall physical strength.

    However, if you have knee / lower body problems, please let yourself be guided by pain and put your safety first.

    Program recommendations

    Coupling strength exercises to a superset before moving on to the central part of your workout is a great way to add strength to your routine.

    1A. Med Ball Slam: 8 reps

    1B. Jump squats: 6 repetitions

    Break 1 minute between training and 2 minutes between supersets.

    Repeat 1-2 times.

    Or you can combine a strength with a mobility exercise to train your strength and movement at the same time.

    1A. Jump Squat: 6 repetitions

    1B. Half kneeling hip flexor stretch: 30 seconds on each side

    Current density circuit

    For more performance, do eight repetitions of the following steps per minute. After doing eight reps, rest the rest of the minute before continuing on to the next exercise. Do 3-4 laps for a total of 15-20 minutes that will make you sweat and smile.

    1A. Med Ball Overhead Throws: 8 reps

    1B. Med Ball Chest Pass: 8 reps

    1C. Med ball spin rolls: 4 reps on both sides

    1D. Med Ball Slams: 8 reps

    1E. Squat jumps: 8 repetitions

    Or:

    1A. Incline Plyo Pushup: 8 reps

    1B. Squat jumps: 8 repetitions

    1C. One-handed Med Ball Slam: 4 repetitions on each side

    1D. Med Ball Overhead Throw: 8 reps

    1E. Rotational Med Ball Slam: 4 repetitions on each side

    Wrap up

    A small investment in electricity pays off enormously for you inside and outside the fitness room. And who knows? You can jump tall buildings with a single barrier that resembles another famous superhero.

    References

    1. McBride JM et al. The impact of heavy or light load squats on the development of strength, power and speed. J Strength Cond Res. 2002 Feb; 16 (1): 75-75. 82.

    Tamron 70-180mm f/2.8 Review: A Top-Notch Telephoto for Sony

    Tamron 70 180 mm f28 di iii rating 200 mm product 2

    Tamron 70-180 mm f / 2.8 Di III

    "The Tamron 70-180mm is a simple recommendation for almost every photographer."

    • Light, compact design

    • Very sharp

    • 1: 2 macro mode

    • Fast, quiet auto focus

    • Solid build quality

    • Soft edges at 70 mm and 1: 2.8

    • Low transmission at 180 mm and 1: 2.8

    The Tamron 70-180 mm f / 2.8 Di III is a new version of a professional telephoto zoom with constant aperture. The focal length is slightly shorter than the typical 70-200mm, but Tamron's goal was to develop a balanced lens for mirrorless full-frame cameras that draws the company's attention to reduced size and weight. The Tamron for $ 1,199 is currently available for the Sony E-mount and costs less than half the price and slightly more than half the weight of the FE 70-200mm f / 2.8 from Sony.

    So it doesn't have to be good, does it?

    Not correct. I don't know how witchcraft did it, but the 70-180mm are just great. This is by no means a typical budget lens. Tamron made a few sacrifices – cut 20mm from the telephoto end and forego optical image stabilization – to gain weight, but I would argue that these were wise decisions and it was worth it. The optical performance is first class. When I was connected to a Sony A7R IV borrowed from Lensrentals for this test, I was very impressed with the details that the 70-180mm gave me – at least under the right conditions.

    But can an inexpensive third-party lens keep up with the best from Sony? The answer is, as always, it depends – but I don't think it is really necessary. The Tamron 70-180 mm f / 2.8 is more than an alternative. It is a lifeline for photographers who would not have considered the Sony lens at all for cost reasons.

    Design and handling

    Daven Mathies | Digital trends

    If you have ever recorded a full screen f / 2.8 with 70 to 200 mm, be it for DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, you will be immediately surprised by the appearance of the Tamron 70 to 180 mm. It feels like it's in a completely different class, weighing just 1.8 pounds, an almost incredible difference to the 3.3-pound Sony 70-200mm.

    Unlike most 70-200mm lenses, including Sony's, the Tamron doesn't use an internal zoom mechanism, so the barrel expands as you zoom in. This makes it feel less "professional" than its counterpart from first-party suppliers, but it also means that the lens measures almost 6 inches long – 2 inches shorter than the Sony when retracted. And even with the extendable zoom tube, it remains weatherproof.

    The shorter length and lower weight make a tripod ring superfluous, which keeps the profile as slim as it is. The very wide rubberized grip gives your hand a solid buy for the zoom ring, and I really like that it's in front of the manual focus ring (compared to Sony lenses), because this placement provides a comfortable, balanced hold. The focus ring feels very smooth and offers a satisfactory manual focus experience, although it is not mechanically connected to the focus elements.

    And yes, you actually want to use this manual focus ring. The Tamron 70-180mm has a unique 1: 2 macro mode, but only works with manual focus and at 70mm. The difference in the minimum focus distance between automatic and manual focus is large and the extreme close-ups that are possible in macro mode are different from any other 1: 2.8 telephoto zoom that I know of.

    Tamron 70 180 mm f28 di iii review 200 mm sample 10 "class =" m carousel - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn5.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/tamron-70-200mm- f28 -review-sample-10-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAMinimum focus distance with AF

    Tamron 70 180 mm f28 di iii review 200 mm sample 9 "class =" m carousel - picture dt-lazy-no "src =" https://icdn6.digitaltrends.com/image/digitaltrends/tamron-70-200mm- f28 -review-sample-9-640x640.jpg "srcset =" https://www.digitaltrends.com/data:image/gif;base64,https://www.digitaltrends.com/R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAMinimum focus distance with MF

    Except for the lock switch, which keeps the barrel at 70mm when the lens is not in use, the exterior is sparse. While the Sony 70-200mm is littered with switches to control focus and stabilization behavior, the Tamron 70-180mm is empty. The lack of stabilization explains part of it, but I would have preferred an automatic / manual focus switch, especially since manual focus is actually supposed to be used for this lens for the above macro mode. To activate manual focus, you have to run it from the camera menu instead, which is a bit annoying.

    picture quality

    If the Tamron 70-180mm f / 2.8 had just reduced the cost and size of a popular lens type, that would have been enough. That's exactly what I would have expected from old Tamron. But this is the new Tamron, and the new Tamron isn't content with being a third-string player in lens play.

    Daven Mathies | Digital trends

    The 70-180 mm f / 2.8 has six elements with low dispersion, three aspherical elements and nine blades with a rounded aperture. This is not the type of optical formula I would expect from such an affordable lens, although the total number of elements is lower compared to Sony at 19 vs. 23 (Sony also uses an 11-sheet aperture).

    Of course, the number of high-end elements does not always correspond to high performance, but in this case Tamron delivered. Although I will note some limitations, this lens is remarkably sharp. My test photos delivered excellent results and revealed details in textures that I had never seen before. Of course, this was supported by the Sony A7R IV's 62 megapixel sensor, and I believe that this lens almost reveals the potential of this sensor. Further megapixels show imperfections in the lens. The fact that the Tamron shines on the A7R IV is proof of its quality.

    Daven Mathies | Digital trends

    Open wide, you can expect very good sharpness in the middle of the frame. At 70 mm, however, the sharpness drops noticeably in the direction of the edges. This is far less problematic at 180 mm. At 1: 5.6, the image is extremely sharp from edge to edge at every focal length. Vignetting is minimal and essentially gone by 1: 4, although the total transmission at the telephoto end at 1: 2.8 is about 1/3 stop lower than at the broad end, since the "vignette" seems to crawl over the entire frame.

    In order to really use the sharpness of this lens consistently, you need to use a high shutter speed, a tripod or both. Many of my hand shots became slightly soft due to motion blur, even when the camera was stabilized in the body. Additional objective-based stabilization would have helped here. For some photographers, especially weddings and even shooters who work in low light and need to use slow shutter speeds, this could be a deal breaker.

    However, the A7R IV shows flaws like no other full-frame camera and is incredibly unforgiving. With a lower resolution case like the A7 III, the motion blur is not as noticeable, but I would still recommend a tripod (and 1: 4 or smaller) if you want to guarantee the best results.

    Our opinion

    Color impressed me – even amazed. I think it's absolutely great that Tamron has decided to compete as a premium brand. The 70-180 mm f / 2.8 Di III offers the perfect balance between quality, size and price. This is a rare example of a lens that I can recommend to almost everyone, from amateurs to enthusiasts to professionals.

    I was a little disappointed that so many of my handheld shots weren't perfectly sharp, but I could probably have solved this by increasing the ISO and shutter speed many times over. As much as I would like lens-based stabilization, I also appreciate how light and affordable the 70-180 mm are. Again, I think Tamron made the right sacrifices.

    Is there a better alternative?

    No. If you absolutely need lens-based stabilization, or can't do without the extra 20mm range – and have $ 2,599 at your disposal – the Sony FE 70-200mm f / 2.8 is a great option. For the price, the Tamron 70-180mm f / 2.8 is really unbeatable.

    And of course, if you don't have a Sony e-mount camera, you'll have to look elsewhere.

    How long it will take?

    Although it doesn't feel as robust as 70-200mm lenses with internal zooms, the 70-180mm lens is still well built and should last for many years.

    Should you buy it

    You already know what I'm going to say. Yes of course.

    Editor's recommendations




    Power Up Your Training Inside and Outside the Gym

    In addition to skipping warming up, gross strength can be the most neglected attribute in the gym. People often think that they don't have to train strength because they are not an athlete. They believe they don't have to dive basketball or fire the quarterback. However, you would be wrong.

    What is power?

    Force and acceleration determine the power, P = F x A.

    Force is the pushing or pulling of the interaction of the object with another objecttlike gravity or the concentric phase of pushups.

    Acceleration is the speed at which an object changes speed, e.g. For example, if you sprint to catch a bus or car that is driving from a dead stop.

    The advantages

    Other benefits include being a bad guy and being a great stress reliever. If you are having a bad day, throw a medicine ball into the wall instead of hitting a hole in the wall.

    Hopefully I have convinced you that training strength is not only important, but also fun. Now let's start.

    When do you train power?

    Or if you exercise the upper body, do a Med Ball Slam wakes up the quick twitches of your back. Do three sets of 8-12 reps.

    How many repetitions?

    When you train strength, you have to be as explosive as possible. The moment you lose pop, you stop exercising – you are training muscle endurance.

    For most people, this is somewhere between 4-12 reps or 10-20 seconds of effort.

    How much rest?

    Although you may feel recovered after around 30 seconds, it usually takes (for most people) between 60 and 180 seconds to fully recover to get the most out of your next power pack.

    However, play with your rest periods to find out what works for you.

    If you have never trained strength before?

    Don't you? That's a shame. It's usually better to have a strength base, but the movements here are the most basic part of the spectrum when it comes to power. And when you do it, you get stronger. It is a win-win situation.

    Upper body strength

    My power favorites are medicine ball throws. They are easy to do, very effective and fun. Most gyms have hidden them in a corner, unclean and unloved, but once you use them, you will never let them go.

    The following exercises are best performed on upper body days so that you can suppress your bumps and moves. However, they can be done at any time, because who should I tell you what to do?

    When doing these exercises, be sure to pull your arms through. This tracking helps bring the ball back to you, which allows for a smoother transition between repetitions and gives you a little more momentum.

    2. Lower body strength

    There is a variety of exercises to choose from. For the sake of simplicity The following exercises are relatively safe, easy to do, and provide an excellent introduction to overall physical strength.

    However, if you have knee / lower body problems, please let yourself be guided by pain and put your safety first.

    Program recommendations

    Coupling strength exercises to a superset before moving on to the central part of your workout is a great way to add strength to your routine.

    1A. Med Ball Slam: 8 reps

    1B. Jump squats: 6 repetitions

    Break 1 minute between training and 2 minutes between supersets.

    Repeat 1-2 times.

    Or you can combine a strength with a mobility exercise to train your strength and movement at the same time.

    1A. Jump Squat: 6 repetitions

    1B. Half kneeling hip flexor stretch: 30 seconds on each side

    Current density circuit

    For more performance, do eight repetitions of the following steps per minute. After doing eight reps, rest the rest of the minute before continuing on to the next exercise. Do 3-4 laps for a total of 15-20 minutes that will make you sweat and smile.

    1A. Med Ball Overhead Throws: 8 reps

    1B. Med Ball Chest Pass: 8 reps

    1C. Med ball spin rolls: 4 reps on both sides

    1D. Med Ball Slams: 8 reps

    1E. Squat jumps: 8 repetitions

    Or:

    1A. Incline Plyo Pushup: 8 reps

    1B. Squat jumps: 8 repetitions

    1C. One-handed Med Ball Slam: 4 repetitions on each side

    1D. Med Ball Overhead Throw: 8 reps

    1E. Rotational Med Ball Slam: 4 repetitions on each side

    Wrap up

    A small investment in electricity pays off enormously for you inside and outside the fitness room. And who knows? You can jump tall buildings with a single barrier that resembles another famous superhero.

    References

    1. McBride JM et al. The impact of heavy or light load squats on the development of strength, power and speed. J Strength Cond Res. 2002 Feb; 16 (1): 75-75. 82.

    Why Is There Still Cheating In Sport?

    Sports fraud is as old as the beginning of time. We all grew up with the news that a fallen superstar athlete cheated his way to shame, but usually it was always performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) that were the problem. Sooner or later people are always caught. Even Lance Armstrong was found out after many years of testing and denying.

    We are now in the age of ordinary fraudsters. Of course, you can argue that the average Joe's uses PEDs, but doesn't get caught. At some events it is simply not logistically possible to test every single athlete – especially if the back-of-the-packers gain nothing by juicing. Nobody cares. Correct?

    With all of the technology today, you have to ask yourself how people get away with it. It's also this technology that allows the scammer to find ways to do it – the New Age Lance Armstrong effect, if you like. A timing chip helps us see our race times and whether we have completed the stages of a race by crossing the electronic timing mat. It is not uncommon for there to be a time mat or malfunction of the chip, so the athlete's results will miss large periods of time. This will then be a welcome opportunity for athletes to shorten the course. We all know a man who knows a man who has done this. There's no way of knowing if a mat is out, but scammers aren't known to be honest, so they cut the course and blame the electronics. I suppose it makes them look good to their online peers and haters when they look like they have performed well. This year there was even the story of a woman giving her husband her timing chip and he ended the race for her. She even collected the finisher's medal! That has to be a step further than a "racial bandit" if we want to establish a scale of deception.

    Please keep it legitimate

    I once saw great Bart Yasso talk about some incredible running races he was involved in. While I was in awe of the first Death Valley race, it was the story of a marathon in a jungle, and it worked well here. He spoke of the indigenous children who stained them with colored dirt at certain points on the course, and when you crossed the finish line, they checked that you had all the colors. If you didn't, you were disqualified. Simple and yet effective.

    Do we have to go back in time to make sure people are honest?? Do you care? As someone who has physically and emotionally trained for races and events for hours to undermine my hard work by someone who just looks good and wants to get the medal at all costs, it's annoying to say the least. The only benefit is that there are internet junkies and journalists who are now looking for and screaming for race scams – a little justice in the school yard on social media.

    In a contingent pension system, athletes have to pay a fraction of their sports proceeds into a fund that they can only draw from after their career and if they have never been caught doing doping. In theory, this fund has two important advantages over traditional anti-doping measures such as bans and fines. It does not lose its deterrent effect as athletes approach the end of their careers (as opposed to bans), and it can solve the widespread problem that drug fraudsters are often found out much later after detection technology has caught up with doping practices.

    -Wu et al., 2020

    I have often wondered what the modern solution to this dilemma is. It may be a Garmin Connect report to race directors and finisher statistics, provided there are no problems with service area coverage or tunnels and overpasses. Perhaps a Strava-like app would work, as most people carry their phones for part or all of the race and submission to ensure accuracy. Whatever the solution, I have a feeling that fraud is not waning, it is escalating in ingenuity. Between PEDs, course reduction, chip manipulation and the extremely frequent drawing of bicycles, we reach epidemic proportions. So let's be part of the solution and not just cover our eyes.

    reference

    Vizio V Series 5.1 Soundbar Review: Putting The “V” In Value

    Vizio V series soundbar

    Vizio V Series 5.1 soundbar

    "Vizio's V-5.1 5.1 soundbar is a cost-effective way to add good surround sound."

    • Easy setup

    • Immersive surround sound

    • Warm music playback

    • The middle channel is a weak link

    • Some lackluster "features"

    For more than a decade, Vizio's stance on sound bars has consistently been about delivering tons of value without breaking the bank. If you were on the market to improve the sound of your TV without making a large investment, Vizio was often the best place to look.

    Well, although we all live in the wrong world of 2020, at least one thing hasn't changed. Vizio's new $ 250 V-Series 5.1 soundbar system is an affordable surround sound setup – even if a few too many cost-saving measures have been taken this time.

    Out of the box

    I will always be amazed at how easy it is for Vizio to set up a soundbar. I was in no hurry to plug it in for testing, but if I raced a watch I would bet I could go from unpacking to listening to music in 10 minutes.

    Vizio V series soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

    The system includes the bar itself, a pair of surround sound speakers, and a wireless subwoofer. Admittedly, there is not a ton here that could slow you down. But it's really just a matter of connecting your bar and your subwoofer to the power supply, making a physical connection between the bar and your display, laying the supplied speaker cable from the surround sound speakers to the subwoofer and turning everything on.

    From there, the bar automatically searches for a content-generating entry. Be ready to act quickly and connect your phone via Bluetooth or stream something on your TV as the Vizio voice prompt is out of date after the first announcements that it is looking for an entry.

    Apart from this little annoyance, that's all. No WiFi can be configured with this bar – which we'll discuss in more detail later – and there are no other setup frames that you can jump through. It's probably as close to plug and play as a soundbar system.

    design

    According to Vizio, this year's budgetary system was treated rather inconspicuously, which may be an understatement. The bar itself does not differ significantly from the latest sound bars that were on my media stand: With a length of 36 inches, it is only two inches shorter than the Sony HT-G700 that stood before it.

    Vizio V-series soundbar remote controlNick Woodard / DigitalTrends

    However, the rear speakers and subwoofer are small. The sub-cabinet houses a 5-inch woofer, and the speakers are slightly outshone by some older Vizio-Rears that I dug up for comparison. The size, frankly, worried me that Vizio might have become too compact (are we making ants home theater?) And sacrificed the sound. But as we will see shortly, the system grabs a punch for its size.

    There are three drivers in the bar, one each for the front left, middle and right channel in a 5.1 system. Go to the back of the soundbar and you will encounter multiple connections. There's a retro 3.5mm stereo audio input (the good old red and white inputs) as well as an optical connector, an HDMI ARC connector, a 3.5mm AUX input and a USB connector Vizio says he only supports WAV and MP3 formats.

    Would I have liked to see Vizio drop the old school stereo audio inputs in exchange for another HDMI port? Yes. Is this a pretty solid lineup of connections for the price, regardless of that? Also yes. Just keep in mind that certain connections limit your sound format options. The stereo inputs naturally only produce two-channel sound. You can receive surround sound through the digital optical link, but you will miss the DTS Virtual: X format that the V-Series is equipped with.

    Vizio's standard soundbar remote control is also updated to be a bit rounder and gentler than its more brick-like older relative. The new remote control also appears to be more functional. With the buttons for EQ, Setup, Level and Effect you can play with the sound settings. I've never been a big fan of these old Vizio remotes, and it seems like Vizio is moving in the right direction with something that reminds me of my Nvidia Shield clicker.

    properties

    There are some legitimate features built into this bar, but some things that are "technical" are strangely cloaked by Vizio Marketing to be far more important than they really are.

    Vizio V series soundbarNick Woodard / Digital Trends

    You can stream music – and only Bluetooth. And that's good. The connection was solid and the sound was good. Despite all the advances in Bluetooth technology, Wi-Fi is still the king when it comes to streaming audio, and bars like the Yamaha YAS-209 have proven that it is possible to have this type of function in a budget bar.

    The V-Series bar has a useful function called Front Surround Mode for setups where it is not possible to mount surround speakers in the back of the room. This workaround is to attach the rear speakers on either side of the soundbar, move the subwoofer to the front of the room, and then access Front Surround mode using your remote control. According to Vizio, the bar will use DTS Virtual: X to create virtual surround sound in this configuration. The result is acceptable, but there is a reason why speakers in the back of the room are called "ideal setup".

    Then there are things like dual stereo mode – an example of a function we have termed “technical” – that sends the same audio to all five speakers. This feature works to be clear, I'm just not sure when this is needed or wanted. Watching movies is generally best in normal surround, where dialogs and actions take place in the front left, center, and right, and the back provides background noise. And listening to music is literally designed for left and right stereo sound. Although the dual stereo mode is functional, there is no ideal time to use it.

    Vizio also advertises its soundbar as "Voice Assistant Ready" due to its aux port and Bluetooth connection. This is total marketing: If this soundbar is considered "Voice Assistant Ready" according to this standard, this also applies to every modern loudspeaker, receiver or even television with the same two connection options. Yes, you can connect an Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant device to the soundbar and it sends audio through the system. In fact, "voice assistant should be ready" to have a Wi-Fi connection and offer direct control through these smart devices. With this terminology, Vizio disguises its otherwise standard connections so that they are not.

    To be fair to Vizio, there is a feature that allows the voice assistant in the bar to be active, even if the soundbar plays audio from another input, and the bar automatically mutes other sources so that the assistant can be heard. The same applies if you have a phone that is connected via Bluetooth. Unfortunately, you can accidentally transmit TikTok videos through your movie audio.

    Audio quality

    A few hundred words ago I teased how in love I was with products as small as the Vizio-Sub and the rear speakers that produce such a significant sound – and that's a lot of truth. For a solid week I've been throwing different content on it – from all kinds of music to various Netflix documentaries and TV shows, as well as the occasional Marvel movie and a Hamilton watch (or two) – and I can say that for sure people Those who buy this bar will be completely satisfied with this type and quality of surround sound.

    Vizio V-series soundbar surround speakersNick Woodard / Digital Trends

    It contains all the basic elements that make for a good surround setup. The front stage effectively captures action scenes, the rear speakers provide adequate immersion, and the sub, although it is only designed for 50 Hz, rumbled enough to elicit a random bark from my previously deeply sleeping dog. I was also pleasantly surprised by listening to the music, as the Vizio bar produced a generally warm sound that was balanced enough to have fun.

    Overall, it's the sound you should expect from a $ 250 package. But this bar is certainly not without its quirks. In my experience, the apparently lackluster center channel is the most important among them. When viewing vocal dominant content like Netflix’s comedy series The Degenerates or the Down to Earth documentaries, this wasn’t a big problem. However, when switching to action sequences in Guardians of the Galaxy or the busier areas of Hamilton, the dialogue couldn't keep up with all the other events in the scene.

    You can turn up both the center channel and the dialog using the Vizio remote control, which is helpful to a certain extent. However, it is clear that some content simply outperforms the center compared to the rest of the sound produced by the system. Also, I wasn't a big fan of the various EQ presets – including the movie and music options that you can switch between with the remote – as they seemed to bloat the sound. Essentially, these EQ settings turned up all frequencies, making the action a little more booming but much less sophisticated. Listening in direct mode was preferable to me.

    DTS Virtual: X is also available in this soundbar. DTS Virtual: X is essentially the less popular alternative to Dolby Atmos and is said to be able to add virtualized 3D sound to any audio sent through the soundbar. It should also work with almost any speaker configuration, and although I had a more immersive experience when I turned it on, my partner could not notice it without pointing it out. This result makes sense because with everything that virtual technologies promise in terms of audio, you can only achieve so much with three front-firing drivers.

    In addition to changing the levels of the dialog and center, you can also adjust the bass, treble, subwoofer, surround level and surround balance. Although this sound may have its flaws, it was a smart move by Vizio to make the bar's audio so customizable that it pleases the palate of most people.

    Our opinion

    Vizio's new 5.1 soundbar system may not be the best way to add surround sound to your setup – which is a traditional home theater, by the way – but it is once again one of the most enjoyable. With the decent characteristics and good sound it throws into the mix, the V-Series is a value for the masses.

    Are there any better alternatives?

    Frankly, it's hard to find another bar in this price range that offers a full 5.1 system with a subwoofer and rear speakers. The Yamaha YAS-209 is still our favorite bar because of its versatility, features, and sound, but it doesn't have surround speakers and is currently a bit more expensive for $ 300. I prefer the sound of the Sony HT-G700, although I don't prefer the price of almost $ 600.

    How long it will take?

    Not only are they cheap, the Vizio soundbars also seem to have a knack for durability. They have a standard one-year warranty, but the Vizio system I bought for my parents eight years ago still works. I can't guarantee that this bar will have the same durability, but it should last for a while.

    Should you buy it

    Yes. At this price, you really can't get real 5.1 sound anywhere else. Even if you need to fine-tune the audio and deal with the lack of meaningful features, the Vizio V Series 5.1 soundbar is undoubtedly a lot.

    Editor's recommendations




    Why Is There Still Cheating In Sport?

    Sports fraud is as old as the beginning of time. We all grew up with the news that a fallen superstar athlete cheated his way to shame, but usually it was always performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) that were the problem. Sooner or later people are always caught. Even Lance Armstrong was found out after many years of testing and denying.

    We are now in the age of ordinary fraudsters. Of course, you can argue that the average Joe's uses PEDs, but doesn't get caught. At some events it is simply not logistically possible to test every single athlete – especially if the back-of-the-packers gain nothing by juicing. Nobody cares. Correct?

    With all of the technology today, you have to ask yourself how people get away with it. It's also this technology that allows the scammer to find ways to do it – the New Age Lance Armstrong effect, if you like. A timing chip helps us see our race times and whether we have completed the stages of a race by crossing the electronic timing mat. It is not uncommon for there to be a time mat or malfunction of the chip, so the athlete's results will miss large periods of time. This will then be a welcome opportunity for athletes to shorten the course. We all know a man who knows a man who has done this. There's no way of knowing if a mat is out, but scammers aren't known to be honest, so they cut the course and blame the electronics. I suppose it makes them look good to their online peers and haters when they look like they have performed well. This year there was even the story of a woman giving her husband her timing chip and he ended the race for her. She even collected the finisher's medal! That has to be a step further than a "racial bandit" if we want to establish a scale of deception.

    Please keep it legitimate

    I once saw great Bart Yasso talk about some incredible running races he was involved in. While I was in awe of the first Death Valley race, it was the story of a marathon in a jungle, and it worked well here. He spoke of the indigenous children who stained them with colored dirt at certain points on the course, and when you crossed the finish line, they checked that you had all the colors. If you didn't, you were disqualified. Simple and yet effective.

    Do we have to go back in time to make sure people are honest?? Do you care? As someone who has physically and emotionally trained for races and events for hours to undermine my hard work by someone who just looks good and wants to get the medal at all costs, it's annoying to say the least. The only benefit is that there are internet junkies and journalists who are now looking for and screaming for race scams – a little justice in the school yard on social media.

    In a contingent pension system, athletes have to pay a fraction of their sports proceeds into a fund that they can only draw from after their career and if they have never been caught doing doping. In theory, this fund has two important advantages over traditional anti-doping measures such as bans and fines. It does not lose its deterrent effect as athletes approach the end of their careers (as opposed to bans), and it can solve the common problem that drug fraudsters are often found out much later after detection technology has caught up with doping practices.

    -Wu et al., 2020

    I have often wondered what the modern solution to this dilemma is. It may be a Garmin Connect report to race directors and finisher statistics, provided there are no problems with service area coverage or tunnels and overpasses. Perhaps a Strava-like app would work, as most people carry their phones for part or all of the race and submission to ensure accuracy. Whatever the solution, I have a feeling that fraud is not waning, it is escalating in ingenuity. Between PEDs, course reduction, chip manipulation and the extremely frequent drawing of bicycles, we reach epidemic proportions. So let's be part of the solution and not just cover our eyes.

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