Reading room

Practical reading.
No fluff.

Long-form articles on training, money, and career. Written to answer the questions that lead people to our tools.

Fitness10 min read

Heart rate zones for fat loss: is Zone 2 really the fat burning zone?

Zone 2 burns fat as the dominant fuel, so the "fat burning zone" is real. But for fat loss, Zone 4-5 often burns more total fat per session. The honest breakdown.

5 June 2026Read →
Fitness10 min read

How to calculate cutting calories: the exact math by bodyweight

How to calculate cutting calories from your TDEE: the Mifflin-St Jeor math step by step, the 20% ceiling rule that prevents muscle loss, and worked examples for 5 bodyweights.

5 June 2026Read →
Fitness11 min read

Body fat percentage measurement methods: DEXA vs BIA vs skinfolds vs photos

Which body fat measurement method is actually accurate? Error margins for DEXA, BodPod, BIA scales, skinfolds, and photos, plus the consistency rule that beats chasing a single number.

5 June 2026Read →
Fitness11 min read

Why you need a maintenance phase before bulking

Just finished a cut and ready to bulk? Sit at maintenance for 4 to 8 weeks first. The hormonal, metabolic, and adherence case for the phase most lifters skip.

5 June 2026Read →
Fitness11 min read

Protein for body recomposition: the target by training experience

1.6 g/kg is a muscle-gain number, not a recomp number. Protein targets by training experience, meal distribution, ranked sources, and a worked 80 kg plan.

5 June 2026Read →
Fitness10 min read

Hyrox wall ball technique: how to survive 100 reps when your legs are gone

Wall ball technique for Hyrox: the depth and target standards judges actually enforce, stance, breathing, the leg-driven throw, and how to pace 75 or 100 reps.

5 June 2026Read →
Fitness10 min read

Caffeine for training: optimal dose, timing, and when to cycle it

Caffeine is the most-studied performance supplement there is. The catch: most lifters overdose, mis-time, and never cycle. Here is the dose, timing, and cycle.

5 June 2026Read →
Fitness11 min read

Lean bulk calories: how much surplus you actually need to minimise fat gain

Most lifters add 500+ calories and get fat. A lean bulk needs 200 to 400 a day, max. Here is the exact surplus size, protein floor, and stop rules.

5 June 2026Read →
Fitness10 min read

Hyrox burpee broad jump technique: survive station 4 without redlining

Hyrox burpee broad jump technique: the chest-to-floor and hip-extension standards judges enforce, jump distance, breathing, and pacing that saves your race.

5 June 2026Read →
Fitness10 min read

Deload week timing: when to take one and how to structure it

A deload drops fatigue without losing strength. The 4 signs you need one now, signal-driven timing by experience, and the volume-vs-intensity mistake most lifters make.

5 June 2026Read →
Fitness10 min read

Hyrox SkiErg technique and pacing: open station 1 without redlining the rest of your race

Hyrox SkiErg technique and pacing: race-pace split targets by division, the lat-driven stroke, the breathing and stroke-rate rules, and why blasting station 1 wrecks your run.

5 June 2026Read →
Fitness9 min read

Hyrox row technique and pacing: how to make station 5 mid-race recovery, not another redline

Hyrox row technique and pacing: race-pace 1000m row splits by division, the legs-hips-arms drive sequence, even-split strategy, and the mistakes that cost you the next 3 stations.

5 June 2026Read →
Fitness10 min read

HIIT vs steady state cardio for fat loss: what the research actually says

HIIT vs steady state for fat loss, settled. The honest answer on calorie burn, the EPOC afterburn myth, when each one wins, and a cardio prescription for lifters cutting hard.

31 May 2026Read →
Finance10 min read

Index funds vs ETFs: the real differences and which to pick

Most ETFs are index funds, and most index funds and ETFs track the same indexes. The real question is structure: which one fits how you invest in 2026.

31 May 2026Read →
Career10 min read

8 LinkedIn headline templates that get recruiter outreach (with what to fill in each blank)

Your LinkedIn headline has 220 characters and most people use 40. Here are 8 fill-in-the-blank headline templates, with worked examples, that match how recruiters actually search.

31 May 2026Read →
Lifestyle9 min read

Meal prep Sunday: the 4-hour template that saves 14 hours of weekday cooking

The 4-hour Sunday meal prep template that saves 14 hours of weekday cooking. Shopping list, the mix-and-match rule, storage rules, and a no-prep alternate week.

31 May 2026Read →
Fitness10 min read

Creatine loading phase, dosing, and timing: what actually matters

Do you need a creatine loading phase? The evidence-based answer on dosage, timing, with or without food, monohydrate vs other forms, side effects, and whether it helps Hyrox.

30 May 2026Read →
Fitness11 min read

Reverse dieting: how to end a cut without the fat rebound

Finished a cut and scared to eat more? Reverse dieting is a structured week-by-week calorie ramp that lets your metabolism catch up before you hit a surplus. Full protocol and worked example.

30 May 2026Read →
Fitness11 min read

How many sets per muscle group per week for hypertrophy

The research-backed weekly set range for muscle growth: roughly 10 to 20 hard sets per muscle, the MEV-MAV-MRV framework, a per-muscle table, and a 4-day split.

30 May 2026Read →
Finance9 min read

How much emergency fund do you actually need?

The 3, 6, or 12 month emergency fund question answered as a personal risk calculation. A decision framework, a worked example, and where to keep the cash.

30 May 2026Read →
Career12 min read

STAR method examples: how to structure a behavioral answer that lands

The STAR method, broken down to the second: a 90-second time budget, weak vs strong rewrites, and three full worked example answers with inline S/T/A/R labels.

30 May 2026Read →
Fitness11 min read

Body recomposition: how to lose fat and gain muscle at the same time

Body recomposition is real, but only under specific conditions. Here is the calorie math, the protein numbers, the training that drives it, and a realistic timeline.

29 May 2026Read →
Fitness9 min read

TDEE vs BMR vs maintenance calories: what each number means

BMR, RMR, TDEE, NEAT, TEF and maintenance calories explained, with the Mifflin-St Jeor formula, a worked example, and which number to use when cutting or bulking.

29 May 2026Read →
Fitness13 min read

Hyrox training plan for beginners: an 8-week prep for your first race

A complete 8-week Hyrox training plan for first-timers, with every session written out, station technique tips, and a race-day pacing strategy.

29 May 2026Read →
Finance9 min read

Debt snowball vs avalanche: which actually saves more money?

A full worked example on $26,000 of debt at a $600 monthly budget. See the total interest, payoff date, and dollars saved for each method, then the honest answer.

29 May 2026Read →
Career11 min read

Salary negotiation script after an offer: exact wording for 3 situations

You have the most leverage in the 24 to 72 hours between an offer and your acceptance. Here are exact email and phone scripts for the 3 most common counter-offer situations.

29 May 2026Read →
Fitness7 min read

How to train for Hyrox at home without gym equipment

Build most of your Hyrox race fitness at home with a loaded backpack and pavement. Here is a substitute for every station, plus a 5-day training week.

25 May 2026Read →
Career7 min read

What salary to ask for as a senior software engineer in 2026

The 2026 senior software engineer salary range by company tier, how to find your specific number, and the figure you actually say out loud when asked.

25 May 2026Read →
Finance7 min read

How to calculate your FIRE number with high inflation

High inflation breaks simple FIRE math. Use real returns, inflate target spending, and stress-test the 4 percent rule, with a full worked example.

25 May 2026Read →
Career7 min read

Interview prep timeline: 7 days to a FAANG coding loop

One week before a FAANG-level coding loop? Here is a day-by-day plan, the seven patterns to drill, and how to prep the behavioral round in parallel.

25 May 2026Read →
Fitness7 min read

How to lose 5kg in 8 weeks without losing muscle

Losing 5kg in 8 weeks means a 0.625kg weekly target. Here is the deficit math, the protein number that protects muscle, and how to prove the loss is fat.

25 May 2026Read →
Fitness8 min read

How to calculate your Hyrox finish time (the formula every projection should use)

Most Hyrox plans guess your race-day time. Here is the actual formula: 1km pace plus fade, station PB times position fatigue, plus roxzone allowance. Calibrate it from your own sims.

15 May 2026Read →
Fitness8 min read

Hyrox training plan for German athletes: a 15-week build from base to taper

A 15-week periodised Hyrox training plan adapted for the German race calendar. Base → Build → Peak → Taper, station-correct weights in kg, race-day pacing.

12 May 2026Read →
Fitness7 min read

Hyrox Singapore 2026: race calendar + training timeline for first-time athletes

When to register, when to start training, and what to do each phase. A practical timeline for athletes targeting their first Hyrox race in Singapore or the SEA region.

12 May 2026Read →
Fitness6 min read

Why your TDEE calculation is wrong if you train Hyrox (and how to fix it)

Standard TDEE formulas underestimate Hyrox training load by 200-400 kcal/day. Why it happens, how to correct for it, and what to actually eat in each training phase.

12 May 2026Read →
Lifestyle6 min read

How to plan a week of meals in 10 minutes (without giving up flexibility)

A 10-minute weekly meal-planning framework that respects how you actually eat. No rigid menus, no spreadsheets, no Sunday-night burnout.

11 May 2026Read →
Career7 min read

Why your job applications stall at 'reviewing' (and the 30-day rule that tells you to move on)

Most applications sit at "under review" forever. Here is what each stage actually means, when an application is effectively dead, and how to track them without losing your mind.

11 May 2026Read →
Career6 min read

The 5-minute LinkedIn self-audit: 7 lines recruiters skip past

Most LinkedIn profiles fail in the same 7 places. A 5-minute audit you can run on your own profile right now, with the fixes.

11 May 2026Read →
Lifestyle5 min read

Why 5 minutes of journaling actually changes how you feel (the research, not the woo)

Three peer-reviewed studies on why short daily journaling shifts mood within 14 days, and a stripped-down template that takes 5 minutes.

11 May 2026Read →
Lifestyle6 min read

The 12-people problem: why adults lose touch, and the 10-minute system that fixes it

You have about 12 people who genuinely matter. Most adults lose touch with 4 to 6 of them within 5 years. The reason isn't time, and the fix takes 10 minutes a week.

11 May 2026Read →
Lifestyle6 min read

Your house has a $4,000 maintenance bill hiding in it (the 7 tasks that cost the most when you skip them)

Seven home maintenance tasks that cost almost nothing if you do them on schedule, and somewhere between $400 and $12,000 if you don't. With the cadence for each.

11 May 2026Read →
Lifestyle5 min read

AI Coach vs prompt-pack PDF: what actually changed (and why we rebuilt 4 products)

Four of our products used to be prompt-pack PDFs you'd paste into ChatGPT. They're now AI coaches that read your data. Here's why the rebuild was necessary, and what changed for the user.

11 May 2026Read →
Lifestyle5 min read

The 21-tool problem: why most 'platforms' are just bundled apps with the same logo

Most all-in-one subscriptions are 5 to 10 disconnected apps sharing a logo and a checkout. Here is why a real platform requires a shared data layer, and how to spot the fakes.

11 May 2026Read →
Fitness5 min read

Why your gym log should talk to your meal plan

Most lifters track workouts and macros in two separate apps. Here is what changes when those two streams talk to each other, and why most platforms still get this wrong.

6 May 2026Read →
Finance5 min read

What ChatGPT doesn't know about your money (and Blacknave does)

ChatGPT can explain compound interest in plain English. It cannot tell you whether to pay off your card or invest your bonus, because it doesn't see your numbers. Here is what changes when AI does.

6 May 2026Read →
Finance5 min read

How tracking your debt makes your budget smarter (and vice versa)

Most people who track debt don't know their real surplus. Most people who track a budget don't know their debt-free date. Two halves of the same problem. Here is what changes when the tools share data.

6 May 2026Read →
Fitness8 min read

Hyrox sled push: technique, weight, and how to actually train it

The sled push is where most Hyrox athletes blow up. Here is the exact technique, the weight you should be training at, and the 3 sessions that prepare you.

2 May 2026Read →
Fitness6 min read

Sub-90 minute Hyrox: the pacing strategy that actually works

Most athletes blow up trying to hit sub-90 because they overcook the first 4km. Here is the pacing breakdown that gets you there with energy left.

2 May 2026Read →
Finance7 min read

How to pay off credit card debt fast: the order, the math, and the trap

Credit card debt costs you more than any other consumer debt. Here is the exact strategy to clear it fastest, with the math and the trap most people fall into.

2 May 2026Read →
Finance5 min read

How to calculate your debt-free date (and what changes it most)

Your debt-free date is the single number that tells you whether your plan is working. Here is how to calculate it for any debt, and the variables that move it most.

2 May 2026Read →
Fitness6 min read

TDEE for fat loss: how to calculate your deficit (without losing muscle)

Most people calculate TDEE then guess at the deficit. Here is the actual math, the size of the cut, and the protein target that protects your muscle.

2 May 2026Read →
Career9 min read

How to set your freelance hourly rate (the formula no one teaches you)

The 3-step formula for setting a freelance hourly rate that actually pays you what you need. Includes the billable-hours math most freelancers get wrong.

2 May 2026Read →
Finance8 min read

Rent vs buy: the calculator math no one shows you

The honest math behind renting vs buying a home. Includes the hidden costs of ownership most calculators leave out and the breakeven year that actually matters.

2 May 2026Read →
Career9 min read

Behavioral interview questions: the 8 they actually ask (with answer frameworks)

The 8 behavioral interview questions you will get asked in 2026. Each one with the STAR framework, real example answers, and the trap to avoid.

2 May 2026Read →
Lifestyle8 min read

Meal prep for fat loss: the 4-meal Sunday template that actually works

A simple Sunday meal-prep template for fat loss: 4 meals, 90 minutes prep, exact macro targets. Includes the calorie math and the 3 mistakes that derail it.

2 May 2026Read →
Fitness8 min read

Body recomposition: the 3 numbers that prove it is actually working

How to tell if a body recomp is working in 4-8 weeks (not 6 months). The 3 numbers to track and what to change if they are not moving.

2 May 2026Read →
Fitness5 min read

Hyrox weights by division: the complete reference (2026)

Exact sled push, sled pull, farmers carry, sandbag lunge and wall ball weights for every Hyrox division, Open, Pro, Mixed Doubles.

1 May 2026Read →
Fitness4 min read

How to calculate TDEE: the simple formula + worked example

Step-by-step TDEE calculation using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, with a worked example for a 30-year-old man and woman.

1 May 2026Read →
Finance5 min read

What's a good FIRE number? (and how to actually calculate yours)

How to calculate your FIRE number using the 4% rule, what counts as a realistic target by income, and the trap of over-estimating expenses.

1 May 2026Read →
Fitness6 min read

The best Strong app alternatives in 2026 (and why most fall short)

Compared: Hevy, FitNotes, Liftin', Blacknave, and 3 others. The actual differences in UX, AI coaching, price, and platform support.

1 May 2026Read →
Fitness8 min read

How to train for Hyrox: a complete 15-week plan

Everything you need to build a Hyrox training plan from scratch: how to structure your weeks, combine running and strength, and peak on race day.

29 April 2026Read →
Finance8 min read

How to calculate your FIRE number (and when you can actually retire)

A step-by-step guide to calculating your FIRE number, understanding the 4% rule, and working out your real timeline to financial independence.

29 April 2026Read →
Fitness6 min read

The best way to track gym workouts in 2026

How to track workouts effectively: what to log, how often to review, and the difference between an app that stores data and one that helps you progress.

29 April 2026Read →
Career9 min read

Salary negotiation scripts that actually work (with word-for-word examples)

How to negotiate a job offer, ask for a raise, and handle the most common employer objections: with specific scripts you can use word-for-word.

29 April 2026Read →