Football and sex..

That's what America does... or at least that's what men like to do. In honor of a big UF weekend which set a record breaking 90,800 in attendance at the Swamp (really 90,801 - they didn't scan my ticket) and the privilege of meeting Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin's gorgeous wife, Layla - I thought this would be a great topic.

Sex is good, everyone knows that. So how many times should you have sex a year? Perhaps the spread of a UF vs. Troy game? Actually it's even more. Dr. Oz says if you have sex 200 times a year you can reduce your physiological age by six years according to researchers from a Duke University study.

Worried about catching the swine flu? Having sex once or twice a week has been linked with higher levels of an antibody called immunoglobulin A, which can protect you from getting colds and other infections according to scientists at Wilkes University. Check out 10 suprising health benefits of sex here.

Having a little trouble with impotence? Maybe you should start watching football. Catching a funny movie or entertaining game can help you ward off a heart attack according to scientists in Greece. When people sat and watched comedy for half an hour, the humor and entertainment hit temporarily improved the flexibility of their coronary arteries. Laughing reduces the body's production of cortisol, a stress hormone that causes your arteries to stiffen, which in turn hampers blood flow and increases your odds of an infarction.

Now if you're a Tennessee fan, you might be out of luck. In a Men's Health survey, one in four men rated watching their team lose a 7 or higher on the stress scale. Research shows that the deeper our dedication to a team or player, the more likely we are to transform emotional reactions into hostility.

The Solutions: Go have sex and release some oxytocin (the cuddling hormone), follow the SEC's coverage of Layla Kiffin or start rooting for the Gators.

Football and sex - they control our lives.

From a Rubber Bracelet to a Worldwide Movement

I remember when I was in high school and I went to the mall to get a LiveStrong bracelet. I heard the same thing from Footlocker, Champs and Footaction, "We're sold out."

Lance Armstrong's agent, Bill Stapleton, laughed when Nike approached him with a proposal to sell 5 million bracelets before the 2004 Tour de France. No one knew, no one could predict the future. No one thought that tying perhaps one of the greatest athletes of all time, Lance Armstrong, to a name on a $1 bracelet would create a philanthropic brand, an inspirational message and most of all a worldwide movement for a cure for cancer.

The Lance Armstrong Foundation was created in 1997, and in its early years raised about $7 million a year. This year, it expects to raise $40 million with $17 million expected to come from the licensing of the Livestrong name according to an article in Sports Business Journal.

Chief Marketing Officer at Dick's Sporting Goods, Jeff Hennion, said, "It's not an apparel and footwear brand. It's a movement and a cause around which people have great passion."

Nothing sums it up better than what Hennion said. It is something everyone can relate to whether you have cancer, know someone that has it or you're just an athlete looking for some motivation. Everyone needs to find something that inspires them and pushes them further. That simple concept has helped the Lance Armstrong Foundation create its own endowment and raise more than $300 million.

Perhaps no one needs motivation more than cyclists. Their minds wander and lose their edge as they ride for days at a time. So Lance Armstrong surrounded his brand with things that motivate him. On his apparel you can see a symbol for his mom or 10//2 (October 2nd, the day he was diagnosed with cancer). Now his brand can be seen in Nike apparel, Oakley sunglasses and even HP computers - all with proceeds going towards his foundation.

So live strong and find your inspiration.

Is it in You?

It almost hurts to question it. Developed at my school - the University of Florida Gators - and it's no irony that the drink has become as legendary and iconic as Florida football. It has become more than a sport drink, it's a symbol of fierce competitiveness and sport.

The truth is there are very few products that have superior marketing and advertising than Gatorade. It makes me think of one of the best commercials with the aged Michael Jordan of the Washington Wizards playing 1-on-1 against the best player of all time, the Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls. His bald, dark head dripping glistening Lemon Lime Gatorade sweat down his face.
So, Gatorade would have you believe it is better than water, but is it? It all started when Gator football coach Dwayne Douglas questioned why his players lost so much weight during games but urinated very little. With long endurance and major sweat loss in mind, Gatorade was invented by Dr. Robert Cade who then directed UF's Medicine renal and electrolyte divison.

And the battle began - Gatorade vs. Water

Regardless of some of the best marketing this country has ever seen, studies have continued to prove that Gatorade is better than water for prolonged exercise and endurance tests. According to a University of Wisconsin study, Gatorade was slightly more beneficial in terms of weight change and endurance. Check out the study here. Gatorade packs a carbohydrate and potassium punch that water doesn't provide, but remember that the difference is only in endurance exercising. You don't need Gatorade every time if you're not active.

More importantly, if you're a Gatorade drinker no matter what the occasion, here is something to consider. In a study at the NYU College of Dentistry, they immersed cow teeth in Gatorade for 75-90 minutes to replicate consuming the beverage overtime, and they found Gatorade can damage tooth enamel even more so than soda. Not to mention you can say goodbye to your pearly whites because Gatorade caused significant staining. Read the study here.

There is nothing I enjoy more after a workout than chugging orange Gatorade. Just make sure you drink Gatorade with an active, high endurance lifestyle.

The best 1-on-1 match of all time - watch it here. And I would be wrong if I didn't include this one for the Gators - the legend continues here.

Don't Let the Sport Leave You

In light of the U.S. Open upon us, and the fact that I had an amazing time witnessing men and women (love Maria Sharapova) play to the point of exertion, I thought that tennis would be an appropriate topic. Now, I'm not talking about the game of tennis because I'm not much of a tennis player, but I do want to tell you about tennis as a sport and a means of total body fitness.

A common theme of college students and many adults is that they think they are fit by crushing some weights 4-5 days a week. But the real question is are you fit for the court?

Keeping sports with you, whether it be tennis, basketball, running, etc., will bring your health and fitness to all new heights. It isn't about muscle concentration, working chest this day and back the other. Fitness is about being able to have the endurance to handle the court. That is the real test. It's about being strong, flexible, explosive and with a heart that can beat at speeds where you feel it in your face.

I watched John Isner defeat Andy Roddick in a thriller that lasted close to four hours. That's true fitness and training at work - lasting almost four hours pushing your muscles to the point where you collapse. After finally defeating Roddick in the 5th set, Isner, not quite sure how to celebrate with no gas left in the tank, just fell to the court in a combination of exhaustion and disbelief.

Start training for the sport and you'll notice you'll push yourself further. Instead of jogging, do fast sprints in intervals. Check out more of these total body workouts that helped tennis great Victoria Azarenka.

However, it isn't just about physical conditioning. Sports have a major mental component, and the mental battle will always be the toughest challenge. So take it on and never let the sport leave you. According to a Men's Health List, 10 Ways to Boost Your Productivity At Work, bringing a tennis ball to work will increase your productivity.

If you find yourself tiring out in your training too early, have some coconut water. The loaded potassium helps prevent cramping. John Isner, the #4 American in the tennis world, drinks several before a big match. They are available at Whole Foods Market.

So take the sport everywhere and find true fitness within you.

Feel the Rhythm, Feel the Ride

Lets face it people, there are perfect matches out there. Jordan and Pippen, Aikman and Emmitt (former Gator), Simon and Paula Abdul, Spaghetti and meatballs, lamb and tuna fish (sorry I love Big Daddy). But NOTHING fits together in perfect harmony like exercise and music.

I realized when I got to the gym today that I forgot my iPod, and nothing contributes more to the downfall of a pumped exercise than the lack rhythm, the lack of spirit. This isn't just a myth or matter of personal preference - this is science.

According to an article titled The Science of Workout Music at Menshealth.com, a study at Hampden-Sydney College confirmed that listening to your favorite music will help you push harder in workouts. According to the study, men who listened to music while riding an exercise bike for 10 minutes pedaled 11% farther than those who pedaled in silence.

Nothing pushes you to leave the city behind during a hard run like music. Whether you're in the racket of New York City or the humming crickets of rural Texas, music will give you the beat to get that much faster. Costas Karageorghis, PhD, a sports psychologist at Brunel University in London claims research has shown synchronizing the speed of music with exercise gets people to train harder.

So keep pace with the right music. Try these for your specific exercise playlist:
-Running: "Run Like Hell" by Pink Floyd
-Cycling: "Panama" by Van Halen
-Lifting: "Black Dog" by Led Zeppelin

Michael Phelps, although I originally thought fish can't hear music, had the world buzzing about what he was listening to before those world record breaking swims. Take a look at what some of your favorite athletes have on their playlists.

Michael Phelps: "I'm Me" by Lil' Wayne
Andy Roddick: "Over the Hill and Far Away" by Led Zeppelin
Lebron James: "The Takeover" by Jay-Z
Brandon Jacobs NY Giants: Young Jeezy (all of it)
Lance Armstrong: "Island in the Sun" by Wheezer
Chad Ocho Cinco: "Testin My Gangsta" by Three 6 Mafia
James Blake: "More than a Feeling" by Boston and "Roll Call" by Lil' Jon

And of course, if you don't have this on your playlist, then you're not even working out...

Feel the rhythm, Feel the ride

Allow me to introduce myself...

Welcome to Out of a Rut: Tyler's Guide to Sports, Health and Fitness. You may be wondering what's with the name? It doesn't make sense. That's because you're in a rut!

In a rut - in a settled or established pattern, habit or course of action, especially a boring one.

Unfortunately, many of our lives have become in a rut, and our health and fitness even more so. That's why we quit going to the gym, stop miles short of our potential during a jog and worst of all lose our edge and excitement about exercising. There's always something different to be done. There's always something to take us to the next level - even if you're an avid weightlifter and a health nut, I'm here to guide you out of the rut!

My name is Tyler Rutstein, and I am junior journalism major at the University of Florida. I have started this blog for my health and fitness writing class with Men's Health editor and co-author of the national bestselling "YOU: The Owner's Manuel" series Ted Spiker. Throughout this blog, I am going to write about popular sports topics, health and nutrition, and great ways to break a sweat.

Health and fitness is a real passion of mine. I enjoy weightlifting, running, bikram yoga and most of all basketball. If you play at UF Southwest Recreational Center then you'll know me as "the lefty." I am always looking for ways to enhance my physical performance and stamina.

At UF, I began my journalism career like most in reporting class. I was published often in the campus newspaper, The Independent Florida Alligator, from stories about the Madoff scandal to UF pageant girls. My favorite story was covering Tim Tebow and his philanthropy that raised more than $300,000 this past year. It was published on Yahoo! Sports. Besides writing, I am the director of celebrity cameos for the 2009 Gator Growl show. This has been one of the most exciting jobs I've had as I film and meet celebrities getting them pumped for Gator football. I am also an active brother in Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and was an editor of SigEp The Magazine.

For my dream job, I want to start a sports management and marketing firm that manages NBA players. I want to handle contract negotiations while at the same time maximizing their earning potential through proactive and personalized marketing strategies. I would also like to own a training facility that will develop and prolong many of my athletes' careers.

A little big more about myself... My favorite athletes are Lance Armstrong and Dwyane Wade. My favorite days are Gator football Saturdays, and as of lately, whatever day the BCS falls on. I enjoy Men's Health Magazine, ESPN and Sports Business Journal. My favorite books are I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, Lance Armstrong, 33 Strategies of War, and Harry Potter. My favorite meal is the Bbq Ranch Chicken Salad from the Cheesecake Factory. My favorite artists are Cold Play and Lil' Wayne. My favorite actor is Adam Sandler.

I hope you look forward to a new and exciting year, and most of all, a fit one.

That's my life here at UF, but that story is far from finished...