NBA All-Star weekend is right around the corner, and what could possibly be even better than the best basketball players in the world going at it? Well, how about a bunch of high-profile celebrities? Yep, it's on. And it's all happening on Friday the 13th at 7pm ET at Madison Square Garden. With the full roster released by the NBA yesterday, the head-to-head rivalry you really can't miss will be between two entertainment superstars; Nick Cannon and Kevin Hart.

We had a few minutes for a QA with Cannon to find out what he's looking forward to, and of course, his game plan for stopping Hart's MVP streak.

Men's Fitness: What's it like being in another NBA All-Star Celebrity Game?
Nick Cannon: It’s a lot of fun. It’s something that I’ve been involved with since the late 90s, and something I’ve always looked forward to. Even when I was a kid, before I was officially in entertainment, I was a kid in the stands. I remember NBA used to do this thing with school jams and we use to have to do these things; you had to have a certain GPA, read a certain amount of books, or be a part of everything to get tickets to be on the actual court instead of in the stands. This is what I used to dream about when I was a kid. So, it’s kind of cool.

MF: So what’s going to be going through your mind before you hit the court on Friday?
NC: I’m going to be focused on scoring at least one of those baskets.

MF: Yes!
NC: That’s my goal... Just one.

MF: Alright... I’ll take that.
NC: Even if it’s a free throw.

MF: Are there any players on the other side you’re looking forward to squaring off against?
NC: Kevin. Probably just him more than anything. I mean, he only scored two more points than I did last year. So I don’t understand how he was the MVP.

MF: What’s going to be your approach with him on game day?
NC: Just to shut him down. Defense the whole time. I’m like a foot taller than him so I’ll be fine.

MF: Did you do any training or working out? You want to stay pretty sharp out there, so what’s your working out like?
NC: Obviously, I’m in shape-but it’s all for vanity-it’s not actual skill. I'm horrible. I tried to do this whole training thing last year to battle Kevin Hart, and I still went out there and only scored like two points. It’s really not all that "training"... as long as I do my typical work out regimen I’ll be fine.

MF: What is your typical workout regimen?
NC: I box. I probably put an hour and a half to two hours in everyday boxing. One-thousand push-ups a day is typical, then sometime in the afternoon I’ll just wind down in the boxing gym and spend some time in the ring throwing a couple of rounds.

MF: Now if you were in any of the skills competitions; three point or slam dunk, what would be your unique skill set?
NC: Probably slam-dunk. They used to do a celebrity slam dunk contest, and I think they stopped because I tried to jump over somebody–it wasn’t the wisest thing. Ha, yeah, they were like, ‘we probably shouldn’t let these celebrities try this.’

Don't miss any of the action and entertainment. Tune into ESPN at 7pm ET on Friday, February 13th.

The wait is finally over as Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels reunite as everyone's favorite dumbest duo in the hilarious comedy Dumb and Dumber To. Own it on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital HD on February 17.

ENTER NOW - (Feb 9 - Feb. 23)

It's without a doubt that the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game will be loaded with good times and laughs. Nick Cannon vs. Kevin Hart—that's a given. But among the stacked roster of celebrities participating in Friday night's festivities, there's a fierce competitor set to inspire the nation.

If you haven't heard the name Blake Leeper yet, you will. Leeper has bronze, silver, and gold medals under his belt. And the 25-year-old firecracker of a personality from Chula Vista, CA, had been told he would never walk—or play basketball. But those grim predictions clearly never stuck, and Leeper has successfully gone on to become an elite-level Paralympian athlete. His sights are set on the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, taking home the MVP award at the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game, and to set an example for those that stare adversity face-to-face every day, that they, too, can accomplish anything.

Men's Fitness: What are you looking forward to most on Friday night?
Blake Leeper: Hopefully when I’m out there they will see me—a guy with no legs—playing basketball. It's something people have never seen before, it's going to be a first, and that’s the beauty of it. I get a chance to present the whole world with the power of changing perception. If there’s a kid out there who sees me and says, "Oh my God. Blake is out there playing with no legs and I have just one leg or one arm—I can do it, too.' It changes their whole perception. For me, Bo Jackson was my hero, and for him to play on a professional level was all I needed. If he can do it, I can do it. It can be done, and I hope on Friday that’s what will be accomplished.

MF: How does it feel to be selected to play? 
BL: Oh, my gosh, you have to understand—I grew up playing basketball. That was my sport. It just so happened that I’m a fast runner, and I fell in love with running, but basketball was my first love. It’s awesome to see how far I came and stuff I can do and say on the court next Friday on ESPN. If a kid is going through something, they can get something from my story being out there, fighting and overcoming it all.

MF: What are you going to be doing over the next couple days leading up to the game?
BL: I'm going to be making a lot of interviews and making a couple of appearances. But for me, I’m just trying to stay focused. I played in high school, so I’m going to try to put myself back to those days.

MF: Any preparation? 
BL: The night before, Michael Jordan is hosting a practice for us, so it’s going to be awesome. I’m going to get my shot down because I’m going to take it seriously. I want to find my hot spot. I want people to take me seriously, and at first I know they won’t, but by the end of this game they will. So, I’m going to give them my all, because, to me, it’s the championship. My goal is to be MVP. That’s the type of competitor I am. It’s going to be a lot, but that’s what my heart wants.

MF: You have a bronze, silver, and gold medal already. What's next for you competitively?
BL: I’m trying to make the Olympics games coming up in 2016. So I’m just trying to work as hard as I can to be the fastest double blade runner in the world—that’s my goal, that’s my ambition. And I hope it opens up more doors in my life on the competition level. I want to be as fast as I can, and for the last few years I feel like I’ve seen a development. And to just be in that moment, 80,000 people cheering for me, seeing my family, my friends—that whole moment. Going back to Rio is what I need to do, and I need to train so I can prepare myself to be ready.

MF: What do you think attributes to either your greatest strength or your ability to still make things happen, no matter what you’ve been up against?
BL: It's really because of my family; what they instilled in me with values and mindset. Even at an early age, my mom made the decision that they were not going to treat me any different. The doctors said I wouldn’t walk. They told my father I wouldn’t play basketball. I have an older brother who’s a few years older than me, and as a child, to see my older brother do it, meant I wanted to do it well. It really was my surroundings. My mind said, "If I you can do it, I can do it better." I kind of used sports as a way to show the community, my friends, and family that I’m serious about this and I’m a hard worker regardless of my disabilities. I’m just as strong as everybody else. That’s been my mindset ever since, and I think that’s why it was an easy transition for me to become a Paralympian, because what’s on my mind is to be the best in the world. That goes for the classroom, the track, the basketball court, whatever the situation might be. I want to be the best, and it’s pretty cool to say that I’m doing it on a prosthetic leg.

MF: How would you describe the word "disability"?
BL: It’s kind of like the elephant in the room. People are awkward. People look at me and they’re too afraid to ask me questions, or what happened to me. I do what I can, but I can’t deny that I am missing both my legs. I do wear prosthetic legs, but the thing is, I have a thousand other abilities, so I can overcome my minor disability. At the end of the day, nobody is perfect. Whether you’re short, tall, wear glasses, in some type of situation—just try to find a better way to overcome that situation. So, yes, I have my disabilities, but I also have a thousand other abilities.

MF: Your accomplishments are inspiring alone, but you also do motivational speaking. What else are you doing out there?
BL: I feel like I want to be the ambassador for the disabled and let them know that there is someone out there fighting this, and educating the world, and doing the best he can. And to let them know just because you’re disabled or in a wheelchair does not mean you live below a normal life. It means you have to excel. People’s perceptions and what they believe are pretty low, and you have to build and fight through that and do the best you can.

Don't miss The American Blade Runner Blake Leeper in the NBA All-Star Celebrity Game on Friday, Feb. 13, at 7 p.m. ET on ESPN.

Show Leeper some love and support on his journey to Rio and beyond. Follow him on Facebook, Twitter, and his website, BlakeLeeper.com

NBA All-Star weekend is right around the corner, and what could possibly be even better than the best basketball players in the world going at it? Well, how about a bunch of high-profile celebrities? Yep, it's on. And it's all happening on Friday the 13th at 7pm ET at Madison Square Garden. With the full roster released by the NBA yesterday, the head-to-head rivalry you really can't miss will be between two entertainment superstars; Nick Cannon and Kevin Hart.

We had a few minutes for a QA with Cannon to find out what he's looking forward to, and of course, his game plan for stopping Hart's MVP streak.

Men's Fitness: What's it like being in another NBA All-Star Celebrity Game?
Nick Cannon: It’s a lot of fun. It’s something that I’ve been involved with since the late 90s, and something I’ve always looked forward to. Even when I was a kid, before I was officially in entertainment, I was a kid in the stands. I remember NBA used to do this thing with school jams and we use to have to do these things; you had to have a certain GPA, read a certain amount of books, or be a part of everything to get tickets to be on the actual court instead of in the stands. This is what I used to dream about when I was a kid. So, it’s kind of cool.

MF: So what’s going to be going through your mind before you hit the court on Friday?
NC: I’m going to be focused on scoring at least one of those baskets.

MF: Yes!
NC: That’s my goal... Just one.

MF: Alright... I’ll take that.
NC: Even if it’s a free throw.

MF: Are there any players on the other side you’re looking forward to squaring off against?
NC: Kevin. Probably just him more than anything. I mean, he only scored two more points than I did last year. So I don’t understand how he was the MVP.

MF: What’s going to be your approach with him on game day?
NC: Just to shut him down. Defense the whole time. I’m like a foot taller than him so I’ll be fine.

MF: Did you do any training or working out? You want to stay pretty sharp out there, so what’s your working out like?
NC: Obviously, I’m in shape-but it’s all for vanity-it’s not actual skill. I'm horrible. I tried to do this whole training thing last year to battle Kevin Hart, and I still went out there and only scored like two points. It’s really not all that "training"... as long as I do my typical work out regimen I’ll be fine.

MF: What is your typical workout regimen?
NC: I box. I probably put an hour and a half to two hours in everyday boxing. One-thousand push-ups a day is typical, then sometime in the afternoon I’ll just wind down in the boxing gym and spend some time in the ring throwing a couple of rounds.

MF: Now if you were in any of the skills competitions; three point or slam dunk, what would be your unique skill set?
NC: Probably slam-dunk. They used to do a celebrity slam dunk contest, and I think they stopped because I tried to jump over somebody–it wasn’t the wisest thing. Ha, yeah, they were like, ‘we probably shouldn’t let these celebrities try this.’

Don't miss any of the action and entertainment. Tune into ESPN at 7pm ET on Friday, February 13th.

After testing over the past year in locations such as Portland, the coffee colossus that is Starbucks is offering coconut milk as a dairy-free alternative for all of their beverages—hot and cold—beginning February 17. 

Prior to this, soy milk was the only non-dairy alternative provided, which is not paleo friendly.  The introduction of coconut milk to the menu lineup is meant to appeal and appease vegan, paleo, and lactose-free customers who aren’t so stoked about soy. But if you look closely, the “coconut milk” may not be as diet-friendly as you think.

Like the soy milk that Starbucks offers, the “Sumatra Coconut Milk Beverage with Coconut Water from Concentrate” comes in boxes, and looks pretty simple. But turn that box around and take a look at the ingredient list—that’s where things get complicated. 

10 Things You Didn't Know About Coconut Water >>>

The “coconut milk” is actually just water loaded with additives and chemicals. Ingredients include: water, coconut cream, sugar, carrageenan, and tricalcium phosphate. Carrageenan itself has caused a controversy in the health world recently—being removed from all Silk beverage and Stonyfield organic yogurt products due to suggested gastrointestinal inflammation it causes.

The unnecessary sugar, saturated fat from cream and added ingredients would make an already calorie-laden beverage a calorie-bomb. So we’ll skip this “healthy option” and stick to our plain old black cup of Joe.  

By the Numbers: Starbucks' Sexagintuple Vanilla Bean Mocha Frappuccino >>>

One of the biggest hang-ups in meeting fitness goals is not sticking to portion control. That’s why former lawyer-turned-entrepreneur Mark Bernstein  came up with MealEnders, a 15-calorie lozenge that allows your brain to catch up to your body after a meal to signal fullness without overeating.

“I would finish my plate of spaghetti and immediately go for that second plate even though I knew I didn’t need it,” says Berstein, who has no prior experience in the health industry. “When I realized I needed to lose weight and learn to just stop overeating, I came up with MealEnders, to help create new habits and make a conscious act to stop eating when you are full.”  

The lozenges cost about 60 cents each and do not act as a drug or supplement—which is one of their main selling points. “MealEnders are more about what you are not getting,” says Tami Lyon, MPH, RD, who was hired by Bernstein to put the science into context for users. “There are no stimulants, no hormones, no drugs, and it is not a stimulant. We are using a person’s natural hormonal response to a sensory experience to help change habitual behaviors.”

The 14 Best Things You Can Do for Your Body >>>

MealEnders come in four flavors: mocha, cinnamon, chocolate mint, and citrus. The idea is to pop the lozenge in your mouth when you feel about 80 percent full. The outer coating of the candy is sweet and dissolves into a second layer that cools and tingles for 20 minutes—the amount of time it takes for your body to register fullness to the brain. 

“It is great that MealEnders aren’t making any scientific claims and that they are just to help someone create a new habit,” says Keri Gans, RDN and author of The Small Change Diet. “I like the idea of having something that gives you something a little sweet, slows you down and gives you that ritual of signaling that you are done eating before you overeat—whether that is a small piece of chocolate or this lozenge.”

12 Foods to Remove from the Fridge Forever >>>

Bernstein and Lyon are using the specific purpose of MealEnders to end a meal (just like the name says) and take more time to consume, to hold people more accountable than a piece of chocolate, which can quickly turn into three pieces or more in 20 minutes. “You can take these anywhere and use them discretely—whether that’s in the office, at a restaurant, or at home.” 

Great idea, but it’s only going to work if you know when to use it. “The MealEnder, or any other product won’t serve any purpose if you had a huge meal already,” says Gans. “So, no matter what you use to hold yourself accountable to not overeat, you have to know what 80 percent full is and to stop there.”

When six-time Olympic gold medalist Usain Bolt comes to town, you know there's going to be some serious buzz around the place. However, when the Jamaican sprinting legend arrived in the Big Apple to promote IGNITE, PUMA’s newest running shoe, there was an energy surge. The shoe manufacturer—which says the IGNITE “provides maximum energy return”—challenged runners to try the shoe on a slew of treadmills around Times Square to generate energy. When the runners reached their energy target, Bolt emerged on a raised platform in spectacular fashion to greet the crowd and officially launch the shoe.

9 Ways to Max Out Your Treadmill Workout >>>

“I’ve always enjoyed a good entrance, and this one was epic. People were running for hours on end in really cold weather. We were watching the energy meter rise, and when it hit the top it’s fair to say there were fireworks. IGNITE is a great a running shoe. Along with PUMA spikes, I spend a lot of time training in this shoe, as well, and it really helps to sustain my energy levels. I love IGNITE for that," says the 28-year-old. “I’m excited to be back here in New York with PUMA. I have special memories of this city - I always have a great time whenever I’m here, whether I’m competing or otherwise. It’s always good to be back.”

4 Treadmill Workouts You’ve Never Tried >>>

Check out the video of the event:

Even for a guy who has such international success and worldwide admiration, being front and center in New York City is still a thrill:

When you see your picture in #TimesSquare you know you doing it big #BigApple#NewYorkpic.twitter.com/DY25VwbPaJ

— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) February 11, 2015

Here is why Bolt is so fired up by the PUMA IGNITE:

Check out what's going on in our March Issue! We've got Adam Levine on the cover, as well as more exclusive workouts to whip you into shape. We've got the guide to the best destination marathons, Channing Tatum in the Amazon, Jay Glazer in the gym, meals that shrink your gut, and style pointers from the NBA's best ballers.

All this plus our regular breakthroughs and columns. Download the latest update of the Men's Fitness app on iPhone or iTunes -- and pick up the March 2015 issue on newsstands February 16. 

Radio and TV personality Angie Martinez collaborates with celebrity chef Angelo Sosa for healthy versions of their families' favorite recipes. More of these recipes can be found in their new book, Healthy Latin Eating.

...You're now good to go, whether just for you, or if in need of a smart and fresh Valentine's Day move. Enjoy.

ENTER TO WIN A SIGNED COPY OF HEALTHY LATIN EATING >>>

RECIPE ONE: Cucumber & Serrano Chile Salad
from Angelo

NBA fans see the glamour of being in the league: The pyrotechnic introductions, the stylized press conferences, the red carpet parties. 

They don’t see the midnight flights, the cold tub dunks to soothe aching muscles, the brutal lifting sessions in the offseason, and the physical and mental toll of surviving an 82-game regular season.  

Rookie Travis Wear of the New York Knicks is experiencing all of it for the first time. After a successful collegiate career at UCLA, the 6’ 10” forward went undrafted before signing with the Knicks. He worked hard to earn that contract, maintaining a religious offseason training schedule with his twin brother (who currently plays in the NBA development league). We spoke with Wear about the physical requirements for surviving the long slog of the season, what it’s like to play one-on-one against a twin who’s just as good as you, and how to defend LeBron James.

Three of the NBA's Best Dressed >>>

What was your training regimen like in order to get into NBA shape?

I probably gained 10 pounds in the offseason. It was a lot of resistance training, a lot of stabilization work. My routine would be to go in every morning and work out from eight to 10 doing resistance stuff, weights, cables, and things like that. I would go in and take an hour lunch break, fuel up, and then go and do a core workout. That was basically my routine Monday through Friday.

You trained with your twin brother David. Do you guys push each other?

Absolutely. We don't talk a whole lot when we are working out just because it does get so competitive. If someone gets negative it starts a fight. Living next to someone and being next someone your whole life you know what buttons to push. He watches me and I watch him and if he does so many reps then I'm trying to hit so many reps; if he's hitting so many shots then I'm trying to hit so many shots. That's every day and every rep. With every single workout we do, it’s instinct at this point, to try and do better than your twin.

I can’t imagine what your one-on-one games are like.

When we were younger we played a ton up until middle school and then it just started getting too competitive; neither one of us wanted to lose. It would just end in a fight or a hard foul and we wouldn't get anywhere.

Physically, what do you have to work on to compete at the professional level?

A lot of core strength, a lot of hip strength, a lot of upper body strength. Everything up at this level is done with so much more force and explosiveness. These guys are so much stronger and more athletic then they were in college. 

Playing so many games and traveling so much, how do you let your body recover?

I get in the cold tub and I get with the training staff to take care of the little injuries right away. Even with all the recovery that we do, there are games that you go into and your body just doesn't feel 100 percent, but you have to mentally wrap your head around going out there and playing 100 percent even if your body doesn’t feel great. I think that's something that's been a big adjustment from college. I mean we are 50 games in at this point; that’s almost two college seasons, I think that's something I didn't account for.

Can you describe what it felt like to walk onto the court for the first time back in September?

I was a little shocked; I was just trying to think about walking out on an NBA floor with NBA players and being able to hold my own. I didn't have any expectations, I just wanted to go out there and not make any mistakes.

Of course, in your second game they matched you up against LeBron where you held him to zero points. What was that experience like?

When I was checking in I came in for Melo and he was guarding LeBron. Basically everyone was already matched up and LeBron was the only guy without a defender so I was like, alright I guess I got him. I just tried to not think about who he was. I thought, “this is just a guy wearing a Cavs jersey; don’t let him score and you will be fine.”

How to Build an NBA Body >>>

Make a movie or stay fit. 

As a producer, you usually can’t do both. The job’s too demanding and the hours are too brutal.  But there’s really nothing usual about Burn Later Productions, the newest production company to take Hollywood by storm. First, the company’s founders are young. Second, despite being newcomers to a crowded industry, they’ve been able to attract A-listers like Guy Pearce and Olivia Wilde to their growing body of work, which includes Drinking Buddies and Adult Beginners. Third, they value fitness – evidenced both by their willingness to crank out pushups on set and their latest movie Results, about the often ludicrous world of personal training.

We spoke with Burn Later’s co-presidents Paul Bernon and Sam Slater, along with the executive producer of Results, David Bernon. Here, they talk about their latest project which opens in May, their fitness regimen, and the pre red carpet pump (which yes, apparently is a thing).

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Men’s Fitness: What drew you to Results in the first place, why did you want to make this movie?

Paul Bernon: We were drawn to it because it’s a relationship piece like all of our films, with a comedic element, which we think is a great way to tell a story. In addition to that, there is a larger issue which is about self-improvement culture and this idea that people can hire a trainer or hire a life coach and basically try to outsource all of their issues. And it’s funny for us because we’re certainly all into fitness, but we know you can’t fully outsource it, and I think that there are interesting issues at play there. 

Sam Slater: Folks think they can just go out and hire a trainer and just change who they are, and I’m actually guilty of that myself, hiring a trainer and assuming all of a sudden I’ll have a fantastic body and be in shape.

MF: After watching the movie am I still going to be motivated to hire a personal trainer, or will I want to avoid them at all costs?

SS: I think that you will still hire your trainer, and will also be committed to wanting to be in shape and leading a healthy lifestyle. But I think that it will make clear that if you don’t have the right motivation, and the right reasoning and commitment for it, you’ll fail before you start.

MF: So are you guys guilty of throwing money at ridiculous gym gizmos or trainers?

PB: Well some of us are certainly guilty of buying the ab belt, and I think the shake weight is at home. In all seriousness we’ve all gone through the gimmicks, and have realized the only way to get this done is to follow a pretty strict training regimen.

MF: What are your guys’ training regimens like?

David Bernon: When I’m back home, I wake up really early, so I’m up by 5 or 6 every day. When we’re on the road, I try to do as much as I can with body weight stuff and try to eat as healthy as possible because that’s one of the biggest things when we’re traveling as much as we do, and we’re on the road, it’s more important in terms of getting the right food for your body because there’s a lot of junk around.

MF: With all the traveling and crazy schedules, do you guys ever have to squeeze in a workout on set?

PB: I certainly have done some yoga on set, just to limber up. A lot of actors have felt that was extremely weird. I’m a big fan of the hotel room workout; I’ll do 100 push ups, 100 squats, 100 sit ups, and some burpees. That can be tremendously efficient.

SS: I think nothing gets better attention to your commitment to physical fitness than doing pushup routines in a costume truck.

MF: Guy Pearce, who stars in Results, is in phenomenal shape. Did you talk with him about how he stays healthy?

DB: Yeah, I talked a little bit with Guy about what his personal fitness was and he was on a very committed diet. If we were not shooting and we were going out, he wasn’t drinking and he was eating right and he was doing all of the little things; waking up early for runs and all of this stuff to make sure that his body was in perfect form the entire shoot.  

MF: So the movie opens in May. Do you guys have any pre red carpet traditions when your movies premiere?

SS: What I do is –- and I’m giving away a secret here but this is really just too special not to share -- I tend to wear tight fitted clothing to show off my massive chest. Once everyone exits the car on the way there, I have the driver circle the block. I put down all of the seats in the back of the vehicle and I proceed to do a pushup routine so when I exit I’m fully pumped. This is Sam’s secret routine to looking as fully pumped as you can at any red carpet event.

MF: We might need to copyright that.

SS: We may have to take it to that level, not going to lie. I don’t think most folks would be okay with admitting that but I am.

The Pre-Party Pump >>>

The holiday of lovers (a.k.a. V-Day) happens to fall upon National Condom Day. Coincidence? I think not. 

For your enjoyment and nostalgia, here’s a look at the history of condoms, courtesy of LifeStyle Condoms.

Take a peak at what your ancestors used to wrap it up. Spoiler: it isn’t pretty. Prior to the 1400s, Asian aristocrats were using intestines, oiled paper and animal horns.

And to think you complain about rubber…

Condom Etiquette 101 >>>