Men's Fitness UK
May 2021Men's Fitness is for men who want to get more out of their lives and celebrates an upbeat, optimistic, pro-active lifestyle. Men's Fitness recognizes that mental and emotional fitness is vital to balanced living and aims to offer active and aspirational men - entertainment, information and inspiration.
in this issue
editor’s letter
Rejoice! Gyms are back. Which means firstly, congratulations are in order for prising yourself away from the steel embrace of the squat rack – don’t worry, it’s not leaving you again. To butcher a well-worn phrase, absence makes the heart grow stronger, but if you’ve become reacquainted with your local weights room since 12 April you may have discovered the same can’t be said for human muscles. And that’s OK. A year of home workouts and lighter weights is going to have benefitted your body in myriad other ways: from cardio fitness to mobility, not to mention a previously unseen level of training efficiency. All that can be taken into your gym sessions, and while it might take a bit of time to build back up to your pre-pandemic strength,…
with help from…
CHARLIE ALLENBY is a journalist with a passion for pedalling. This issue, he puts summer cycling jerseys through their paces (p26). MATT RAY is an adventure writer with an interest in the extreme. This issue he covers e-bikes (p44) and interviews Danny MacAskill (p50). JOSEPHINE DR PERRY is a sport psychologist who helps athletes boost their mental fitness. On p56 she turns our attention to the power of sleep. LAURA POTTER is a writer interested in delving deeper into health and fitness trends. On p76 she delivers the expert-approved guide to carb loading.…
it brace like beckham
As president of the newly formed Inter Miami, it seems fitting that Becks boasts the chiseled abs of a sun-bronzed Florida lifeguard. The 45-year-old launched his own Miami-based Major League Soccer club last year, and recently shared on Instagram that he has been busy carving his core with the aid of an ab roller – sending searches spiking and sales soaring. According to personal trainer Scott Laidler (scottlaidler.com), the ab roller is the home workout device you need in 2021. “It’s a deceptively comprehensive exercise tool,” says Laidler, who has worked with Oscar-winning actors and elite athletes. “As the name suggests, it isolates your abs, but it also works your lats, erector spinae, delts, chest, biceps and triceps for total-body benefits.” Beckham was using a premium £93 Sorinex Roller, but you can buy…
15 minutes with… world-beating swimmer adam peaty
At the start of lockdown, I had a Jacuzzi Swim Spa›set up in my garden. It’s like a treadmill for swimmers. You’re tethered in place and swim against the current, adjusting the resistance to increase or decrease the challenge. I was out of a pool for 16 weeks, so that set-up was a huge asset. When I first returned to the pool it was hard – I’d pretty much forgotten how to swim in one! But as the technique returned I actually came back stronger. I competed again at the Manchester International meet in February and posted some really good times. I have to believe the Olympics will go ahead. We have warm-ups after the Olympic trials, including the Europeans, scheduled for May. My focus is on training, but I’m keen to…
news
QUICK QUESTION: How can I recover my lost motivation? If you’ve maintained peak motivation for the last year of chaos, hats off to you. However, if like most people you’ve found it hard to focus on your fitness, you’re not alone – but now it’s time for the relaunch. “If you are struggling, go back to setting goals for the day,” advises psychologist Bradley Busch of mindset coaching company Inner Drive. “Having a to-do list acts like a call to action and can motivate you throughout the day.” Always try to tick off some simple goals – like making a healthy porridge, or doing some yoga stretches – first thing in the morning. “Success fuels motivation and creates a positive cycle,” adds Busch. “By having a sense of achievement early in the day, it…
mind
FOOTBALL FAMILY A Manchester-based campaign to raise awareness of male suicide has enlisted the support of some of the biggest names in football. Sir Alex Ferguson, Mark Hughes, Pep Guardiola and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer have all called for men to talk more, as suicide remains the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK. “The more we talk about suicide, the easier it is to ask someone if they’re having suicidal thoughts,” said Sir Alex. “Talking really could help to save a life.” Black Minds Matter UK has launched a huge fundraising initiative, in the hope of securing thousands of donors to support its work in providing free mental health services to black people in the UK. The collective says that for many black people the traumatic effect of…
