Men's Fitness UK

editor’s letter

Whatever your reason for reading Men’s Fitness, it’s not too much of a long shot to assume that you know all about the benefits of regular exercise. Even if it remains a bit of a slog, chances are you continue to keep fit because you know it helps you look, feel and act like the best version of yourself. However, any fitness fan worth their pink Himalayan salt will know that exercise is only half the battle. Because while it might not be as gratifying or immediately rewarding, good nutrition is every bit as important. And yet exercise novices and aficionados alike often find themselves caught in the monotonous meat-and-veg trap, assuming that any attempt at improving their health dooms them to a life of bland meals and minimal enjoyment. This…

with help from…

MARK BAILEY Mark has written about sport and science for numerous publications. In this issue he explores the compelling new research into the mind and body benefits of cold-weather training. MATT RAY Matt can turn any workout into an adventure and enjoys taking sport to the extremes. This issue, he looks at how long-term fitness habits can force positive adaptations at a genetic level. KIERAN ALGER Kieran is a writer and editor working in the space where health, fitness, sport and technology collide. This issue, he rounds up the best nutrition tech to upgrade your health. TJ WATERFALL TJ is a nutritionist specialising in plant-based nutrition. He works with elite vegan athletes, and each issue he pulls together the latest research to help you fuel up more effectively.…

super kev

How far would you go to support a mate? For “Sir Kev” Kevin Sinfield, Leeds Rhinos legend as a player and now the club’s director of rugby, the answer is somewhere between 183 and 184 miles. In December 2020, Sinfield ran seven marathons in seven days – completing each 26.2-mile run in well under four hours – to raise (at time of writing) £2.6 million for fellow Leeds icon Rob Burrow and the MNDA. Burrow, who played under Sinfield’s captaincy for much of his 17-year career, revealed he’d been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease (MND) in 2019. For anyone, it would be a devastating diagnosis, but for an elite-level sportsman it’s particularly cruel. (And we defy anyone to watch the clip of Burrow walking onto the pitch in January 2020, to a…

15 minutes with… luxury real estate agent and selling sunset star jason oppenheim

HOW HAS THE PANDEMIC AFFECTED YOUR FITNESS? You either use it as an excuse, or you use it as an opportunity to get in shape. For me, I’d say working out has become more important – just from a general anxiety level – but the past year has also transformed my workouts. I used to train at Equinox and now I’ve joined a more functional, private gym with trainers and I’ve become hooked on it. I’m doing a lot more running, too. And I am not a runner by any means, but over lockdown I got really into it. I was running up and down Sunset Boulevard – which would normally mean inhaling exhaust fumes and dodging thousands of people – and it was completely quiet. HOW DO YOU FIND TIME TO TRAIN? I…

news

TAKE A SHOWER Water contrast therapy, a traditional naturopathic practice, may help speed up recovery from fatigue, musculoskeletal injuries (strains, sprains, swellings), pain and inflammation. “The basic principles,” explains naturopath Elle Fox, “are that cold water increases respiration and decreases blood flow; while heat restores respiration, increases blood flow and relaxes muscles. “Alternating hot and cold water while showering stimulates the body to improve blood flow, promoting vitality and detoxification.” Once you’ve showered in hot water, start reducing the temperature, and stay under the cooler water for about a minute, focusing the water stream on any areas of pain or soreness. Then turn the shower back to hot for three to five minutes, warming the body up again. Repeat this process three to five times and end with cool water. The…

here’s a thought:

“There are two reasons why eating more could help you lose weight,” says Mike Molloy, founder of M2 Performance Nutrition. “First, is that by eating more Monday through Friday, you prevent yourself from going over-board on the weekends. In other words, eating more five days a week causes you to eat less seven days a week. “The other reason would be to increase your metabolism. Restricting calories too much for too long can slow down your metabolic rate. Eating more reverses this phenomenon and increases your energy for training.”…