Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Men's Fitness UK

I'll let you in on a secret. I have always run to music. Ever since I was a nipper, I've enjoyed the sound of whatever band I was listening to at the time playing in my ears as I bounded around the roads and fields where I lived. Of course, technology has moved on somewhat since my teenage years. I used to go out armed with a Sony Walkman the size of a small house brick and headphones that looked like toasted muffins on a hanger. It has been fascinating to see the march of change in portable listening devices - from the Mini Discman to the first generation iPod, to the iPod Nano and music on your phones. This latter evolution is perhaps the most earth-shattering: you can take…

Once upon a time there was a cohort of hardcore runners who actively avoided resistance training, particularly involving weights, believing their muscles would become bulky and so slow them down. However, there’s now a depth of research that shows strength training is an ally, whatever your preferred distance. A stronger core will help to maintain good posture, a key for running efficiency and increased leg strength will improve the power of the push-off and so reduce the amount of effort you put into each stride. In addition, extra strength in the connective tissues will help to reduce the risk of injury that is associated with clocking up the miles. So, whether you’re a sub 3-hour marathon man or just a couple of chicken nuggets short of a Bolt-like sprint, you…

Men’s Fitness is about more than rippling muscles, or chicken and broccoli dinners. These days, we’ve expanded our remit slightly. Our extensive collection of workouts, strength training tips and nutrition advice will help you look the part, sure, but it’s an unfortunate fact that big muscles don’t equate to happiness. Which is why in the pages of our monthly issues and online at mensfitness.co.uk, you will also find the tools you need to improve all the unseen aspects of your health, too. If you’re looking for celebrity training plans or quick-fix diets, you’ll be better served elsewhere. However, if you want to learn how to make a healthy way of living second nature – no matter how busy you are – we’ve got you covered. And now, for a limited time…

Most of us can't imagine hitting the gym without our headphones. There’s something almost miraculous about how the right song can inject energy into a sluggish warm-up, or how a perfect beat seems to sync with our stride on a long run. We’ve all felt that surge when a favourite track kicks in mid-workout: suddenly the weights feel lighter, the pace steadier, the final rep within reach. But what exactly is happening when music unlocks those hidden reserves? Why does one track make us move differently from another? The answers reveal a fascinating interplay between ears, brain, and muscles that goes far beyond habit or distraction. Elements like rhythm, tempo, and melody don’t just influence our mood – they can shape the pace, intensity, and efficiency of movement, often without…

A new study from Emory University reveals that maintaining optimal heart health – and following a heart-healthy diet - can significantly improve overall physical and psychological wellbeing. Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the study confirms that the benefits of heart-healthy behaviours extend far beyond the heart — positively impacting brain function, vision, hearing, muscle strength and even reducing the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer and dementia. Among the key findings were that those with heart-healthy habits: • Were more likely to maintain their brain and lung function, vision and hearing, and keep their teeth and muscle strength as they age. • Experienced lower levels of cortisol and stress and lower frequencies of several chronic diseases • Had a higher self-reported quality of life and…

Yoga, Tai Chi, walking, and jogging may be some of the best natural remedies for improving sleep and tackling insomnia, according to new research. The findings back the use of exercise as a primary treatment strategy for poor sleep patterns, say the researchers. Characterised by difficulties falling and staying asleep, and early morning awakening, the prevalence of insomnia ranges from 4-22%, note the researchers. An emerging body of research suggests that exercise is helpful, but current guidelines don't specify which types of exercise might be most beneficial. The researchers therefore set out to plug this knowledge gap. They scoured research databases looking for relevant randomized clinical trials published up to April 2025. They looked at trials that included 13 different treatment approaches to ease insomnia, seven of which were exercise…

There’s an old adage that suggests you should breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dine like a pauper. It’s thought this directive arose as a result of research that linked consuming most of your calories in the evening to a higher risk of obesity. However, there appears to be greater weight in the studies that show total calorie intake throughout the day is significantly more important that meal timing. But for those of us who like to get our sweat on in the mornings, whether to start the day with a fast or breakfast is a conundrum. Firstly, an honest disclaimer - to some degree, whether or not eating before your morning workout is a good idea is down to you as an individual and how it…

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Anxiety comes in a variety of forms - general anxiety disorder, social anxiety, health anxiety, separation anxiety to name a few. These are all terms we’ve grown familiar with as they’ve become commonplace to describe how we’re doing and abundant in social media. So, it comes as no surprise that anxiety is the number one reason people seek counselling in the UK. In a recent Public Perceptions Survey conducted by the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, 62% of respondents shared that this was their primary reason for seeking help. But what do we mean when we say we’re suffering from anxiety? A simple definition might be: ‘An excessive fear, disproportionate to the actual threat, that brings physical and psychological symptoms which impair daily functioning.’ Or, in other words, we’re…

It’s unfortunate that Amazfit sounds like a name you’d expect to pop up on page three of an Amazon search for a cheap fitness watch. Do not be put off by the name. Amazfit is making a name for itself by competing with the heavyweights of the smartwatch space by smartly picking its battles. The Balance 2 promises more strength training features than most other smartwatch competition as well as dedicated Hyrox training and race modes. It does also cater for wherever else you get those fitness kicks. Whether that’s smashing lengths out in the pool, tackling intervals at the track or squeezing in a Saturday morning round of golf. When not powering through another kettlebell AMRAP session, it’s also got enough in its locker to match up with smartwatches…

Anti-inflammatory foods, drinks and supplements are big business these days. In fact, you only have to take a quick scroll on social media and you’ll be met with some sort of ‘inflammation busting’ smoothie, shot or tablet promising miracle results such as clearer skin, faster recovery, a happier gut and even reduced risk of disease. Needless to say, inflammation has developed a bit of a bad rep. Because, while some inflammation is good, and necessary for healing and repair, long-term inflammation can lead/contribute to big problems for your body and your mind. The good vs the bad Inflammation is your body’s frontline defence system. “It’s how your immune system responds to injury, illness or infection and is part of the healing process. When you experience redness, swelling and heat, that’s…

On a balmy midsummer’s day in June, swarms of cyclists flocked to Clapham Common to take part in the London to Brighton ride. As the heat shrouded South London, many of the participants wouldn’t have known that 334 miles to their north, another endurance race was about to begin in less than glorious conditions. Huddled under overcast skies, 40 riders waited on the famous streets of Edinburgh for the off. The rain had crashed down the day before, blanketing the city in a deluge of water that had only just cleared up. In contrast to the hustle and bustle of the city, they were about to embark on an epic adventure that would touch the farthest, most remote parts of Scotland. The Trans Alba race sees participants cycle across 1052…

It’s all well and good stocking up on the best protein bars for a post-workout snack, but they’re no replacement for proper meals. Getting in shape depends more on what you do in the kitchen than in the gym, but finding the time and energy to rustle up nutritious, macro-managed meals day after day is easier said than done – which is exactly why meal delivery services like these exist. But with so many around, which is best for a healthy, fitness-friendly lifestyle? The only way to find out was for the selfless Men’s Fitness team to chow down on as many delicious, energy boosting meals as we could and rate them for you. We tested them for taste, variety and nutrition, as well as how simple they are to…

We’re often encouraged to incorporate strength training into our exercise routines. With numerous benefits, strength training ticks a lot of health boxes, but could it be the secret ingredient to precede your run to improve performance, and how should you approach this pre-fatigue run routine? What is pre-fatigue running? This fitness method of training under fatigue can potentially help you improve your running efficiency and endurance and may be the key to giving you a stronger finish. The idea is to perform a brief bodyweight strength training routine before starting your run. Done correctly, it could certainly be something to factor into your regular run training. However, this prefatigue state needs to be practised with caution: if you go too hard, it could be counterintuitive. And as with all training…

Celebrate your return to the gym with this five-move complex that unites some C classic compound lifts to devastating fat-fighting effect. Grab a bar, do each exercise for the required number of reps, then move onto the next without setting the weight down. Only rest after you finish all five moves. Do this as a finisher to a strength session or as a standalone quick-fire workout. “Barbell complexes are an effective tool to build muscle and at the same time fire up your metabolism to torch body fat,” says Steve Kowalenko of W10 Performance. “They’re fast, fun, and elevate your metabolism for longer than traditional cardio. Also, while traditional cardio can increase your levels of cortisol, the stress hormone responsible for fat storage, this complex will release anabolic hormones that…

BEST FITNESS WATCH ON A BUDGET The COROS Pace 3,has new things we love to see like longer battery life, better GPS accuracy and some navigation smarts. For me, the Pace 3 builds on the bang-for-buck strength of the Pace 2 and I’d definitely recommend this highly for beginners or those on a budget that ticks boxes – and goes a bit further to boot. BEST POLAR FITNESS WATCH The Polar Vantage V3 delivers a bright, smartwatch-style AMOLED display, multiband GPS with an upgraded chip, plus Polar’s new Gen 4 heart rate sensor setup that promises to boost the optical accuracy. The result is Polar’s best ever fitness watch. further to boot. BEST AMOLED WATCH ON A BUDGET The Suunto Race is an excellent watch for the price. The AMOLED…

The days are getting shorter, the mercury is dropping and it’s tempting to hide inside and binge-watch Netflix’s Poop Cruise. There’s no doubt about it – it’s tough to find the motivation to exercise in the autumn. According to research in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, you're more likely to shape up in the summer because higher vitamin D (the ‘sunshine vitamin’) levels have been linked to greater cardiovascular fitness. But, you've worked hard to hone a fit body, so how do you stay in shape over the autumn? Simple – give your exercise routine a makeover. We've tapped London’s top fitness brains for 10 ways to update your workout and fast-track your results. Ready to keep your lean body all season-long? 1. PHONE A FRIEND Get a gym…

Seppo Jämsä (Finland) 1974 in Finland Don Daly (Great Britain) 1976 in Wales Tomas Fuchs (Brazil) 1982 in Brazil Reijo Nygren (Finland) 1983 in Finland Attilio Bettega (Italy) 1985 in Corsica Henri Toivonen (Finland) 1986 in Corsica Sergio Cresto (USA) 1986 in Corsica Jean-Michel Argenti (France) 1987 in Corsica Jean-Marc Dubois (France) 1988 in Italy Robert Moynier (France) 1988 in Italy George Mignot (Belgium) 1989 in Sweden Bernard de Lathuy (Belgium) 1989 in Sweden Lars-Erik Torph (Sweden) 1989 in Monte-Carlo Bertil-Rune Rehnfeldt (Sweden) 1989 in Monte-Carlo Augusto Mendes (Portugal), 1989 in Portugal Francis Malaussene (France) 1990 in Monte-Carlo Rodger Freeth (New Zealand) 1993 in Australia Michael Park (Great Britain) 2005 in Wales Jörg Bastuck (Germany) 2006 in Spain Craig Breen (Ireland) 2023 in Croatia…

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Nutritionist and No.1 Sunday Times bestselling author Emily English – more commonly known online as Em the Nutritionist (instagram.com/emthenutritionist) – loves to marry the science of nutrition with the joy of eating. Spending her childhood summers in her granny’s restaurant kitchen, and her school terms in the chemistry lab, English’s curiosity grew for what was on her plate and what was happening inside our bodies. It wasn’t until her own relationship with food suffered after a period in the modelling industry that she decided to continue her academic journey at uni to study nutrition. Using her knowledge of nutrition and her love of food, English has taken social media by storm, creating recipes that are delicious and balanced. Sharing her knowledge with millions of followers, she makes healthy eating a…