A Top Nutritionist Shares His Black Book Of Health & Fitness
For A Tough Workout…
If I wake up feeling sluggish, there’s nothing like a burst of cardio to boost energy levels. I love a spin class at Psycle. When I’ve trained for triathlons in the past, they’ve been a great way to increase cardiovascular fitness and a good alternative to running. The spin classes there are the best around – they’re so invigorating. When I was training for Hyrox – a fitness competition that combines cardio, strength and endurance – I was obsessed with the Hyrox class at Gymbox in Victoria. It’s such a great workout, but it’s 90 minutes so you need to get yourself psyched up.
For Yoga…
I’m a massive hot yoga fan and have been going to Fierce Grace in Kensal Rise for years. Because of the heat, you have to focus, but I love the fact it’s the same routine every week. Not only is this mindful, but it means you have a chance to work on your practice in a way that gets visible results over time. I also enjoy the Bikram class at Hot Spot in Parsons Green, especially if I’m in the mood for something more challenging. I love that yoga can be a slower-paced activity or more strength-focused, depending on the type.
For Unwinding…
When I was younger, I used to think an intense, high-octane workout was the best remedy for stress, but I realised this just created more stress and left me feeling exhausted. If I’ve had a busy week or I’m burning the candle, I’ll book in for a Deep Core class at Fierce Grace. It’s a stretch-focused class that focuses on building flexibility and alignment in the pelvis, hips and lower back. It’s predominantly floor-based, which is chilled. For a mental reset, I never get bored of walking through Hyde Park. I’m moving back down to Brighton in the new year, which I’m excited about. I love walking along the seafront – even when it’s pouring and blowing a gale, it’s incredibly invigorating.
For Workout Gear…
I always go to Lululemon for kit. The fit and fabrics are great, and I love that it’s subtly branded. I own tons of Lululemon pieces, even down to the underwear, which is so comfortable. I recently discovered Vuori and rate it for comfy jogging pants and hoodies which I wear for stretching, mobility and gentle yoga. Music is important to me when I’m working out, and I can’t be without Sennheiser’s Momentum True Wireless 3 earbuds. I spent ages training with AirPods but I kept trashing them, so wanted to invest in something more durable. The sound quality on the Sennheiser buds is amazing and they’re impressively sweatproof.
For Supplements…
As a sports nutritionist, I’ve tried pretty much everything out there. One of the brands I always come back to is one I’ve worked for: Healthspan Elite. The All Blacks range comprises some of the best products out there for performance. Its creatine is great, and I regularly use the electrolytes as I’m a heavy sweater – after a longer or more intense workout, they’re a great way to rehydrate.
For Recovery…
I’m bad at stretching after a workout, even though I know I should. The Stretch Lab is great for assisted stretching. You can book in for a 25 or 50-minute one-on-one stretch with a flexologist – they’ll customise the treatment to your needs, focusing on problem areas or targeting certain muscle groups. In between treatments, I’ll use my Theragun. For Thai massage, I often go to a no-frills place called OM. The therapists walk up and down your back, which never fails to get rid of knots. For sports massage, I rate Sonia Richards, who works with a lot of top athletes, and I’m hoping to book in soon with Simon Frost, who practises a state-of-the-art Neuro Reset technique. It’s a soft-tissue therapy that strengthens the brain to optimise posture, mobility and movement.
For Holistic Treatments…
I swear by acupuncture. It doesn’t work for everyone, but I’ve had a lot of success with it. I have a dodgy shoulder that’s always causing me grief – when it flares up, I go for treatment.
For Self-Care…
It doesn’t get better than the hammam massage at The Ned. You do feel like you’re getting roughed up a bit, but it leaves you feeling beyond relaxed and my skin is always great afterwards. The barber at The Ned also does good wet shave treatments, if you have a special occasion in the diary. The traditional wet shave takes about an hour and is super relaxing, but if I’m short on time, I’ll just swing by for a beard shape and style.
For Grooming…
I have a habit of always touching my face, even in the gym, so I’m conscious of using a deep cleanser to get rid of daily grime. For me, Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective Daily Cleanser is the holy grail – it makes my skin feel super clean. My indulgence is the Augustinus Bader face oil. It’s pricy but you only need a couple of drops, so it lasts for ages. It’s great to balance the skin and it feels great after shaving. Sebamed’s olive body wash is another product I use on repeat – it’s great for dry skin. Less glamorous is Footlogix’s Sweaty Feet Formula Spray – I use it after a shower when I’ve done an intense workout.
For A Reset…
I’m not good at being told what to do, so fitness bootcamps don’t work for me, but the Hillside Beach Club in Turkey is right up my street. It has everything you need to create your own fitness holiday – a great gym, yoga, tennis and other fitness classes, as well as plenty of water sports. The food’s fantastic too: fresh salads, grilled protein, omelettes and grain-based dishes. I think this type of holiday allows you to go away and kickstart a fitness regime without the pressure of someone telling you what to do, and gives you an opportunity to eat well, ditch the booze and coffee for a week, and get involved with lots of different types of training. I’d recommend going out of season in May or October when it’s quieter.
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For more from Rob, visit RobHobson.co.uk
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