The Gym Is Non-Negotiable for My Mental Health - Here's How I Train episode artwork

EPISODE · Feb 12, 2026 · 25 MIN

The Gym Is Non-Negotiable for My Mental Health - Here's How I Train

from Men’s Health: Built For Life · host Men's Health UK

Former England football turned Men's Health cover superstar, Rio Ferdinand, joins Andrew Tracey to talk through how his approach to training, health and performance has changed since retiring from football. We break down what stopped working once the weekly match mileage disappeared, why longevity now matters more than ego, and how his training has shifted towards staying strong, mobile and pain-free. Rio opens up about balancing heavy lifting with functional movement, adapting nutrition for real life, and why consistency beats intensity when you’re juggling travel, work and family. Along the way, we get into fatherhood, mental sharpness, and what it really means to train for life – not just sport. Want more from Men’s Health? Join the Men’s Health SQUAD for exclusive training plans, expert advice and tools to help you get stronger, faster – we’re with you every rep of the way. Visit www.menshealth.com/uk/mh-podcast  Host: https://www.instagram.com/theandrew.tracey/ Wellness video producer: https://www.instagram.com/chelia.batkin/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Feb 12, 2026

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The Gym Is Non-Negotiable for My Mental Health - Here's How I Train

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