Former pro footballer, TV personality, presenter and entrepreneur, Mark Wright, reveals his fitness secrets and how he juggles a busy life with staying in shape
Do you have a typical training day?
I used to get grumpy if I missed training and I used to be a lot stricter than I am now. I got myself in shape in terms of my muscle mass quite a few years ago, and, when I was building this house, it took up a lot of time. I stopped going to the gym for about 3-4 weeks, and I realised my body didn’t change that much. It made me realise that I just need to be healthy, get my steps in and do the weights when I can.
What’s your ‘go to’ exercise?
I love going for a run but I don’t really love doing cardio (I’m not really sure anyone does?) but you have to do it because it makes you feel amazing afterwards. I will always try and bring a hobby into my cardio, whether that’s walking the golf course instead of using a cart, playing Padel tennis or a bit of football here and there.
Even if I wasn’t burning calories, I would still do them as I enjoy them – so the fact that I’m burning calories is a bonus!
Can you remember the first time you stepped into a gym?
I retired from football quite young – I think I was 22. I’d never gone to the gym on my own before that because I was playing football full-time and we’d go to gym after a training session. When I retired, around nine months later, my body had completely changed – my face swelled up and I put on about two stone in weight. I realised I needed to start getting back in shape, so I went to the David Lloyd in Chigwell.
I didn’t have a clue what I was doing – I walked up to this big, muscly guy called Ben and asked him to show me what to do. My friends saw the results and I started training them – and that’s how my business Live Wright ended up being born because I had a love for training people.
How do you balance all the elements of your life?
When I bought this house (which has four acres of land), I remember people saying to me ‘how do you think you’re going to be able to keep up your busy lifestyle, maintain the garden and fit everything in?’. That’s when I met Husqvarna – two of their robot mowers do my entire garden. It saves me so much time – they are an absolute lifesaver.
How strict is your nutrition nowadays?
I wouldn’t say I’m that strict any more. I think when people first get into training, they take it too literally – they don’t eat a lot of food, they never have any treats, they look great and people tell them they look great, but when the buzz wears off, they go back to square one.
The best fitness advice I ever got is balance is key. So. I will look after my nutrition Monday to Thursday and then Friday night, Saturday and Sunday, it’s complete relaxation. Then when I get to Monday, I’m almost excited to eat vegetables and chicken again! The key is all about balance.
How do you keep your mental health in check?
It’s a combination of things really. I’ve got a small football pitch in my garden that I look after, and I never let my mates play on it (maybe, once a year). This is my part of the garden that I do mow myself with a ride-on Husqvarna. It’s so therapeutic – I go out there and roll my stripes and make it look beautiful. Anything that takes me away from my phone, work and social media is brilliant for my mental health.
What’s your guilty pleasure?
Beer and jelly sweets. When I did ‘I’m a Celebrity’, about five days in Fatima Whitbread mentioned Jelly Snakes and I just couldn’t get them out of my mind. So, when I got to the final, you get to choose any food you want. I ordered a massive dinner but my dessert was a sticky toffee pudding and ice cream – and I made sure they put loads of Jelly Snakes on top!
What’s the best piece of fitness advice you’ve been given?
I think it’s what I said earlier. Balance: don’t let your training completely consume your life. Make sure you have your happy times too.
What does fitness mean to you now?
Fitness for me used to be about vanity and the way I look. Now, fitness means health and a long life. That’s why I train. It’s about having a long life and being healthy.
