Mens Health South Africa – July-August 2025
Summary
Men's Health South Africa July-August 2025 (R90) delivers "Your Best Shape Ever" — an essential training manual for mind and body featuring cover stars Ashley Laatz and Xolani Khowa, who appears in the historical epic Shaka iLembe. The issue covers the new science of supersized muscle with a complete chest anatomy breakdown, the recovery tools and tech to come back faster, the rise of AI girlfriends among men seeking digital companionship and work-life balance strategies for the post-WFH era. Khowa discusses the pressure of shirtless period-drama roles and the training required to maintain a screen-ready physique.
The training manual runs across 30-plus pages covering chest hypertrophy science, shoulder and glute development exercises and an 8-week abs workout. The recovery reboot (p.76) evaluates the latest tools — from compression boots to sleep trackers and contrast therapy — ranking them by evidence level rather than marketing hype. The AI girlfriend feature (p.70) investigates why thousands of men are turning to chatbot companions, interviewing both users and relationship psychologists about the implications for social development.
Regular sections include Ed's Letter, The Big Question, News You Can Use, Polling and Unfiltered. The issue also profiles actor Xolani Khowa alongside Anele Nene, both new cast members in Shaka iLembe, discussing the physical transformation required and the "grid behind the glory" of period-drama fitness.
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Content Guide
▸ Cover Feature
p.26 · East of Excellence — Shaka iLembe Stars
Xolani Khowa and Anele Nene, new cast members of South Africa's sweeping historical drama Shaka iLembe, discuss the physical preparation required for period-drama roles where the male cast is expected to exude "raw physicality in every scene." Khowa shares how the pressure of being shirtless on camera drove his training intensity. The piece includes behind-the-scenes details from photographer Garreth Barclay's set shoot.
p.32 · Therapy in Motion — Ashley Laatz
Cover star Ashley Laatz's approach to training as both physical preparation and mental health practice, photographed by Garreth Barclay. Laatz discusses how structured training routines provided stability during life transitions and why movement functions as therapy.
▸ Training Manual
p.41 · Call of the Wild — The New Science of Supersized Muscle
A comprehensive chest training guide with full muscular anatomy: pectoralis major origin at clavicle, sternum and ribs; pectoralis minor beneath; serratus anterior's role in shoulder blade stabilisation. Each muscle includes specific exercise recommendations — incline press for upper chest, flat press for overall mass, serratus shrugs for shoulder health. Work your chest through a full range of motion, particularly the stretched position at the bottom of each rep, where hypertrophy stimulus is greatest.
p.56 · True Survivors — The Best Moves for Broader Shoulders and Powerful Glutes
A targeted programme for the two muscle groups that most dramatically change a man's silhouette. Shoulder work emphasises lateral raises for width; glute work uses hip thrusts and Romanian deadlifts for posterior-chain power. Add one dedicated glute session weekly to improve squat depth and reduce lower-back strain.
p.76 · The New Rules of Recovery
Evaluates the latest recovery tools — compression boots, sleep trackers, contrast therapy, red-light therapy and percussion massage — against current sports-science evidence. Compression boots and sleep trackers rank highest for evidence-backed efficacy; red-light therapy remains promising but under-studied for muscle recovery specifically.
▸ Technology
p.70 · Meet My AI Girlfriend
An investigation into why thousands of men are turning to AI companions for romantic and emotional connection. The article profiles users of chatbot applications who cite non-judgemental interaction and 24/7 availability as key draws, while psychologists warn that AI relationships may delay development of real-world social skills. Key insight: AI companions fill a loneliness gap but cannot teach conflict resolution or compromise.
▸ Food
p.64 · More Protein, Less Effort
A practical guide to hitting daily protein targets without meal-prep burnout. Strategies include prioritising 30-40g protein per meal, using timed supplementation around workouts and choosing high-protein convenience options such as Greek yoghurt, canned fish and ready-to-drink protein shakes.
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Editor's Take
The July-August 2025 issue delivers its best content in the training manual and chest-anatomy feature, which uses genuine muscle biology rather than clickbait exercise lists — knowing your pectoralis minor from your serratus anterior actually changes how you train. The AI girlfriend feature is the most provocative piece, asking questions most men's magazines avoid about digital loneliness and the substitute relationships men are forming. The weakness is the cover packaging: "Your Best Shape Ever" is a promise no single issue can deliver, and the training manual, while solid, does not offer a unified programme that matches the cover's claim. This issue suits men who want to understand muscle anatomy well enough to train smarter, and those curious about the social-tech trends shaping modern masculinity.
Strengths
• Chest anatomy feature uses proper muscle biology to inform exercise selection
• AI girlfriend investigation addresses a genuine social trend without moral panic
• Recovery tools evaluated against evidence rather than marketing claims
Weaknesses
• "Your Best Shape Ever" cover promise overstates what a single issue can deliver
• Training manual lacks a unified programme tying the sections together
Verdict: Recommended — Strongest for the anatomy-driven training content and the AI companion feature, though the cover overpromises relative to the contents.
