Mens Health UK – December 2025

Summary

Gorka Márquez, Strictly professional turned extreme-fitness convert, fronts the December 2025 cover of Men's Health UK with a challenge: winter doesn't have to mean detraining. Inside, MH goes backstage for Thor Bjornsson's world-record deadlift attempt, Freddie Roach fights Parkinson's in the corner of a boxing gym, and the tech awards name the year's best gear. A private-parts investigation asks the question no one wants to: are there microplastics in your penis?

The Márquez interview (p.26) reveals how the dancer bulked from 72kg to 82kg without losing flexibility. "Broken Record" (p.74) follows Thor Bjornsson's training camp for the deadlift world record, including the 12,000-calorie refeed days. "Fighting Chance" (p.80) profiles Freddie Roach, the legendary boxing coach managing Parkinson's while training world champions. "Private Parts" (p.100) sends a reader's semen sample to a lab and finds microplastic particles in the analysis. The Tech Awards (p.93) test 30 gadgets across 6 categories. The Cut includes a post-training cold-water immersion guide (p.9) and a gym tracker detox (p.22).

Content Guide

▸ Cover Story / Features

p.26 · Gorka Márquez: Winter Muscle
The dancer's off-season bulk: 4 strength sessions per week, 3,200 calories daily, with a specific focus on posterior chain work. His flexibility non-negotiable is 10 minutes of stretching before bed, even on rest days.

p.74 · Broken Record: Thor Bjornsson
A behind-the-scenes look at the deadlift record attempt. Thor's training split: 3 days heavy pulls, 2 days accessory, 1 day strongman events. The 12,000-calorie refeed includes 500g of protein from whole foods, 1,000g of carbohydrates, and a surprising amount of Icelandic skyr.

p.80 · Fighting Chance: Freddie Roach
The 64-year-old coach with Parkinson's continues to train world champions. His adaptive methods include visualisation drills and a specific shadow-boxing routine that can be done from a chair.

p.93 · The Men's Health Tech Awards
30 products tested: smartwatches, headphones, fitness trackers, e-bikes. The £79 Xiaomi Smart Band 9 Pro scored 92% in accuracy testing, beating devices at 5x the price.

p.100 · Private Parts: Microplastics Found
A lab analysis of a donor's semen sample detected 3 types of microplastic particles. The article lists the 5 most effective ways to reduce plastic exposure: filtered tap water, glass food storage, avoiding protein powders with plastic packaging, and choosing natural-fibre clothing.

▸ The Cut / Fuel / Head Strong

p.9 · If You Do One Thing This Month: Cold-Water Immersion
A guide to starting cold exposure safely: water at 10-15°C, 3 minutes maximum, never alone. The claimed benefits include reduced inflammation, improved mood and 2x dopamine elevation lasting up to 4 hours.

p.14 · No Stupid Questions: Weight-Loss Pills and Cheating
A debate on whether using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss counts as cheating. The panel — a doctor, a bodybuilder and a philosopher — cannot agree.

p.16 · Trend Secrets: Backyard Ultra
The brutal format: run 4.167 miles every hour on the hour until you cannot complete the loop in time. The winner is the last person standing. The UK record stands at 68 loops.

p.35 · Fit Chef: Tom Aikens
The Michelin-starred chef shares his high-rotation meal: 200g cod, 200g new potatoes, 150g samphire, beurre blanc. Prep time: 18 minutes. Protein: 42g.

p.49 · Raise the Bar: Learning an Instrument
A writer learns guitar for 30 days and measures cognitive changes. Processing speed improved by 8% and self-reported stress dropped by 22%.

▸ Train / Life.Style / Adventurist

p.59 · The Lowdown: World Fitness Project
A new fitness competition combining running, lifting and gymnastics. The prize pool is $250,000; qualification requires a minimum score on a 5-station test available at affiliate gyms.

p.62 · How I Built My Body: Olly Murs
The singer shares his dad-bod transformation: 3 strength sessions, 2 runs, 1 active recovery per week. His protein target is 160g daily, tracked loosely.

p.117 · DIY Triathlon: Olympic Distance Solo
MH's fitness director attempts an Olympic triathlon (1.5km swim, 40km bike, 10km run) with no support crew. Total time: 2 hours 54 minutes. His nutrition: 2 gels, 1 litre of electrolyte mix, 1 banana.

p.130 · 60 Seconds' Rest With… Paddy Pimblett
The UFC fighter's favourite bodyweight exercise is the hip thrust. His most hated food is broccoli, which he forces himself to eat 3x per week.

Editor's Take

December 2025 is a fitting closer to the year — the Thor Bjornsson feature is the most entertaining read, Freddie Roach delivers genuine pathos, and the microplastics investigation is the kind of journalism most men's magazines avoid. Gorka is a credible cover choice for the winter bulk audience. Weakness: the tech awards are thorough but read like a buyer's guide that could be a stand-alone supplement. The cold-water immersion trend piece is well done but the topic is already saturated. Best for the reader who wants to finish the year strong with evidence-based winter training.

Strengths
• Thor Bjornsson feature is exclusive and well-reported
• Microplastics investigation breaks new ground for men's health
• Freddie Roach profile is genuinely moving

Weaknesses
• Tech awards feel like catalogue content
• Cold-water piece covers well-trodden ground

Verdict: Recommended — A strong year-ender that balances entertainment with genuine investigative journalism.