The fitness secrets Gordon Ramsay uses to stay in shape at 54 years old

Gordon Ramsay is very fit these days. Even though he has spent his entire adult life working in kitchens creating delicious recipes from burgers to steak (all paired with fine wines, of course) he has still managed to get in incredible shape. After finding himself weighing 18 stone a few years ago, Gordon resolved to get "super-fit" and began training intensely in some of the best exercises for weight loss. 

“I started focusing on getting super-fit five or six years ago when my life got super-busy,” Ramsay told The Daily Mail. “I was overweight, 18 stone (around 250lbs); I looked like a sack of sh*t. I look at the pictures and think, ‘How did Tana stay around?’ Because Tana has got better-looking and more gorgeous. And there she is, getting in bed with a fat f**k.”

Ramsay began training for triathlons, practicing wild swimming, cycling and running. Swimming is a wonderful way to get started in both cardiovascular and resistance training. Because your body is supported in water, your joints aren't impacted at all, which is great if you're getting into fitness for the first time.

 It works your whole body, which means you expend lots of energy and burn a lot of calories during the workout, and builds muscle to improve your fitness.

In addition, the cold water is said to be really good for you, helping you to metabolise fat, relieve stress and boost your energy. One study, published by researchers from the Netherlands, found cold water meant people were 29% less likely to call in sick for work, and gave participants a boost of energy.

Running is a perennially popular endurance exercise which can make you fitter and create feelings of well-being. Ditto with cycling, as both are popular endurance exercises which can get you out into the fresh air and sunshine. While some people prefer running, cycling also takes a load of your joints, while toning the muscle in your thighs and calves. Ramsay is keeping up with his intense cycling regime: as he told Joe Wicks on the first edition of his podcast:

"They were encouraging you to cycle so I did sneak off on some massive 90km and 100km bike rides", said Ramsay, who admitted to flouting lockdown rules in the UK in a bid to stay fit.

"Those rolling hills between [his home] and Newquay, Bude, and Bodmin. Bodmin Moor at half past five in the morning in the middle of Spring, there's nowhere more beautiful."

The Journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise found a 45-minute bout of physical exercise raises our metabolic rate for a further 14 hours. This raising of your metabolism burns approximately 190 extra calories, in addition to however much energy you burned on your run or cycle. You can train like Ramsay without straying too far, by picking up one of our best exercise bike or best treadmill entries.