FUEL UP, TOOL UP
The expertise of MH Elite coaches Leon Bustin and John Chapman, AKA The Lean Machines, sits on the intersection between training and nutrition. This is their essential equipment for gym and kitchen
The kit and quick lunches that help The Lean Machines live up to their name
01 CREATINE & BETA-ALANINE
Two of the most beneficial ergogenic supplements. Creatine gives you a boost in shorter workouts by aiding your CP energy system to recover faster from all-out efforts. Beta-Alanine, £10.76, Creatine, £7.21, myprotein.com
02 NOCCO BLOOD ORANGE
We rarely start a workout without a caffeine hit and this is the best-tasting drink you’ll get, along with a fistful of vitamins. Always better cold, obviously – we even stick them in the freezer on hot days for a pre-training slushie.
£25 for 12, shop.nocco.co.uk
03 WAYCAP REFILLABLE COFFEE PODS
We love our coffee and when we say ‘our’, we mean ours. We own our own company called Opus Coffee. We drink that when we can. The reusable pods filled with freshly ground Opus is epic! £27.50, greenecoshop.co.uk
04 TRIGGER POINT MASSAGE BALL
We love this ball. It’s slightly bigger than a tennis ball and much firmer, which makes it amazing for releasing your psoas or hip flexors – notoriously tricky places to release without help. £11.89, sportsshoes.com
05 HYPERVOLT GO
The smaller of the Hyperice percussion therapy tools is awesome, as you can chuck it into your gym bag. It’s especially good for getting into and around the tricky shoulder joint, either when warming up or cooling down.
£199, hyperice.uk
06 SWAN STEALTH BLENDER
You can’t top a morning smoothie, but a levelled-up post-workout shake is close. If you’re not in a rush after training, chuck in your protein, ice or frozen berries, any greens you can find in the fridge and your milk of choice. £70, shop.swan-brand. co.uk
07 ADAPT TAPE
Using a ‘hook grip’ – wrapping your fingers over the top of your thumb – greatly improves your grip strength on a barbell, so it’s essential for Olympic lifting. This is by far our favourite tape to protect the thumb and reduce discomfort.
£19 for 4 rolls, adapttape.com
08 JOSEPH JOSEPH SCALES
Almost any scales will do, though a digital readout is quicker and easier. Food scales were an absolute game changer for us with making meal prep more precise. The reassurance that you’re getting your macros right goes a long way.
£35, lakeland.co.uk
09 PREP KITCHEN MEALS
Our favourite food prep company delivers tasty meals with a full macronutrient breakdown. You can choose higher or lower calorie versions depending on your goal – muscle gain or weight loss.
From £7 per meal, prepkitchen.co.uk