Building A Body For Life
The MH staff transformation is an institution and a chance for us to practise what we print. It’s also very hard work, gruelling and all-consuming. So, what happens after the photo shoot wraps? Can gains forged under pressure last in the long term? Three former challengers share their memories – and the lessons that have stayed with them
As a brand that promises results, MH transformations are where we deliver. The tradition dates back to 2005, when one dissenting writer said he didn’t think the magazine’s cover lines were realistic – and was tasked with disproving his point. The before-and-after has remained popular with readers while becoming a rite of passage for male staff in the years since.
While ‘realistic’ in the sense that these challenges did, indeed, take place, our MH transformations were arguably less so in other areas. Yes, we did get free supplements, gym memberships and personal training that might otherwise have been prohibitively expensive. No, we didn’t get time off work to train (we wish). Yes, we did use well-known physique trade secrets that, in all honesty, shouldn’t be so widely accepted: flattering lighting, fake tan and mild dehydration pre-shoot. No, we didn’t use Photoshop, steroids or diuretics.
The most ‘unrealistic’ aspect of our transformations? They are not designed for the long haul. No one can live like that forever – and no one who has ever done one would suggest trying. They are temporary challenges to show how much you can achieve with limited time and total dedication. The cycle of train, eat, sleep and repeat can be punishing, even a little dismal. But, at the same time, it can be enormously satisfying and enjoyable – and not just when it’s over, either.
Ultimately, a body is for life, not just a photo shoot, and the changes you make in the long term are what matter. So MH canvassed three of our most dramatic transformers to find out what recollections – and results – have stayed with them.