About 18 months in the past, Matchroom had simply accomplished its new take care of DAZN, and professionally at the least, I used to be using excessive. Behind the scenes, the enterprise had stepped up a stage by way of seriousness, and due to that my necessities had additionally stepped up. I used to be made chairman, so I used to be working throughout darts, snooker and boxing. To the world, I used to be the identical outdated Eddie: outspoken and by no means hiding away. However behind the scenes my workload had trebled, and I used to be getting to a degree in my life the place I used to be simply feeling shit: in my fits, at press conferences and within the mornings. I used to be feeling sluggish.

Privately, I used to be additionally pondering to myself, you may’t do that for very lengthy. In the event you proceed dwelling this life-style, you would possibly die. As excessive as that sounds, I’ve bought a historical past of coronary heart issues within the household. I’ve bought a job that is stuffed with stress. I wasn’t actually sleeping. My food plan was shit. I wasn’t coaching that a lot, and I used to be obese. These are all basic indicators of a brief lifespan.

There was additionally the Conor Benn scenario, which began in August of final yr and remains to be going to this present day. Daily. I am not saying I would not have been in a position to deal with it if I used to be nonetheless bodily how I used to be again then, however I would not have been in a position to get by means of it in the identical method.

I knew I wanted to make a change, however there’s this notion that males of their 40s who get match and begin to costume a bit youthful or cooler, are having a midlife disaster. The fact is, it is not that in any respect, it is simply you are realising you want to make a change as a result of life’s passing you by. I am not 28 anymore. I am coming as much as my 50s. I wish to dwell an incredible life, and the one method I am going to try this, with all of the strain and the hate is to maintain myself in form. As a result of if you’re in higher form and mentally in a greater place, all the opposite stuff is quite a bit simpler to take care of.

Take a look at Dana White. I spoke to him two days in the past. He’s been working with a man known as Gary Brecka, who has an organization that tells you the way lengthy you have got left to dwell. Earlier than he began working with him, he apparently had a life expectancy of 10.4 years. Now, they’ve utterly modified round his insulin, his glucose, his ldl cholesterol, all the pieces. I take a look at Dana now and bodily in addition to from a enterprise standpoint, he’s a little bit of an inspiration for me.

His physique is my dream physique. I texted him concerning the footage that he put out and I went ‘Mate, give me the plan.’ He stated, he used to get up coughing within the night time and could not tie his shoelaces within the morning. It wasn’t fairly as unhealthy as that for me, however once I used to place my trousers on within the morning, I’d really feel shit.

Proper now, I’m 17st 2lb. At my heaviest, I used to be 19st 11lb. However the true cause I’ve utterly modified my strategy to health is as a result of I wish to really feel higher. I used to assume that success was having a large home with a Bugatti out entrance and a yacht out again, however now I believe success is the way in which you are feeling if you stand up within the morning. If I really feel nice, I am profitable. That is how my life has modified over the past yr to 18 months. And that’s why I wished to write down a fortnightly column for Males’s Well being.

Don’t fear, I’m not going to begin speaking as if I can run 5 marathons in consecutive days or do 300 press-ups in a single set. I’m right here to speak to the common man who’s in a high-paced job, who has obligations, who says ‘I simply do not have time.’ Effectively, when you’ve got a busier life-style than me, congratulations, and I do not imagine you.

I’m additionally scripting this column as a result of I wish to study as properly. I am not coming into this as a ‘males’s well being professional’. I am scripting this column as somebody with a profile, who’s bought in respectable form, however is simply in the beginning of his journey. In a egocentric method, I wish to use this column to inspire myself. I am unable to be preaching to you, after which in three-months time you activate the TV and the chins are again and I am bulging out of my go well with. I’ve a accountability to be on this journey with you.

That’s why when the chance got here to write down this column, I beloved it, as a result of I’ve turn out to be so enthusiastic about well being and health. Present me somebody that has improved their health and their wellbeing that hasn’t additionally improved their life. It’s not possible, and within the coming weeks you’re going to listen to how I’ve turned my life round by selecting up weights for the primary time, stopping ingesting alcohol nearly utterly and enduring day by day ice baths.

You’ll additionally hear about my objectives for the longer term. Once I ran the London Marathon 9 years in the past, I used to be working to the workplace from my home. It was 12.4 miles. I used to be working there twice per week and never even respiratory. I wish to get again to that. I additionally wish to get stronger and I need to have the ability to carry extra. And on a totally egocentric and egotistical stage, I wish to look actually good in a pair of swim shorts.

All joking apart, health offers me a large feeling of fulfilment, and I hope that anybody studying this, who’s struggling for that feeling, is impressed to make some adjustments of their very own. Had I not accomplished one thing about the way in which I used to be dwelling my life, I would not have the vitality to take the enterprise to the locations that I need it to go, I’d have been shortening my life expectancy, and I simply do not assume I’d be as completely happy. However I’ll speak extra about all of that within the coming weeks.