The Great Outdoors with Max Lowery
Max Lowery | Photo by Tom Joy
It’s probably no surprise to his 50,000 Instagram followers that Max Lowery is at a remote country house in the French Pyrenees when we speak. The personal trainer and wellness expert developed a following largely because of his effective ‘Two Meal Day’ programme. But his soft-sell approach to encouraging a healthier way of life through diet, exercise and sleep via his Instagram stories has helped him earn star status on social media. Frequently seen hiking, running or leaping through the countryside, Max can be classified as the poster boy for a more balanced, healthy lifestyle. And with his brand extending to an online training plan, editorial blog, recipe book and a second on the way, something about his message is resonating.
He is about to be the guide on one of his organised expeditions through the mountains, known as Connect Retreats - just one of the ways he helps clients understand all elements of health, such as moving more, cooking from scratch and listening to their bodies. That prep involves everything from plotting the course (during which there are five nights of accommodation) to planning the meals (many cooked using fresh-from-the-market ingredients on portable stoves). The name of his retreat is significant because now more than ever a large percentage of us are looking to connect or reconnect with ourselves on a physical, spiritual or emotional level.
Max has been open during sessions on social media about the effects of nature on his own state of mind. He told James + Jake: “When you live and work in a city, you really notice the difference when you suddenly escape out and into the country. Take away the noise, traffic, the rushing around and all the people and you realise how stressful that can be, before you’ve even started work. It’s the reason just a photo of a landscape or somewhere peaceful can help you to relax. I didn’t realise the effect a frantic, busy city life was having on my mental health until I started removing myself and getting away to more serene, less urban crowded places.” Although it’s predominantly diet and fitness focused, browse the posts on Max’s Instagram feed and you will occasionally find one with advice on staying well mentally. Among his most recent latest photos are easy recommendations, such as taking your lunch break outside in a green space with no phone.
He’s a strong candidate for helping people regain control of their bodies, minds and lives, especially those with busy lifestyles or jobs. After a rocky school life which led to expulsion Max initially had a career in finance, so he knows as well as anyone how challenging a life in the fast lane can be and the impact it can have on your health over time. And it is during work, he says, that bad habits can creep in. “When you are busy working, rushing from one thing to the next, it’s easy for your usual routine to play tricks on your mind. There’s a perceived hunger rather than a true hunger, and it’s usually a result of triggers - such as lunchtime, snack time or just boredom. That’s when we can easily stop paying attention to our body and what it needs.”
Max Lowery | Photo by Tom Joy
The secret to taking control of your eating habits and diet could lie with the trainer’s flagship and most famous plan - the 2 Meal Day. It’s a nutritional programme and accompanying book that encourages two meals rather than the typical three with a foundation of intermittent fasting. A side effect being your body has a chance to burn excess calories and you have a chance to understand the best times to eat. Although it sounds like a diet, it is far from a fad or extreme weight loss plan. Instead, it’s about optimising your physical wellbeing by fueling your body in the correct way. Max added: “If this was just about getting slim and looking good I wouldn’t feel comfortable promoting it. The real power of this plan lies in listening to your body and gaining an understanding of what it needs and when. It is not about starving, sacrificing or cutting out what you enjoy. Once you start to pay attention to what your body is actually craving at the right time you start to nourish rather than simply feed. Where so many people fall down with their diet and nutrition is they let the clock dictate when they eat. But with the two meal day you’re providing the body with everything it needs to function, just without the constraints of a typical meal schedule. Ultimately you are in control of food and mealtimes not the other way around.”
Max Lowery | Photo by Tom Joy
Although the positive impact on the body has been proven (Max has shared countless before and after examples on his Instagram feed), the impact of a two meal day is more than just physical. It has a knock-on effect on a number of aspects of your life, changing the way you view food and increasing energy levels. According to Max: “Intermittent fasting has made a name for itself in the media because it leads to weight loss. But it extends far beyond just looking good. What I’ve noticed with my clients is that they end up having a better relationship with food, overall. They benefit from more steady blood sugar levels and more consistent energy. So you don’t end up with the sugar rush mid morning or an energy crash in the afternoon. They stop getting ‘hangry’!”
There is one more element to ensuring a healthy lifestyle that trumps all others and is frequently mentioned in Max’s Instagram posts. He told James + Jake: “Sleep is the most important thing you can do for yourself. For me it’s a non-negotiable. And it’s best to have a regular routine, ensuring you go to bed and wake up at the same time as often as possible. Not only does it help to ensure you get to sleep, but also helps with the quality of your sleep”.
If you do have trouble sleeping it sounds like one of Max’s Connect Retreats will do the job. Described by the man himself as a ‘hiking experience’, the guided retreats offer a healthy dose of outdoor walking, al fresco feasting, and overnight stops at various types of accommodation including farmhouses and rustic refuges. This is seriously getting away from it all, with stunning mountain views, natural habitats, and fresh air. The hikes are suitable for those with an intermediate level of fitness, who are prepared to cover a decent amount of ground in one day. Typical tours span five days but vary, walking can involve up to 18km a day, and altitudes can reach 2,000 metres depending on which option you choose. The rewards of taking part in such an excursion are less easy to quantify. With more of us living in urban areas and consumed by busy, tech-led lives, it’s safe to say the potential for a mini adventure with Max to improve your mind, body and spirit is infinite.
For information on forthcoming retreats and to book go to connectretreats.co.uk
You can also find out more about the 2 Meal Day and sign up to plans at 2mealday.com