Henry Cavill's fitness advice, "Do it your way", is something we all need to hear today

Henry Cavill's a fitness icon – but his advice is surprisingly simple, and something every exerciser needs to hear

henry cavill
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Henry Cavill is no stranger to fitness. After a career playing bit parts in period dramas such as The Tudors and Count of Monte Cristo, he's been professionally buff for a decade after landing the role of Superman, shortly followed by Geralt of Rivia in The Witcher. 

However, while Henry can be seen boasting an impressive physique formed by years of resistance training, a recent interview with MuscleTech found his favorite fitness gadget is actually a Polar running watch. The Polar Vantage V2 tops our best running watch list, so it's clear Cavill, a keen runner in his spare time in addition to bodybuilding for movie roles, chose well. 

However, much more important than Cavill's watch preferences is his advice to people getting into fitness for the first time. He says: "Do it your way. Get the right information, get the right knowledge from someone who knows their stuff, but also do fitness your way, do whatever you'll enjoy doing, and that's how you'll get the most out of it." 

Watch Cavill's MuscleTech interview here:

This kind of advice is often overlooked. All around the internet (including right here), you'll find workout recommendations along with expert-led pieces of fitness and health advice. And although it's helpful to have as much information as you can, ultimately the best workout is one you'll enjoy doing. 

Research from the journal Frontiers in Psychology found that "engaging in [physical activity] that is enjoyable, improves health and wellbeing, and provides continual novel stimulus, will lead to improved engagement and adherence over time."

I hate running on a treadmill. Even the best treadmill, which I fully acknowledge are marvellous pieces of kit, make me feel like a hamster. I'm much more likely to lace up my pair of the best running shoes for men and brave the weather on a rainy Saturday. There's so many ways to exercise, from team sports to solo gym efforts, that we're sure you'll be able to find a discipline you love. And according to the research above, it means you're more likely to stick to an exercise routine if you enjoy the activity. 

However, no physical activity is going to be a cakewalk, as Cavill himself admits. "It's not supposed to be easy. With that kind of mindset, going into workouts and training, I think I would benefit from that enormously. Everyone's different, but I know as a young man, that's what I would have needed [to hear]."

Matt Evans

Matt Evans is an experienced health and fitness journalist and is currently Fitness and Wellbeing Editor at TechRadar, covering all things exercise and nutrition on Fit&Well's tech-focused sister site. Matt originally discovered exercise through martial arts: he holds a black belt in Karate and remains a keen runner, gym-goer, and infrequent yogi. His top fitness tip? Stretch.