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Wales Online
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Dylan James

What I'm A Celebrity star Mike Tindall does to stay in shape at 44

Former England rugby star Mike Tindall has featured on this year's edition of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and it has become quite clear he's in immaculate shape - despite retiring almost nine years ago.

The stocky centre is used to lining up alongside gargantuan, elite rugby players. However, this time it's pop stars, politicians and radio DJs he's with in the jungle, including Boy George, Matt Hancock and Chris Moyles.

Since the series began, fans of the reality TV show have been exposed to a series of topless shots of Tindall, exposing his athletic physique.

READ MORE: Get your brilliant 48-page Wales at the World Cup preview special - it's a must have historical souvenir

With the lack of calories, it's inevitable during his time in the jungle he will shred weight - losing muscle and fat at the same time. However, how has Tindall managed to maintain such great physical health for so many years after his rugby career ended?

Tindall sports budgie smugglers in the jungle (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Reported by The Express earlier this year, Tindall revealed that his family are very fitness-focused. He cycles with his daughter Mia and trains with wife Zara, whose mother is Princess Anne.

However, when it comes to solo gym work, Tindall has a unique training plan that is more bodyweight-focused, rather than heavy lifting with barbells and machines. He revealed his training structure to Men's Health back in 2021.

"When I was playing, when I was a professional sportsman, there was a lot of heavy lifting. Whole body - legs, upper body," he said.

"Whereas since I've retired, I don't need to do all that, it can put a lot of impact on your body. So it's a bit more body-strong, a bit more calisthenics."

For those unfamiliar with calisthenics, it's a form of training which puts a focus on using your bodyweight to perform exercises with minimal equipment. These movements can include pull-ups, lunges and squats.

Tindall starts his walk-through workout with some bodyweight dips, performing six or seven sets. From that point he goes on to perform a TRX row for his back, medicine ball squats for lower body and then hanging flutter kicks, straight knee tucks and knees to elbows to target the abs.

The former rugby star laughs with a fellow I'm A Celebrity contestant (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

The former Gloucester man finishes on the Wattbike where he cycles "flat out" for 10 minutes on a high intensity interval training structure. This involves 20 seconds maximum effort and 40 seconds rest.

It also helps that Tindall has still been playing rugby - but this time at grassroots level.

The 44-year-old plies his trade for Minchinhampton RFC, a stone's throw away from his Gatcombe Park home in Gloucestershire. Speaking to Stroud Times in March this year, Tindall said the club were there for him when he retired.

"They provided me a huge service when I retired," he added. "I didn't really know what to do, I still wanted to stay fit, I still wanted to try to do as much with rugby as I could do.

"It started off just going up there and playing a bit of touch and then getting to know the boys and slowly it grew from there. In the first year I ended up playing 12 games for them!"

MINCHINHAMPTON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 15: Mike Tindall of Minchinhampton RFC and 2003 RWC Winner trains at Minchinhampton Rugby Club on February 15, 2022 in Minchinhampton, England. The Back in the Game campaign encourages grassroots social players back onto the pitch at their local rugby clubs. Tindall, now aged 43 still plays for his local Minchinhampton club. (Photo by David Rogers - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images) (David Rogers - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

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