guise magazine

guise a well-being magazine for men

man to man with

MATTHEW PRITCHARD

TAKE TEN

well-being at home made simple

ISSUE 01 DECEMBER 2019

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CONTENTS

In this issue

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#LetsTalk

Hello,

It’s not always easy to spot when a man is

struggling. Learn how to start a conversation

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Man to man Matthew Pritchard kindly invited us to

his tattoo and barber shop to chat about his grapples with mental health

Welcome to the first issue of Guise, a well-being magazine for men.

We want to get men talking. Although mental health is now a far less taboo topic for men, many of us are still hesitant to open-up.

It's a fact that exercise and a balanced diet make us feel good. So, we want to help more men get active and eat better food, making 'self-care' a more accessible reality; it's not just about fancy grooming products.

For our feature, Matthew Pritchard, the Dirty Vegan, talked to us about his grapples with mental health and how he confronts his struggles with exercise and diet.

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Well-being at home Set 10 minutes aside to try these simple

recipes and exercises that will get you eating and living healthily

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Guise on the street In our weekly segment, we asked men at

the gym: “Why do you exercise and how does it benefit your mental health?”

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...and breathe How to get the most out of your lunch

break in just 10 easy steps

Editorial team

Alex Myles | @alexgrmyles Andrea Gaini | @GaoAndrea Ceryn Evans | @cerynsevans Joe O’Connor | @JoeOConnorNews Kaiya Simon | @JournoKaiya

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mins A 'lunch 22 minutes' doesn't quite roll off the tongue, does it?

This was how long the average lunch break lasted in 2018.

Figures: The Guardian

We hope you enjoy

,

guise team the

13 in

This is how many people eat their lunch al-desko i.e. not leaving their workspace all day.

Not a great dining experience.

53

%

Over half of UK workers do not take their full lunch break. Seize the day, and your break!

Go to page 8 to reclaim your lunch hour

#LETSTALK

opening up

having that conversation

by Joe O'Connor

T

alking about our mental health is never easy. We spoke to Time to Change, a campaign aimed at breaking the stigma that men fall foul of too often. They gave us some tips on how to start a meaningful conversation with a mate who may be struggling.

Talk about yourself

Doesn't have to be face-to-face

Don’t fear the elephant

No such thing as perfect timing

Encouraging guys who may be struggling to open up is a two-way street. Talking about your feelings makes your friend feel safe, and removes the stigma. This could be your deepest worries or just something on your mind, like that shitty email you got from your boss or that looming deadline.

If you know someone who has suffered with mental health issues in the past, or you’ve spoken about the issue before, don't be scared to ask them how they're doing. Face the elephant in the room.

Be respectful and try to avoid specific details, but questions like 'are you back at work pal?' or 'how are things going bud?' are a good way of opening up the conversation.

A proper catch-up with a friend is great. Seeing him in person, especially when you're talking about mental health is always the best. But, text or email is okay too. If he lives far away, or simply doesn't feel comfortable opening up in person, checking in with him like this is better than not checking in at all. For all its faults, social media can also be a good way to keep in contact with people.

Talking about mental health doesn’t have to be laying on a sofa bed opening up to a psychiatrist. If you have noticed changes in someone you know, helping them to open up can be difficult. It's easier when you’re doing something else, like jogging or driving. Now the pressure is off, conversation can flow more naturally.

There are charities in Cardiff here to help

Mind Cardiff

T: 02920 395123 W: cardiffmind.org E: supporterrelations@mind.org.uk

Samaritans

T: 116 123 W: samaritans.org E: jo@samaritans.org

Time for Change

T: 08457 90 90 90 W: timetochangewales.org.uk E: info@timetochangewales.org.uk

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MAN TO MAN

“It’s the little additions of everything that creates a storm

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Alex Myles met MATTHEW PRITCHARD to talk about his transition from Dirty Sanchez to Dirty Vegan and getting a hold of his mental health

atthew Pritchard is somewhat of a renaissance man. He’s an endurance athlete, a vegan chef and he owns a barbershop and tattoo parlour, Sleep When You’re Dead (SWYD), in Cardiff.

Matt, or ‘Pritch’ as he’s affectionately known to friends, made a name for himself with Dirty Sanchez, where he and some equally crazy mates performed elaborate stunts on each other for entertainment’s sake, seriously harming themselves in the process.

But, he doesn’t want to put Sanchez behind him. “It’s a part of my life, and it’s shaped the person I am today.

“It was a lot of fun. When MTV say we’re going to pay you to travel the world with your mates and get smashed, I’m not going to say ‘Nah don’t really want to do that… I’d rather work 9-to-5 in an office.’”

He does however admit this rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle spiralled his mental health out of control. “As much fun as it was, too many drugs just fucks with your head.” He remembers indulging in cocktails of booze and drugs with the Sanchez boys.

“That for many years on the trot slowly and surely catches up with you. I realised I’d been living in a dream for ten years, you could just see it all slipping away. It was a hard pill to swallow.”

Matt tells us his mental health issues date back further than Sanchez. He remembers being bullied at school, “I was the different guy and different guys always get picked on. It’s the little additions of everything that creates a storm.”

Despite now ditching the drugs completely, Matt’s perpetually busy lifestyle takes a toll on his mental health, “I take too much on, I need to learn to say no.

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A BULL IN A BARBERSHOP: THE SWYD DESIGN

MATT GETTING THE RARE OPPORTUNITY TO PUT HIS FEET UP Everything I do, I take it as far as humanly possible.” Earlier this year, he completed ten Ironman triathlons in ten days.

This new lifestyle of ultra-endurance athletics and super-clean vegan diet has made him a much happier person, however.

He sees the psychological benefits of exercising, “If I’m feeling down, I know what will fix me, and that will be going for a run.

I’ve never regretted a workout.”

He knows that it’s not easy to get into the routine of exercise if you’re feeling down. He calls yoga the simplest form of exercise there is. “If you want an easy fix, just get it up on YouTube, there’s loads of tutorials on there.

That’s a great start to the day.

“Or, just grab a pair of trainers and go for a run. Do what you can handle. It clears your head, and you can find a new hobby. I honestly can’t praise it enough.”

Matt thinks of his barbershop as a man cave, “We all do blokey things in here and take the piss out of one another.” Although a seemingly intimidating environment, he sees getting a haircut as a good opportunity for men to open up, “You’ll be surprised at how a lot of people do offload their problems to the barbers. It’s a communal thing, you can have a laugh. It’s a nice place to be.”

He realises the importance of opening up, but also the fact that some people don’t want to. He says, “If you can have a laugh with everyone in the shop it puts a spring in your step, and you can’t wait to go back in there. It’s the vibe we are going for.”

Matt’s second Dirty Vegan cookbook is out on December 12 and the accompanying television series is out in January. While healing from his gruelling ironman triathlons, he has signed up to a 200-mile run (back and forth) in a mile-long pitchblack tunnel.

“I’m a sucker for punishment, but I enjoy what I do,” Matt says, “It keeps my mind active.”

SWYD BARBER OLLIE STYLING WHAT I HAVE LEFT OF MY HAIR

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WELL-BEING AT HOME

take ten

RECIPES

Welsh leeks frittata Quick bruschetta starter Ingredients for 2 bruschette 2 slices of sourdough bread 5 cherry tomatoes ½ red onion 1 leaf of basil A few drops of olive oil Salt & pepper to taste

Method

Slice and toast the bread.

Dice the cherry tomatoes and onion into small cubes.

Place the tomatoes into a colander and cover with a little salt, leave to rest for a few minutes to dry them out a touch.

Pour a few drops of olive oil and sprinkle some salt and pepper on top of the toasted bread and use your fingers to spread the seasoning evenly.

Once drained a little, place the tomatoes and the onion cubes in a mixing bowl and lightly season with salt, pepper and olive oil.

Place everything on the slices of bread and finish with some fresh basil on top.

Ingredients for 2 people 4 eggs 2 leeks A splash of milk Salt & pepper to taste

Method

Thinly slice the leek into rings and discard the root end.

Place the leek rings in a pan with some olive oil and fry at a low to medium temperature until golden.

Beat the eggs in a bowl, adding some salt, pepper and a small splash of milk.

Once the leeks are a nice golden colour, add in the eggs and use a fork to make small holes so that the frittata is not too soggy on top.

Cook for 7 minutes and then put a lid on the pan to finish cooking for another 2 minutes.

Eat with fresh bread and roasted vegetables of your choosing.

FOR MORE RECIPES Make sure to check out our podcast.

FIND US ON Spotify: Dig In! IG: @digin_podcast

guise

on the street Why do you go to the gym?

minutes

by Andrea Gaini

WORKOUT

“ Mountain climbers START IN THE PLANK POSITION

with your shoulders over your hands and all your weight on your toes.

With your core engaged, bring your right knee forward under your chest, with your toes just off the ground.

Return to your basic plank then switch legs, bringing your left knee forward.

Continue to switch between legs for 1 minute and rest for another.

Rocket Jumps STAND WITH FEET HIP-WIDTH

apart and legs bent.

Jump up driving your hands above your head and extend your entire body.

Land softly, reposition your feet and repeat for 1 minute.

Rest for 1 minute, then do another minute of rocket jumps and rest again.

I want to get fit and it benefits me mentally. Before I started going to the gym I was feeling a bit down but now I feel a lot happier because of it.

- Ashley Griffiths, 24

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”

I go to the gym mainly to stay in shape. It definitely benefits my mental health - if you look better you’re going to feel better as well.

- Rhys Jones, 24

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Back raise

Pressup with dumbells

LIE DOWN ON YOUR BACK and

START IN THE PLANK POSITION.

place your hands on your temple.

Keep your legs together and feet on the ground.

Raise your shoulders slightly then lower them slowly and repeat for 1 minute. Rest for 1 minute.

Placing one dumbbell in each hand, lift them one at a time and then perform a push-up.

Repeat the cycle for 30 seconds or more if you can.

Rest for 1 minute.

Illustrations by Jordan Davies

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I’ve always exercised regularly to stay in shape and look good but as I’ve gotten older and busier, the gym has become an escape for me to take my mind off all the stress.

- Joel Matthews, 27

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...and breathe How to get the most out of your lunch break in 9 easy steps

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SWITCH OFF YOUR SCREEN

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EAT HEALTHILY TO FILL UP

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CATCH UP WITH FRIENDS

FOLLOW US

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CHANGE THE SCENERY

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USE YOUR WHOLE BREAK

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TAKE A DEEP BREATH

@GUISE.MAGAZINE

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STRETCH YOUR LEGS

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REMEMBER TO REHYDRATE

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RETURN, REFRESHED

@GUISE_MAG