Ryan Dabbs
Senior Writer
Ryan is a Senior Writer at Men’s Health UK with a passion for storytelling, health and fitness. Having graduated from Cardiff University in 2020, and later obtaining his NCTJ qualification, Ryan started his career as a Trainee News Writer for sports titles Golf Monthly, Cycling Weekly and Rugby World before progressing to Staff Writer and subsequently Senior Writer with football magazine FourFourTwo.
During his two-and-a-half years there he wrote news stories for the website and features for the magazine, while he also interviewed names such as Les Ferdinand, Ally McCoist, Jamie Redknapp and Antonio Rudiger, among many others. His standout memory, though, came when getting the opportunity to speak to then-Plymouth Argyle manager Steven Schumacher as the club won League One in 2023.
Having grown up a keen footballer and playing for his boyhood side until the age of 16, Ryan got the opportunity to represent Northern Ireland national futsal team eight times, scoring three goals against England, Scotland and Gibraltar. Now past his peak, Ryan prefers to mix weightlifting with running – he achieved a marathon PB of 3:31:49 at Manchester in April 2025, but credits the heat for failing to get below the coveted 3:30 mark…
You can follow Ryan on Instagram @ryan.dabbs or on X @ryandabbs_
Robert Downey Jr's Training at 61: Strength, Martial Arts and 20 Years of Superhero Fitness
From Wing Chun and heavy lifting to functional circuits and agility work, the 61-year-old has spent two decades adapting his training to stay strong and superhero-ready
I Ran My First Ultramarathon Across Iceland’s Geothermal Highlands – It Transformed How I Think About Racing
'Just 5km in, I'm buzzing'
‘Celebrity MasterChef’ Judge Grace Dent Says She Nearly Derailed Paddy McGuinness’ Men’s Health Transformation
Judging a cooking show when you're trying to limit your caloric intake probably isn't the best preparation...
Mike Thurston’s 7-Day Hybrid Workout Template Builds Strength and Endurance – Here's How to Tailor it to Your Goals
Start lifting heavy and running far with Thurston's plan for a full week of hybrid athlete training
At 36, Jay McGuiness’ Sub-24 5K Puts Him in the ‘Intermediate’ Category for His Age – See How You Compare
What first started out as a way to keep fit has now become an important 'ritual' in McGuiness' life
How to Build an Impressive Physique by Working Out Less: 6 Rules All Men Should Follow
Less is sometimes more – and focusing on the basics can provide a whole host of overlooked benefits
After 28 Years of Training, This 55-Year-Old Coach Swears by 3 Rules for Strength and Muscle
After making ‘every mistake in the book’, he says these are the three things that actually work
Bodybuilding Legend Dorian Yates Shares His Golden Rep Rule for Making Every Muscle-Building Set Count
Yates uses this simple rule to maximise muscle-building effort
Build the Lower-Back Strength You Need After 40 with This Simple 4-Step Progression
Rather than avoiding your lower back entirely, strength coach Brendan Backstrom recommends gradually rebuilding its capacity. These four progressions take you from gentle isometric holds to full back extensions
3-Time Mr Olympia Frank Zane's Simple 4-Move Formula for Shorter, More Effective Workouts
Only have 20 or 30 minutes to train? Zane has your back
This 61-Year-Old Is in the Shape of His Life – and Credits This Exercise with Transforming His Chest
Ricky Dietrich says the incline cable pullover has been a game changer
This Coach Swapped Traditional Cardio for Daily Walking Lunges – Here's Why He Calls Them a 'Cheat Code'
More than 120 days into his latest streak, Cory Gregory uses walking lunges to build lower-body strength, balance and conditioning – and says beginners can start with just one minute
Why Men Over 50 Need the Kang Squat – This Coach's Number One Exercise for Longevity
It challenges your quads, glutes and hamstrings while developing the mobility needed to keep moving well as you age
How Alan Ritchson Trained for 'Reacher' Season 4 Using Lighter Weights and Higher Volume
After adding 12kg of muscle for season one, Ritchson's priorities have shifted. Now, his training is designed to maintain his size and strength while keeping him healthy enough to play Reacher for years to come
Improve Your Pull-Up Numbers with This Dead-Stop Variation – Building Your Back and Grip in the Process
By starting every rep from a dead stop, pin pull-ups remove momentum and force your back and arms to generate strength from scratch – while exposing the weakest point in your pull
Grow Your Chest with Light Dumbbells – This 3-Move Tri-Set Delivers a Mighty Pec Pump
This three-exercise chest complex takes your pecs to failure without heavy bench pressing
'I'm 56 But My Cardiovascular Age is 25 – Here Are My 5 Golden Rules for Ageing Well'
Consistency is the key
Dorian Yates Says These 7 Habits Help Him Stay Strong at 64 – Here's Why They Work
Yates doesn't just sit and admire his six Mr Olympia titles – he continues to train to keep his body fit for life
Why This Coach Swears By Diagonal Pulls for a Stronger, More Defined Back
Reaching across your body and pulling to the opposite hip achieves a deeper lat activation – and more muscle growth
Bodybuilding Legend Frank Zane Says These 3 Rules Are All You Need to Build Bigger, Thicker Muscles
Don't overcomplicate it – just stick to Zane's advice and watch the muscle pack on
A New Study Challenges the 'Knees Over Toes' Squat Myth – Deep Squats May Be Better for Your Knees
Rather than listening to unfounded old-school advice, it's time to start squatting according to the science
Use the 'Iron Trident' to Develop Real-World Core Strength and Abs of Steel
Teaching greater anti-rotational strength and better posture, it's an exercise that improves performance across the board
Arnold Schwarzenegger Relied on This Simple but Effective 21-Rep Method for Growing His Biceps
Known simply as '21s', Arnold's favourite biceps finisher combines partial and full-range curls to maximise time under tension, muscle pump and growth
Bodybuilding Great Dorian Yates Shares the Low-Volume Chest Workout That Helped Him Win Mr Olympia
The six-time Mr Olympia believed one all-out working set was worth more than endless junk volume. Here's the chest-and-biceps workout that helped power his 1993 title campaign
This 75-Year-Old Only Started Lifting at 63 – These Are the 4 Biggest Benefits He's Noticed
Bernie Rhinerson didn't start strength training until his 60s. Twelve years later, he says lifting weights has transformed everything from his posture and mood to the way he keeps up with his grandchildren
Inside the Elite Recovery Centre at the Home of the 2031 Ryder Cup
The future home of the 2031 Ryder Cup is also one of Europe's premier recovery destinations, trusted by England's football and rugby teams. One MH writer tried its cryotherapy, oxygen chamber, red light therapy and massage treatments to see if they lived up to the hype
Tour de France Champ Tadej Pogačar's Superhuman VO2 Max – and the 5-Minute DIY Test to Measure Yours
Scientists believe Pogačar's aerobic engine is close to the 100 ml/kg/min mark – one of the highest VO₂ max values ever estimated
How Micah Richards Built His ‘Big Meeks’ Physique with Boxing, Daily Gym Sessions and Giving Up Alcohol
The 38-year-old pundit has had to deal with persistent injuries, but still trains hard to achieve an impressive physique
5 Warning Signs You've Been Dieting for Too Long – Even If You're Still Losing Weight
Constant cravings, low libido and a sudden loss of motivation could all be signs it's time to increase your calories
Chris Hemsworth, 42, Shares His 'Extraction 3' Workout for Full-Body Muscle – 17 Exercises, 2 Bits of Kit
The actor's latest session combines strength, conditioning and core work into one highly demanding circuit
The 'Dumbbell Death March' Helps You Stay Strong, Stable and Athletic as You Age – Here's How to Try It
Part lunge, part Romanian deadlift, it develops explosive strength, core stability and single-leg control in one movement
Test Your Strength with These 7 Benchmarks for Men Over 60 – from Push-Ups to Hang Time
A strength coach's seven fitness benchmarks for men over 60 sparked fierce debate online. Here's who they're really for – and how to use them to assess your own fitness