Phil 'The Power' Taylor’s Champion Blog

Top darts legend Phil Taylor has been world champion an astonishing 13 times.

But in December 2006 the man known as the 'The Power' missed out on winning his 14th world title.

Phil blames his defeat on his lack of fitness and stamina. At the beginning of this year he weighed a hefty 18 stone.

Phil decided to do something about it and over the past few months has been following a healthy diet and getting active.

In his BHF blog Phil will be explaining how he gets his 30 minutes of recommended exercise everyday and what impact getting active has had on his life.

We hope Phil will inspire you to think about ways to build physical activity into your daily routine and improve your own health and well being...

11 June 2007

Phil’s says goodbye to late night curries

At the start of the year I weight 18 stone. Now I’ve lost over three stone. Getting active has helped me loose weight but I’ve also had to think about eating a healthy diet.

In the past it used to be eating late at night which caused me problems. I used to eat things like chips and curries. Now I’ll eat fruit or cereal if I have to eat late at night.

Having said that a little bit of what you fancy every now and then doesn't hurt so I do allow myself the odd treat. That means having my favourite food - a curry.

You might think it’s hard sticking to a healthy diet when I’m at tournaments but trying to eat a healthy diet and doing my 30 minutes a day of physical activity has had so many benefits that I can’t imagine going back to my old ways.

Adopting a healthier lifestyle has given me a whole round better quality of life and concentration levels have improved, which is obviously very useful for my sport.

I’d recommend it. Good luck!

4 June 2007

Phil and his family stay on target

Last week was another pretty good week for me…I’ve been in Brighton where I won the Premier League title again.

Seeing me back at the top of my game and being fit and active has got my family interested in the whole idea of 30 a day

My wife Yvonne has joined the gym with me and is eating healthier too.

She has diabetes so of course she really needs to think about her diet and about how active she is.

She’s really enjoyed it and it’s been good going together.

I hope it’s inspired my kids to think about the amount of physical activity they do.

I think the main thing is trying to incorporate your activity into your daily routine. It helps if you find someone to join you.

It’s much easier to go to the gym or for a walk or whatever it is you’re doing with someone else.

28 May 2007

World of darts inspired by "The Power"

I’m back in the UK after my US victory and delighted to say I’m playing as well now as I ever have.

I’m sure my recent success has been down to losing weight and getting fit and eating healthier. And I think I’ve inspired other darts players to think about their own lifestyles.

They’ve seen the effect getting active has had on me and quite a few of them have told me they’ve started doing more physical activity and eating a more healthy diet.

In the past a sport like darts used to have a bit of an unhealthy image. Now it’s much more professional.

There is so much money involved now that you can’t be drinking and eating rubbish all the time, like they used to do in the old days.

It's definitely not easy standing for hours, hitting a target again and again if you're unfit.

Like a lot of things in life it's easier if you live a healthy lifestyle – doing regular physical activity and eating well.

21 May 2007

Beating Barney and pizza cravings at the US Open

It’s been a great week!

I’m in Connecticut, US, where I’ve just won the inaugural US Open event and beat Barney (Raymond van Barneveld) in the final. I’m really delighted to be back at the top of my game. It was a pretty tough event.

I think my fitness regime is a big part of my success at the moment. The hotel I am staying in has a gym so I’ve managed to fit in some exercise most days.

If I’m on tour and I’m in a hotel that doesn’t have a gym then I make sure I go for a walk.

The biggest challenge this week – apart from beating Ray – has been staying away from all that tempting American junk food. Have I been tempted?

Yes, all the time! Fortunately the hotel I’m staying in has a very healthy menu to choose from and I’ll be home later this week.

14 May 2007

Phil on champion form!

I’ve started doing some weights to tone myself up, now that I’ve lost a good bit of weight.

The best thing about getting active though is my quality of life is a 100 times better and I am sleeping much better.

My performance has improved and I also don’t feel as tired during my matches now as I used to, which has obviously helped in my professional life.

My main objective when I started out on my fitness routine was to win back the championship in December.

But staying active and watching my diet is going to be for the rest of my life. I’m never going to put the weight back on – ever. I want to stay looking and feeling this good.

7 May 2007

Phil stays on target

In January I weighed 18 stone….now I’m 16. I’m over the moon!

My blood cholesterol used to be high and now it’s in the normal range. I promised myself when I lost the championship in January that I’d definitely get fitter and slimmer and so far I’ve stuck at it. Everything’s going in the right direction and I’m amazed at how quickly things have changed.

What I’ve found is that when you first start trying to get fitter, build it up gradually to a level that you are comfortable with. Also try and vary the exercise that you do so that you don’t get bored doing the same thing all the time.

When I don’t feel motivated I think back to that final!

30 April 2007

Phil’s discovers he enjoys getting active

When I decided to get fit I thought I’d try out lots of different activities. I even tried out badminton, which is harder than it looks.

With my playing commitments I’ve had to get myself into a routine. I get up at 8am every morning, have some breakfast then go for two hours practice with Andy Hamilton, my practice partner.

Then at about three o’clock I go to the gym. I go to the gym three times a week, play squash and take a 30 minute walk every night with my dog. Which is a Yorkshire terrier, by the way, so I do get some funny looks!

What I’ve found is that once I started to get fitter I started actually enjoying exercise. Now I love all forms of physical activity, but in particular I love a game of squash with my cousin Wayne. He hasn’t managed to beat me yet but he is getting closer.

April 23, 2007

Losing was good for my health

I lost this year’s World Championships in a sudden death decider because I was physically unable to cope right at the end. I weighed 18 stone and was basically unfit.

In the past I didn't really do much exercise - I don’t suppose you really start to think about your weight or fitness level until it affects your life.

Like a lot of blokes I thought diet and exercise wasn't something that I really needed to bother with.

I used to go through phases of keeping fit and losing weight but there isn’t much time to exercise at big tournaments, so I’d get bored of it and go back to how I was. 

But I hate losing so I decided that things had to change for good otherwise I might never win another title! 
 
I spoke to my doctor and he told me that at 18 stone I was obese and that my general fitness levels were poor for a man my age.

This time, I’ve done it right and exercise and diet are now part of my way of life. I feel so much better for it, and could have prolonged my life by another 10 years! 

I’m sleeping much better, and I don’t feel as tired during my matches as I used to which has obviously helped my professional life…

Next week...

More from Phil!