DARTS legend Phil Taylor has opened up about his lifestyle change since retiring from the sport.
The Power established himself as the greatest player of all time during his 30-year spell at the oche, with 16 world titles to his name.
But since putting down the arrows last year, Taylor has focussed on improving his overall health.
The 65-year-old has taken up cycling in a bid to strengthen his legs after hip surgery.
He told Metro: “I’m trying to keep fit a bit more now. I’m cycling a lot.
“I had an operation, I had a new hip and the surgeon, he said, ‘Phil, I’m going to tell you something now. Keep your legs strong, because when you’re in your 60s, anybody in their 60s, if they fall and break their hip, you’re in trouble.’
“So I do cycling, and then I’m in with one of my best mates Bobbie Goulding. He texts me every morning! He played rugby for Wigan, St. Helens, Leeds, England, Great Britain.
“He’s in his 50s, and he’s fit as a fiddle. He’s getting me into weights now. So I built a gym, put a sauna in and I’m cycling in the morning.”
Taylor also revealed that he recently became “addicted” to a new diet, which includes dishes from Spain.
“Normally for my dinner, I’ll have sour bread, avocado, a bit of olive oil, a bit of balsamic, tomatoes or poached egg, a bit of cheese,” he continued.
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“I’m addicted to it, I love it.
“I was in Spain last week, Marbella area, and one of the landlords says, ‘Phil, try this dish we’re famous for it, it’s called pil pil.’ Have you had it?
“It’s prawns. I’ve even bought the dishes now, the tapas dishes.
“All it is, a good glug of olive oil in there, garlic, put it on a flame so it starts boiling, start cooking the garlic a little bit, some paprika. I like coriander, some people put mint in, then just put your prawns in.
“Then, because your gravy as such goes red with the paprika, when you put half a teaspoon in, and then you get your bread and just dip it in.
“Oh mate, addictive! Addictive. I’m telling you. You can put a little bit of chilli flakes in as well. Try it.”
The Power went on to list some examples of how his favourite sportsmen inspired him during his career – including a bizarre diet adaptation.
He added: “I used to take a lot out of other sports people. I even had blood tests, so I could eat to my blood type.
“So my blood group is a funny blood group, mine comes from Mongolia.
“It must have been when the Mongolians took over the world, so I’ve got their blood group.
“So if I eat rice, in Chinese food, I get no stomach problems at all. But if I eat chips or potatoes, bread, it kills my stomach, gives me heartburn.
“I take my own cooking stuff to hotels, I take my own mattress topper, I take my own pillow, and I got all this off different sports people.”
Taylor recently backed himself to beat superstar Luke Littler in a dream exhibition at the oche.
He joked: “I think it would be a hell of a game, a close game – but I think I’d win. Don’t tell Littler…”
Taylor said he tried adjusting his diet to suit his blood type[/caption]
