Women's Fitness

I was really grateful and motivated by your feature ‘10 ways to double your gym results’ (issue 241). I go to the gym three times a week but for a while I’ve doubted I was getting the most out of my visits. I want to lift more, run more, sweat more

Escape the cold and dark on Luxury London health club Third Space’s four-night trip to the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. There’ll be morning runs, meditation, yoga, HIIT classes and hikes in stunning scenery, plus healthy meals, a cookery class and lot

‘I get up at 7am, have a breakfast of scrambled egg on toast with tomatoes and a green smoothie, and am out of the house by 8.30am for work, unless I’m writing from home. Before my diagnosis of bowel cancer, in 2016, I was a busy mum of two working a

Step off the treadmill – staying fit this winter is all about getting tough. Try London-based gym CIRQ’s 45-minute Fully Immersive Functional Fitness class (cirq.life), where you’ll slam, squat, crunch, lift, lunge, press, plank, sprint and punch. Or

Behind every great athlete is a great coach, but hiring a sports expert is a luxury many think they can’t afford. Instead, everyday exercisers turn to the next best thing – books or guides to help them design and implement proper training. Some even

Works: Abs and core Time: 45 seconds • Lie flat on your back then, using your core, lift your left leg to about 45 degrees as you lift your upper body, twisting from your waist and reaching your right arm to touch outside your left leg (A). • Return

Good news if you enjoy a nice glass of merlot – red wine may benefit your microbiome. Researchers from King’s College London measured dietary intake against gut bacterial diversity – a sign of a healthy microbiome – in nearly 1,000 female twins (to r

‘I start my day by taking my puppy for a 20-minute play in the park before returning home and enjoying some kefir. I then do 15 minutes of my gut-directed yoga flow that’s in my book. After that, I retreat to my office where I tuck into my overnight

‘Veggie burgers, sausages and mince can be deceptive, as they might contain milk or eggs. Check the label to make sure your version is plant-based.’ ‘Often, items like apples, oranges and avocados can be coated with wax or another glazing agent that

• 1.2 kg flavoursome tomatoes*• 4 tbsp olive oil• 1 onion, chopped• 1 large garlic clove, crushed• 500g risotto rice• 300ml vegetable stock• 300g cherry tomatoes• 50g Parmesan, finely grated• 150g mozzarella cherries• 2 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley

BLACK ELDERBERRY extract is shown to substantially reduce the severity and duration of symptoms of flu, more so than those of colds. A.VOGEL ECHINAFORCE Hot Drink (£10.99 for 100ml; avogel.co.uk) combines echinacea and black elderberry to fight cold

Whether you’re up a mountain, in the gym, or walking through the concrete jungle, this season’s new camouflage prints are meant to be seen. Thanks to designers such as Victoria Beckham, camo is officially cool again and, this time around, it’s availa

Fearne Cotton seems to have it all – a thriving career, good looks, amazing friends and a happy home life. But the TV and radio presenter-turned-wellbeing guru is the first to admit that juggling a multitude of projects with motherhood can take its t

There’s lots to love about the colder months. Autumn leaves and crisp, bright mornings, country walks and log fires, opaque tights and berry lipstick. The colds, coughs and ’flu though? Not so much. ‘Most of us get between four and six colds a year,’

Combat the post-Christmas slump with the 30 Days Yoga Challenge Cube (£12.50; selfridges.com). The handy cards offer 30 poses plus advice in a compact beginner’s guide. Keep a loved one on track with Myzone’s MZ-20 Smart Scales (£59.99; myzone.org).

If you are in need of a luxury getaway, you’re in luck. We’ve teamed up with five-star Gran Hotel Atlantis Bahía Real to offer one reader a five-night holiday for two. The luxurious hotel borders the soft white sands of Corralejo Natural Dune Park, a

Gigi Hadid Light-impact bra, £29.95, Track pants, £59.95, and Track jacket, £62.95; all at reebok.com Shake off those autumn blues with the scorching new Reebok x Gigi Hadid collection. Inspired by the athletic supermodel’s love of the outdoors, th

‘Narnia!’ I say to myself as I take in the slightly eerie mid-afternoon half-light illuminated by floodlights twinkling across the snowy slope, and the fir trees beyond, heavily encrusted in icing-like, frozen-solid snow. ‘I knew this place reminde

With more than 30 years’ experience in raw food, herbalism and nutrition, it’s little surprise Wild Food Café restaurateurs Joel Gazdar and Aiste Gazdar create such delicious dishes at their Covent Garden and Islington outlets in London. But their fo

If you love that sudden burst of flavour as you bite into a crisp Braeburn, the mouth-tingling acidity of pure lemon juice or the refreshing crunch of newly made kimchi, Sour: the Magical Element that will Transform your Cooking (Quadrille, £25) is t

Benefits: This move focuses on balance, while working your shoulders and your core. • Stand tall holding a pair of light dumbbells. Turn your left heel 45 degrees outward, then shift your weight onto your left leg, hinging forward as you plant the

The key to a toned midsection is using smart moves that hit your muscles from all angles. But if your body fat is too high, it won’t matter how toned your abs are, you still won’t be able to see them. When it comes to training your mid-section, it’s

This gentle, elegant stretch helps lengthen and strengthen your lateral obliques, the muscles that help define your waistline. Use it as a gentle warm-up or as a more intense stretch later in your routine, to help target those ‘love handles’ and open

£99.99; endurasport.com ‘If you don’t want to wear a bright yellow jacket in town, this high-viz blue one’s a good compromise as it’s still pretty bright (though there’s also a fluoro yellow option). I’m impressed with the well-positioned and nicely

Did you know that an incredible 25 per cent of all the bones in your body are found below your ankle? No, we didn’t either! It’s just one reason that it’s so important to take care of your feet – especially if you’re a runner. Despite carrying us thr

Q How can I keep up my motivation in winter? A‘It may seem hard to get out there when it’s cold and dark, but the good news is, you can really improve your fitness, as you can push yourself that little bit harder in cool conditions. ‘Investing in so

‘I grew up in Surrey and was always very sporty at school, where I loved athletics, especially sprinting and the javelin. I represented the county at javelin and was really inspired by Tessa Sanderson, Fatima Whitbread and Steve Backley. When I left

‘Everything’s brilliant! I’ve got a great life/work balance, rather than a work/life balance, choosing work projects that fit in with my life and make me tick. Doing my Things I Told My Daughter podcasts for Fabulous magazine has been amazing, and I