Women's Fitness July 2016

Don’t know about you, but the last thing I want to be doing on holiday is worrying about how I look. I’d much rather be enjoying the sun, sea and sand, exploring the sights and having fun with friends and family. So, this month, we’re arming you with all the expert advice and insider secrets you need to feel fit, healthy and body confident well before your big summer getaway! Swimming is one of the best all-over workouts going, as this month’s cover star Kirsty Gallacher proves. Currently training for her first Ironman, the super-fit TV presenter credits swimming for helping her feel her fittest at 40. Turn to ‘How I got my best body ever’ (page 52) to read our interview and follow Kirsty’s training plan. Another A-lister who…

STAR LETTER FITNESS INSPO ‘Bikini Body Secrets of the Stars’ (June 2016) was an inspirational read. People may argue celebrities have more time to keep fit, but reading about them inspires me. A few years ago, Jennifer Lopez ran a marathon. Yes, she had a trainer and no, she doesn’t have to sit at a desk all day like many of us... but she’d just had twins. I ran a half marathon that year. Now it’s Cameron and Davina motivating me. I’d love their amazing abs. Thanks. Ilana Aitch, Wirral OVERCOMING ENVY Your article ‘Get to grips with envy’ (June 2016) was such a useful read. I always thought of myself as a kind, thoughtful person but, after splitting up with my partner, I noticed I was resenting the fun…

1 COMMUNE WITH NATURE Join the RSPB’s Big Wild Sleepout, July 29 to 31, and camp in the great outdoors! It’s part of the ‘Giving Nature a Home’ campaign, encouraging everyone to do their bit for nature. Camp in your own garden, elsewhere or join in an organised event at an RSPB nature reserve and get closer to the natural world; rspb.org.uk/sleepout. 2 WEAR A-LIST BEACHWEAR Kate Hudson’s active clothing brand, Fabletics, has launched its first beachwear collection in time for you to get kitted out for summer. You’ll find everything you need for your sunny holiday, including swimwear, dresses and cover-ups. The swimwear is made from recycled materials and boasts UV protection while dresses such as the Tropez use compression fabric to help flatter your figure. Bikinis start from…

‘I’m a real foodie – cooking is a great destressor, or I’ll do a dance class after work’ ‘Sometimes, I spend entire days talking to people’ ‘I wake up at 6am, eat a breakfast of porridge and blueberries, and arrive at my office in the National Tennis Centre for 8-8.30am, depending on whether I stop off for a hot power yoga class. I offer one-to-one coaching and mentoring to around 30 tennis players (including 10 seniors) on all aspects of off-court life – including wellbeing and relationship issues, and personal skills development on areas such as time management and media relations. Although I work 9-5 hours, the reality is I’m on call 24/7, should the players need me. The hours can be unsociable, but the job itself is very sociable…

Want to know how to get a great marathon time? You’ve got to put in the hours. In a recent study by Strava, the social network for athletes, the results showed that faster marathon runners run further and more frequently when training than slower runners. The study analysed the data of over 4,000 finishers in the 12 weeks running up to the 2015 London Marathon, and found that sub-three-hour runners ran an average of 42 miles per week over seven runs, while the five hour plus finishers ran an average of 14 miles per week over two runs.…

SWEET LIKE CHOCOLATE Think chocolate undermines your training? Think again. According to a study from Kingston University, dark chocolate may boost cardiovascular performance. It contains a substance called epicatechin, which increases nitric oxide production in the body. This dilates blood vessels and reduces oxygen consumption, so you go further for longer. It’s so effective that dark chocolate-fuelled cyclists used less oxygen when riding at a moderate pace and covered more distance in a two-minute time trial. Go chocoholics! THE SECRET'S OUT! Wish you had endless amounts of motivation? Don’t we all! But there is a way to look forward to your next exercise session – treat yourself to a fitness subscription gift box. Gym Secrets is the latest subscription box service for active women. Think: beauty box for fitness fans.…