Women's Fitness October 2014

Are you back from holiday, fired up to get your fittest ever? Or have you fallen off the fitness wagon after a summer of socialising? Whatever the case, now’s the perfect time to shake things up and find your fitness mojo. A great way to boost your body is to try a new sport. It’s a trick even athletes use, as Olympic volleyball player Zara Dampney reveals in ‘Profile’ (page 122). The amazing athlete recently completed a swimming programme with Speedo to improve her fitness. ‘Swimming has really boosted my metabolism,’ she told us. ‘If you mix things up, it keeps it interesting and your body changes.’ Be inspired by the results in this month’s fashion story, ‘The power edit’ (page 76), modelled by Zara. For more, exclusive, athlete training…

STAR LETTER THE GREAT OUTDOORS I usually begin my day with a 5-10km run without really pushing myself. However, this morning while flicking through H&F, I was inspired by your ‘Garden Bootcamp’ article. I set off to the local park to try the workout. What a difference! I feel energised and worked muscles I don’t usually use. The high-intensity, short bursts of activity helped me push myself harder and I’m sure will help increase my fitness if I do it regularly. I did attract a few funny looks from dog walkers and morning commuters, but I convinced myself they were just in awe of my sporting prowess! Louise Muir, via email WASHING DEBATE Thank you for your article ‘Getting Dirty’ in the August issue. I was brought up by my…

‘A body’s made in the kitchen, not in the gym’ – Cara Morris ‘Run like Ryan Gosling’s waiting for you at the finish line!’ – Siobhan Gordon ‘A friend told me to try reverse shampooing – ie condition your hair before you shampoo it. It’s given my hair way more volume!’ – Jessica Kate Bernard ‘Don’t rub your wrists when your spray perfume on them, it rubs off the top notes’ – Sophie White ‘New gym kit can boost your confidence and energy and make you feel more like working out. Yay – get shopping!’ – Elsa Snowden…

This month Louise wins this pair of Brooks Ghost 7 trainers, worth £110, and Moving Comfort Juno bra, £37. The Ghost 7’s a triple treat of balance, cushioning and comfort, allowing you to enjoy a longer run or simply sprint, while this gravity-defying bra offers no-bounce support, wicking and front adjustability for fuller cups. For more information, visit brooksrunning.co.uk and movingcomfort.eu* TALK TO US! We love hearing from you. Email letters@iris-uk.com, Facebook facebook.com/HandFmagazine, Twitter @HandFmagazine. Write to H&F magazine, Iris Publishing, 10th Floor, Marble Arch Tower, 55 Bryanston St, London W1H 7AJ…

1 HAVE AN ADVENTURE! Fancy running, hiking, cycling and kayaking some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery? The Helly Hansen Killarney Adventure Race, on October 4 in Ireland, could be the perfect challenge for you! Registration starts at £48 per person for a two to four person relay team, and includes a Helly Hansen baselayer, a post-race party and a goodie bag. Routes go from a non-scary 27km to a tougher 70km. Sign up at killarneyadventurerace.ie. 2 GET A GLOW The latest in 5km runs? Glow in the Park! Release your inner raver and get dressed in your brightest gear for the event that will have you covered in UV glow paint and running through different glow zones! Entry costs from £20 for a group of four; see…

If your workout makes you smile, you’re doing the right thing! Fun forms of exercise, such as skipping, playing Frisbee or tug-of-war, burn oodles of calories and, say new findings, are less likely to trigger a post-workout food binge. Researchers from the University of Cornell in the US studied two groups of walkers – one listened to music; the other focused on walking. Those who focused on the exertion ate a whopping 42 per cent more chocolate pudding after exercise. What gives? The experts claim people on an exercise plan often gain weight because they reward themselves by overeating post-workout. Time to find an activity you love!…