Women's Fitness August 2015

There’s nothing like new fitness kit to boost your workout mojo. And, right now, we’re spoilt for choice, thanks to the huge revolution in sports fashion. Not a day goes by at H&F without us hearing of a new boutique label offering sleek gym-to-street style or a cutting-edge innovation from a top sportswear brand. But have you ever thought about how your favourite leggings or sports shoes were created? This month, in ‘Behind the Lines’ (page 70), we go behind the scenes to reveal the hours of trend tracking, design brainstorming and athlete testing involved. Discover how Jessica Ennis inspires Adidas’ womenswear, how Kate Hudson designs her Fabletics range and Bear Grylls test drives his Craghoppers outdoor range. For more insider secrets, turn to ‘Get an A-list Body’ (page 60)…

STAR LETTER EXTREME CHALLENGES What an amazing woman Eve Hazelton is with her Success Story ‘I’ve worn fancy dress every day for a year to raise cancer awareness’ in your Summer issue. She is such a selfless human being, doing everything she can to raise money for breast cancer charities and to raise cancer awareness. I ran up a mountain in Wales every day for a month for charity a few years ago – 1,818 feet to be exact. On two days, the weather was really bad, so I had to run up and down it three times one day! I got a huge sense of achievement once I’d done it. But I admire Eve much more for what she is doing because she’s been doing it for so long.…

This month Leona wins a pair of Brooks Glycerin running shoes, worth £130, and a Moving Comfort UpRise or UpLift Crossback bra, £36. The enhanced 3D Fit Print technology and the Super DNA midsole of the trainer provides superior comfort and fit. Team it with the lightweight, compression/encapsulation sports bra, with cool technology, and you’ll be set for your runs. Visit brooksrunning.com/uk for more information on Brooks and Moving Comfort.…

1 CLIMB A SKYSCRAPER Bored with fun runs? Try the vertical Gherkin Challenge (Sept 6, 2015) for a change. You’ll climb 38 floors of The Gherkin, one of London’s most iconic skyscrapers, and help raise money for the NSPCC while you’re at it. Once you’ve made it to the top (on average, it takes 11 minutes), enjoy the stunning panoramic views with a glass of well-earned Champers or juice! For more information, head to nspcc.org.uk/gherkin. 2 KICK BUTT IN GOOD CLOTHING More traditionally the go-to place for yoga and Pilates kit, activewear brand Wellicious, has expanded its collections, styles and colours for a whole host of activities. Its latest campaign features amateur boxer and new Wellicious ambassador Lisa Moore wearing the opaque Control Bra (£65; wellicious.com ).…

Are you sitting down? You may want to walk while you read this! According to a study in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), two minutes of walking per hour may cancel out the negative effects of sitting for long periods of time. Large amounts of sitting has already been linked to heart disease and diabetes. And it doesn’t matter how much you exercise – high-intensity sessions won’t save you from sitting diseases. Fortunately, regular light activity might. The scientists discovered that two-minute hourly bouts of light exercise (strolling, cleaning, gardening) is linked to a 33 per cent lower risk of dying.…

BREATHE BETTER Calling all asthmatics! Are the seasonal sniffles getting too much for you? Good news – a study in the British Medical Journal has found a natural remedy could help asthmatics tolerate twice as much of asthma triggers such as pollen. According to researchers, aerobic exercise can reduce the severity of asthma symptoms, increasing oxygen intake, opening airways and leaving sufferers less susceptible to asthma attacks. Want to give it a go? Do some indoor walking – on the treadmill or up the stairs – for 30 minutes twice a week then move on to more vigorous forms of cardio activity. CELEBRITY QUOTE ‘I try to work out five days a week. It’s a lot, but I feel great when I do it.’ Khloe Kardashian We love... WATER POWER…