Women's Fitness May 2017

Fact: if exercise were a pill, it would be hailed as a wonder drug. From reducing your risk of heart disease and cancer to preventing obesity and lifting depression, the benefits are endless. And here are three extra ones we’ve discovered this month: 1) Hitting the gym can boost your career. It’s no coincidence many high-fliers work as hard in the gym as they do in the office – a strong, healthy body equals a high-performance mind and the confidence you need to succeed. Turn to ‘Why health is the new (way to) wealth’ (page 50), to discover why you should swap after-work drinks for a workout. 2) Working out can improve your love life. Not only does it boost your libido and make you feel more attractive; an intense…

★ STAR LETTER RUN BOOSTERS The article ‘8 surprise endurance superfoods’ (April issue) was compelling. To run my best at long distances, I know I have to eat really well to fuel and nourish my body properly. And, with the help of the eight superfoods you featured to give me an extra boost, there’ll be no stopping me! It’s fascinating to hear the science behind the foods and it makes you think carefully about everything you put in your body, as everything has an effect. These eight power-packed items should be staples in every distance-runner’s diet. The vegetables and fruits are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. There are also lean-protein sources, good sources of healthy fats and, of course, foods packed with the quality carbohydrates our muscles need to…

1 GET MUDDY WITH YOUR DOG Dog lovers unite. The UK’s first obstacle race for you and your four-legged friend is coming to a location near you. Taking place in Nottingham, Windsor, Essex and Kent, the Muddy Dog Challenge lets you run a 2.5K or 5K race alongside your pampered pooch, with a team of mates or on your own. The event, now in its third year, helps raise money for Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Dogs must be one year or older, and participants 18 or over. For more details, visit battersea.org.uk. 2 WALK THE WALK Feel like strutting your stuff ? Don your bra and set off on 20th MoonWalk, taking place on the night of May 13. This year’s theme is the roaring ’20s, so decorate your…

‘We sell eight to ten different sourdoughs daily’ ‘We’ve won Government funding to research how to bring healthy baking to a wider public’ ‘Having two dogs dictates how my day starts. My alarm is always set for 6.45am and the first thing I do is drink a few mugs of hot water to get me going, then go for a brisk dog walk, which I love. I’m not really a breakfast person but, since I had breast cancer in 2010 and switched my diet from refined foods, particularly sugars, I’ve followed a routine of potions including a wheatgrass shot (from livewheatgrass.com) and a glug of aloe vera juice. Black coffee, lots of it, is also a morning must. ‘If time allows, I squeeze in a little run, or some HIIT…

No time for the gym? Go upstairs! Science has shown the health benefits of climbing stairs for relatively long periods – 70 minutes a week – but new research from McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, has found a time-efficient alternative. Scientists conducted two, 10-minute tests, involving a warm-up; a cool-down and either three, 20-second bouts of continuous climbing in an ‘all-out’ manner; or vigorously climbing up and down one flight of stairs for 60 seconds. Participants in both speedy methods saw an increase in cardiorespiratory fitness, an important marker linked to longevity, when they did the drill three times a week. So long, lift!…

PERFECTFIT Dread working out? Join a gym. According to new data from Iowa State University in America, gym goers exercise more than those who aren’t members of a health club. The study found that people who head to a sports centre for their workout clock 300 more minutes of cardio activity and are 10 times more likely to meet muscle-strengthening guidelines (that’s two days of weightlifting per week FYI) than nonmembers. As an added bonus, gym fans also displayed signs of being just as active outside the gym as they are in it. Good work. 57% OF US ARE CONSIDERING A BIKE CHALLENGE IN 2017!* ACE A RACE If you love exercising for a good cause, you’re in luck. Cancer Research UK’s Race for Life events return this summer and…