Women's Fitness July 2017

Hands up who’s in workout-overdrive to shape up for the holidays? There’s nothing like a deadline to get you into action. But are you seeing results? When time is of the essence, you need workouts that really work, and this issue is packed with them. Save hours in the gym and tone up in just four, killer moves in ‘10-minute tone up’ (page 22). Burn calories in your lunch hour with the speedy workout solutions in ‘Upgrade your lunch break’ (page 100), and take your indoor cycle workouts up a gear with the technique tweaks in ‘Supercharge your Spinning’ (page 18). For a real challenge, turn to ‘How I got in shape for Wonder Woman’ (page 56), and try the moves that helped ex-Olympian and fitness model, Jenny Pacey, prepare…

STAR LETTER LOVELY LEGS I noted with interest your 10-minute tone-up feature ‘Lean legs’ in the June issue of Health & Fitness. I’ve always hated my legs. They’re big all over and no matter what I’ve done, I’ve never been able to make them any slimmer. I’ve just incorporated your workout into my daily routine, though. The squats, I have to say, are like nothing I’ve ever done before – I can feel them tightening my legs already! They can also be performed in a very small space, so I can do them anywhere, which is a bonus. It’s early days, but I already feel that if I keep the exercises up, I might be ready to wear shorts this summer – something I haven’t done in a long time.…

1 ATTEND A YOGA FESTIVAL We’re really looking forward to the festival that’s more retreat than wild party. Taking place in Reading from July 7-9, the World Yoga Festival has yoga masters on hand to share their wisdom in classes, from Sivananda to Iyengar, plus there’s Indian dance, chanting, tabla players, yoga therapy and more. Add camping, glamping, wild swimming and global food into the mix and there’s something for everyone; visit yogafestival.world. 2 HOLIDAY IN SARDINIA Can’t sit still on the beach? We’ve found just the place for you – Neilson’s brand new Baia de Mori beachclub on the north-east coast of Sardinia. Set among pine trees by a beautiful turquoise bay and sandy beach, the low-rise, 156-room property exudes a chilled-out vibe. Try your hand at windsurfing, sailing,…

‘Every player has her own individual gym programme’ ‘I’d like to do more TV presenting – at 32 I’m nearing the end of my football career’ ‘I joined Arsenal Ladies football club at the age of eight. I used to play football in my local neighbourhood with my brother and the other boys and that’s when I was spotted. I started training after school, four or five times a week. I didn’t really care about other sports – I used to do the 100m and they tried to get me to do long-distance, but I was having none of it – it was always football for me! ‘Now, I start the day around 7am to walk the dog as it really helps me wake up. As an athlete, I know…

Convinced the oldies sit with their feet up all day? Wrong. A new study of 1,000 under-30s and 1,000 over-50s knocks on the head the notion that age and inactivity go hand in hand, showing that seniors are more active than the younger generation. The research by pensions advisor Portafina found that 18 per cent of over-50s exercise for 30-plus minutes every day, compared with just seven per cent of under-30s. While only 10 per cent of the over-50s were gym members, 33 per cent thought a healthy lifestyle important. In contrast, 18 per cent of the under-30s had a sedentary lifestyle, despite 32 per cent having a gym membership. ‘Many under-30s don’t understand that a history of exercise protects against diseases, such as type 2 diabetes,’ says physiotherapist Cris…

BUILDYOURBONES If it’s aerobic and muscle strength you’re after, playing football is a no-brainer. But did you know that the team sport is a winner when it comes to building bone density, too? And, according to a recent study from Nottingham Trent University, the more footie you play, the greater your bone strength and size. While you may think a lot of high-impact exercise puts extra stress on the body, the data shows that running drills, high-intensity games and technique work is good for bones. In fact, scans showed that players who upped their training developed stronger shinbones. Score! OVER 60% OF WOMEN are nervous about running alone. Join your local RunTogether group; runtogether.co.uk. SAVE OUR OCEANS With top brands such as Superdry, Adidas and Patagonia creating sustainable sportswear, it’s easier…