Women's Fitness October 2018

How does your diet rate out of 10? A superfood-fuelled nine? A gluten-free eight? According to recent Government figures, it may be less healthy than you think. Despite the Nation’s obsession with diets, over a quarter of UK women are short of iron and 90 per cent are lacking folic acid; we’re eating twice the sugar we should, half the fibre, below the recommended omega 3s and only averaging four of our five-a-day fruit and veg. Not good! In this month’s healthy-eating special (page 56), we go back to basics and share the easy, science-backed steps you need to cover all nutrition bases (see ‘7 hacks to improve your diet today’, page 58); and make healthy eating fun and affordable (see ‘Eat Healthy, Save Money!’ page, 60). Get inspired by…

STAR LETTER WATER WORKS I was grateful for your article ‘Make Waves’ (September issue), which described different ways to work out in the summer. My friends and I are off to Cornwall soon and it’s an ideal place to try surfing for the first time. I was also interested in float fit and aqua running and, although I’ve seen photos of people doing stand-up paddle boarding, I didn’t think of it as a workout. I now know it is! I realise there are tons of exciting things you can do in the water if you’re near a lake, pool or river, so I’ll be slipping on my wetsuit to have fun getting fit in the water. I can’t wait! Maddie Drury, Greater Manchester CLOCKING EXERCISE Your brilliant feature ‘Reset Your…

This month’s star letter winner Maddie wins these superb new Bollé B-Rock cycling sunglasses worth £155. They offer great vision, thanks to the wide horizontal and vertical fields of vision with superb airflow and an anti-fog treatment, plus the impact-resistant NXT® B-Clear lenses give unparalleled optical quality and lightness and repel water and grease, making them easier to keep clean. Grippy arms and adjustable nosepads help you get a secure, comfortable fit. Need prescription lenses? No problem. You can also get them with light-reactive photochromic lenses, so you have all your needs covered. For more information, visit bolle.com.…

‘Yes, I’m going to try out the new barre class near my work. I like the idea that the postures are inspired by ballet and other disciplines such as yoga and Pilates.’ Hazel Brooke, Edinburgh ‘I’ve just heard of jump-rope classes, which I’m told is a fun, fast-paced way to condition my body while also working my brain through tricks and agility patterns.’ Sue Murray, London ‘I’m going to hire a personal trainer to get me fit for my ski holiday. I need the extra motivation that comes from the one-on-one attention!’ Fiona Reid, Cardiff…

1 THINK PINK As you may be aware, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and charity Breast Cancer Now’s popular fundraising event Wear it Pink Friday (on October 19) is now in its 17th year. Why not hold a pink-themed event in your workplace, school or community and help the charity achieve its aim that by 2050, everyone who gets the disease will live, and live well? Go to wearitpink.org to find out more and register for your free fundraising pack. 2 GLAMP IN THE ARCTIC CIRCLE We love a wilderness holiday, and you don’t get a lot more get-away-from-it-all than the Arctic Circle, so we’re sorely tempted by Off the Map Travel’s new glamping experience on the Lofoten Islands, Northern Norway. You’ll sleep in an indigenous Sami tepee next…

‘I rise at 7am, shower, dress and take vitamins B12, D3, a B complex and magnesium and selenium in liquid form. I have them on an empty stomach as I don’t like eating breakfast. I think it’s healthier for the digestive system to have a longer overnight fast. Then I sit and write for two hours, when my brain feels sharpest. I’m working on my second book, the follow-up to Reboot Your Health, which is my guide to all the simple, free tests you can do or take to establish your health baseline, then work on rebalancing your body – a home-health toolbox. ‘I live in Chelsea, London and, at around 9am, I take a break and walk to Juice Baby on the King’s Road for an organic green juice.…