Women's Fitness February 2019

She’s the PT who celebs, CEOs and royalty rely on for guaranteed results. And now Louise Parker, credited for getting the Duchess of Cambridge back to fitness post-pregnancy, is here to help you shape up for the new year. Forget long, boring workouts and extreme diets. Whether you want to lose festive weight gain or kickstart your fitness, Louise’s speedy, four-week plan will have you feeling great before you know it. Turn to ‘Reshape your body’ (page 98) and get started today! We all need a little balance at this busy time of year, so put aside a day this month to reset your body and mind with our healing, home-retreat plan. Turn to ‘Create your own retreat’ (page 66) and prepare to unwind. Want to stave off winter colds…

STAR LETTER A GOOD BALANCE Your article ‘Active girl’s guide to the festive season’ (January issue) was nicely timed and very motivational. Christmas and New Year are notoriously a time to indulge, but I didn’t want to let it be the green light to overindulge! I realise now that I can still enjoy all the festivities and get through the Christmas period without too much impact on my health and waistline. Your brilliant tips inspired me. It can be a challenge to eat healthily and squeeze in a workout when you have work parties and family gatherings, but it can be done. Lack of time is just a lack of priority. Even during a challenging time of the year, I know how important it is to make my health a…

This month, Daisy wins a £100 voucher to spend at myprotein.com. Myprotein aims to fuel the ambitions of people across the world, ensuring the best in sports nutrition is available to everyone, whatever their goal. The leading sports-nutrition brand delivers a wide range of quality products, including protein powder, vitamins and minerals, snack alternatives and performance clothing. It also has dedicated ranges specifically for women, vegans and pro athletes. For more information, visit myprotein.com.…

1 PARTY ON THE SLOPES! Your winter blues will be firmly banished with a large dose of wintersports, sunshine and fun at snowy festival Snowboxx! Taking place in the French resort of Avoriaz from March 23-30, it’s an explosive mix of skiing, concerts with top names and après-ski. There’s comedy, igloo parties, bottomless brunches and so much more... From £239; snowboxx.com. 2 GO ON AN ADVENTURE BREAK Not a lying on the beach type? We get you. That’s why we’re flagging up Mad to Live breaks. Run by travel-mad surfer and fitness coach Sophie Everard, the 2019 women-only trips will head to Costa Rica, Morocco and France. Enjoy activities such as surfing, horseriding, hiking, climbing, running and yoga, and come away feeling empowered, energised and inspired. The next trip is…

‘As a freelance chef, my days are never the same. I hold supper clubs, cook for wellbeing retreats, run food-inspired workshops at The Garden Museum in London and update my blog (naturalkitchenadventures.com). Today, for example, I nipped out early to go to Borough Market to pick up ingredients for a supper club I’m running tomorrow night. Then on teaching days, I leave the house by 8.30am go to the museum. I’ll have a bowl of porridge before heading out or take some overnight oats with me to eat when I get there. If I have more time for breakfast and have some greens in my fridge, I’ll sauté them to have with scrambled eggs, sourdough toast and a herbal tea. I usually check emails and catch up with social media…

If you’re not a fan of kimchi or kombucha you’re in luck. There are other ways to improve the health of your gut. Last year, scientists discovered exercise can help reduce inflammation and keep your digestive tract healthy by boosting the production of short-chain fatty acids, but now new research suggests that endurance exercise actually changes the composition of your microbiota (gut flora). After following a six-week programme of bicycle endurance training three times a week (and without making any other changes to their diet or lifestyle), participants showed a decrease in proteobacteria – which have the potential to create inflammation – and an increase in akkermansia bacteria, which improve metabolism. Time to go for a Spin?…