Women's Fitness December 2021

As I write this, the day is starting to draw in and it will be so dark for my 6am start tomorrow that it’ll feel more like the middle of the night. I experience the cold-weather months every year and yet, when they arrive, they always take me (and my motivation) by surprise! Perhaps it’s the same for you – as the days shorten and the temperature drops, maybe the call of the couch is stronger than your inclination to exercise. It’s certainly not unusual for workout motivation to dip during the drearier months, but moving more can have a positive impact on mood and mind at a time when the winter blues is rife. That’s why, in this issue, we’re exploring the best ways to move to support mental…

Nicki Petitt Nicki is an online fitness coach and workout writer. She brings energy via Zoom Room, which will challenge your body and create a stronger mindset. Find out more @nickipetitt Eve Boggenpoel Eve is a holistic healer, yoga teacher and author. Her work is grounded in a deep appreciation of inner stillness as a pathway to transformation. @eveboggenpoel Joanna Ebsworth A qualified Level 3 PT and fitness instructor, Jo has been combining her love of exercise and writing for 15 years, and is keen to inspire others to be active. @joglows Louise Pyne Louise is a qualified nutritionist and freelance health writer.›She specialises in women’s health and wellness, as well as children’s health.louisepynenutrition.com Christine Bailey Christine is a performance nutritionist, chef, author and keen runner. She runs online programmes…

STAR LETTER HEALTH AHEAD I couldn’t agree more with your November cover model, Joey Bull, in her interview feature ‘How you move can either age you or bring a presence’. Four-times fitness champion Joey knows what she is talking about! With the right mind-set, plus by keeping active with the right support and a little luck, we can keep fit and well into our later years. It’s strange that we invest in our financial pensions but we don’t invest in our physical selves. I’m in my early forties and will be making sure I do so in the future. I know that a reduction in our ability to keep moving can have a profound knock-on effect on the rest of our health, too! To lower heart disease risk, for example,…

Time to shine Inject some sparkle into your workouts with the new Glow collection from L’Couture (uk.lcouture.com). Available in iridescent Tahitian Blue and Stormy Grey, the Glow Bra, £75, features removable cups and careful cut-outs while the Glow High Waist Leggings, £69, are squat-proof and adapt to your every move. Dazzling! DO THIS… Explore The Outdoors The free Komoot app (komoot.com) is the ultimate tool for discovering the best outdoor adventures in the UK. Komoot has ready-built routes for hiking, mountain biking, road cycling and bike touring that can be filtered by distance, difficulty and transport links to reveal all of nature’s best-kept secrets, whether it’s a mountain range away or on your own doorstep. Features include turn-by-turn voice navigation, offline maps to keep you on track when you can’t…

CYBEX Zeno When you’ve got a baby on board, it can be difficult to find the time to run… then you discover buggy running with this stylish stroller. A great way to enjoy activity together, the Zeno is suitable from six months (when used at a normal walking pace) to around four years of age and can be used for walking, running, cycling and even cross-country skiing. Lightweight and smooth on the paths, the Zeno is a game-changer on the running buggy scene, thanks to its ‘hands-free’ design for which you use a harness to pull the buggy, leaving your arms free to move naturally. Plus, it comes in a range of modern-day colours. The Zeno is available to buy alone or with sports attachments as a package. From £739.90;…

What inspired you to become a trainer? ‘It all started when I was 16 and my father was diagnosed with terminal cancer. I took care of him every day until his untimely passing. Shortly after, I realised I wanted to continue to take care of others. I attended college as a pre-med student and was on track for medical school when a colleague saw the potential in me as a personal trainer and encouraged me to get certified. I soon started my own personal training business as a way to help pay for college. After I graduated, I travelled to France with a friend and was swept off my feet by a Frenchman. I moved to France, got married and started a family.›While there, I was able to maintain my…