Women's Fitness May 2023

‘I grew up with a keen cyclist in the house: my mum. She pedalled her Raleigh road bike everywhere – from popping to the local shops, to across counties for fun – and I don’t think she’ll mind me saying it made her a bit unusual, because women’s road cycling wasn’t as popular then as it is now. I started cycling on that same bike during my teens, then later destroyed it in a group ride pile-up (sorry, Mum). My first date with my husband was on a bike, and years later, we got engaged while riding the Fred Whitton Round. I’ve been on bike tours with friends and family and, these days, I just love watching my children discover the same passion for cycling. It’s such an inclusive sport,…

Suzanne Baum Suzanne is a celebrity interviewer and lifestyle editor. She has written on fitness and wellbeing for over two decades and also reviews beauty products. @suzanne_baum Eve Boggenpoel Eve is a yoga teacher, counsellor 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 Lucy Miller Lucy is an ex-national gymnast and qualified PT. She is also a nutritionist and life coach who loves nothing more than to go for a run or do a gym session. @lucycmiller Christine Bailey Christine is a performance nutritionist, chef, author…

STAR LETTER WORKOUT WARDROBE I enjoyed reading your article on Laura Whitmore, ‘Being outdoors gives me headspace’ (March issue), and I especially liked the outfits she was wearing in the photos as they were such cheerful colours! After reading about her collaboration with Dare2b, I decided to check out the website and bought both leggings and the lightweight tee, and was very impressed with how soft the outfit feels. Plus, I liked that the top had 40+ sun protection, and the bonus of the leggings is that they’re squat proof. They definitely feel top quality and I have now been converted! Thanks. Verity Froud Verity wins a bundle of bath salts, worth more than £50, from leading brand Westlab. Perfect for post-workout recovery, the bundle includes: a bag of Recover…

Ahoy, there! Designed for coastal walks, seaside strolls and jolly jaunts in the great outdoors, the new summer collection of cover-ups from Regatta x Giovanna Fletcher has everything you need to enjoy the unpredictable British weather. Heavily inspired by nautical trends, the eight-piece range features waterproof yet breathable jackets and macs built for surprise downpours, as well as transitional layers such as this water-repellent Carmine Gillet, £70, which boasts quick-drying Thermoguard insulation to keep you outside for longer. See the full collection at regatta.com GET THIS… Fresh kicks Ever wanted your trainers to stay hygienically fresh, clean and free of sweat and odours? Then look no further than the innovative 3-in-1 Shoe Freshener, £55, from Margaret Dabbs London (margaretdabbs.co.uk). This highly efficacious device uses Ozone Technology – a powerful and…

You don’t need any dancing skills to keep in step with Helen Skelton. For her bubbly personality and endless energy is so infectious, it’s difficult not to catch up. And it comes as no surprise that, for someone who walks and talks (a lot), she is most certainly the cream of the crop, both on and off the television. From her BBC 5Live radio show and stint on Strictly Come Dancing, to being a mum-of-three and avid adventurer, Skelton seems to take everything in her stride. And that is all down to what she describes as having a good family support around her and being happy in her career – one that has made her such a well-known and much loved household name. Skelton started her presenting career at Newsround…

Q What strength exercises might benefit cyclists? Joey Bull says: ‘It would be easy to dismiss work done off the bike as less important than that done on it, but strength and conditioning complement the power and gains a cyclist seeks. We might lose a little leg speed with age but we can keep improving muscle density to compensate. Try lunges with one foot elevated behind, then with the foot elevated in front for extra range of movement and resistance. ‘Cycling coach Steve Cronshaw says it is essential the cyclist has a series of “dynamic movement screens”, meaning they check for dysfunctional movement patterns and imbalances in posture, flexibility and strength. So, working on upper body mobility, hips and core is key. The latter improves pedalling efficiency, stops excessive…