Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2024 i Women's Fitness

Hello again! As I return to the editor’s seat of this wonderful magazine, the juggle is real. But somewhere between school runs, sports clubs (the kids’, not mine), homework (again, the kids’, not mine), training sessions (the husband’s, not mine), expressing milk, making meals, bath times, bedtimes and – phew – late-night working, I still like to find time to exercise. Why? Because it makes me a better mum, a better wife and an all-round happier person. Yet, there were definitely times in the past six months when I thought my workouts had fallen so far down the list that they were barely on it anymore; I thought maybe my days of regular activity were gone. And then on one sunny day in August, while trying to fit in a,…

EVA NORLYK SMITH Eva is an expert yoga teacher and co-founder of YogaUOnline. The wellness experts at YogaUOnline are passionate about making the healing benefits of yoga available to everybody. Find out more at yogauonline.com ‘Try a few variations until you find a version of the pose that is comfortable for you’ Q: I really struggle with downward dog in yoga. Are there any ways to make it easier? A: There are various reasons as to why people struggle with this pose. Downward dog calls for substantial hamstring flexibility to extend the legs and move the heels towards the ground. Also, if you have tight shoulders, achieving the right alignment and depth in downward dog can be tricky. In addition, the pose requires a fair bit of upper body strength,…

After an early start, a long-haul flight and a rather bumpy connecting flight into the mountains, I was relieved to finally touch down in Aspen, Colorado. The sun was shining as we stepped off the plane and into the quaint little airport – complete with carved wooden bears holding welcome signs – before heading to downtown Aspen, just three miles away. ARRIVING IN ASPEN As the historic mountain town came into view, I immediately fell in love with the perfectly cosy and authentic small-town vibe it radiated. While Aspen is often pictured alongside snow, there was something about the infinitely bright sunshine that made the town come alive. We checked into the most luxurious hotel I’ve ever set foot in, The Little Nell (thelittlenell.com), before setting off on a guided…

As the old adage goes, failing to plan is planning to fail, but ‘meal prepping’ isn’t a faddy trend – it’s long been a popular way for those wanting to simplify and prepare healthy, balanced meals on a budget and to a busy schedule. Sure, planning and cooking your meals for the week ahead can sound pretty daunting, but the benefits are off-the-scale. Imagine opening your fridge after a long day and seeing an array of neatly packed containers filled with macro-friendly deliciousness just waiting to be devoured. There’s no need for a takeaway, no need for any chopping, and no need to decide what you’re going to eat – it’s all there waiting for you. Sound good? Here, our experts share their top tips on how to plan your…

I’ve always been active and went to a performing arts school from the age of 11. I got to dance every day, doing ballet, tap and modern jazz, and I feel like my body still has muscle memory from that time. Dance is my absolute favourite form of fitness, and I wish I could still dance every day like I used to, but finding the time is hard. I did join a brilliant Zumba class close to where I live for a while, which was very fast-paced and hard to keep up with. It had so much community spirit, and there were people of all ages and backgrounds, which I loved. I really didn’t do any kind of fitness during my pregnancy. I just wanted to rest, especially as I…

What’s your exercise history? ‘It’s funny, because I’d say fitness has only become a part of my life in my early 50s. Even though I did ballet as a child and took part in physical reality TV shows such as The Jump and Dancing on Ice, I disowned the sporty, athletic part of me somewhere along the line. It was only when a friend pointed out that I’d always enjoyed taking on physical challenges, such as skydiving and trekking, that I realised I do enjoy being active – I just never acknowledged it before’. Why did you take part in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins? ‘Because I wanted the physical challenge of doing something I never thought I could do. Naturally, I struggled, because I’m only 5’2”, and my bergen…

STAR LETTER ‘DAVINA MOTIVATED ME TO WORK HARDER’ ‘I enjoyed your January front page cover star Davina McCall's feature, “I don't train for my body, I train for my brain”.’ Aged 55, and a mum-of-three, she looks in the shape of her life, after devoting herself to ritualistic daily workouts (and note, these are not your average hour in a local gym). She’s been gracing our screens since the early ’90s, not just for her presenting skills, but her workouts are also hot topics. How she fits exercise into a busy, unpredictable schedule, I just don’t know, but she looks fit and fabulous! I wish to thank her for sharing her fitness and diet secrets with readers. I find her so relatable, and feel she has motivated me to work…

We know that navigating the world of nutrition can be bewildering, with every company marketing their products as being invaluable to health and fitness. That’s why we run these awards: to point you in the right direction and showcase the brands that really are worth your attention. Our expert team of independent nutritionists has trialled dozens of products, testing each one for nutritional merit, quality of ingredients and performance benefits. Here are their winners… GENERAL HEALTH Meet the tester Louise Pyne is an experienced freelance health writer and registered nutritionist at Nutrable, a personalised corporate nutrition service (nutrable.com). She takes a holistic view on wellness and believes in treating the cause rather than the symptoms of health conditions. Find out more at louisepynenutrition.com and follow her online at instagram.com/loulou_nutrition Collagen…

Skin Diligent The Bi-Phase Duo (£104, skindiligent.com) This science-backed brand is the only one in the UK to be fully endocrine-tested, in that all products have been tested to be free of any oestrogen/endocrine disruption, meaning they’re safe to use during pregnancy and when breastfeeding. The range is made to span all ages, whether you’ve got acne-prone skin, dry skin, stressed skin or are showing signs of ageing, but we love the Bi-Phase Duo complementary set of Vitamin C Serum in Oil and Cellular Hydration Serum (pictured, left). Antioxidant and hydrating, the Vitamin C Serum has an oil consistency that feels like a shot of nourishment for the skin, while the Cellular Hydration Serum has a gel-like texture that brightened our sleep-deprived complexion and made us feel that little bit…

Made for life Looking for luxurious gym wear that seamlessly blends substance, sustainability and serious style credentials? Look no further than KOMI: the modern activewear brand specialising in slow fashion for the active woman. Designed and made in London with love, every piece – from the asymmetric crop tops and squat-proof leggings, to the streamlined all-in-ones – is designed to lift, shape and emphasise your best features, while being comfortable and stylish enough to wear all day – even when you ‘accidentally’ miss that workout session. Created for those of us who put gym kit at the heart of our wardrobes. Prices start from £54; komistudios.com TRY THIS… Pliability runners app Mobility and recovery app Pliability (pliability.com) has expanded its ever-growing offering by launching its highly requested Running Hub. Designed…

Want to put a bit more power into your push-ups? There’s no doubt about it, there’s something very satisfying about building upper-body strength; something that goes beyond seeing sleek shoulders and toned triceps in the mirror. It’s the ease at which you can carry your children when there’s no-one around to help, or lug multiple shopping bags across the large car park, or perhaps do both things at the same time! Even if you just want to (finally!) get the lid off that pesky jam jar, you’re unlikely to regret training your upper-body muscles. And then there are the physiological pay-offs, too – stronger bones, a swifter metabolism, a healthier heart… this is certainly a workout you don’t want to miss off your training list. But what muscles should you…

New Balance Impact Run Luminous Heat Tight £80, newbalance.co.uk When it comes to running leggings, handy pockets can make a world of difference to how useful they are. Pockets not only provide convenient storage for essentials such as keys, cards or a phone, but also free up your hands – no more cold fingers for those (like me) who hold their phone on the run! I like storing my phone in a pocket on the side of the leg, and the easy-access, drop-in pockets on these leggings were the right size and position for holding my phone. Better yet, they also had a zipped back pocket the perfect size for my spare key and some cash. Not once did I feel bogged down! These tights are also ideal for the…

Wombat & Co Koala Babywearing Parka (£269.90, mountainwarehouse.com) Offering the option to wear baby both on your front and on your back – as well as being suitable for pregnancy and solo use – this coat is quite simply amazing. Waterrepellent and water-resistant, it was the most weather-proof on trial, with our tester reporting that it was highly waterproof in downpours, and so (so!) cosy when freezing cold – no surprises there, given that it’s been tested to a pretty fresh -20oC! With a simple pull of the two zips, you can easily use it whether baby is facing in or out of the sling, and the puffy, lined hood was a big hit with Mum. We really liked the weight of it, too, being very warm without being too…