Women's Fitness January 2025

Hello, 2025! It’s time for a new year – 365 days of opportunity to work towards a goal that will leave you feeling accomplished, whether that’s to practise meditation daily or to run a marathon. As I sit down to write this issue’s Ed’s Letter, it’s not yet January, but already, I have put a plan in place for the year ahead. It’s not my normal ‘train hard, race hard’ programme, but a slow-burn periodised plan that will strip things back to the core. This will be the year that I work hard on moving efficiently, rather than at all costs. It’s not so much a ‘new year, new me’ strategy as a ‘year older, little wiser’ one. What’s your goal for 2025? If you’ve yet to decide, don’t rush.…

STAR LETTER ‘IT’S IMPORTANT TO LET YOURSELF REST – PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY’ ‘I enjoyed reading I feel mentally stronger than ever (December issue), about Lucy Charles-Barclay. I remember when she became the 2023 World Ironman champion and the 2021 World Champion in the 70.3 discipline, amongst other triumphs. I found her words inspiring, and learned a lot from her advice, such as knowing your body and its limits, and to try to detect things early in training before they become something big. My brother ran the London Marathon this year while injured, and it has set him back a long way in his fitness regime. He never should have run, but he didn’t want to let his sponsors down. I see now that it is important to let yourself recuperate…

TRENDS SPECIAL Fashion forward Update your workout wardrobe this January with pieces from Under Armour’s new Unstoppable Collection, designed for modern athletes who demand both substance and style. Blending cutting-edge technology with sleek, versatile designs that seamlessly transition from high-intensity workouts to everyday life, you’ll find everything from water-repellent yet breathable joggers and jackets to performance-ready leggings and supportive sneakers, including the UA HOVR Apparition Shoes (£120, seen here), providing responsive comfort to reduce impact and propel you forward. Underarmour.co.uk HOT RIGHT NOW Passion project Padel, a hybrid of tennis and squash known as ‘The Happiest Sport’, has seen explosive global growth thanks to its accessibility, fast pace and social nature. And the UK has embraced the trend, with more than 450 courts now open, representing a 600 per cent…

SARAH CAMPUS Campus is a highly qualified women’s PT, Nutrition Coach, mum of three and founder of LDN MUMS FITNESS (ldnmumsfitness.com). Q I had a baby three months’ ago and I’m looking to gradually start rebuilding some strength from home. Do you have any advice on getting started with postpartum bodyweight workouts? A When returning to exercise after giving birth, it’s advised to wait six weeks after a vaginal birth and 10-12 weeks after a caesarean, as long as you have had clearance from your healthcare professional. You can start your pelvic floor exercises as soon as you feel comfortable to after giving birth. Once you’ve had the all clear, get your abdominals checked as well, to ensure you don’t have diastasis recti, also known as ab separation. Remember to…

If you’re seeking fitspiration of the highest order to help you smash your health and fitness goals in 2025, look no further than international fitness presenter and celebrity trainer Faye Edwards. A powerhouse of positivity, the exercise icon has been putting the fun into fitness for more than 12 years, during a career that has seen her host workouts, fitness events, educational masterclasses and wellbeing retreats all over the world. And it’s her special blend of motivational movement for all abilities that has helped her attract a multitude of loyal fans, including Dame Kelly Holmes and Davina McCall – with the latter hailing Faye as a ‘positive, energetic ray of sunshine’ (you might even recognise Faye from a viral video where she got Davina enthusiastically twerking during one of her…

If more strength, better mobility and great muscular endurance are on your workout wishlist this year, let us introduce you to high-intensity functional training (HIFT). Blending the modalities of high-intensity interval training (aka HIIT, or short bouts of intense movements teamed with brief rest periods) and functional exercises (those that mimic natural moves such as squats or lunges), HIFT has come to the fore as an incredibly popular workout method. And it’s no surprise, given that the prestigious American College of Sports Medicine ranks both HIIT (number 6) and functional fitness (number 9) in its list of top 10 fitness trends for 2025. Here’s why it could be a gamechanger for your workout routine: a high-intensity functional workout goes beyond building muscle and burning fat, it enhances your ability to…