Women's Fitness March 2025

There’s an oft-used saying that ‘you can’t outrun a bad diet’ or – as I like to put it – an active lifestyle shouldn’t replace a good diet nor should a good diet replace an active lifestyle, they must go together. This is something I’ve become more acutely aware of as I’ve gotten older: I don’t ‘bounce back’ from hard exercise like I used to and I really notice when I’ve not been eating a balanced diet because my recovery period lasts longer. It’s not fun. Perhaps you’ve noticed it, too, in which case you’re in good hands with this issue of Women’s Fitness. On top of our normal mix of the latest food and drink products to support your fitness goals, we’ve spoken to the experts about how to…

BAM Cocoon Fleece Gilet (£85, bambooclothing.co.uk) Long, warm and snuggly, this is the perfect layer for early springtime hikes. The Organic Protein Company Cookies & Cream Whey Powder (£28, theorganicproteincompany.co.uk) I love this new indulgent flavour from one of my favourite whey brands. It uses real-food ingredients and is yum! Mizuno Neo Zen (£130, mizuno.com) With the bounciest midsole foam I’ve come across, these road runners are quite simply awesome.…

Eve Boggenpoel Eve has a background in yoga, meditation and homeopathy. She is passionate about helping people find and live their authentic selves, and is happiest swimming, being in nature and spending time with loved ones. @eveboggenpoel Emma Simarro Emma is a personal trainer and women’s health coach who specialises in supporting women through the menopause. She loves helping women enhance their body confidence through strength training and holistic health approaches. @emmasimarropt Lily Smith Lily is a health and wellness writer and qualified yoga teacher, specialising in prenatal and postnatal yoga. She loves helping people feel more grounded and present, both on and off the mat. @lilythewordsmith Lucy Miller Lucy is a fitness journalist, ex-national gymnast and qualified Level 3 PT. She is also a nutritionist and life coach who…

You’re covered Gymshark has launched a new modest activewear range with Muslim fitness content creator Leana Deeb. Designed to empower women who dress modestly to embrace fitness and fashion without compromise, the collection follows research by Gymshark that found 84 per cent of 13,147 respondents reported challenges in finding modest gym clothing that met their needs, with 78 per cent resorting to shopping in the men’s section for better options. Pieces in the gym-ready, street-inspired range include oversized t-shirts and hoodies, jackets, joggers, tunics and a hybrid wrap hijab made from lightweight performance materials to ensure supreme comfort and a secure fit. Prices start from £25, gymshark.com BUY THIS... Hot to trot Whether you’re hitting the slopes or hiking in chilly temperatures, YETI Rambler 12oz Bottle with Hotshot Cap (£25,…

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’ve heard that you should eat protein within 45-minutes of exercising to help your muscles recover and grow. Is this true? Also, can I just eat a quick protein bar or do I need to make a larger protein-rich meal? A The idea that you must consume protein within 45 minutes of finishing exercising is known as the anabolic window: the post-workout period often considered the most critical part of nutrient timing, which is suggested to be the optimal time to enhance muscular gains and recovery through nutrition. This time has been somewhat overstated. Yes, protein after exercise helps. Consuming protein after you finish your workout does support…

When Women’s Fitness last interviewed Sarah Jayne Dunn back in 2019, it was to catch up on the results of her strength training journey with Ultimate Performance (UP; ultimateperformance.com). Using UP’s LiveUP online coaching platform, she’d just completed one of the personal training specialist’s famous 12-week Transformation Programmes – a second for Dunn, since she had also finished one of the programmes in 2018 to get in shape for her nuptials after the birth of her son Stanley 18 months earlier – and she was feeling stronger, healthier and happier than ever. Much has changed for the actress in the five years since we last spoke, including a well-publicised career shift that sparked a media frenzy after her Hollyoaks bosses issued her an ultimatum in 2021: to delete her newly…