Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2025 i Women's Fitness

This is a time of year when talk tends to turn to how stressed and busy we all are, and how finding time to work out has become nigh on impossible. Normally, we at WF will then step in and tell you that you do have time to exercise and it doesn’t have to take hours (because it’s true, it doesn’t). So, I could start with that but I won’t. Instead, I’m going to tell you a story... For a long time after I had my third daughter, I struggled with intense fatigue and had dreams that I’d entered a running event I wasn’t fit enough for. I’d get to the start line and running would feel like traipsing through sludge, or I’d move my arms and my legs wouldn’t…

AIMEE VICTORIA LONG Aimee is one of London’s premier fitness experts, trusted by those who seek sustainable, real results. Her unique approach combines Pilates, barre, strength training and HIIT. Visit aimeevictorialong.co.uk Q I really enjoyed exercising during the light summer evenings, but I’m struggling more with energy and motivation now that it’s dark after 5pm. Any tips? A Winter can be tough because shorter days, colder weather and darker evenings naturally affect our motivation and energy. The trick is to make fitness fit you this season, not fight against it. First, switch your workouts to the morning, if possible. Even 15–20 minutes of movement in daylight can boost mood and energy levels. If mornings aren’t your thing, consider indoor workouts you can do at home with minimal equipment – strength…

It’s the question we all want to know the answer to at this time of year: does Christmas shopping count as exercise? Because let’s face it, between present hunting, seasonal parties, nativity performances and food planning, there’s little time for any scheduled exercise. And if we’re being honest, our leg and arm muscles do feel a bit weary after hours spent traipsing around the high street. If this sounds familiar, we’ve got good news, because we’ve put the fun back into exercise with this Christmasshopping inspired workout! ‘Every move connects to the hustle of carrying, reaching and lifting during the holiday season,’ explains personal trainer Sarah Campus. All you need is a set of dumbbells, making this a great workout for when time is tight and you want to exercise…

I have built my career around food, wellness and helping people make better choices, so imagine my shock when I discovered that my own cholesterol was very high. I exercise daily, eat plenty of vegetables and wholegrains, don’t smoke and rarely overdo it on alcohol. By all appearances, I was the picture of health. But cholesterol is a silent risk factor. You can feel great, look fit and still have raised levels ticking away in the background. Mine were high enough to make me stop in my tracks. That was the moment I realised that being fit doesn’t automatically mean being fine. ‘I already eat a varied, balanced diet and am naturally active, but I could see ways to give my heart a little extra support’ WHAT THE NUMBERS MEAN…

Map it out For the walker in your life, the easy-to-use Pocket Mountains guides (£6.99, pocketmountains.com) cover 70 regions across the UK and each feature 40 walks. Stocking filler, sorted. Sole mates Add a playful touch to your workout outfit with Oner Active Heart Crew Socks (£18, uk.oneractive.com). This three-pack features an ombré pair, an embroidered heart and a knitted slogan – the perfect cosy stocking filler this Christmas. Be happy Beat winter blues with a memory of summer with Ted Baker’s Kasia Eau de Toilette (£25, boots.com). Infused with tropical lychee, jasmine, coconut and vanilla, it’s powered by MoodScentz+ technology, proven to enhance feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Lash out Get longer, fuller lashes with Glow For It Lash Focus Mascara (£19.99, glowforitshop.com), which combines black pigment with tripeptides…

Eve Boggenpoel Eve is a qualified yoga teacher, counsellor and homeopath. She is passionate about helping people heal, so they can connect with and live their authentic selves with greater clarity and ease. @eveboggenpoel Lucy Miller Lucy is a fitness journalist, ex-national gymnast and qualified Level 3 PT. She is also a nutritionist and life coach who loves nothing more than to go for a run or to the gym. @lucycmiller_ Aimee Fuller Aimee Fuller is a former Team GB two-time Olympic snowboarder. She is now a broadcaster and author, as well as an avid runner and qualified yogi. Follow her @aimee_fuller Joanna Ebsworth A qualified Level 3 PT and fitness instructor, Jo has been combining her love of exercise and writing for 20 years, and is keen to inspire…

I think the human experience is tough. Nobody gets out unscathed, and we’ve all got to go through some form of unfortunate loss, whether that’s the breakup of a relationship, losing a job or actually losing someone physically from the world. So, thank God I had dancing growing up. It was my best friend, my passion and my outlet to express myself. And then it became my career. It certainly isn’t the case that I’ve always been super confident. A lot of the time, I have this ongoing anxious layer that’s always bubbling under the surface, and dancing helps so much with releasing tension and the storage of trauma in the body. Unfortunately, when I got out of [The Pussycat] Dolls, I wasn’t dancing five days a week, and I…

EARLY DAYS I never wanted to start fighting. Before then, I was a horse rider, but my sister and I used to fight all the time, so my dad signed us both up for kickboxing. I liked it because it always made my dad so proud when I won something, and that drove me to do better and set challenges for myself. Obviously, I got hit hard a few times, but it never put me off. Once I became world champion at 10 and couldn’t win anything else, I tried Muay Thai, MMA and BJJ and won even more titles. It was then that my dad suggested I should try boxing when I was 13, and I like it because there is a clear pathway in terms of competing in…

Packing a punch Made from 100 per cent natural ingredients and nothing artificial, Belvoir Farm’s Festive Edition fizzy drinks are a clear winner if you want an indulgent non-alcoholic tipple this holiday season. We love the Sparkling Clementine & Cranberry (£3.25, Ocado) offering. Gut-loving gift For a healthy Christmas condiment, look no further than Eaten Alive’s Christmas Kraut (£7.50, eatenalive.co.uk). The gut-friendly raw ferment is made with seasonal red cabbage, sprouts, festive spices and dried fruit, and will jazz up many side dishes. Breakfast on-the-go High in protein, full of fibre and made from wholegrain oats, FUEL10K Porridge Pots now come in a seasonal Cinnamon Bun flavour (£1.35, Morrisons). Ready in two-to-three minutes, they’re great to have before those early-morning gym sessions! Butter them up For a nutritious dose of…

If you’ve ever suffered from a severe blister or plantar fasciitis, you’ll know that your feet matter when it comes to sports performance. They’re the foundation for your body during movement; bearing weight, absorbing stress and flexing to different surfaces. The functioning of your feet can impact your injury risk: a relaxed arch can cause the ankle to roll and place stress on the knee or leg, while a collapsed arch has been linked to overuse injuries of the lower limb. So, why do we forget about our feet when it comes to our strength and stretching routines? Perhaps, you’re reading this and realising you should be caring for your feet a bit better. Foot pain is surprisingly common: 2025 research from Deep Freeze reports that a third (33 per…

Turbocharge your recovery Want to improve your sleep and reduce DOMS? Check out Kymira Infrared Sleepwear Henley Long Sleeve Top and Bottoms (£70 each, kymira.com). These clever products convert wasted body heat into infrared light that penetrates 4cm into your muscles to stimulate circulation, reduce soreness, accelerate cell repair and more. In fact, research by the University of Texas reports users experienced a 15.9 per cent improvement in sleep quality, 15.8 per cent reduction in fatigue and a 13.6 per cent reduction in soreness. No wonder they’re a favourite with athletes and – after giving them a try and noticing our post-cycling aches reduced – Women’s Fitness, too! Winter soother If you’re training outside and the colder weather is playing havoc with your skin, reach for Green People Scent-Free Truffle…

After years in the fashion industry battling eating disorders, Chloe rebuilt her life through strength training, therapy and self-love. Now a qualified health, mindset and weight-loss coach (and new mum in March 2026), she’s on a mission to help women feel strong, nourished and empowered from the inside out – whether you’re a mum or not. ‘I know what it feels like to hate the body looking back at you in the mirror,’ says Chloe. ‘After years of struggling with body image and disordered eating, I transformed my own life and now I help other women do the same.’ Whilst there is no such thing as an instant fix, Chloe created this 30-day programme to give women the opportunity to hit reset. ‘In the plan, I explore the powerful connection…

Winter warmer Perfect for biking, climbing and Boxing Day strolling, Artilect’s award-winning Redstone base layer collection delivers next-level performance, whether worn under clothing or as a stand-alone essential. We love the Redstone 185 Long Sleeve Crew and matching Redstone 185 Leggings seen here (both £90, ellis-brigham.com), made from naturally odour-resistant merino wool featuring Nuyarn technology for 85 per cent more stretch, 8.8 times more durability and five times faster drying. The result? Supreme comfort and lasting shape retention adventure after adventure. WEAR THIS... Take cover Sweaty Betty’s latest Outerwear collection, Weather, Whatever, has been designed to keep women moving – not hiding – come rain, snow or hail this winter. Featuring five new designs from parkas and gilets to puffers and sherpa zip-ups, the range also sees the return of…

Winter evenings used to mean wrapping up, staying in and eating popcorn or standing in a bar after getting drenched on the way there, but lately I’ve found a different kind of after-dark ritual: swapping the pub for a sauna with a friend. The woody aroma, the soft lighting, and the comfort of the warmth calling my name, all whilst bracing ourselves for an icy dip to follow, has fast become my version of ‘going out, out’. Well, sometimes life’s a balance, isn’t it? A SOCIAL SWAP It all started innocently during a winter barbecue – and sauna – at a friend’s house on a Sunday. I had, of course, had the occasional post-snowboarding dip in a lake, but that was in the spring. Still, there’s something quite special about…

Chic, ‘boojee’, bohemian, luxurious, laid back… these are a few of the adjectives that came to mind when trying to set a tone for my stay at Neilson’s Adakoy resort in Turkey. Now, for those of you who are hardened Neilson goers (and I’ve married into a family of Neilson aficionados, so I know you’re out there), these are perhaps not the first words that spring to mind when describing a Neilson’s Beach Club resort. Energetic? Yes. Inclusive? Certainly. Sunny? Of course. All-you-can-eat (whisper it) buffet? Absolutely. But ‘boutiquey’? No, this is a Neilson resort first for me as well. And so it should be. Set on a beautiful peninsula near Marmaris in Turkey, Neilson | Cook’s Club Adakoy is the result of a unique collaboration with Cook’s Club that…

Menopause is a natural and inevitable transition for women, but it can also be unpredictable. Whether it’s sudden hot flashes, sleepless nights, mood swings or the appearance of stubborn belly fat, these changes can leave women feeling out of control. While the range of symptoms can be extensive, do not underestimate the positive impact that diet and lifestyle can have in helping you feel vibrant during this transition. It’s the decline in hormones (particularly oestrogen) that results in the widespread changes affecting everything from your metabolism and mood to your bone and heart health. As your body adapts, your nutritional needs change too, making this the perfect time to adjust your approach to food. Upping your protein intake is crucial for preserving muscle and bone strength, especially when combined with…

If you’ve ever had your Sunday rest plans derailed after scrolling though #NoDaysOff posts, you’re part of a growing tribe of women feeling the pressure to perform – in and out of the gym. When you’re training regularly while juggling work, family, domestic and social commitments, it’s easy for self-criticism to creep in if you skip a workout or take time to relax. And with the festive season approaching, the demands on our time only multiply. So why do we put rest and recovery at the bottom of our to-do list, and how can we reframe rest so that our training – and our lives – feel more sustainable and enjoyable? ‘As a clinical neuropsychologist, CEO and mom of three, I often see patients, colleagues and, frankly, myself, feeling guilty…