Add in a ‘half rep’ between reps. Once you get to the bottom of a squat, come up halfway then squat again before coming up. This will keep you in the part of the squat where you are weakest for longer, working your muscles harder.
Circuit training A series of strength and cardio moves to blast maximum calories and fat. As you progress, you will be able to repeat the circuit two or three times through with no, or little, rest.
Dark green leaves They have a great strong flavour as well as boosting dopamine – the ‘happy hormone’ in our brain. Apples, berries and bananas All of these contain the antioxidant quercetin, believed to help the brain prevent dopamine loss. Eggs Rich in filling protein, they also contain the amino acids that help stimulate dopamine […]
Press up with a medicine ball under one of your hands. This will help target the chest muscles more and make you work harder. Roll the ball from side to side and aim for 15 push-ups (or as close as you can get!).
Compound exercises Moves that use more than one joint or muscle group at the same time, giving you more fitness benefits in less time. Good examples include squats, lunges and calf raises. They can be done with or without free weights, such as dumbbells.
30 the number of minutes it takes to go from a sugar rush to a full on sugar crash. This sugar spike and crash makes you crave more, leading to a very sweet but vicious cycle. 6 the maximum number of teaspoons of table sugar we should consume per day. Watch out for hidden added […]
Lift your legs up, keeping your knees bent (to protect your back) so they form right angles. This will make your abs work harder when you perform your crunches.
Here’s how to kill off unhealthy cravings whenever they hit… Problem – late evenings. Even though we’ve eaten dinner and we aren’t really hungry, many of us still snack. The trigger is often boredom or stress, but another reason may be that you haven’t eaten enough during the day. Solution – eat regular meals. Sensible […]
Raise one leg 10cm off the floor and hold it there for 30 seconds – this tests your balance and works your abs harder. Swap legs and repeat for a further 30 seconds. Try 3 sets of these or as many as you can manage.
Sugar increases our risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer. New guidelines advise cutting our intake to 6 teaspoons a day (25-30g). A can of fizzy drink contains about 9 teaspoons! And, while sugars are found naturally in fruits, veg and milk, it’s the added sugars – sucrose, syrups, fructose and fructose corn syrup – […]