You may think it’ll be motivational, and allow you to keep tabs on whether your workouts and nutrition are working for you, but if fat loss is your goal, then weighing yourself could be counter-intuitive. The number on the scales may plateau, and even rise. That’s because muscle is a much denser tissue. If you […]
Balance Choosing healthy can be confusing, with the jungle voices and advice on offer. My definition of eating well is really simple: eat with variety and in moderation – it’s the best health insurance you can invest in. I’m a big fan of light food, and it’s clear that in the industrialised world people are […]
It’s the age old question, but one we’re still confused about. A lot of people equate sweat to how hard they’re working. However it’s not an accurate representation of the effort you’re putting into an exercise session. Sweat is the body’s super-effective cooling system, and we naturally perspire a litre of water on a rest […]
When it comes to nutritional benefits, vitamins have long stood front and centre. But what about those equally important essential mineral workhorses that labour undercover with no recognition? I’m talking trace minerals, compounds needed – albeit in microscopic quantities – to keep your body running as nature intended. Unlike vitamins, there are no non-essential minerals, […]
Pain in your muscles following a workout is known as DOMS – or delayed onset muscle soreness. It is triggered by small-scale damage to your muscles from strenuous or unaccustomed exercise. Using this as a barometer isn’t sustainable. As you workout more, you’ll stop getting that soreness. Great news!
How you feel during training is not always a reflection of how fit you are. If you know just how to manage it and use a variety of mental tricks you don’t just get to feel better than you would otherwise, you will be performing better, doing more and working out harder. Fitness is, mostly, […]
Here are 5 must-dos for staying motivated and on track when time isn’t on your side. 1. Work out why Understanding what drives you to work out and what you want to achieve will help keep you focused on your goal. 2. Map the way Struggling to make regular runs or training session? Giving yourself […]
1. Your knees fall inwards. This can put pressure on the ligaments in the knee and lead to injury. Upping the strength of your inner and outer thighs will help – try llateral walks with a resistance band around your ankles. 2. Your lower back hurts. Adjust the distribution of your weight until you feel […]
Lactic acid build-up is often blamed for post-workout muscle soreness, but lactic acid isn’t the problem; it breaks down quickly and is no longer present when the muscle soreness hits. Why muscle soreness occurs is still a grey area, but anti-inflammatory herbs and spices can help: ginger, oregano and rosemary in food as a tincture […]
Why are nitrates in beetroot good for you, but those in bacon bad? Nitrates are processed by the body in different ways, depending on their source. All nitrates we consume are converted to nitrates in the stomach, where they can be made into two other components. The nitrates derived from vegetables such as beetroot, spinach […]