Weight loss is given as one of the main reasons why people exercise. But what type of exercise is most effective if you have a couple of pounds or a stone or more to lose, and how long should you work out for? You can exercise all you like, but if you consume too many Units you will not win the battle. Equally, diet alone will not work in the long term. Research shows that people who lose weight by dieting alone are significantly at risk of putting most of it back on within a year. You need to exercise to activate your muscles as much as possible. This will burn fat and reduce weight. To do this, we need…

Swimming is a fantastic all-round way to boost fitness levels. It provides an effective cardiovascular workout, can help to tone the body, and can help to build impressive body strength, while all the time being relatively gentle on your body as being buoyant in the water protects you from impacts that can cause injuries. Just don’t go too mad straightaway! It takes time to build up to the kind of routine where you’re burning up Units at an impressive rate. Start by warming up and take it easy for a couple of lengths before you try to build up speed. If you plough straight into your first few lengths, you’ll barely last 10 minutes and run the risk of collapsing in…

Short bursts of intense exercise every few days could dramatically cut the risk of diabetes and heart disease, researchers said. Rather than slaving away for hours in the gym, people should focus their attention on quick "sprints" on an exercise bike, with each workout lasting just a few minutes. James Timmons, professor of exercise biology at Heriot-WattUniversity in Edinburgh, published a study on the effects of quick exercise. He said people could reduce their risk of diabetes and heart disease substantially with short, intense workouts. In his study, published in the journal BMC Endocrine Disorders, 16 men exercised for three sessions a week for two weeks. It resulted in a 23 per cent improvement in insulin function.

Beginning an exercise program can be very overwhelming and painful if you aren’t careful. Warming your body up and stretching prior to exercise is very important for your health and will allow you to see better results, as well as to enjoy the workout more. Warming up and stretching raise your body and muscle temperatures, along with preparing your cardiovascular, respiratory, and nervous systems for the demands of exercise by slowly increasing the blood circulation. Warming up will allow all of your connective tissues that haven’t been stretched recently to handle the stress put on during exercise, limiting your chances for injury. Connective tissue is similar to hard plastic; if you don’t warm-up plastic it won’t be flexible, and is…

What's the Best Time to Exercise? There’s no right or wrong answer to this question! Some people swear by an early morning jog to get their hearts racing and get them psyched up for the day. Others wouldn't dream of putting on their runners before lunchtime, preferring a walk in the countryside after dinner. But is any one time of day the best time to exercise? The truth is that there's no reliable evidence to suggest that calories are burned more efficiently at certain times of day. But the time of day can influence how you feel when exercising. The most important thing is to choose a time of day you can stick with, so that exercise becomes a habit. Your…

'This doesn't even seem like exercise' · Gossiping with colleagues for 40 minutes a day... 42 calories · Five minutes of stair climbing during day to gossip with colleagues... 43 calories · 2 trips to cafe across road for skinny cappuccinos... 94 calories · 1 hour of writing and replying to flirty emails... 90 calories · 25 trips to printer and photocopier... 48 calories · 30 minutes of trying on different outfits before leaving house... 95 calories · 30 minutes of vigorous housework to prove I do not live in a pigsty... 143 calories 'MORE FUN THAN I IMAGINED' · 1 hour romantic stroll... 285 calories · 1 hour yoga class to set me on path to calmer life... 229 calories · 2 hours being a disco diva on the…

That new bundle of joy can make dramatic changes in your life. The vast majority of changes are worth it, but some make it hard to keep up with the important things like regular exercise and adequate sleep. You're not alone. Just about every woman, at one time or another, has struggled with exercise after pregnancy. Here are some ideas to help you get back into exercising and get back into shape! Make exercise a priority Not only is your body sleep deprived, but it has also just gone through intense labour which requires healing. You find yourself watching the dust, dishes, and laundry pile up while you tend to your little one. Feel like exercising? Probably not! However, exercising…

To maintain a healthy weight, adults should do at least 30minutes of moderate intensity activity, most days of the week.   However, for weight loss, adults will need to be active for longer than 30 minutes.   To maintain a healthy weight, children should do at least 1 hour of moderate intensity activity, most days of the week.   What does moderate intensity mean?You will start to feel warm Your heart rate will increase Your breathing will be heavier, but you will still be comfortable talkingWhy is it important to be active? The benefits of being active are fantastic, and there are lots of reasons why we should be active every day:Burns up calories which help to control your…

Your waist-sculpting routine Strong core muscles help stabilise your body, prevent back strains and add power to your swimming stroke or golf swing. We’ve indicated the order in which to do three great moves, as it’s best to exercise large muscles first so the small ones aren’t too tired to support them later in the workout. Do the routine daily; it takes under 10 minutes and you can do it in front of the TV. Move 1: Reverse Crunch Works: lower and some upper abdominals A. Lie face up on a mat or carpet with your knees bent. Raise one leg at a time, straightening each leg as much as you can, so that the soles of your feet face…

We’re constantly being asked questions about exercise in our classes and online, so here are some of the most frequently asked questions along with the answers to help put your minds at ease! How long before I see results? This is possibly the most frequently asked question ever, and the least straightforward to answer! The time taken to see a result depends on a combination of many things, including frequency and duration of exercise; the quality of the exercise done; familiarity with exercise (an absolute beginner will see/feel improvements sooner than those who are already exercising or who have exercised previously); stress levels (stress affects the body’s ability to adapt and recover that can slow improvements); quality and quantity of…