I wonder how many women have been told not to get 'any bigger' when they get into resistance training? I know how many times it's happened to me - and it's four times too many.
‘Strong is strong: it’s neither masculine nor feminine, it’s both’
Never skip leg day: Five great exercises
There's a reason #neverskiplegday is a thing on social media; lots of people do. It's one of those gym sessions most people would happily swap for back day, chest day, arms, or in fact any other upper body day you can think of. Why? Because leg day is tough.
Shoulder workout: The five best exercises
You may consider them a small part of your body, but the benefits of having well-defined and strong shoulders shouldn't be underestimated.
Are you overtraining? Why rest is key to progress
Training may act as the stimulant to growth and development, but sleep is when the adaptions actually take place. But what counts as adequate rest?
What I do when I ‘hit the wall’ in training
'Hitting the wall' is a feared term in endurance circles. But it can happen to a lesser extent in weight training as well. It's that point in training where you feel like you can't go on, where taking just one more step or lifting one more rep can seem impossible. Unless you're an elite athlete, it can happen to anyone, including me. So how do you cope?
Back workout: Five of the best exercises
It can feel like hard graft for little personal reward training a body part that you rarely see unless you're straining in the mirror. But giving your back a good workout is not only sensible from a health perspective (think good posture and core strength) but also from an aesthetic perspective, for anyone lucky enough to behold your impressive lats.
How I got into weight training
Why do you weight train? Having spend a good portion of my time writing advice articles on resistance training and fitness programmes, I thought it would be worth looking at how and why I got into weight training. Everyone has a different story, and this is mine. How did you find your passion?
Five of the best arm exercises
The sun may be in hiding, but that doesn't mean your guns have to be as well. There are many different exercises out there that promise to isolate different areas of the arms, but the simplest exercises are often the most effective. Here are five of my favourites.
Three reasons to avoid short-term ‘beach body’ plans
Three weeks to shredded! Get beach-body ready in two weeks! Six pack in seven days! How realistic do these sound? Clearly not realistic at all. Yet, following a chat with a fellow PT this week, there are many people who think and want it to be otherwise.
Four of the best ab exercises
Fed up with sit-ups and crunches? There are many other ab exercises that are equally - if not more - effective in building core strength and muscle definition. Here are my four favourites.
Demotivated? How to deal with your fitness demons
It's 6pm: you've finished work for the day and are looking forward to hitting the gym. You've been working hard and the results are paying off. Yet, despite all this, the second you set foot outside, your motivation starts to wane. Sat at your desk- eyes glued to an Excel spreadsheet - the gym had seemed like a welcome break, but now, when the alternative is a warm house, the sofa and a slice of carrot cake, getting sweaty suddenly doesn't seem the best option. So, is there anything you can do to tackle your demotivating inner voice?
Five of the best glute exercises
Where once it was legs (and then abs), having a well toned posterior is the new 'thing' in women's fitness. Everywhere you look, Kim Kardashian-esque asses are proudly displayed, often accompanied by a set of exercises you, YES YOU! should use to achieve the desired level of pertness, roundness and size. While it goes without … Continue reading Five of the best glute exercises
Weight lifting: The big questions answered
'What weights should I be lifting?', 'what is a drop set?', and 'should I be worried about DOMS?' Starting out on a programme of resistance training can be intimidating for both men and women, especially when faced with a barrage of jargon. What's more, the weights section of a gym can often feel unwelcoming, meaning many people avoid this important aspect of training. In an attempt to make all newcomers feel more confident, here are some answers to some frequently asked questions.
HIIT, SIT and LISS: Why should I care about cardio?
Cardio is awkward. It's energy sapping, it's sweaty, it eats into valuable weight training time and it can make you feel completely awful, yet, it's essential to maintaining a healthy heart. So, is there any way to cut the amount of cardio you do without losing the benefits of longer sessions? According to some research, the answer is a resounding 'yes'.
Why should I lift weights?
'Lifting weights makes you bulky'. 'I'll look masculine if I do too much resistance training', 'cardio is the best way to slim down'. You've probably heard these excuses before, or may even have uttered them yourself - I certainly used to. It's a fairly common belief, but in the majority of cases, simply isn't true. In fact, it is one of the most pervasive myths surrounding resistance training.
