Stick to your New Year’s resolutions beyond January with help and advice from the pros It’s a month since you resolved to become a fitter, healthier version of yourself. So how’s it going? By now, it may be that your resolve is beginning to wear a little thin and it’s becoming easier to talk yourself onto the sofa than towards the front door. But don’t give up… there are ways and means to help you stay on track. We’ve consulted leading experts for their top tips on staying motivated to reach your goals this year… Set a real goal Researchers looking at the links between motivation and successful long-term health…

  I’m getting married next year and want to be toned for the big day. I’ve heard working out in the heat can help you look more sculpted – is this true?   There are benefits to working out in the heat as the rise in popularity of Bikram yoga shows (Bikram classes are held in studios pre-heated to 37C). It means your heart rate is elevated so your body has to work harder, but as you’re truly warmed up you can often get deeper into poses to feel their benefits. However, the best way to achieve a sculpted look is to build more lean muscle and lose some body fat…

Get ready for the Strictly theme tune to be firmly embedded in your brain for the next five months, as it’s all starting off again!   The celebrity contestants have been announced, and the first was revealed as Katie Piper.   Katie Piper on Strictly     The TV star and model was announced on BBC Breakfast, with three more names to be dropped later today.   Katie, 34, admitted she’d known for a while and had struggled to keep the news a secret.   She’s originally from Andover and became famous after filming Channel 4 documentary Katie: My Beautiful Face, which dealt with the aftermath of a sulphuric acid…

Hitting the stores instead of the gym, can still help you stay toned and trim in the lead-up to Christmas. During the festive season, shopping will probably be high on your agenda; from gift buying to stocking up on food, you’re probably never far away from the tills at this time of year. Although your wallet might not be happy about it, your body certainly can be as there are some surprising health benefits to a spot of retail therapy. You can burn an impressive 400 calories – equivalent to two large glasses of wine – during an average shopping trip and notch up more than 7,000 steps roaming around…

Pain in your knees after or during a run is a problem for many of us, and can suggest a problem with technique, stretching or footwear. These simple exercises should help. Why do runners get knee pain? Knee pain in runners is quite common due to the amount of pounding the pavement they can do over a number of years – in fact it’s often known as ‘runner’s knee’. This is another name for patellofemoral pain syndrome – basically pain in the kneecap. According to a study from Boston University School of Medicine, knee pain has become significantly more common over the past 20 years, leading to high numbers of…

For a fitness initiative that Fido will love, consider the Blue Cross’ Steps for Pets campaign! Raise money for animals as you walk This August, the pet rehoming charity is calling on animal lovers to raise money for poorly and homeless critters by taking on a walking challenge. Set your own daily target – whether it’s 5,000 or 25,000 steps, and ask friends or family to sponsor you. Whatever you think you can do, consider really pushing yourself and adding an extra thousand steps or two if you possibly can, for incredible fitness benefits including increased heart health, weight loss and muscle toning. Of course, for added hound-helping benefits, take…

Ahead of the start of Strictly Come Dancing 2018, we caught up with professional dancer Dianne Buswell to find out what it’s like starring on the nation’s best-loved programme.   New Strictly professionals   ‘I am so excited for the new series,’ says Dianne, who joined the cast last year. This season there are three new pros taking to the floor (Graziano Di Prima, Johannes Radebe and Luba Mushtuk) but they’ve got nothing to be nervous about, according to Dianne. ‘It’s like a family at Strictly and it immediately feels like everyone’s known each other for years.’ The new Strictly pros joining the 2018 cast!    A typical week for…

It’s easy to get carried away with a new fitness regime and end up over doing things, but over-training or working out without proper warm ups can lead to serious problems. As is so often the case, getting older makes things more likely to go wrong, with a survey from Ramsay Health Care UK revealing that 70% of people over 55 have been to A&E with sports related injuries.   But there’s no need to panic! With a sensible approach to exercise there’s no reason not to continue playing sports, working out and generally keeping fit throughout your life.   How to avoid injury playing sports   Tips from Sports…