Women's Fitness August 2025

While putting the August issue together, I listened to a programme on parenting and the overwhelm that many feel – and I agree, mostly from my own experience, that it’s a juggle for mums and dads today. Perhaps it's even more tricky as we hurtle towards the summer break and try to balance family time with work obligations. So, if you could do one small thing to help support your wellbeing, why wouldn’t you? For some, that might be an art class or a walk among nature, for others (me included) it’s a workout. I know I’m not alone in feeling that exercise keeps me energised. And recently, that energy has come from a lot of cycling, as I prepare for two stages of The Route. The Route is a…

STAR LETTER ‘IT’S REASSURING SEEING MORE ARTICLES ON PERIMENOPAUSE’ I’m glad to see more articles with advice for women who are dealing with perimenopause. I’m entering my 40s in a couple of days and I’m looking for acknowledgment from different sources to reassure myself there is nothing wrong with me (so far, my brain fog drives me crazy!), and that plenty of women are dealing with the same issues. Everyone says weight training is good for you in midlife. In your article, ‘Lift for (mid) life’ (July issue), I loved your advice on not being scared to go heavier and do fewer repetitions (3-8 reps rather than the more popular 10-12 reps) – it has changed my approach to weights completely. Thank you for that. Ladies, let’s grab bigger dumbbells!…

Made to move Seissense (pronounced ‘sea sense’) is the new premium activewear brand using breakthrough fabric innovations to elevate your workouts. After two years in development, the comprehensive collection spans four pillars, including high-performance Essentials for the gym and outdoors and Active Swim apparel with added SPF 50+ protection and chlorine resistance to handle workouts and open-water swims. Available in four colours, check out this Henri Compression Bra, £55, and the matching Henri Compression Capri, £75, both featuring Fuze Tech – an innovative, chemical-free antimicrobial technology that kills odour-causing bacteria on contact to keep garments fresh for longer – plus quick-drying, moisture-wicking, body sculpting properties and UV protection. Visit seissense.com WEAR THIS... On pointe Dial down the noise with Sweaty Betty’s new pared-back studio collection made for yoga, Pilates and…

Ever wonder how some women manage to keep fit while navigating major changes in life? Us too! And who better to ask for advice on staying fit through change this summer than influencer, business owner and mum of one, Meggan Grubb? Having maintained her fitness during the various stages of her life so far – from founding her own wellness app Beyond (beyondapp.co.uk) through to pregnancy and motherhood today – Meggan is seemingly ‘doing it all’, even finding the time and energy to train for her first HYROX event, which she recently completed alongside her husband, as their two-year-old daughter Winnie cheered them on from the sidelines. So, just what is the secret to making exercise a priority, we ask her, when life does a 180 and you have a…

It might sound a bit specialist but chances are you’ve already done some plyometric training in a fitness class. Also known as jump training, plyometrics involves stretching the muscles prior to contracting them. A few moves might include box jumps, ball throws and plyo push-ups. This type of training strengthens muscles and decreases impact forces on joints, reducing injury risk. Plyometrics mimic the motions used in many sports, but because it’s so intense, it results in a high calorie expenditure that’s valuable in weight management, too. The Eastern Europeans first used plyometrics in the 1970s to develop greater strength and power in their Olympic athletes. They based programmes on scientific evidence that stretching muscles prior to contracting them recruits the stretch reflex of muscle to enhance explosive power. This pre-stretching…

Imagine walking down to the beach as some of Britain’s most successful Olympians emerge from the Aegean Sea? For Women’s Fitness writer Donna Richardson, it wasn’t a dream – Jess Ennis-Hill, Paula Radcliffe and Vicky Thornley, among others, had just done a rowing session at the stunning €150m Anda Barut Collection hotel in Didim, Turkey (baruthotels.com). If you love to combine travel with fitness, Anda Barut is a five-star resort that runs a Wellness Week, hosted by Wellness Worldwide (wellnessworldwide.club), where you can work out with some of GB’s top Olympians. The hotel boasts 547 rooms and 13 exclusive Bayou Villas, each with walk-in showers, large comfy beds and TVs. Some have balconies, some swim-up pools, but all are stunning. At Anda Barut, Wellness Week days start with a run…