Paula asked: I have just started running after having my second child. My goal is to run a 5km in the next couple of months and maybe a 10km sometime this year. I haven’t done much running before so wondered if you’ve got any good running tips for someone starting out?
Answer…
Hi Paula. The first thing you need to do – if you haven’t already – is buy a good pair of running shoes, preferably from a specialist running store where you can get professional advice on the best type of shoe for you.
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Tags: hitchin, running
Jim asked: I’m interested to know what the latest health and nutrition research into coffee is. I’ve read so many mixed reports. Is it good or bad for you? How many cups should I have a day? Is it better to have decaff?
Answer…
When looking at research it’s always helpful to know who asked the question, all the positive research I’ve found about coffee drinking (there may be others I’ve missed which I’d certainly be interested in reading) has come from Vanderbilt University Institute of Coffee Studies.
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Tags: detox, health, wellbeing
Allow me to take you on a 5 minute visual journey. A journey which, by the end of it, will have you understanding your metabolism, your weight and why you struggle to control it.
Imagine a clear bowl…
The bowl holds exactly 2000ml (2 litres) of water. If you were to pour a 2 litre bottle of water into the bowl it would fill up perfectly to the top. A single drop more and it would overflow.
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Tags: calories, fat, weight loss, weight management
Adam asked: I took up running this year to help me get fit and lose about 3 stone. Every time I head out running I’m fine for the first 5 to 10 minutes then I get a really bad burning sensation at the bottom of my calves. It is so bad I have to stop and walk. I used to run regularly for 40 to 50 minutes and have never had anything like this. I dont think its my trainers as I’ve tried different ones and still get the pain. Any suggestions or ideas? Thanks.
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Tags: running, sports injury, stevenage
Tina Asked: I am 43 years old and very overweight. I haven’t exercised for a very long time but feel I need to start something to improve my fitness and lose weight. I am too scared to join a gym so a friend said I should try Pilates. Is Pilates safe for someone of my size, about 5 stone overweight? Could you recommend some easy exercises for me to get started with at home?
Answer…
I teach men and women of all shapes and sizes so I see Pilates as a very safe form of exercise regardless of weight.
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Tags: obesity, pilates, stevenage, weight loss
Ali asked: I suffer badly with PMS. Are there any alterations I can make to my diet to help reduce the symptoms?
Answer…
PMS can be relieved very effectively by making some small changes to the diet. PMS is usually due to an imbalance in hormone production.
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Tags: diet, hitchin, womens health
Lisa asked: Recently I’ve been experiencing some awful reactions when I eat certain foods. The strange thing is that there doesn’t seem to be a link between the foods: hot chocolate, fizzy drinks, fruit juices, some spicy foods, casseroles, porridge. I get really bad tummy ache, hot flushes and need to go to the loo after eating them, sometimes within just minutes. Do I have a food allergy or could it be something else that is causing it?
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Tags: food allergy, food intolerance
Stefan asked: For fat burning, what is a reasonable time to burn a certain amount of fat? For example to burn a few kilograms healthily, over what period could this result be expected?
Answer…
Body fat is stored under the skin (subcutaneous), between the muscles (intramuscular) and around the organs (visceral). These fat stores are the body’s largest energy reserve, a lot like a savings account.
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Tags: calories, fat, weight loss
Nicola asked: I was interested to read that Hannah Waterman did only 10 minutes a day of exercise along with a diet plan and lost a considerable amount of weight. Would you say 10 minutes a day is enough to achieve that kind of result?
Answer…
Weight loss comes down to a simple equation of calories consumed against calories burnt. Therefore a calorie deficit could be created through the right diet and just 10 minutes of exercise!
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Tags: celebs, exercise, slimming, weight loss
Christine asked: I was reading your blog about intensive training and wanted to ask if short bursts of jogging on the treadmill are therefore better than fast walking for longer periods for improving fitness. Is 1 or 2 minutes of jogging and then walking for a couple of minutes better than fast walking for say 10 minutes? I like the idea of getting fitter in a shorter time!
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Tags: fitness, running, walking
