Fitness
Strength work
The myths around weight lifting we need to dismantle
Paula Goodyer 12:15 AM If you want to still be going strong in old age, you should build weight lifting into your schedule.
Stretching
Should you stretch before exercise?
Sarah Berry Before, after, static, dynamic, not at all?
Healthy minds
Does exercise help keep our brains young?
Gretchen Reynolds A new study looks at whether our cognitive function is improved by physical activity as we age.
Working out
The fascinating link between exercise and drinking alcohol
Gretchen Reynolds Does working out encourage people to drink (and vice versa)?
Exercise
Eight tips to get you in the habit of working out
Victoria Hoff Advice that goes beyond just "believing in yourself" or "you can do it!"
Couch potato
How too much TV in your 20s may affect you later in life
Ariana Eunjung Cha If you've stumbled across this article after binge-watching on Netflix, pay attention.
Runner's high
Why a post-exercise high might feel a lot like smoking weed
Gretchen Reynolds Your runner's high may be coming from what is essentially internally produced cannabis.
Health & Fitness
Five motivations to maintain a running routine
Some hacks for those of us who aren't natural allies to exercise.
Tight muscles
What are the real benefits (if any) of stretching muscles?
Sarah Berry We might be stretching for the wrong reasons.
Active teens
Women reap long-term benefits from exercise they did as teens
Patricia Reaney It may even reduce the risks of dying from cancer and other causes later in life.
Healthy body
Five reasons women need more muscle, not less
Paula Goodyer We're a society that mocks female muscle but the benefits are broad reaching.
Brain training
How working out can affect how we think
Paula Goodyer A reminder that regular exercise isn't just about healthier hearts.
Why we forget the pain of marathons and childbirths
Gretchen Reynolds Why do people run marathons again and again, despite the agonising pain?
Daily rhythms
How exercise can affect your body clock
Sarah Berry It's not just our sleep and wake patterns that are governed by natural rhythms.
Bra fitting
Six questions you should ask at a bra fitting
You may not have been fitted in many years or even ever, but an expert fitter can make all the difference.
Michelle Bridges
How to stay motivated with your morning workouts during these colder days
Michelle Bridges New goals, new exercises, and even a new outfit are pretty much essential, says Michelle Bridges.
Bra fitting
Six signs you are wearing the right bra
A good bra is a lot like a good friend – both should be supportive and uplifting no matter what's going on in your life.
Michelle Bridges
Our fitness expert helps to manage inflamed Achilles and helps a chef prepare for an open-ocean swim.
Are workplace workouts naively idealistic?
Dorene Internicola "Even the best-intentioned get-fit efforts can founder before the demands of a corporate culture."
Michelle Bridges
Our expert offers nutrition advice, suggests a workout makeover and serves up a healthy stir-fry.
Michelle Bridges
Our fitness expert helps defeat negative self-talk and refreshes an active chef's workout routine.
Vigorous exercise linked to longer life span
Vigorous exercise, the kind that makes you red in the face, may be better than moderate exercise when it comes to living longer.
Time for some straight talk on diet fads
Michelle Bridges How to cut through all the paleo, gluten-free, 5:2 dietary noise.
Michelle Bridges
Michelle Bridges: How to gain weight healthily
Michelle Bridges Our fitness expert on how to gain weight and taking up exercise for the first time in your 40s.
Michelle Bridges
Michelle Bridges Hi Michelle, my issue is the opposite of most people. I have been 56kg since I was 24, I'm now 44. I eat well and exercise, a lot, but want to gain 5kg and find this a challenge. Eating more high fat carb foods makes me feel bleh. Any tips for healthy calorie dense foods? Liz
Flexible fitness
Michelle Bridges: Is shift work bad for your health?
It's hard to live a healthy lifestyle when you're packing in the big hours.
Michelle Bridges
Our fitness expert on following your dreams and continuing good exercise habits into middle age.
Work it
How to make the most out of your visit to the gym
Paula Goodyer Seven ways to get the best out of hitting the gym.
Michelle Bridges
Michelle Bridges Our fitness expert on beating humidity and how to work up to 500 non-stop sit-ups
Get excited
Exercises that will reduce your stress levels
Sarah Berry When life becomes overwhelming and there's not enough time in the day, two exercises can transform the way you feel.
Michelle Bridges
Michelle Bridges Our resident fitness expert dispenses sound advice and suggests a healthy dish.
Michelle Bridges: power play
Georgie Gordon Michelle Bridges has a powerful message for women: take control of your own life and your own body.
Sports girls
lindy alexander talks to three women who have climbed, pedalled and punched their way to success – against the odds. lindy alexander talks to three women who have climbed, pedalled and punched their way to success – against the odds. lindy alexander talks to three women who have climbed, pedalled and punched their way to success – against the odds. lindy alexander talks to three women who have climbed, pedalled and punched their way to success – against the odds. lindy alexander talks to three women who have climbed, pedalled and punched their way to success – against the odds. Lindy Alexander talks to three women who have climbed, pedalled and punched their way to success – against the odds.
Test of strength
Fitness apps or personal trainers: which gets the best results?
Molly Wood As technology starts pushing us to be healthier and fitter, could apps replace personal trainers or the gym entirely?
Lighten up
Collette Beck The mere thought of exercise is boring for many people – but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Fit Not Healthy
Why it's so dangerous to assume that 'fit' equals 'healthy'
Kasey Edwards Kasey Edwards talks to former elite marathon runner Vanessa Alford about the dangers of exercise addiction.
Push yourself
How to get the most out of your HIIT workout
Dorene Internicola HIIT can blast calories, build muscle and boost endurance with impressive efficiency in just 20 minutes a day, but the catch is finding the right level of intensity outside the comfort zone, fitness trainers say.
New study
So, now working out too much is as bad as no exercise at all, apparently
Sarah Berry Exercise is good work for body, mind and health. But how much is too much?
Workout tips
How to choose a workout that's right for you
Livia Gamble Your exercise program should be enjoyable but there are some rules that ought to be followed.
Let's Get Physical
This fitness campaign is as important as it is stunning
Effie Mann Fitness at any size.
Health study
The benefits of pre-breakfast exercise
Sarah Berry Getting up and at ‘em may mean more than just extra hours in your day.
Mind and body
Do you need to change the way you think about fitness?
Mike Plunkett The way we think about exercise and fitness may be a major barrier to being fit.
Self-improvement
I hate running... and running hates me right back
Dom Knight Dom Knight on an admirable but incremental attempt at an athletic New Year's resolution.
Michelle Bridges
Michelle Bridges Want a beer with your deep-fried chicken? Then be prepared to wear it, literally.
This Girl Can
Awesome #ThisGirlCan campaign encourages women to get fit
Effie Mann Here's something that might stir you to get off the couch after a month of mince pies and rosé – well at least it feels more motivating than Spanx-like yoga pants and Fitbits, anyway.
Healthy pregnancy
Exercise in pregnancy: don't beat yourself up about it
Rosa Silverman A new study has shown the benefits for unborn babies of their mothers exercising during pregnancy, but women who do so are heavily scrutinised.
Fitness trends
Top fitness trends for 2015
Sarah Berry And how ‘new’ are these fitness trends, really?
Pureed weeds
Paltrow detox fine, if you like being sleepless and starving
John Bingham The Goop detox is great ... if you like being sleepless and starving.
Michelle Bridges - Festive season guilt
Michelle Bridges So you want to let yourself go? Do it, but lose the guilt.
Yoga research
I'm allergic to yoga and all smug bores who practise it
Claire Cohen New research suggests that yoga could help cut heart disease and is just as effective as cardio exercise. Yoga refusenik Claire Cohen explains why nothing could tempt her into a sun salutation.
One-minute workout
Good news: you may only need to workout for 60 seconds
Sarah Berry A new study has found just one minute of "all-out" exercise can improve your health.
How much to indulge?
Michelle Bridges: How to stay fit during party season
You can still party hard in the silly season if you do it right.
