Health & Fitness

Fitness File

Look your best this winter with these workout wonders

The next best thing to running barefoot

Advocates of barefooted running say it can help prevent aching knee joints and damaged foot tissue associated with wearing training shoes that have too much cushion in them. However, while it's all well and good running on a sandy beach or on a soft grassy field, for most of us trainers are a must when we're jogging on the treadmill or pounding the pavements of less than clean streets. Vibram have a solution in the form of their FiveFinger footwear range, a pair of lightweight running shoes which make you feel like you aren't wearing anything on your feet. We're not sold on the brightly coloured design, but they stimulate the muscles in your feet and lower legs to build strength and improve your range of motion, as well as helping balance and posture. Get them for £98.99 from www.lovethoseshoes.com or by calling 0161 975 5380.

Shape up on a shoestring

In these credit crunch times one of the first things to suffer is expensive gym memberships. However, that doesn't mean you can forget about your personal fitness altogether. The Sports Council for Wales has just launched Shape Up On A Shoestring which, as its name suggests, will help you stay fit without spending a fortune. Joining the Facebook group will give you access to low-cost training tips from some of Wales's top fitness experts and professional athletes, as well as budget-conscious nutritional advice and motivational mantras, helping you to shed those lbs while saving pounds. For more information see www.sports-council-wales.org.uk

I wanna live forever!

Whether you're a fan of the original or the recent remake, the kids from Fame certainly make dancing and keeping fit look fun. Capture some of that spirit with this new range of fitness wear, in celebration of iconic Pineapple Dance Studio's 30th birthday. Stocked exclusively at Debenhams, the range includes cropped plus regular length t-shirts and hoodies, with the Fame and Pineapple logos on. Prices range from £16- £30, with this grey, cropped classic sweat top, pictured, priced £25.

Birth benefits

Working out is the last thing on the mind of many new mothers, but pregnancy could in fact enhance your sporting prowess, according to experts. Following tennis player Kim Clijsters' victory at the US Open, the sporting world has been full of tales of women who achieved extraordinary feats post giving birth. Giving birth could give women a psychological boost that helps performance. In the first 12 weeks of pregnancy they produce more red blood cells, which carry oxygen to the developing foetus, and could improve stamina. And once the baby is born, these cells - which are rich in haemoglobin - remain in the body for some time, potentially improving oxygen flow to the muscles. At the same time, the hormone relaxin loosens the hips in preparation for childbirth, improving flexibility. However, before engaging in any physical activity, women should always speak to a doctor or midwife and make sure they get proper advice on training, especially during the early and later stages of pregnancy.

Grab a gym buddy now

Exercising in a group can make you happier than exercising alone, as well as increasing your tolerance to pain. Researchers at Oxford University found that rowers who exercised with others had a greater pain threshold than when performing the same exercises alone. This could be because synchronised, coordinated physical activity increases the level of endorphins, the feel-good chemicals naturally released by the brain during physical activity. Not only do these endorphins make us feel happier, they also help dampen feelings of pain.

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