Fitness focus

Brits want to get fitter – in the comfort of their own home

Most people would like to dedicate more time in their daily routine to exercise, according to a survey commissioned by The Children’s Society as it launches a website – Tough n Buff – aimed at helping even the most hardened couch potato get fit quickly and easily. While the YouGov survey of over 2,000 British adults shows the average amount of daily exercise for most of us is about 20 minutes per day, a majority (51 per cent) would really like to spend anything from more than half an hour to more than an hour getting fit.

The Children’s Society has introduced the Tough n Buff fitness fundraiser to encourage people to fit just a few minutes of home exercise into their day and to get sponsored at the same time without the need to buy expensive equipment or take out a pricey gym membership. The Children’s Society is being supported by trainer to the stars, Sarah Maxwell, who provides her top tips here:

• Always listen to your body. If you’re new to exercise take it steady and build up gradually.


• Make sure you have water handy and drink small amounts regularly.


• If you’re exercising outside, don’t forget to use sunscreen.


• Have fun!

To sign up to The Children’s Society’s Tough n Buff challenge visit: www.toughnbuff.com

An app with the right food at the right time for runners

Using a training plan will help you to reach your goal faster. However, if you really want to run well, it’s not just about exercise – eating the right food at the right time is just as important.

But it can be a real hassle to find out what to eat when, with all information on carbs, protein, tapering, supplements and energy drinks for before, during and after your run.

That’s why Marco Plas and Jan-Maarten Rovers founded BiteRunner. The app provides training schedules for 5k to half marathon races but also advises what runners could eat before and after training, along with recipe recommendations.

And it’s not all about superfoods and supplements. The recipes are healthy, easy to make and suitable for the whole family.

BiteRunner is available in the Apple App Store. Find out more at www.biterunner.com

How to hydrate!

We all know how important it is to keep well hydrated while exercising, particularly in warmer summer weather. Here are our top tips:

• Drink all day It’s not enough to drink during exercise or immediately after: if you’re planning a workout, sip water all day to ensure your body is fully hydrated before you begin.


• Water may not be enough Coconut water and electrolyte drinks help replace minerals that you lose when you sweat, but avoid drinks that have high levels of sugar and other additives.


• Don’t overhydrate! Although dehydration will slow you down and can be harmful, drinking to excess can also flush all the minerals and salts from your body, so keep your drinking steady and moderate.

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