Workout basics

Many people start strength training with the hope of losing weight, but it’s important to understand how the body responds. While you might shed some pounds, especially if you’ve changed your diet or

If you’re a regular reader of this column, you will know I’m not a great fan of fast fat loss, mainly because it promotes muscle loss, perpetuates diet culture and doesn’t address the need for lifesty

This month, our expert Annie Deadman reveals how there’s still time to shape up and feel great this summer

In many ways, the average gym-goer has never been smarter or better informed when it comes to fat loss. Most of us understand the complex interplay between calorie balance, appetite and cultural influences that can dictate whether we lose, gain or maintain in any given week. But there is one area in which specious arguments and contradictory theories still abound: metabolism. From supplements that promise to fire up your fat burn, to metabolic workouts, and the new wave of health trackers offering endless insights into how your body processes food, there’s a lot of advice out there… but not a lot of clarity. We put your burning questions to a panel of experts.

These workouts combine the muscle-building benefits of drop sets with the fat-blasting bonus of circuit training. The aim is to complete all the rounds of the circuit as quickly as possible. Each workout starts with a high number of reps, which is reduced every round. That means your work decreases as your fatigue levels increase, so you shouldn’t reach failure on any exercise.

To cut straight to the chase: yes, your ...