DAJLIEN by IKEA – is it worth it?

Never ones to miss an opportunity to flog “affordable” furniture and homeware, our Scandi friends, IKEA, have entered the chat in terms of home fitness kit. Yes, you can now purchase a small selection of exercise equipment alongside your tealights and Billy bookcase before checking out for meatballs at the café. But is any of …

January is over – here’s how to keep your fitness routine going

With the first flush of New Year enthusiasm now burned out, bank accounts restored post-festive period, and daylight hours increasing, the gym floors are emptying out again. But you’ve done the hard part with getting started. So how can you maintain a fitness routine year-round and avoid that classic peak and trough cycle? Horsham-based personal …

Is your fitness watch actually helping you?

I’ve had an Apple Watch for a little over two years. It’s my first smartwatch, and I’d never used a wrist-worn fitness tracker previously either. When I’d tracked my training, I’d either manually input it into an app, or used good old fashioned pen and paper. I was worried about developing an overreliance, or allowing …

Why do people film at the gym?

As smartphones have hit critical mass, video-based social media apps have soared in popularity, and everyone seems to have become a side-hustling blogger, gyms have become filming locations for many users. Is it all narcissism and no true purpose? Let’s discuss why people film at the gym, and what you can do if it makes …

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour workout – how to copy it

Less than a day after Taylor Swift being announced as Time magazine’s person of the year for 2023, the internet had, of course, picked apart the article and chosen elements to obsess over. A favourite soundbite was, unsurprisingly, her pre-Eras Tour exercise regime. I didn’t have to spend long on TikTok that day before I …

What to Expect from Your Personal Training Session

Walking into a personal training session, especially if it’s your first time, can feel a little daunting. Whether you’re stepping onto the gym floor with me at Dual Strength and Fitness in Horsham, West Sussex, or you’re revisiting after a hiatus, personal training offers a unique, one-to-one experience tailored to your needs. Here’s a glimpse …

Professional development: The Well HQ’s Female Body Course

But Becky, you are a woman, and a qualified personal trainer, surely you know everything there is to know about female bodies? Ah, not so. And I am not a doctor, so there’s plenty I don’t know. There’s always room to learn more… Forever a studentWhen I decided to become a self-employed personal trainer, I …

Strictly Come Dancing and fitness – what can we learn?

If you follow me on social media, you probably know I’m a longtime Strictly fan. As someone who resolutely dislikes autumn, the glitterball’s return is very much welcome, as it guides me through to Christmas. Yes, you will struggle to get me away from the TV on a Saturday evening now and no, I’m not …

Strength in the Face of Adversity: How Fitness Empowered My Recovery from a Desmoid Tumor

In 2018, my life took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with a Desmoid tumour – as September is Desmoid Tumor Awareness Month, it feels like the right time to discuss this issue. For those unfamiliar with the term, a Desmoid tumour, also known as aggressive fibromatosis, is a rare type of cancer, forming …

Patient to Professional: Royal Marsden Exercise Oncology Study Day 2023

I qualified as a cancer exercise specialist personal trainer with a keen awareness that I’d need to stay on my toes. Medicine is constantly changing, and oncology is no exception. Whilst I don’t offer medical advice or treatment, I do need to be aware of what the implications of a client’s treatment are, so that …