Lou Mudge

1 week ago | fitandwell.com | Lou Mudge

I find push-ups hard, and, if I’m honest, I can’t do more than three push-ups in a row. Emma Simarro, a personal trainer focused on women’s health and building body confidence through strength training, can easily do more than three push-ups at a time. But, she tells me, she still doesn’t find push-ups easy and that’s for a very important reason. “I still find push-ups as hard today as I did when I started because you end up doing more reps or you're making it more challenging,” says Simarro.

1 week ago | fitandwell.com | Lou Mudge

Have you ever hung up the phone after a tough call and felt like launching your phone across the room? You’re not alone. Stress can build up in our bodies until it feels like we need to move just to shake it off. Phone-throwing might feel satisfying in the moment, but it’s not a sustainable (or affordable) coping strategy. Thankfully, there are simple, effective and even low-effort ways to manage stress, like yoga and breathwork.

1 week ago | fitandwell.com | Lou Mudge

The Brooks Glycerin 22 has been out for a while now and I love it. However, the price tag, as with all shoes of this calibre, is around $165. If that doesn’t fit your budget, but you like the sound of the comfort and bounce the Glycerin is known for, the men's and women's Glycerin 21 is still available and is heavily reduced at Zappos. Some colorways have dropped under the $100 mark with up to 38% off the full price.

1 week ago | fitandwell.com | Lou Mudge

If your body feels tight, especially after a day at your desk, why not try this 10-minute stretching routine. Yoga and Pilates instructor Britt Turpack is a firm believer in the phrase “movement is medicine”, saying we would all feel a little better if we stretched more consistently. “I’ve seen how much tension we carry in our hips, how often we move from high-intensity workouts straight into stillness, and how many of us sit for long hours,” she says.

2 weeks ago | fitandwell.com | Lou Mudge

I’ve just finished testing the Hoka Clifton 10, and it’s an excellent shoe, but is it better than the Clifton 9? I think they’re both similarly good, with some minor improvements to the 10, but at $150 for the new generation, you might want to score a bargain and get the Clifton 9 while it’s still available. The Hoka Clifton 9 was my favorite walking shoe for hard surfaces like concrete, and featured in my best walking shoe guide for most of 2024.