THE THOOSA REVIEW...HEALTH AND FITNESS!

We haven’t reviewed this magazine before, and I admit I only bought it because Tracey Anderson was on the cover. Apparently she can change your body. I wasn’t passing that by.

I’ve heard so so much about “one of the world’s hottest personal trainers”, mainly due to her A list clients such as Madonna, Gwyneth and J-Lo. It was great then to actually read about her. How she refined a technique to help women achieve the ultimate toned, defined body. Her “method” evolved over 13 years and drew from her experience at dance school and her research into how different movements affect different muscle groups and how she could alter her body shape without adding bulk. In addition to the article there are 5 exercises to try at home. And while I’m never quite sure if I’m following the moves correctly, I definitely have thought about investing in her DVDs. Good work for one magazine.

Also, what really stood out from other magazines, were the articles that focussed on the mind as well as exercise. There is a great article just about breathing. It sounds so simple but breathing properly can not only boost your workout, but also relieve stress. In a recent study the Group Health Research Institute in Seattle found that deep breathing can slash stress levels by up to 40% immediately, and keep them at less than 50% for three months after the deep breathing session. The article has a ‘try it yourself’ exercise to beat stress and also ones to boost your workout, crank up your concentration and more. I’ll definitely be giving these simple solutions a try.

Another article talks about the effect of emotional burnout. While this word may be banded around quite a lot the suggestions to beat it, from the psychologist Joan Borysenko, sounded pretty wise. We can all feel as though we suffer from emotional and physical exhaustion, and the guilt of that can sometimes stop you from helping yourself. Try and get a change of scenery, apparently any new experience can re-inspire; a mantra supported by science apparently. And, as someone in search of some zest in life I’m taking the advice!

I really enjoyed this magazine. If you’re looking for a fitness boost/inspiration this month I would definitely recommend it. It also (!) has a little extra magazine called “Running into Shape” There’s nothing that new in this little book, but it great as a handy running aid and has some useful tips. There was a great buying guide “what to remember when you’re choosing your trainers’, definitely worth a read.

Basically we loved this magazine. Good stuff!

THE THOOSA REVIEW...FOR INSPIRATION AND MOTIVATION!

If you haven’t glanced at the cover of Bodyfit for a couple of months, then you might have a bizarre feeling of déjà vu. I swear the same model is on the cover nearly every month, possibly in the same attire. However, don’t let that put you off. Once you take a look inside you’ll find a magazine that will motivate and definitely keep you fixated on your New Year regime. The snippets of information keep you interested but don’t overwhelm. For instance the “Fuel Up” section has five easy foods to boost your metabolism (green tea, grapefruit being among them). Perfect!

There are a lot of articles about weight loss, but that’s to be expected this time of year. One of the best articles was “Get Your Fitness Mojo Back”, aimed at helping you stay fit in the dark winter months. Particularly helpful for runners, it suggests taking your outdoor workout indoors and focusing on improving technique and preventing injury, effectively by spring you should be technically sound and ready to fine tune your fitness. Speed work is another suggestion, apparently “pushing your pulse into the anaerobic threshold and then letting it recover increases your body’s ability to tolerate lactic acid and boosts cardiovascular function”, blimey! If you were looking for any reason to stick to a new regime the quote to love is, “Whatever your sport, success comes with season-long dedication to training”. A mantra indeed.

There’re also heaps of celebrity columnists, all with their own take on keeping fit and staying healthy. Essentially Bodyfit is a magazine where you can dive in and out of reading with relative ease. It’s been on my coffee table for over two weeks now, and every time I flick through it I find another interesting fact and article. If you’re looking for a good sports bra, they’ve reviewed them, if you want to eat for your body shape, there’s an article to help.

If you’re finding January too long and gloomy, and the cold is crushing your good intentions, then Bodyfit is the magazine for you, it injects a dose of multi-coloured, sunny inspiration.

THE THOOSA REVIEW

Thoosa reviews the November issue of Women's Running

It’s starting to get really chilly outside. If you’re looking for a reason to brave the elements then buy this magazine. The “25 Reasons to Love Running” will provide, well, 25 reasons as to why running is brilliant! Apart from the obvious (and pretty girly) fact that a 30 minute run burns, on average, the same number of calories as found in a bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk (always good to know), I also love the fact that, people who take part in ‘green exercise’ (outdoor exercise), feel less stressed and happier. Particularly, I’m also very found of fact 21. Apparently buying new running kit makes you feel more confident and happier on your run, ‘if you look like a runner, you’ll feel like a runner’. Thoosa couldn’t agree more! If you haven’t invested in some new kit for winter, then visit our wonderful online shop. I’ve got my eye on the Chill Zip in Rose, lovely.

There’s a fantastic article about speed sessions. Being a pretty novice runner the first time a friend mentioned the ‘Fartlek’ technique I think I spat out my tea. Anyway, Fartlek is Swedish for ‘speed play’ and is described as having ‘no prescriptive boundaries – it’s simply a continuous run’ I love this concept) interspersed with anything from sprinting to fast walking. The benefits of this are that you are pushed beyond your comfort zone and your overall endurance, pace and fitness should be enhanced. Personally I don’t feel ready to plan a speed session, but it’s nice to know that you can always develop as a runner, and that your routine can always be enhanced.

‘Playing It Safe’ is definitely worth a read if, like me, you mainly run alone. There are some incredibly valuable, straightforward precautionary tips that can be adopted to make you feel happier and more secure whilst pounding the pavements. Some tips may seem pretty simple but I certainly have felt more aware since reading this article, and that can’t be a bad thing.

The regular ‘health issues’ pages are factual as always. The snippets of information are a useful reminder of how you can improve you fitness and health without actually doing too much. I also love the ‘letters’ page. As we at Thoosa have found, sometimes it’s the real life stories from everyday runners who can inspire you the most. Larissa from London felt compelled to start running again, having stopped after being diagnosed with uterine cancer and having to undergo major therapy, after reading Women’s Running. If she’s braving the cold, I reckon I can too!

Verdict - a pretty motivational magazine. You can also visit the women’s running website at http://www.womensrunninguk.co.uk/

THE THOOSA REVIEW

Thoosa reviews the October issue of Men's Running

Having found Women’s Running to be such a great magazine we thought we’d take a sneak peak at the new boys version, the launch edition of Men’s Running. The UK’s first running magazine just for men.

I felt like a bit of a cheat reading this, I’m obviously (I hope obviously!) not the target audience. But I must admit I think women find it easier to read men’s magazines than the other way round. Our magazines seem to be packed with pictures of slim women, providing, apparent, inspiration. Men’s magazines are often packed full of pictures of the same (a weird world). Incredibly this one is not! In fact there were lots of lovely shots of men and their bulging calf muscles, enough to brighten up any grey Monday morning. In addition, it also provides a different approach, a different view of running.

Like its sister edition it’s full of interesting features, nutritional tips and expert knowledge. However, in contrast, instead of a “Weight Loss” section in the Contents page the men’s addition has a “Man vs Food” category, focussing on the “indisputable proof that (some) fat is the future”. Also, visually it seems to have more of an impact, the pictures are more dominant and overall the magazine seems less bitty. If weight loss isn’t your main objective for running then this magazine provides a refreshing alternative.

There are great articles which are definitely not for the exclusive interest of men. Being a huge fan of Ellie Goulding, and because I love running to music, I was really excited to read about her Run Into The Light mixtape. Made in collaboration with Radio 1’s Alex Metric, it’s intended to be the perfect, uplifting accompaniment to a half-hour run. I couldn’t wait to download it.

Most enjoyable was an article written about Chris Brasher. I’m ashamed to admit I knew nothing of this great runner, an Olympian and a true visionary. Having witnessed the New York marathon he, “pressured and persuaded the nation to accept running as a perfectly reasonable hobby”, the London marathon was born, and with it, a whole nation was inspired. The impact that this would have on the concept of running as a past-time, to the nation’s attitude to fitness, to its health, even to how it would raise money for charity cannot be underestimated. Reading about this man truly inspired me, not just to run but in my attitude and approach to my whole day. Exactly the sort of article I want from a magazine.

So, don’t be put off by the title. This magazine was great. Maybe I wouldn’t buy a copy for myself. I do think I’d stick to the Women’s edition. However, if I saw a copy lying around I would definitely read it again. Running is universal, not dependant on gender and inspiration can be found in lots of places, including this magazine.

THE THOOSA REVIEW

Thoosa reviews the October issue of Body Fit

A health magazine rather than specifically aimed at running, this was actually great to read after a run. Once the exhaustion has evaporated and the mental high kicks in, read this. You will think that you can tackle just about any sport or challenge. And you will be inspired to try many activities that you have perhaps only heard of.

There are fantastic articles ranging from the wonders of aqua aerobics to “Team Trails”, where Laura Jones this month tested out the new craze of a Jukari Fit to Flex class. The Jukari work-out focuses on graceful movements that aim to improve flexibility, coordination and muscle tone. The Jukari band, similar to a resistance band, was designed to enhance efforts in class by providing added tension, and it seemed to work. Laura rated the one hour class 5/5. From a running perspective this sounds like a fun work-out that would complement your cardio exercise and assist you in building up resistance and stretching. As Laura herself points out, these areas can often be neglected from a training perspective.

Amazingly the technique was inspired by Cirque du Soleil and it’s encouraged that whilst exercising you focus on the concept that the work-out is a performance as well as a fitness activity. This apparently keeps you focused on your posture and moving correctly. It definitely sounds intriguing, and certainly makes a change from the yoga-fanatics. If you decide to give this a go apparently you will be in good company, Kelly Brook and Helena Christensen are both said to be fans.

The “Fuel up” pages are excellent. As opposed to regular magazines (that often focuses on the latest diet) it’s refreshing to read health magazines. They seem to identify food as a fuel and identify the nutritional elements of the food, the benefits that you will feel and the obvious knock-on effects that eating it may have on your training.

My favourite fact in this issue is that a recent study suggests that chocolate milk may make a better post-workout drink than sports drink. Thank goodness for William Lunn from the University of Connecticut, the exercise scientist has found that the protein/carbohydrates combination found in low fat chocolate milk drinks are great for refuelling tired muscles, sounds good to me.

THE THOOSA REVIEW

This week thoosa reviews issue 9 of Women’s Running

This does exactly what it says on the tin. Devoted entirely to women’s running it covers topics from, whether mental strength will improve your running, to women who run in their fifties and sixties.

For true inspiration read the tear jerking article about a group of friends in training for the Brighton Marathon in memory of their quite incredible friend Nicole Dryburgh. Nicole passed away this year, having fought a ten-year battle, from the age of eleven, with cancer. During her ordeal Nicole managed to raise more than £100,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust. Her friends will be running to raise money for this charity.

When asked how she feels “before and after a run” Charlotte Moat, a friend of Nicole’s, answers “Physically, I can feel pretty exhausted after a run, but emotionally I’m on a high”. Surely every runner can relate to this feeling, but in Charlotte’s case perhaps she feels it more? As she says, “If I feel like giving up, I think about Nicole’s determination and push myself harder”. If you’ve ever thought about running for a charity then this article won’t fail to motivate you.

“Seven reasons why running is good for you” was another great article that endeavoured to address recent controversial claims that running is bad for you, made by Greg Brookes, a London-based fitness trainer. Women’s Running analysed Brookes’ claims and attempted to find out the truth from scientific experts. The article managed to debunk Greg Brookes’ claims and come up with some pretty interesting facts along the way.

If you’re looking to feel inspired or just for some great tips about something that you love, then this magazine is for you. There’s not one article or snippet of information that I didn’t find interesting. In fact, as opposed to the thousands of fashion magazines that I’ve read this was a refreshing change. It is definitely more than just a ten minute flick through and look at the pictures magazine. The regular “health issues” pages are packed full of useful contacts and snippets of knowledge. You will even find some yummy recipes that look delicious, are easy to follow, and (!) specifically state the running benefits in eating them.