THE PERFECT WORKOUT PLAYLIST

Have you got to the gym and realised your headphones are at home, and felt like your world was ending? Yeah, us too. Music can make or break your workout, and can be the motivation you need to work out at all. A recent study by MINDBODY revealed that 25% of us use ‘general lack of motivation’ as the main reason we might not hit our fitness goals this year, so music is important. Making the right playlist can be a nightmare, though. If you’re looking for energetic, pump-inducing beats, why not try Pinnacles by Four Tet, Freaks by Timmy Trumpet, Run Boy Run by Woodkid or Play by Jaz Jones. Other good additions include Losing It by Fisher, Differentology by Bunji Garlin and Old Friend by Elderbrook. You’re welcome!

MINDBODY revealed that 25% of us use ‘general lack of motivation’ as the main reason we might not hit our fitness goals this year.

SEPARATE WORKOUTS

We’re certainly not a nation of hopeless romantics, especially when we work out. A new study from MoneySavingHeroes.co.uk discovered that two thirds (66%) of us don’t want to use the same gym as our partner. When asked why, 61% said they felt too self-conscious to work out in front of our other half. Even more disheartening perhaps, is that 40% admitted they went to a separate gym so they could check out other people without worrying about their partner catching them. Overall, most of those who responded to the survey agreed that the gym was a great place to meet new people, with 34% even suggesting people could meet potential love interests. We won’t suggest trying to find a new partner at the gym, but having a few pals to work out with makes sticking to your fitness plans a lot easier.

61% of us said they felt too self-conscious to work out in front of our other half.

RUN ON AN INCLINE

We’re not all built to run. If flat-running doesn’t interest you, have you considered running on an incline? We spoke to Fight City Gym to find out why it needs to be part of our routine. A big reason for us is building strength – running uphill changes the behaviour of muscle engagement, and needs a lot of strength to maintain. The more you do it, the stronger you get. You’ll also get faster, by developing the explosive power in your leg muscles. High-speed interval sprints are perfect for this. Added bonuses include burning more calories, and reducing your risk of injury – increasing treadmill incline by 3% reduces the impact on your legs by 24%. And finally, incline running lets you workout for less time, because you get twice the benefits than flat-running offers. We’re in!

Increasing treadmill incline by 3% reduces the impact on your legs by 24%