ASK ANYTHING
Is it really trickier to get back in shape after having kids?
Are spin classes bad for your back?
When your body creates and carries an entire human, it’s obviously going to go through some serious changes. But does that mean your figure is a whole different ball game for good? According to Sarah Lindsay, former Olympian and founder of Roar Fitness (roarfitness.com), getting lean isn’t more challenging post-pregnancy than before and, if you’re breastfeeding, you can burn through an extra 300-500 calories per day. ‘Just after giving birth, your oestrogen levels are low, so you naturally lose more weight,’ says Lindsay. ‘But once you’ve stopped breastfeeding, levels will return to normal.’ If you were in good shape before your pregnancy – and maintained a pregnancy-friendly fitness regime – your body is well prepped to return to form. Most women find the biggest difference is that it’s not as easy to make time for workouts or to channel the energy needed to exercise. Other inevitable lifestyle changes can also hinder your gains. If you’re not sleeping as much, for example, your metabolism will be slower. Lindsay’s advice? Chill out and do what you can when you can. More importantly, don’t worry about what others are doing. Chest press can wait – time spent enjoying your children can’t.
QCan blue light make winter feel less depressing?
Yes, actually – or so suggests new research. In one study, Danish scientists noted that starting the day with bright bluish-white light can alleviate depression as effectively as prescription medication. A separate study* found that people hospitalised with depression recovered quicker if their room was sunny. Serious results – so what’s going on? ‘Internal clocks run slightly longer than 24 hours and require a daily dose of blue morning light to help them sync up with our 24-hour environment,’ explains Dr Vikki Revell from the University of Surrey. ‘In winter, without natural blue light, your body clock is pushed back, so a lot of people have trouble getting up and struggle with a lower mood than usual.’ The good news? When it’s absent naturally, you can still benefit from a wash of blue light via artificial means, such as Lumie’s new, portable Vitamin L SAD light (£75, lumie. com). If good lighting can help with hospital-grade mental illness, just imagine its impact on your morning zombie vibes.
QSpin classes leave my back sore. Are they bad for you?
Nope – but it might be worth thinking about your technique. ‘Riding in the traditional cycling position – leaning forward while sitting down – puts pressure on your lumbar spine,’ says Naomi White, instructor at London’s Boom Cycle. ‘Ask your instructor to raise the seat to your hip height so you don’t hyperextend your back to reach the handlebars.’ Speaking of which, the bars should be just above seat height and a forearm’s length away from your body (so your fingertips are just touching the edge of the bars). Tight muscles in your lower back can lead to pain, too. ‘Hip flexors are susceptible to shortening and tightening if you sit at a desk all day – and riding has the same effect,’ says White. The fix? Stretch properly before and after – and some lowintensity, flexibility-enhancing exercise elsewhere in your sched won’t hurt. Pushing hard at the expense of form (straight arms, engaged core, chest forward) is a mug’s game: if you’re so exhausted that you’re all rounded back and hunched shoulders, ease up.