Get Active Q&A’s | Ask Earle your questions

Which home exercise can help me lose weight?

If your aim is to lose weight it is best to incorporate some aerobic exercises into your routine. These will help to get the heart rate and breathing... Read the full answer 〉

I injured my calf muscle a few weeks ago and have been doing walking instead of running, as well as lots of stretching in my rest period. I recently returned to running but after a few runs I had pain in my calf muscle again. What should I be doing in my rest period to prevent further injury?

Hi there, rest after an injury will really depend on the severity of the problem. The fact that you have injured your muscle so soon after the... Read the full answer 〉

How many runs should I do a week? I do about four at the moment and I wondered if that was too much.

I would never want to discourage anyone from exercising, especially if it is an activity they really enjoy. However, I would tend to suggest that... Read the full answer 〉

Why do my toes get numb when running?

This is actually a pretty common occurrence and there are a few things that could be causing it: - The fit of your shoes It is most likely that your... Read the full answer 〉

What could be causing my knee pain when running? I don’t feel it at any other time, only when I get a couple of miles into my run.

This could be down to a few things: - Your running shoes. Old shoes, cheap shoes and even the wrong kind of shoes (wearing gym trainers rather than... Read the full answer 〉

I cannot put any weight on my knees. Are there any exercises I can do without getting down to floor level? I have osteoarthritis.

The most obvious options are low impact activities such as walking (especially on flat ground!), golf or maybe even a bit of dance! YouTube is a... Read the full answer 〉

Could you suggest any exercises for posture? Ideally it would be good to have some that don't involve me having to get on the floor.

Movements like plank and cat-cow are ideal for improving posture, however, if you are looking for exercises that don't involve getting down on... Read the full answer 〉

I would like to do some exercising in the house. What can you suggest?

There are so many options! Exercise videos are perhaps the most obvious option. You can check out our own ones here, or have a look on YouTube. Here... Read the full answer 〉

I am diabetic. What kind of exercise can I do?

I would suggest that you do regular bouts of exercise. So, first of all, aim for 10-20 minutes a day of things like walking or cycling, gradually... Read the full answer 〉

I exercise on a regular basis and do a lot of walking but I don’t seem to be getting fitter. I am also tired a lot of the time. Since my body is not responding to my current regime, I wondered what else you could suggest?

If we stick to the same exercise routine week after week, the body gets used to doing those activities and we are less likely to see improvements to... Read the full answer 〉

I am 14 and run regularly but recently I have been experiencing extreme leg fatigue. It gets so bad that I have to cut my runs short and its very frustrating. I do lots of stretching beforehand but still feel stiff and sore. Please help!

There could be a few factors involved here. First of all, it is really important to fuel up properly before attempting a big run in order to sustain... Read the full answer 〉

I’m using an exercise bike at home but I want to lose some more weight. What shall I do please?

Hi there, first of all I would recommend reading my blog 'Easy ways to exercise at home' for some ideas on how to stay active without... Read the full answer 〉

How much exercise do you have to do?

Generally, we should aim for 150 minutes of exercise a week. This should be something that gets the heart and breathing rate up, such as running or... Read the full answer 〉

I’ve noticed that I’ve recently gained weight on my underarms. I do power-walking regularly to keep fit but would like to have more strength in my arms. What do you recommend?

It's great that you are keeping fit through regular, fast-paced walking but if you are looking to tone up your arms a little, you may want to... Read the full answer 〉

I am diabetic and have a lot of belly fat that I need to get rid of. What can I do?

There are lots of exercises that can help tackle belly fat, as I discuss in my blog 'Best exercises for weight loss'. This piece offers... Read the full answer 〉

Is it a good idea to start exercising when you have the cold?

In general, I would not recommend exercising if you have a cold. This could make you feel worse, there is the risk you'll pass it on to someone... Read the full answer 〉

Since lockdown I have had stiff joints. I haven’t been doing as much running and wondered if this could be the cause?

Stiffness could be down to various factors including, as you mention, a change in your exercise routine. Also, as we are all spending more time at... Read the full answer 〉

How can exercise help mental health?

The research into this topic is ongoing and the conclusion so far is that exercise can be very good for our mental help for a whole host of reasons.... Read the full answer 〉

Can exercise help IBS?

Yes, exercise is thought to help IBS. Our Digestion advisor Ali has actually written extensively on this topic – 'IBS? Can exercise... Read the full answer 〉

What exercise burns the most fat?

First of all, any new exercise you add to your routine can have a positive impact on your body weight, provided it is combined with a healthy diet.... Read the full answer 〉

How can I be more active?

There are so many ways you can add more activity to your routine! Something as simple as walking 15 minutes away from your house and then returning... Read the full answer 〉

Exercise makes me tired

If you are struggling with fatigue after your workouts, you may benefit from trying Balance Mineral Drink. This contains zinc, calcium, potassium and... Read the full answer 〉

Do painkillers help sore muscles after exercise?

If you haven't exercised in while, are new to a particular activity or have done a more strenuous activity than your body is used to, it will... Read the full answer 〉

I run a lot and quite often when I am out, I get the urgency to use the toilet. What could be causing this do you think?

This can often be linked to magnesium deficiency, which shows up in runners after a while if they are not taking care in supplementing it. Most of... Read the full answer 〉

What is the best exercise for low mood?

First of all, I would say that any exercise can help to improve mood and energy levels. Therefore, the best advice I can offer is try to focus on... Read the full answer 〉

Hello! I am 14 years old and I have been running for almost 3 years now. I haven’t ever experienced leg fatigue before but lately, almost immediately, my legs start to feel so heavy. I often have to quite my run because I can’t move my legs any further. They feel tired and stiff. I do plenty of stretching before. It really messes up my running routine because I plan for 3 or 4 miles and I only end up running. Please help! I don’t know what to do it’s very frustrating.

Hi there, I am sorry to hear about this problem. There could be a few factors involved. First of all, it is really important to fuel up properly... Read the full answer 〉

I have lower back pain. I do physical exercise nearly every morning (press ups, squats) and walk 1 kilometer in the evening. However, when I sit, and sometimes when I wake up in the morning, I feel terrible back pain. It does ease a little after I get moving and I already try to sleep on my back. Can you advise me on what other exercises I can add to my routine?

Hi there, I am sorry to hear about this issue. It sounds like you are taking the right steps to try and manage it by sleeping on your back and... Read the full answer 〉

I've started doing Parkrun at the weekend and wonder what is the best breakfast too have before I run. Also, should it be eaten an hour before or sooner? I vary it between boiled eggs or porridge or even just banana. Many thanks.

These foods are all good, healthy options to choose before a run. If you are having something more filling such as porridge, though, it is best to... Read the full answer 〉

Will exercise help a hangover?

I wouldn't recommend exercising when you are hungover. You are likely to be a bit dehydrated after consuming lots of alcohol and obviously we... Read the full answer 〉

What exercise can I do with a sprained ankle? I injured it a week ago whilst playing hockey and it is still painful.

I would not recommend that you do any exercise so soon after your injury. It usually takes a couple of weeks for a sprained ankle to feel better and,... Read the full answer 〉

What exercise is best for weight loss?

Any exercise that not only gets your heart rate and breathing up, but is also done on a regular basis, is likely to help manage weight. Some popular... Read the full answer 〉

Are exercise bikes good for losing weight? I was thinking of getting one so that I can exercise at home.

First of all, any type of exercise can help to manage weight, provided it is done on a regular basis. Therefore, if you want to get an exercise bike... Read the full answer 〉

Will exercise help my anxiety?

There is some research, as well as anecdotal evidence, to suggest that exercise can help anxiety. Basically, exercise helps to produce chemicals... Read the full answer 〉

I want to exercise but don’t know where to start.

If you are new to exercising, start out with an activity that you can easily incorporate into your daily routine. This could be something as simple... Read the full answer 〉

I am a full-time carer and am limited in terms of how much exercise I can do away from home. Can you give me any advice on how to stay active when I am unable to travel to classes or get outside much?

Hi there, I think you would benefit from trying some of our exercise videos - simply clear some space in your living room or, if the weather's... Read the full answer 〉

I hurt my calf 3 weeks ago and have not run since the injury. I am able to jump and do weight training as usual now, so I'm wondering if I can slowly return to running now.

How much time you take out will really depend on what kind of injury it was you had in the first place, as well as the severity of it. Without... Read the full answer 〉

I am overweight and need some assistance in finding out how to lose weight healthily. I try to eat well and am naturally quite well built.

When it comes to weight management, we'd want to start with exercise – you didn't mention this in your email so I'm not sure how... Read the full answer 〉

I have tendonitis in my glutes, especially the left one. It is painful when I am walking so I would like to know what other exercises I do without making my tendonitis worse?

In cases of tendonitis it is generally recommended that we rest for up to 2-3 days after the injury has occurred to avoid causing further, possibly... Read the full answer 〉

I’m an 80 year old woman. I am fit and walk very slowly with an old dog. I need to exercise more. Suggestions welcomed please.

It sounds like you are doing your best to stay active – walking at any pace will be beneficial! If you want to do more exercise, think about... Read the full answer 〉

My husband and I are suffering from exhaustion and tiredness after a long bout of flu. Although we must walk the dog regularly, we don’t feel like doing much on top of this. What would you recommend to help build up our energy levels again?

I am sorry to hear that you and your husband are suffering from a virus. Walking is a great way to stay active at this time and I appreciate that you... Read the full answer 〉

I know that exercise is about keeping fit but what other benefits does it bring?

There are so many more benefits to be gained from exercise than just staying fit! - It produces feel-good hormones that benefit mood, as well... Read the full answer 〉

I have shoulder pain which I think is a result of an old sporting injury. Are there any activities I can do without making the pain worse?

Before I get on to discussing exercises to help this problem I would just like to recommend that you visit your doctor to get the issue checked out!... Read the full answer 〉

I find I just don’t have much time to exercise when I’m working and taking the kids to and from places. Have you got any tips that might help me do more?

Hi there, this is a big problem for many people nowadays – our busy lives make it near impossible to take time out for ourselves to exercise. You... Read the full answer 〉

How much time should I take between my workouts to rest and recover?

I recently wrote about this topic in my blog ‘Why is recovery important after exercise?’ It is generally recommended that we take two days to... Read the full answer 〉

I want to lose weight. How much will cycling help me with this?

First off, any kind of exercise will help you lose weight, provided it is accompanied by a healthy diet so remember to consider this when making a... Read the full answer 〉

I have an old bike sitting in the garage and would really like to use it more. Have you got any tips on to get me started?

The great thing about cycling is that as long as you have a helmet and your bike is in good working order then there really is nothing stopping you... Read the full answer 〉

How do I run faster?

A good way to increase your speed when running is to split up your training session. 1. Do a short warm up 2. Follow this with a slow run lasting... Read the full answer 〉

How long does it take to train for a 10K?

How long it takes to train for a 10k will depend on your fitness levels and your running experience. A beginner should expect it to take between 8-10... Read the full answer 〉

I would really like to start running to improve my fitness but I have no idea where to start. Have you got any tips?

If you haven’t done much running before then a treadmill is a good place to start. Begin with short runs and then work up the length and intensity... Read the full answer 〉

How much exercise do I need to do on a weekly basis?

How much exercise you should do really depends on your age and abilities. In general though, healthy adults between the ages of 19-64 should try to... Read the full answer 〉

I would like to exercise more but I’m not sure where to start. Can you help?

If you’re new to exercise, or are picking up after some time out, I’d recommend you start small and work your way up. So, choose your activity,... Read the full answer 〉

I am looking for a low cost workout. What would you suggest?

When it comes to low cost workouts there are so many options and what you choose to do will depend on your own interests and ambitions. There... Read the full answer 〉

I am a very active person and exercise multiple times a week, but I can’t seem to boost my stamina levels what can I do?

Running and cycling are both sports that require stamina; however, this is something that takes time and persistence. Interval training is a great... Read the full answer 〉

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