There’s a lot of time wasted at the gym. When you arrive there after a long day at the office, it’s easy to lollygag as you mentally unwind from the workday. But we all know that fitness isn’t the only important matter you need to attend to. Family, friends, and cooking nutritious meals all take up what precious few moments you have left outside of work.

When it comes to a healthy lifestyle, exercise is undoubtedly important. But is there ever a time when it’s best to skip a workout session or two? While it may sound surprising, sometimes that’s exactly what you should do. If you’re trying to reach your optimal health, exercise isn’t always the answer.

The world is trending away from the ideal body being a skinny one or that a woman should starve herself in order to be beautiful. The fitness magazine ‘Women’s Health’ recently joined in this "real-body" movement by banning the phrases “bikini body” and “drop two sizes” from its publication.

A flat stomach. You want it and it’s easy to see why. There is nothing better than going to the beach in a bikini and making everyone’s head turn. And with winter nearly upon us, you have time to get that dream body before your Spring Break or summer excursions to the beach.

Now that Labor Day has come and gone, it is time to put away that bikini for another summer. Unfortunately for most ladies, it also signifies the time of year when workouts and diets fall by the wayside until it's time to make those New Year’s resolutions again.

We get it - it’s hard to build health and wellness into your modern lifestyle. We all lead busy, largely sedentary lives, and all too often it can feel like there just aren’t enough hours in the day to get everything done - perhaps even before you’ve given thought to exercise or other activities that contribute to your own wellbeing and mindfulness.

The idea of not losing any weight after long sessions of vigorous workouts is horrible - especially for those who stick firmly to their diet plans and workout schedules. Some may relate the lack of weight loss to their excessive eating habits, but there are actually several other factors that contribute to losing weight.

It's easy to put off getting fit until tomorrow. "I'll start a diet tomorrow!", people cry. "I'll begin my new exercise regime tomorrow, as I'm not quite ready today." It's amazing how adept we are at delay tactics when it comes to putting off something that either intimidates us or overwhelms us.

Never has keeping in shape been as dynamic and exciting as it is right now. There are so many different ways to work out and an incredible range of training styles. Knowledge about how what we do affects our bodies, as well as our minds, is increasing, inspiring a wave of really positive developments in the keep fit industry.

Over-indulging on an excess of fattening foods, lack of activity, and grazing on snacks; it is little wonder that so many women come out the other side of the festive season feeling bloated and in need of some TLE - some tender loving exercise! However, different eating patterns and a less healthy lifestyle over the holidays do not just affect weight-gain and can have a greater impact on women than just a few extra pounds.