Have you looked inside your water bottle? I was shocked and disgusted by what I found in mine

I stared into the abyss, and the abyss stared back – mouldily. This is what happens when you forget basic hygiene, writes Arwa Mahdawi

Is it true that … we should all be taking creatine?

The supplement is a proven sports performance enhancer, but research is ongoing and for most people it’s an optional extra, not an essential

‘My body is fat, not wrong’: how body neutrality – not positivity – helped me shed a lifetime of shame

If I’d been taught this way of thinking as a child, I can’t begin to imagine how much easier things could have been

After three days here I felt like an Olympic athlete: the Montenegro hotel designed for fitness and wellbeing

With state-of-the-art fitness and spa facilities onsite and everything from hiking to kayaking the beautiful Bay of Kotor, it’s a perfect base for an active break

Seven essential gadgets to live with when you have back pain, from grabbers to lap desks

When I slipped a disc, I discovered an array of gadgets that help take a load off your back and solve the constraints of limited mobility

From mountain photography to ice-climbing – try it all at this summer festival in the French Alps

Improve your mountain skills by day and party by night at the Arc’teryx Alpine Academy in Chamonix

Very difficult and extremely cool: how to start doing pull-ups

Long considered an important milestone in one’s fitness journey, pull-ups build upper body strength and look impressive in the gym

Put those weights down! How ‘eccentric’ exercise opens up a whole new world of fitness

For years we have been told the best way to get fitter and stronger is to lift something heavy, whether that’s a barbell or our own bodyweight. What if how we put it down was just as important?

All the right moves! 17 personal trainers on the exercise they always recommend – from planks to face pulls

Whether you are starting from scratch, or have a well-honed routine, moving can help us feel happier and healthier. Experts share their one essential exercise and how to get the most out of it

Is it true that … it’s harder for women to build muscle than men?

Men tend to have a higher ratio of muscle to fat, but women respond just as well to resistance training

‘A buff is so versatile’: running essentials for your first marathon – and what you don’t need

Inspired to run your first 26.2 miles? Seasoned runners share their go-to kit, from race-day shoes to free apps (plus five UK marathons you can still enter)

Socialising, work, exercise: what makes a good day and is there a ‘formula’ for making it better?

Researchers have figured out which activities, and in what volume, are linked to people reporting having a good day. We challenge three writers to follow the blueprint for improving their daily grind

The best barefoot shoes in the UK – tried and tested for comfort and support

They’re the divisive footwear that many swear by, but which barefoot shoes are comfy enough for running and hiking? Our writer spent three months finding out

‘Wild west’ reformer pilates boom is causing rise in injuries, experts warn

Lack of regulation for specialist classes leaves UK fitness enthusiasts at risk, say professional bodies

‘As soon as I left the first session I felt taller’: is reformer pilates as amazing – or awful – as they say?

One of the fastest-growing fitness trends is also one of the most divisive. To its fans, it promises a stronger, healthier body; to its critics, it’s another way to make women feel insecure. Time to sort fact from fiction