"I'm trying to lose weight, so I always eat breakfast and just have fruit for lunch. But I come home from work quite hungry, and crash if I go for a run before dinner. Any suggestions for a quick energy hit that doesn't involve lots of calories

to retain, rather than excrete, fluid when you stop exercising.Snack attackWhip up your own energy bars with this simple recipe. Each bar is virtually fat-free, easy to digest and supplies 30g of carbohydrate - enough to fuel 30-60 minutes of hard running

Plyometrics n. A type of exercise training designed to produce fast, powerful movements and improve the functions of the nervous system, generally for the purpose of improving athletic performance. Or, if you like, the more explosively you can move

much energy is lost during foot contact," explains Dr Sharon Dixon, a senior lecturer in biomechanics at the University of Exeter.  "More energy is lost on less 'stiff' surfaces. A very soft surface like sand will dissipate more energy than Tarmac

Q I’m a bit overweight so I’ve taken up running. If I stick to the recommended 2,000kcal a day for a woman, will I lose weight? If I eat fewer calories presumably I’ll lose weight faster, but will I have enough energy to run?A Regular running

between 30 and 50 miles a week when their partner conceived.The study revealed that the non-runners and those covering less than 30 miles a week had a 62 per cent chance of fathering male offspring – compared to the average of 51 per cent for the general

, the threshold you should be most concerned with is your lactate threshold – the point at which, during exercise of increasing intensity, your blood-lactate level soars.When its energy demands are being met aerobically (with oxygen), your body produces little

's no surprise that the journal Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise reports that harder running surfaces are more often associated with injuries. But not all off-road surfaces have the same benefits. "Different surfaces influence how much energy is lost

’d use about three to four times as much energy as you would if you cycled at the same speed. Depending on your fitness, you’ll find that you’ll be able to cycle at between 150 and 250 per cent of your running pace. So if you usually run at seven miles

reducing your planned training sessions. The freedom that comes from not running as much can mean you have energy to burn and time to kill, but don't neglect these key areas during your two-week countdown:Training Get plenty of rest - don't do all the odd