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INSIGHT. Noun. The capacity to gain an accurate, deep and sometimes sudden understanding of someone or something.

Knowledge is power. We want everyone to have access to the experts in the room. Get to know what’s real and what’s a gimmick with our in-depth articles, and start bossing your health and fitness today.
INSIGHT. Noun. The capacity to gain an accurate, deep and sometimes sudden understanding of someone or something.

Knowledge is power. We want everyone to have access to the experts in the room. Get to know what’s real and what’s a gimmick with our in-depth articles, and start bossing your health and fitness today.
The Best Gym Exercises for Beginners

The Best Gym Exercises for Beginners

Starting out in the gym can feel overwhelming. There’s no shortage of advice telling you what you should be doing, from new exercises to new machines and new programmes. The sources of this advice often promise better results faster than ever if you just buy into their fancy new product and it can all seem a bit complex, especially for a gym newbie. In reality, effective beginner training is far simpler than it looks. For most people new to the gym, the most effective exercises are built around five foundational movements: the squat, deadlift, row, overhead press, and bench press. These movements and their variants form the core of nearly all well-designed training programmes. Whether you’re a bodybuilder, powerlifter, sport focussed or just someone that wants to lose weight and get a bit fitter, these are the exercises that give you the most bang for your buck. They also have real world benefits[1] outside of the gym and learning how to do them safely and effectively is beneficial for everyone. The principles in this guide reflect how experienced strength coaches approach beginner training: prioritising simple, proven movements that build confidence, strength, and long-term resilience. We’ll explain why these exercises matter, how beginners can approach them safely, and how to build an effective training routine around them. How to approach your training as a beginner in the gym One of the biggest misconceptions about beginner training is that progress comes from doing more. More exercises, more variety, more complexity. In practice, the opposite is usually true. Beginners tend to make faster and more sustainable progress by focusing on a small number of well-chosen exercises, learning them properly, and applying progressive overload[2], or the process of steadily increasing the intensity or difficulty of your workouts over time. This might be through increasing weight, more sets/reps, reducing your rest time between sets or even improving your technique and form. Strength, coordination, and confidence are built over time with consistent effort, not through constantly switching things up and never mastering the basics. This approach is about creating a solid foundation for everything else to build on. Be mindful of where your fitness advice comes from The modern fitness space is noisy. Social media, apps, and online programmes offer an endless stream of workouts, hacks, and shortcuts but many these are poorly explained, poorly evidenced, or simply unsuitable for beginners. It can be tough to sort through the static and know what works for you, even for experienced gymgoers! When you’re new to training, it’s especially important to be selective about where your information comes from. Exercises and principles that stand the test of time usually do so for a reason. Movements that are widely used in strength training, rehabilitation, and athletic preparation are typically supported by decades of practical experience and scientific understanding. As a general rule, beginner training works best when it prioritises: Evidence-led principles Exercises that train multiple muscles and joints Gradual progression rather than constant change If something promises dramatic results through complexity alone, it’s rarely the best place to start. In general, be mindful of those who claim they can get you fast results with minimal effort; the reality is that real, sustainable progress comes slowly and consistently over time and learning to enjoy the journey is key! The KISS principle: why simplicity works A useful way to think about beginner training is the KISS principle[3] – it means Keep It Simple Stupid, Sweetie or some other variation of this. The principle applies well throughout your training career, even as you progress into more advanced or challenging training, and relates back to that ideology that the core of your training should always revolve around simple, effective exercises done well in a way that challenges you. It’s easy to think of simplicity as a lack of sophistication, but it’s actually a deliberate strategy. Repeating a small number of key exercises allows beginners to learn core movement patterns quickly and track progress clearly. You’ll find your confidence building and see your physical capabilities in daily life improving too! Rather than jumping between workouts, the KISS approach encourages mastery. Each session reinforces the last, making improvements easier to measure and sustain. The five exercises below aren’t random. Together, they cover the most important movement patterns the body needs to be strong, capable, and resilient. Remember, these exercises aren’t just for beginners Although this guide is written with beginners in mind, the exercises below are not “starter” movements that you leave behind as you progress. The squat, deadlift, row, overhead press, and bench press form the foundation of effective training at every level, from general fitness and bodybuilding to powerlifting and sport-specific performance. What changes over time isn’t the movement itself, but how it’s applied. Load increases, variations become more specific, and training goals evolve. The underlying movement patterns remain the same. Mastering these exercises early on can help to accelerate progress. The time spent building sound technique and strength carries forward into every future phase of training. Free weights vs machines Many people gravitate towards machines when they first join a gym. They can feel safer, more controlled, and easier to use and they absolutely have their place, particularly early on. In fact, studies have found the machines build the same amount of muscle and strength as free weights[4] in many circumstances. That said, free weight exercises offer distinct advantages when introduced appropriately. Unlike machines, free weights require your body to stabilise the load. This leads to: Greater activation of supporting muscles Strengthening of surrounding connective tissue Improved balance, coordination, and body awareness These benefits translate more directly to movements we all perform every day, such as lifting, carrying, pushing, and pulling. For those interested in weightlifting and other sports, free weights are also essential because they directly impact performance improvements. To put this simply: if you want to get better at bench press, you need to be bench pressing! The same applies to other sports too; if you’re going to be using a specific muscle group then using free weight exercises to strengthen it will have huge benefits. In summary, machines can be a useful tool, but learning to control your body and external load in space is a skill that pays dividends long-term. For most beginners, free weight training provides greater carryover beyond the gym. The five foundational gym exercises The exercises below form a simple but powerful framework for training at any level. You don’t need to start with heavy weights or advanced variations; the priority is learning the movement well. Each exercise has accessible variations and clear progression paths, making them suitable for beginners and effective for years to come. The squat The squat is the foundation of overall lower body strength[5] and teaches one of the most fundamental human movements: sitting down and standing up under control. It develops strength in the quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, and core, while also improving balance and joint coordination. Learning to squat well builds confidence and lays the groundwork for nearly all lower-body training. As a newcomer to the gym, start simple and squat with your bodyweight. Focus on good form and depth, keeping your knees tracking in line with your toes and sitting backwards with your weight distributed evenly[6] over the middle of your feet. Think of it like you’re forming a tripod between the ball of your foot, the area by your pinky toe and your heel. Start with a shoulder width foot placement and together, these two points will give you the most stability. If you’re looking for more advice, we’ve written a full guide on how to squat correctly. Once you’ve mastered the bodyweight squat you can start to try new variations. Natural progressions from here are the goblet squat, where you squat holding a dumbbell, or varying your foot placement to emphasise different muscles (for example, a closer stance places more tension on the quads). When you’re comfortable with this, you can progress to a bar and slowly begin adding more load. The goal early on is control and consistency, not how much weight you can lift. Never sacrifice proper depth or form for more load as this can lead to injury and will actually result in less muscle stimulation and, therefore, less results. The deadlift Often referred to as the king of all movements and for good reason, the deadlift focuses on the hip hinge, a crucial movement pattern for lifting objects from the floor safely. It primarily trains the glutes, hamstrings, and back, while reinforcing good posture and spinal stability, but did you know the deadlift works almost every muscle in the body[7]? Done correctly, it teaches beginners how to generate strength without unnecessary strain. It also has some of the greatest functional benefits and carryover to everyday life of any gym exercise. Think about how often you need to pick things up every day; the deadlift teaches you how to do this safely and efficiently. To deadlift, place your feet around hip-width apart. Keep your chest pushed out to help your back stay straight. Hinge forward at the hips and bend your knees only as far as you need to meet the bar, then grip just outside of your legs. The deadlift is a pulling movement, but it can be helpful to think about pushing the ground away from you by driving through your feet to get the bar moving off the ground. Once you’re past your knees, think about pushing your hips forward into the bar to finish the movement. To lower the weight, simply reverse the movement. The deadlift is an exercise with (quite literally) a lot of moving parts, and it can be hard to execute for those with mobility issues. Fortunately, there are plenty of beginner friendly alternatives if you can’t do the full deadlift right away. You could try a rack pull or raised bar deadlift, where you begin with the weight slightly higher and operate within a reduced range of motion. You can then increase this over time until you can pull from the floor. You could also try deadlifting with a kettlebell, or even attempt the sumo variation, where your feet are placed wider and your hands grip inside of your legs. The row For strength in your upper back and improving posture issues so often caused by working an office job and being sat at a desk all day, the row is the perfect exercise. Rows train the muscles of the upper back and arms, supporting good posture and shoulder health. They also synergise perfectly with the deadlift, and you’ll find that improving in one almost always benefits the other. There are many variations of the row; you could go for the bent over barbell row or use a dumbbell to isolate each side of your body (known as unilateral training[8]). There’s also kettlebells, machines and more – the possibilities truly are endless! One thing these movements all have in common is that they involve pulling something towards you. Whichever variation of the row you choose, focus on retracting your shoulder first as this helps to target the back over the arms. Many gymgoers find their arms tiring first and that’s usually because they haven’t learnt to target their back with the proper movement! Something else that’s important to consider is that rows balance pressing movements and play an important role in long-term joint resilience. For beginners, they help develop control through the shoulder blades and reinforce upper body pulling strength. The overhead press The overhead press, often known as the military press, develops shoulder strength while engaging the core and upper back for stability. It teaches coordination between the upper body and trunk, making it a valuable full-body exercise rather than just a shoulder movement. Pressing from a standing position, especially with a bar, requires good posture and overall body strength to be able to get the weight to the starting position. If you’re struggling with this then there are plenty of variations you can try instead. Beginners may start with seated dumbbell presses, landmine presses, or lighter barbell variations, progressing as technique improves. Whichever variant of the shoulder press you choose, one universally useful tip is to focus on pressing through the shoulders. This helps with maximum muscle activation and therefore gives the most benefit from the exercise. The bench press Ah, the bench press. It’s one of the most well-known gym exercises, most likely because it’s gained a bit of a reputation as being exclusively for men overly concerned about their appearance. In truth, when approached correctly, it’s a highly effective movement that anyone can benefit from. It develops strength in the chest, shoulders, and triceps while teaching control through the upper body. Pressing movements are one of the most common that we do in daily life and the bench press assists with these, but it also improves shoulder mobility and helps us bring our arms across our bodies, meaning being good at the bench press helps with our overall mobility. The premise of the movement itself is fairly simple, though mastering it requires plenty of practice and dedication. To perform the bench press, lay flat on the bench facing upwards and take a comfortable grip, usually somewhere around shoulder width apart. Take the weight, then lower it under control to your chest and press upwards, engaging your chest, shoulders and triceps. Try to get all the way down if your mobility allows. If not, focus on improving this until you’re able to perform the full range of motion. If the bar proves too tough, then try either a dumbbell or machine variant first as these will allow a bit more freedom of movement. Dumbbells can actually be more effective for building strength in the stabilising muscles around your chest. Regardless of the variation you choose, experiment with different levels of incline and decline to shift the focus to different areas of your chest when you feel ready to do so. As with all pressing movements, balanced pulling work (such as rows) is key to keeping shoulders healthy. Honourable mention: the pull-up While not included as one of the above core exercises, the pull up is widely regarded as one of the best indicators of overall upper body strength and is a valuable long-term goal for many beginners. It develops vertical pulling strength and upper-body control. Variations such as lat pulldowns, assisted pull-ups, band-assisted reps, and controlled negatives allow beginners to work towards full pull-ups progressively. Rather than a requirement, the pull-up works best as a milestone and something to build towards over time. When you do your first one unassisted, it feels fantastic and is a great achievement! How to build a beginner programme around these exercises These movements work best when repeated regularly rather than rotated constantly. For most beginners, training three to four times per week[9] is sufficient. Sessions can be structured as full-body workouts or simple upper/lower splits. A typical session might include: One lower-body movement (squat or deadlift) One pushing exercise One pulling exercise This structure keeps training focused, balanced, and sustainable, while making progress easy to track. Common beginner mistakes to avoid Some of the most common barriers to progress include: Changing exercises too frequently – Remember, consistency always wins over constant variation. You’ll sometimes hear the term ‘muscle confusion’ banded around but don’t listen; this isn’t a ‘real’ concept at all. Yes, you need to keep challenging yourself to progress but that’s the point – muscles don’t need confusion[10], they need progression! Doing too much, too soon – The gym can become addictive really fast! And sure, it’s great for you both physically and mentally, but you need to make sure you’re pacing yourself. Overtraining is a very real issue and you need to listen to your body. Take it steady, enjoy the journey and watch as you transform over time! Chasing soreness rather than consistency – This is a big one. A common misconception is that sore muscles means a good workout, it doesn’t! Instead, focus on your progression both inside the gym and in the mirror. If your appearance is changing for the better or your lifts, endurance or technique are improving then this is a much better indicator of good training! Neglecting rest and recovery – Perhaps the most important of all. Growth and progress doesn’t happen in the gym, it happens outside of it. Your training is just the stimulus. It’s what you do to support it that affects the results you get. Ensuring you get enough rest between your sessions and put effort into proper recovery and nutrition is crucial. Strength develops through repetition, patience, and gradual progression. The basics work best when given time to do so. Supporting your training outside the gym Training is only one part of the equation. How you recover, fuel, and support your body outside the gym plays a major role in how well you progress. Adequate protein intake supports muscle repair and adaptation, particularly when learning new movements and building strength for the first time. Sleep, stress management, and overall nutrition all influence energy levels, recovery, and consistency. As with training, the goal isn’t complexity, it’s reliability. Supporting your body consistently allows the work you do in the gym to have its intended effect. Fortunately, at Innermost, we have an entire range of science backed products built solely with your performance and wellbeing in mind. For the ultimate protein for strength, try The Strong Protein and see how its innovative blend of top quality ingredients helps you to make the most of your training and maximise your results. In the market for something else? Check out our other products to find one which is right for you and your goals. Build your foundation Beginner training doesn’t need to be complicated to be effective. By focusing on a small number of proven exercises, filtering out unnecessary noise, and committing to consistency, you give yourself the best possible platform for long-term progress. Master the basics, build patiently, and you’ll carry the benefits of these movements through every stage of your training journey. [1] https://www.bupa.co.uk/newsroom/ourviews/healthy-weightlifting [2] https://health.clevelandclinic.org/progressive-overload [3] https://thejoyoflifting.com/the-kiss-method-of-maintaining-strength/ [4] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10426227/ [5] https://www.stonarke.com/blogs/articles/squat-foundation-performance-injury-prevention [6] https://www.garagestrength.com/blogs/news/how-to-squat-technique-improvements-common-mistakes [7] https://www.menshealth.com/uk/building-muscle/a64160698/what-muscles-do-deadlifts-work/ [8] https://hevycoach.com/glossary/unilateral-training/ [9] https://www.riotstrong.com/blog/how-often-should-beginners-work-out [10] https://trainingbyrobyn.com/blog/the-truth-about-muscle-confusion-should-we-constantly-change-our-workoutsbr
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Group Workout

How to Start Going to the Gym - A Beginner’s Guide

One of the biggest reasons many beginners struggle to hit the gym is because they’re afraid of being judged and lack the confidence to walk through the door in the first place. As a newcomer to fitness, you’re overwhelmed by choice, conflicting advice, and may have unrealistic expectations. Before you’ve even stepped foot inside, it can feel like you’re already behind. The truth is, most people don’t need more information to start the gym. They need a clearer way of thinking about it. This guide focuses on how to approach starting the gym sensibly, confidently, and sustainably, using the same principles experienced coaches rely on when working with beginners.
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Soy Free Protein

What Are The Benefits Of Soy Free Protein

Protein supplements have long been the star of the nutrition game and with the market size projected to more than double by 20331, there are more options available than ever before. Gone are the days of whey or the highway (sorry), with a wider range of protein sources than ever before to choose from on today’s shelves. For one reason or another, soy protein isn’t an option for many people - so what are the alternatives and what benefits do they offer? We’ll answer both of those questions, and more, in this blog. Why choose a soy free protein? There are several reasons someone might opt for a non-soy protein option, some of the most common include: Allergies and intolerances - soy is one of the major food allergens and many people choose to avoid it in their diet. Nutritional value - some studies have found soy protein to have less of an impact on body composition2 than some other protein sources. Digestibility - soy can be difficult to digest3, which can cause discomfort, bloating and other gut health issues. Hormones - whilst research doesn’t support these claims, some people have concerns about the possible hormonal effects of soy4 for both men and women. Dietary preferences - aside from allergies and intolerances, some people choose to avoid soy for reasons like taste or texture. Soy free protein powder & nutritional benefits If you’re one of the many people who abstain from soy, fret not. There are many non-soy protein options out there for you, and many of these offer comparable or better levels of nutrition.  Soy free protein amino acid profile Soy is a complete protein - meaning it provides all nine essential amino acids - but there are several other complete proteins out there for you to choose from. Whey, pea and egg white proteins also contain these essential amino acids, albeit in different densities. Digestibility As soy can be hard to digest for some, other ‘gentler’ vegan options such as pea or rice proteins are a popular choice. Micronutrient coverage Aside from the obvious protein content, a lot of soy free options offer a wide range of extra micronutrients which can be a nice bonus. For example, hemp protein offers omega-3s and fibre5, whilst pea protein is a great source of iron6.  Is soy protein gluten-free? Yes! Soy protein is naturally gluten free, but it is not the only GF protein source. Many whey proteins are gluten free, as are other vegan protein blends. Just make sure you check the specific nutritional information for any product you choose, if gluten is a no-go for you.  Comparing soy free protein powder options Whey protein Whey protein is by far the most commonly used protein source for supplements - and for good reason. Whey is a complete protein with a high concentration of protein7 per serving and is typically one of the more affordable options.  It’s so good, in fact, that we use it as the source for both The Strong Protein and The Lean Protein at Innermost - two protein supplements with a bunch of other nutritional goodies packed in.  Pea & brown rice protein Looking at non soy vegan protein options, pea protein and brown rice protein both offer good nutritional value but together they are even stronger. Pea protein is high in BCAAs (especially leucine) and brown rice protein has a little more methionine – together they fill any nutritional gaps the other has to offer a great complete protein option. Our vegan protein powders are powered by pea and brown rice protein, including The Health Protein and The Fit Protein. How to choose the right soy free protein powder Whichever brand or soy free protein product you decide to go with, there’s a few key things to keep in mind before you hit purchase. Check for soy free and allergen free labelling (you can never be too careful if allergies are at play) Look for complete amino acid profiles for best results Consider your goals vs what the product offers Choose transparent, minimal ingredients lists where possible Whichever one you choose, opting for a soy free protein is a great idea if you’re looking for better digestibility, fewer allergens and wider nutritional benefits. If you’re still unsure, take a look at our range of protein powders to find which one might suit you best – we’re confident you’ll find your perfect one. References 1. Grand View Research (2023) Protein supplements market size, share & trends analysis report. Click here. 2. Piri Damaghi M, Mirzababaei A, Moradi S, Daneshzad E, Tavakoli A, Clark CCT, Mirzaei K. Comparison of the effect of soya protein and whey protein on body composition: a meta-analysis of randomised clinical trials. Br J Nutr. 2022 Mar 28;127(6):885-895. doi: 10.1017/S0007114521001550. Epub 2021 May 11. PMID: 33971994. Click here. 3. Nutritional Weight & Wellness (2024) Is Soy Good For You? Click here. 4. Kurzer MS. Hormonal effects of soy in premenopausal women and men. J Nutr. 2002 Mar;132(3):570S-573S. doi: 10.1093/jn/132.3.570S. PMID: 11880595. Click here. 5. Julson E. Hemp Protein Powder: The Best Plant-Based Protein? Healthline. July 2023. Click here. 6. Chin K. Pea Protein Powder: Nutrition, Benefits and Side Effects. Healthline. March 2023. Click here.  7. Davidson K. Plant-Based Protein vs. Whey Protein: Which Is Better? Healthline. August 2024. Click here.
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Your GLP-1 Survival Kit

Your GLP-1 Survival Kit

January always brings the same conversation back into focus. Weight loss. Discipline. Resetting habits. Doing things “properly” this time. What’s changed this year is how many people are now having that conversation alongside GLP-1 medications. If you haven’t come across them yet, GLP-1s are a class of medications originally developed for type 2 diabetes, now widely prescribed for weight loss. You’ll recognise some of the brand names from headlines, podcasts, and increasingly, from people around you. Depending on which data set you look at, estimates suggest that over one in ten adults are either using, or seriously considering, a GLP-1. That number is rising quickly. So rather than avoiding the topic, I want to address it properly. Our position on GLP-1s Let me be clear about where we stand. GLP-1 medications should not be the first thing people reach for if their goal is fat loss. A healthy diet, regular resistance training, movement, sleep, and consistency still do the heavy lifting for most people. But there are cases where GLP-1s can be helpful. People with significant weight to lose. People with metabolic challenges. People who have genuinely tried to do the right things and still struggled. In those situations, medication can be a tool. The problem is that too many people treat it as the solution. And that’s where things start to unravel. What GLP-1 actually does (in plain English) GLP-1 is a hormone your body already produces. Its job is to: Slow gastric emptying (food stays in your stomach longer) Increase feelings of fullness Reduce appetite and food noise Improve blood sugar control GLP-1 medications amplify this signal. You eat less. You feel full faster. Weight drops. But appetite suppression doesn’t discriminate. It doesn’t just reduce calories. It reduces everything. Protein intake falls. Strength training often drops off. Muscle mass can decline. Skin elasticity is challenged by rapid weight loss. This is why people are now talking about: Muscle loss “Ozempic face” Feeling weak or flat despite the scale moving None of this is inevitable. But it is predictable if you don’t build the right structure around the medication. The GLP-1 Survival Kit If someone is going to use a GLP-1, there are a few non-negotiables I’d want them thinking about from day one. And interestingly, these apply even if you’re not taking one. 1. Protein is no longer optional When appetite drops, protein intake is usually the first casualty. That’s a problem, because protein is what protects lean muscle mass, metabolic rate, and long-term body composition. Research consistently shows that people losing weight without adequate protein lose more muscle alongside fat. On GLP-1s, that risk increases. If you’re eating less overall, protein needs to be prioritised, not left to chance. This is exactly why our protein powders remain the hero products in our system. It’s infrastructure. Not a “fitness add-on”. Take a look at any of our protein powders. 2. Resistance training protects what the scale can’t see Rapid weight loss without resistance training almost guarantees muscle loss. You don’t need to train like an athlete. But you do need to load muscle regularly. Two to four sessions a week. Compound movements. Progression where possible. This isn’t about aesthetics. It’s about staying strong, capable, and metabolically healthy as the weight comes off. 3. Skin needs support during rapid change When weight drops quickly, skin doesn’t always keep up. Collagen intake won’t perform miracles, but it does support skin structure, elasticity, and connective tissue during periods of rapid change. Think of it as helping the body adapt, rather than trying to reverse damage after the fact. Take a look at The Glow Blend. 4. Digestion and tolerance determine whether this works long term GLP-1 medications slow digestion by design. For many people, that shows up as bloating, reflux, nausea, or food simply sitting uncomfortably after meals. When digestion feels off, people start avoiding protein, fibre, or meals altogether. Supporting digestion is about making sure smaller meals are actually broken down, absorbed, and tolerated properly. Digestive enzymes can help reduce discomfort, improve protein tolerance, and support nutrient absorption when digestion is slowed. Take a look at The Digest Capsules. How can I increase my GLP-1 naturally? For those not using medication, there are also ways to support your body’s own GLP-1 production. Protein-rich meals. Fibre from whole foods. Healthy fats. Resistance training. Eating slowly and mindfully. These don’t produce pharmaceutical-level effects, but they move appetite regulation in the right direction without overriding your system. Partnering with Simple Online Healthcare This brings me to something we’ve been quietly working on. We recently partnered with Simple Online Healthcare, one of the fastest-growing digital pharmacies in the UK.  They work with thousands of people using GLP-1 medications and saw a gap. People were losing weight, but not always in a way that supported long-term health, strength, or confidence.  The Lean Protein, The Digest Capsules, and The Glow Blend are now part of their ecosystem to support wrap-around care. Not as a replacement for lifestyle.Not as a shortcut.But as structure. I’m proud of this partnership because it reflects how we think about wellness. Not ideology. Not extremes. Just better decisions, stacked properly. Even if you’re not on GLP-1… Everything above still applies. January isn’t about doing something drastic. It’s about setting up systems that make the next 11 months easier. Protein as a foundation. Training that preserves strength. Support where it actually helps. Noise removed. That’s how progress compounds. Thank you, as always, for trusting us with a small part of your routine. It genuinely matters, and it’s not something I take lightly.
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Person working out

How To Stick To Your New Year Fitness Routine

It’s that time of the year again - the New Year's fitness buzz. A time where motivation is high, new workout plans are made, gym bags make a return, and everything feels full of possibility! And yet, for many people, this momentum is short-lived. By mid-February, routines can start to slip. Sessions get skipped. Motivation fades. The resolution quietly dissolves, something often accompanied by frustration or guilt. If that sounds at all familiar, it’s firstly worth saying this upfront: it’s not a personal failure. In most cases, it’s a structural one. It might sound strange, but having a long term and consistent fitness routine isn’t solely about having the most ‘willpower’, or forcing yourself to run just because it’s ‘new year, new me’, it’s about building an individual routine that works for you and sets you up in the best position to hit your workout goals in the long term. To make things easier, we’ve put together this nifty guide diving into the science of new year’s fitness, why traditional workout resolutions so often fall apart, and what genuinely helps when it comes to building habits that last for the long term. Right, let’s get into it. Why New Year’s fitness resolutions don’t succeed  Before exploring how you can set your fitness goals for the long term, it’s important to understand why so many fall short.  The main reason comes down to something psychologists call the “fresh start effect”. This is a period that interrupts the calendar schedule (such as New Year's), creating a mental separation between the past and the future. Such a fresh start makes change - like the restarting of a fitness routine - mentally easier to overcome because the past feels neatly boxed away.  While this sounds good on paper, the problem is that motivation alone isn’t enough to sustain long-term behavioural change.  Many New Year’s fitness routines struggle to last because they often: Focus on outcomes instead of training plans and sustainable behaviours. Target instant change Focus on unrealistic fitness goals Shall we run from the top? Outcome-based targets One pitfall people often find themselves in is setting a New Year’s fitness goal that is driven by outcome without proper planning.  Some examples might be: Losing weight  Getting fit  Running a marathon All great targets to strive for, yet without a training plan or strategy to achieve them, they can quickly feel unattainable and therefore interest drops off. This makes creating and sticking to a new year’s exercise plan key to achieving your goals, asking: what do you want to achieve? What steps are you going to take to achieve them? And how will you measure your progress? Too much change and unattainable fitness goals With the fresh start effect, it can feel productive to try and overhaul all your health practices. A new training plan. A stricter diet. Earlier mornings. Fewer social plans. Better sleep. More productivity. Individually, these changes are all positive (we’ve spoken about the positive effects of many in the past ourselves). Making all these large life changes in a short space of time, however, can lead to something called ‘cognitive overload’. Each new habit requires attention, decision-making, and self-control, leading to decision fatigue buildup and increasing the likelihood that behaviours will be dropped rather than maintained. Sustainable change tends to work the opposite way. Small, manageable shifts layered gradually over time allow habits to stabilise before new ones are added. Instead of replacing your entire lifestyle in January, long-term routines are built by choosing one or two priorities, letting them settle, and then building from there. Unrealistic fitness goals Another common reason why new year workout plans don’t work is that the end goals being set aren’t realistic to achieve in the time frame given. Training every day. Completely overhauling diet. Expecting visible results within weeks are just a few sure-fire ways to see your fitness plans gone by the end of January. This is because when progress isn’t immediately visible, individual motivation drops. Any missed sessions start to feel like failure, and the routine becomes something to avoid rather than return to. This can lead to a plateau in motivation and a workout rut that sees you lose all motivation to continue your fitness plan. The best way to avoid this? Tailor your New Year’s workout plan to what is realistic for you to achieve. Remember, everyone is different and you should avoid trying to replicate someone’s workout plan who is at a much different point in their journey. What helps you stick to a fitness routine So now we’ve covered the pitfalls faced with New Year's resolutions, what are some of the ways that you can set yourself up for success going into 2026? Starting your workouts small It might sound a little backward, but maintaining a new year’s fitness routine is all about incremental improvements - starting small and building up to ambitious fitness goals. In essence, try to make your workouts feel manageable from the outset.  This removes much of the physical and mental friction caused by sharp changes and removes the possibility of overtraining syndrome - something that can lead to both physical and mental fatigue. Instead of asking your body and mind to adapt to a dramatic shift all at once, you allow both to adjust gradually - which is exactly how sustainable habits are formed. Personal, not performative goals A common reason New Year's fitness routines fall apart is that the goal itself was never truly personal.  Many resolutions are shaped - often unconsciously - by external pressures: how we think we should look, what others are doing, or what feels ‘socially impressive’. These goals can create a strong initial push, but they rarely provide enough depth to sustain effort in the long term. Personal goals, by contrast, are rooted in lived experience. They’re connected to how you want to feel day-to-day, not how you want to appear to others. Wanting more stable energy through the afternoon, fewer aches and pains, better sleep, or improved resilience during stressful periods may not sound as dramatic as a body transformation, but they’re far more motivating over time.  This is supported by behavioural research showing that exercise routines rooted in intrinsic motivation - feeling better, moving more easily, managing stress - are significantly more likely to be maintained long-term than goals shaped by appearance or external pressure. These outcomes are felt quickly and repeatedly, which reinforces the habit itself. Fitting fitness into your routine Again, seems counterintuitive, but a workout routine that only works under perfect conditions won’t survive beyond January.  You can’t change things like long workdays, family responsibilities, travel, and low-energy weeks, and you shouldn’t try to. Your regular workout routine should function around these things. The key here is that fitness is flexible. It allows for shorter sessions, longer sessions, varied training styles, and a broader definition of movement that can all be tailored to your day-to-day routine. Your also not limited by location, you could workout at home, at the gym, with groups, whatever fits into your routine.  The role of recovery in New Year’s fitness One of the most overlooked reasons people struggle to stick to New Year’s fitness routines is actually physical and mental fatigue. While this is to be expected to some extent - and you can control fatigue by following the above tips - you also need to consider the importance of effective recovery and how you are fuelling your body between workouts. Just some of the ways you can improve recovery are: Sleep quality: Quality sleep is when the body actually recovers, repairs tissue, and resets energy levels for the next day. Without it, even light training can start to feel disproportionately demanding. Effective hydration: Staying properly hydrated helps support circulation, muscle function, and focus, making both workouts and recovery feel smoother and more manageable. Complete nutrition: Providing the body with enough protein, carbohydrates, fats, and micronutrients gives it the building blocks it needs to repair, adapt, and maintain steady energy over time. It’s also worth considering tailored nutrition-focused supplementation such as Innermost’s The Recover Capsules and The Hydrate Blend. Reframing New Year fitness: from resolution to routine An effective mindset shift you can make this new year is moving away from the idea of a “resolution” and towards a routine. Resolutions are often outcome-focused - lose weight, build muscle, run faster. Routines are behaviour-focused - train three times a week, walk daily, prioritise recovery. This reframing is also key when thinking about how to stick to your New Year’s fitness resolution. Instead of asking, “Am I seeing results yet?”, the more useful question becomes, “Can I repeat this next week?” Remember, the most effective fitness routines aren’t created in January - they’re carried through February, March, and beyond. References Dai, H., Milkman K.L., Riis,J. (2013).The Fresh Start Effect: Temporal Landmarks Motivate Aspirational Behavior. Management Science. 60 (10), 2563-2582. Click here. Cezar, B., Macada, A. (2023). Cognitive Overload, Anxiety, Cognitive Fatigue, Avoidance Behavior and Data Literacy in Big Data environments. Information Processing & Management. 60 (6). Click here. Ntoumanis, N., Healy, L. et.al. (2014). Self-Regulatory Responses to Unattainable Goals: The Role of Goal Motives. 13 (5), 594-612. Click here. Cleveland Clinic. Overtraining Syndrome. Click here. Sebire,S., Standage, M., Vansteenkiste,M. (2011). Predicting objectively assessed physical activity from the content and regulation of exercise goals: evidence for a mediational model. 33 (2), 175-197. Click here.  
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Why the Festive Period Breaks Your Habits

Why the Festive Period Breaks Your Habits

Every year, the festive period gets blamed for breaking people’s health. Too many meals out. Too many late nights. Too many “I’ll start again in January” moments. By the time the New Year arrives, the narrative is already locked in. Damage done. Time to reset, detox, or punish yourself back into shape. But here’s the truth. The festive period doesn’t ruin your health. Losing structure does. The end of the year is uniquely disruptive. Work schedules loosen. Social plans multiply. Travel, celebrations, and irregular routines blur the days together. Sleep shifts later. Meal timing becomes unpredictable. Hydration drops. Movement becomes sporadic. Stress quietly rises. Food gets the blame because it’s visible. But the real changes are happening beneath the surface. Our bodies are built around rhythm. Circadian biology governs hormones, appetite, energy, glucose regulation, and recovery. When sleep timing drifts and meals become inconsistent, insulin sensitivity drops, hunger cues become noisier, and cravings increase. Not because you’ve lost discipline, but because your physiology is responding exactly as it should. This is why willpower fails so reliably during the festive period. Willpower is not a plan. It never was. Behaviour follows environment. And the end-of-year environment is designed to disrupt even the best intentions. More social pressure. More choice. Less routine. Less recovery. Expecting motivation to override that is unrealistic. Yet the wellness industry loves this moment. January resets. Detoxes. Thirty-day transformations. The implication is always the same. You slipped up. Now fix it. That framing is wrong. You didn’t fail. Your anchors disappeared. So instead of trying to be perfect between now and the New Year, there’s a better approach. Protect structure. Not outcomes. I think of this as a Minimum Effective Routine. The smallest set of habits that keep your system regulated when life gets noisy. You don’t need control all day. You need a few non-negotiables. First, a morning anchor. How you start the day sets the tone for everything that follows. Consistent wake times, early light exposure, and hydration matter more than whether you train or not. Even during the festive period, waking within a similar window each day helps stabilise energy, appetite, and sleep later on. Second, a nutrition anchor. Health doesn’t unravel because of one rich meal. It unravels when eating becomes random. Skipped meals followed by late, heavy dinners create blood sugar swings that drive overeating. One simple rule makes a difference. Anchor at least one meal per day around protein and fibre. No tracking. No guilt. Just consistency. Protein in particular becomes critical when routines loosen. It supports lean mass, regulates appetite hormones like GLP-1, and reduces the likelihood of grazing later in the day. Third, a movement anchor. This is not about training hard. It’s about staying active. Walking, light resistance work, mobility, or a short session at home. Ten to twenty minutes counts. Movement improves glucose handling, digestion, mood, and sleep quality. It is one of the most reliable ways to offset stress and irregular eating. Fourth, an evening wind-down anchor. Late nights are part of the festive period. That’s normal. What matters is how often they stack. Alcohol, screens, and social stimulation all fragment sleep. A simple wind-down routine most nights helps signal safety to your nervous system. Lower lights. Fewer screens. Breathing. Reading. Repetition matters more than perfection. These anchors don’t make you “healthy”. They keep you regulated. Now, an honest word on supplements. Supplements won’t rescue a chaotic routine. Anyone promising that is selling shortcuts. But they can support physiology when structure is under pressure. Hydration often drops at this time of year, especially when alcohol intake increases. Electrolytes support fluid balance, nerve signalling, and muscle function. Protein becomes more important when meals are irregular, helping to stabilise appetite and maintain muscle. Micronutrients also matter when sleep, stress, and food quality are inconsistent. This is how we think about Innermost products. Not as a reset. Not as a fix. But as tools that support the fundamentals when life is busy and routines loosen. The biggest mistake people make is treating the festive period as a write-off and the New Year as a clean slate. That approach creates a cycle of extremes. If you protect structure now, the New Year doesn’t need repairing. There’s no detox required. No dramatic restart. Just continuity. Finally, as we close out the year, I want to say thank you. Thank you for your support. Thank you for trusting us in an industry that often values hype over health. And thank you for being part of a community that cares about doing things properly. I hope you enjoy the festive period with your friends and loved ones, get some well-earned rest, and step into 2026 feeling steady, not behind.
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Why Choose Bovine Collagen Supplements

Why Choose Bovine Collagen Supplements

As the topic of collagen keeps growing in popularity, so does curiosity about the different types, how exactly they work, and which option might suit certain specific goals. 
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The Complete Guide to Skincare Nutrition

The Complete Guide to Skincare Nutrition

Does the answer to glowing, healthy skin lie in your bathroom cabinet? Maybe, but there’s much more to the equation than just what you put on your skin. 
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The Benefits of Vitamin E for Long Distance Running

The Benefits of Vitamin E for Long Distance Running

Aside from their trainers and a drinks bottle, supplements are a runner’s best friend. One such supplement which isn’t quite as widely recognised, but offers many benefits, is vitamin E. 
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Why Building Muscle After 30 Matters

Why Building Muscle After 30 Matters

I’ve been lifting weights for a long time. My mum first dropped me off at a gym when I was 15. Back then, I was the classic kid who grew up on 90s action movies convinced that if I trained hard enough, I’d eventually look like I was forged in an action film. And in those early years, it honestly felt that simple. I’d look at a dumbbell, and my muscles would grow. Zero science. Zero strategy. Just enthusiasm, youth, and a metabolism that cooperated. Now I’m older. I still lift four times a week, but I approach it differently. These days it takes more intention, better programming, more attention to recovery but the upside is, the results feel more meaningful. And thankfully, muscle memory is very real. When you’ve put in the work for decades, your body remembers how to be strong. I share this because many of you reading this are in the same boat. The early gains aren’t as easy. Life is busier. The goal shifts from “look good for summer” to “stay strong, capable, and healthy for life.” And that’s what this month’s email is really about. Let’s get into it. Muscle is more than something you see.  It’s something that keeps you alive and well Most people still see muscle as something cosmetic, something you train for appearance. But modern research has reframed muscle as one of the most important organs in the body. Muscle is metabolically active.It produces signalling molecules called myokines that influence: Blood sugar regulation Inflammation Immune function Brain health and cognition Mental wellbeing Longevity This is why people with higher muscle mass and strength have dramatically better long-term health outcomes. It’s not “gym bro science”. It’s peer-reviewed, clinical, replicated research. Muscle isn’t just strength.It’s metabolic armour. The decline starts earlier than people realise. Around the age of 30, muscle begins declining. Slowly at first, then more noticeably each decade. By 60, the acceleration is significant. This process is called sarcopenia. And it affects: Strength Mobility Metabolism Bone health Stability Lifespan It’s one of the most important health issues nobody talks about. Here’s the hopeful part: Strength training is one of the few interventions proven to slow, stop, or reverse sarcopenia at literally any age. You can make meaningful strength and muscle gains at 35, 45, 65, even 75. The body responds to resistance training all through life. You can’t stop ageing, but you can absolutely slow the rate at which you lose capability. The overlooked benefits of muscle 1. Better metabolic healthMuscle acts as a major site for glucose disposal. More muscle = better insulin sensitivity. 2. Brain healthStrength is strongly correlated with lower risk of cognitive decline. Myokines interact with the brain in fascinating ways. 3. Joint resilienceMuscle stabilises joints, improves posture, and offsets the consequences of long hours sitting or working. 4. Bone densityLoad-bearing exercise increases bone mineral density — something that becomes crucial with age. 5. Functional freedomFrom carrying shopping bags to keeping up with kids to simply moving without discomfort — muscle is what makes daily life easy instead of effortful. This is why I now see muscle less as a “look” and more as a long-term investment. Something you build for your 60-year-old self as much as your current one. Let’s finally kill the “bulky” myth Especially among women, there’s still a persistent fear that lifting weights equals getting bulky. In reality, building substantial visible muscle is incredibly hard, even when you try. Strength training won’t make most people bulky. It will make you: Leaner More toned Stronger More metabolically efficient More confident The research is unequivocal. The minimum effective dose is smaller than you think Strength training doesn’t require hours in the gym or a complicated routine. The science backs this simple formula: 2–3 strength sessions per week.30–45 minutes each. Focusing on five key movement patterns: Squat Hinge (deadlift or hip thrust) Push Pull Carry If you did only these, consistently, you’d build strength, muscle, functional capacity, and resilience that would last. As someone who’s been training for over three decades, I can tell you: it’s never about doing “everything”. It’s about doing the right things, consistently. Protein: the foundation people overlook One reason people struggle to build or maintain muscle after 30 is simple: they’re not eating enough protein. Optimal intake sits around 1.6–2.2g of protein per kg of bodyweight per day Protein becomes more important with age, not less. This is one of the reasons we take such care with our formulations at Innermost. No fillers, no artificial nonsense, just clean, science-backed blends that actually support muscle, metabolism, and recovery.  The best time to start was 30 years ago. The second best time is today. I’m glad I started lifting at 15 even if the reason back then was “I want arms like Arnie.” But the real value of lifting didn’t reveal itself until much later. Strength training has been one of the constants that’s helped me stay grounded, focused, and resilient, physically and mentally, through every stage of life. And I’m sure I wouldn’t have had the grit and determination to launch and grow Innermost without it. Whether you’re starting at 30, 40, 50, or beyond, biology is on your side. Muscle is not a young person’s game.It’s a lifelong tool.A form of self-respect.A strategy for ageing well.And one of the best investments you can make in your long-term health. Start with what you can. Stay consistent. Your future self will thank you.
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The Complete Guide to Lactose-Free Protein Powders and Their Benefits

The Complete Guide to Lactose-Free Protein Powders and Their Benefits

This guide will walk you through why some people choose to skip the lactose, what the main alternatives and benefits are, and how Innermost can help you find the perfect protein powder for your personal goals. 
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How To Train For a Marathon: The Complete Guide

How To Train For a Marathon: The Complete Guide

The marathon, something that seems so impossible, yet so many make possible. Read our complete marathon guide for training tips and workout plans.
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The Myth of Optimal Health

The Myth of Optimal Health

We live in an age obsessed with the idea of “optimal.” The optimal diet. The optimal supplement stack. The optimal training split. Scroll through Instagram or YouTube for five minutes and you’ll find someone with a 17-step morning routine, a kitchen cupboard full of powders, and the confidence that they’ve cracked the code to human performance. But here’s the truth: Chasing “optimal” is one of the fastest ways to fall short in your health. The Illusion of Optimal Health culture has a way of dangling perfection in front of us. Big food companies do it when they market the “perfect” meal replacement shake. Biohackers do it when they promise that cold plunges, red-light therapy, and nootropics are the missing links to peak performance. But research paints a different picture. Studies on diet adherence consistently show that most people abandon strict or extreme health plans within weeks.  Fad diets, whether keto, paleo, or juice cleanses have dropout rates as high as 50–70% in the first two months. That’s not because people are weak. It’s because perfection is unsustainable. When you aim for “optimal,” you’re often aiming for something that doesn’t exist outside of a lab study or a heavily edited social feed. Consistency beats Intensity If you strip away the noise, the science is clear: the best plan is the one you can actually stick to. A Stanford University study looked at exercise adherence and found that people who built moderate, consistent routines were far more successful over the long term than those who went all in with aggressive, “optimal” plans. Think about it: Walking 8,000 steps daily is far more powerful than hitting 20,000 steps once a week. Sleeping 7–8 hours a night consistently beats the occasional marathon lie-in after a week of late nights. Eating balanced meals most of the time will always outperform the perfect, but impossible, “clean eating” schedule. Consistency doesn’t look flashy on social media. But it’s what drives lasting change in real life. The Perfection Trap The bigger danger of chasing “Optimal Health” isn’t just that it’s unrealistic. It’s that it creates guilt and paralysis. Psychologists call this all-or-nothing thinking. If you miss your “perfect” 5am workout, you write the day off. If you slip up on your diet, you feel like you’ve failed. Over time, that mindset burns people out. A review published in the Journal of Behavioural Medicine highlighted how rigid, perfectionist approaches to health goals were strongly linked to higher stress, lower motivation, and worse long-term outcomes. In other words: aiming for perfect often leaves you worse off than if you’d just aimed for “good enough” consistently. The Simplicity Advantage At Innermost, this is the philosophy we’ve always stood behind: better health should be simple, not overwhelming. We don’t believe in flashy shortcuts or marketing gimmicks. We believe in science-backed products designed to slot seamlessly into your life so you can actually stick with them. A few examples: The Hydrate Blend makes staying on top of electrolytes effortless — without the sugar, fillers, or artificial aftertaste you’ll find in the big sports drinks. The Rise Blend gives you clean energy and focus, without adding another complicated ritual to your already busy day. Our protein powders support your health and fitness goals with nutrients you and your body recognises, instead of pushing the latest overpriced fad ingredient. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s progress. Progress, not Perfection So here’s the takeaway: you don’t need the “optimal” plan. You just need a plan you’ll actually follow. If you focus on moving most days, eating whole foods when you can, sleeping properly, and staying hydrated, you’re already ahead of 90% of the population. It’s not sexy. But it works. And it’s sustainable. So the next time you feel the pressure to add another step to your routine, ask yourself: does this make my life simpler or more complicated? If it’s the latter, it probably isn’t worth it. Health isn’t about chasing perfection. It’s about building momentum. An imperfect plan, done consistently, beats the “optimal” plan abandoned after a week.
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PLAYLISTS

Adam Husler Workout Playlist

Adam Husler Workout Playlist

 Adam is one of the leading yoga teachers in London. When we asked him to create a workout playlist, he came up with a deeply soulful mix of tracks that won't fail to get a smile...
Claire Fountain Workout Playlist

Claire Fountain Workout Playlist

 Claire knows yoga. Claire also knows music. Here's her selection of workout songs compiled just for Innermost.health
Bethany Duckworth Workout Playlist

Bethany Duckworth Workout Playlist

 Bethany knows a good track when she hears one. Buckle up and get this workout playlist into your ears pronto.
Dan Morgan Workout Playlist

Dan Morgan Workout Playlist

 Dan getting zen on the decks. Here's his playlist for your next yoga session or if you need to kick back and drift away.
Elisa Rossi Workout Playlist

Elisa Rossi Workout Playlist

 Elisa's most comfortable creating works of art in the kitchen. Here are the songs that help her do just that.