Boredom, injuries and ‘weird guru vibes’: seven signs it’s time to change your workout

It can be hard for gym-goers to know what’s reasonable to expect from a workout or class. Here, trainers and coaches share common problems – and their solutions

Athletes and fitness influencers use creatine, but what is it? And does it work?

We find out if this fitness supplement can be used to build muscle mass, decrease fatigue and improve mental health

Fake fitness influencers: the secrets and lies behind the world’s most envied physiques

The Liver King’s raw-meat-to-ripped-abs regime has been exposed – but thousands of other influencers claim their bulging muscles are just the result of hard, honest graft. Should we believe them?

Want to swim but find it too much of a hassle? Me too – but here’s how I cracked it

What is the equivalent of a Couch to 5k or parkrun for swimmers? Do I need loads of expensive gear? And should I join a club? Here’s how I learned to love the pool

The one change that worked: I could never get fit – until I tried a 40-second plank every day

All my attempts at exercise had ended in failure, so I decided to lower the bar. Five years of planking later and I’m a stronger and healthier person – sorry ‘athlete’

The experts: neurologists on 17 simple ways to look after your brain

Sleep well, swap butter for olive oil, learn a musical instrument – or embrace some other ‘magnificent obsession’. Here is what doctors do themselves to delay the onset of cognitive decline

The new rules of gym etiquette: don’t film yourself, never mansplain – and keep your top on

Top personal trainers offer their tips on avoiding fitness faux pas, so you don’t have to sweat the small stuff

The best running shoes for men and women to take you from trail to road to marathon, tried and tested by runners

Whether you’re a beginner runner, a 5k faithful or a track star, our expert-picked running trainers, from Adidas and Asics to Hoka, will help you beat your PBs

‘One father threatened to stab the referee’: why does kids’ football bring out the worst in parents?

When they’re not shouting at their own children, many of Britain’s soccer dads like nothing more than swearing at the officials, or even trading blows on the touchline. Isn’t this supposed to be fun?

Treadmills are out, barbells are in: why gym-goers are abandoning cardio for weight training

Is loads of muscle all you need for a long and healthy life? You’d think so, given the way everyone’s fighting over the squat racks