I walked 1,000 miles alone through Europe – and learned that fear is the price of freedom

I take risks on solo hikes, navigating animal traps and dangerous terrain. But for a woman, men are the biggest threat. I do it to be more open to the world, in the hope it will be more open to me

No gym fees, no fancy equipment: it’s the skint bouncer’s guide to fitness!

Forget treadmills, rowing machines and air-conditioned exercise suites: you can get in shape with a staircase, a chair and fridge. Take it from a man who can’t afford to throw money around

Do you really need to walk 10,000 steps a day? And 17 other fitness ‘rules’, tackled by the experts

From stretching before a workout to the truth about protein, we separate the facts from dodgy exercise ‘wisdom’

I’ll never be able to achieve the perfect burpee or run a marathon, so why do I suddenly love going to the gym?

My body has mostly changed without my input. Now it hurts because of something I did, not just because I’m getting older

Runs in the family: racing around the coast of Sweden

Three days running and hiking on the stunning Bohuslän coast with my pre-teen son is joyfully exhausting

Should I worry about working out too hard?

Push your body too much and you could end up in A&E – or worse. But how much is too much? And which activities are most likely to end in tears?

‘My daughter started to run a fever’: Britain’s swimmers on how sewage changed their summer

With pollution at high levels and growing worse, some keen swimmers have stopped going in the sea. Many have felt the impact on their mental health – not to mention the pain and discomfort of E coli

The key to a longer life? Why I tried to walk exactly 3,967 steps in a day

A study says this is the number needed to cut risk of dying from any cause – so I took on the task

3,967 steps a day: the new magic number for a healthy, happy life?

The very thought of exercise can be tiring. But don’t despair. Small changes can make a big difference

The isometric secret: 15 ways to get much fitter – without moving a muscle

What are the best exercises to reduce your blood pressure? The plank and the wall sit. Here is how to do them – and some other great poses – whatever your current fitness level