Your most googled FITNESS questions

It’s time to stop scrolling! Our experts answer your most asked exercise queries

Many of us turn to Google when it comes to health concerns and fitness queries, and for good reason – the internet is a gold mine of information, right at our fingertips. But wading through endless online forums, blogs and vlogs can leave us feeling more lost and confused. Here, we ask our experts to give us the definitive answers we’ve all been searching for.

How long do running shoes usually last?

Depending on how often you run, you should be looking at getting new running shoes every six months to a year. But not everyone runs with the same regularity, so this schedule is normally counted in miles rather than time.

‘The average is 400–500 miles,’ says fitness coach Emma Kirk-Odunubi. ‘For most runners who cover about 20 miles a week, that’s roughly every six months or so.’ If you run less than this, work out your weekly average distance and add it up over the months. It will give you a solid idea of when you need to start thinking about looking for a new pair of trainers.

How can I get a flat stomach – and get rid of belly fat?

‘When you work a muscle more often, it leads to a firmer muscle, making the skin and fat above it feel slimmer,’ says personal trainer Mark Fox. However, while your stomach may appear flatter as a result, this isn’t necessarily fat loss. Getting rid of belly fat altogether comes down to the calorie balance equation – burning more calories than you put in.