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Nina Dobrev on the 1 thing that changed her workout routine

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Nina Dobrev on the 1 thing that changed her workout routine

Nina Dobrev has always led an active lifestyle, but the actor really got serious about her workout routine when the pandemic hit.

“I used a personal trainer and relied on a lot of outside sources for my fitness — especially because I used to be so busy traveling and working,” she previously told Shape. “But once I was home, I realized I didn’t have much (gym equipment) at home so I went into a mad dash.”

Over time, the star slowly accumulated equipment to fuel her home workouts.

“I’m really proud of my home gym, I use it a lot,” she said. “It’s really nice to have that flexibility of working out, whether it’s really early in the morning before I got to set, or really late a night when I get home from set, or after a long flight.”

On a similar note, the 35-year-old has also been conscious about revamping her diet in recent years.

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“I’m getting older and more conscious of what I eat and how I eat it and what I do,” she previously told Women’s Health. “Doing something different (each day) has been the most fun, and I’ve seen the most benefit because you shock your system.” 

Dobrev’s hard work certainly seems to be paying off. Ready to learn from her balanced approach to health and wellness? Read on for some of her most relatable tips and tricks.

She likes working out with friends

When you’re heading to the gym by yourself, it’s easy to back out if you’re not feeling motivated. But when you’re meeting a group of pals, you tend to hold yourself accountable more often than not.

Dobrev told W Magazine, in 2017, that she has a text message chain with some girlfriends called “We Work Out.”

“Whoever wakes up first will put in the workout for the day and we’ll all either say yay or nay,” she said.

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When she’s sweating it out with her besties, Dobrev finds herself more determined to give the workout her all.

“When you do it with your friends, it motivates you to have a little bit of healthy competition,” she told People. “You want to give up, but you look over and you see that your friend is still going, so you keep going even more and push through the burn.”

After all, “misery loves company,” as she told the publication.

“If you’re going to be sweating and working hard it is better to do it with your buddies by your side,” she said.

She loves Les Mills workouts

Dobrev is always down for trying new workouts to avoid a fitness plateau, and she’s a big fan of the fitness company Les Mills.

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“I absolutely love Les Mills workouts because they have everything from yoga to HIIT to boxing — and I can do them online from wherever I am. The 30-minute Les Mills Grit class is super quick, but it will kick your a– — it’s definitely the most bang for your buck,” she told Refinery29.

She enjoys toning her core and butt

In 2017, Les Mills Coach Lissa Bankston opened up about her client’s go-to workouts, revealing Dobrev gravitates toward interval and circuit training “that mimics the moves that you might do in a HIIT workout.”

“I usually incorporate something I call ‘push, pull, rotate’ where we train the upper body, lower body and core with those three modalities. And Nina loves working her core and her butt — so there’s always a little finisher of core and butt work too!” she said during an interview with the fitness company’s website.

She live an active lifestyle, but doesn’t punish herself when she skips a workout

Dobrev is committed to her fitness routine, but she also gives herself a break when she needs one.

“Everyone has off days, and if someone says they don’t, then they’re probably lying. The key is to take it day by day. If you don’t feel like working out or eating healthy one morning, just take some time to yourself and hit the refresh button. Tomorrow is a new day,” she told Refinery29.

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Penciling in a workout is always a struggle when you’re busy, but Dobrev does her best to carve out time to get her heart pumping frequently.

“It sounds simple, but I really just try to prioritize exercise. Everyone has stressful days — including me — but finding that 30 minutes every day to get your endorphins going is important. Even a short workout session gives me so much energy and provides me with the fuel that I need for the day ahead,” she said.

She decompresses with yoga

Working out for your physical and mental health can help ensure that you reap all the benefits of your fitness routine. Yoga is one way Dobrev sneaks in a mental break while simultaneously toning her body.

“I love to get in a yoga class when I can. It’s nice to just let go of everything, meditate and work on my breathing. And if I’m ever in a bad mood or having a tough day, I’ll put on some uplifting music — that really has the power to shift my energy,” she told Refinery29.

She enjoys the opportunity to unplug from technology while working out

Dobrev lives a busy lifestyle, but she purposely tries to unplug when it comes time to work out.

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“We’re constantly connected to all these devices, so your workout is a time where you’re not reachable,” she told W Magazine. “You’re doing something for yourself, and it’s your you-time — or my me-time, in my case.”

Her dog ‘motivates’ her to work out

Even Dobrev has days where she isn’t pumped to work out, but her furry friend Maverick helps her keep her head in the game.

“Maverick comes to the gym with me every single day at the Reebok hub in L.A.,” she previously told People. “They even have dog beds and toys all around! She interrupts workouts and licks my face, but motivates me when I am ready to quit. Right now she is only 15 pounds, so I will lift her instead of the weights in my workouts!”

Having a dog is sort of a built-in excuse for Dobrev to stay active and take a breather from her hectic schedule.

“It’s obviously important exercise for her, too. It’s a great way to get out of the house and have a moment to decompress. I like to put on some music while I walk her, and it’s kind of like a meditation and a great bonding moment for us,” she told New Beauty.

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She eats frequently to fend off hunger

When you’re really hungry, you’re more likely to make poor food choices. But when you eat more regularly, you can keep your body fueled throughout the day.

While talking with Women’s Health, Dobrev said she aims to eat every two hours whenever she can.

“I feel healthier,” she said. “You’re happier when your body is full, your brain functions better, and you’re a nicer person. I would get hangry, I think, because I was so busy running around that I wasn’t the best version of myself.”

She seeks ‘balance’ in her diet

What fun is life if you can’t chow down on your favorite foods once in a while?

“Again, it’s all about finding a balance — my go-to is seared salmon with roasted veggies, and I also love some truffle fries and a cheddar cheeseburger with lots and lots of ketchup,” Dobrev previously told Refinery29.

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She slots in time for stretching, especially after running

Stretching is an important part of Dobrev’s fitness routine, especially when she’s running.

“My hips get really tight,” she previously told Self.

The star said she likes to warm up by stretching for three minutes or so before exercising and 15 minutes after finishing her workout.

While talking about her favorite stretch, pigeon pose, she described it as “great for maintenance and keeping everything loose.”

She fuels her body before and after a workout

Before she works up a sweat, Dobrev regularly noshes on her homemade protein balls, which she makes with a range of ingredients, including almond butter, coconut, bananas, collagen powder and bacon.

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“There’s so many amazing, yummy things in these tiny little balls,” she said. “They’re insane,” she told W Magazine.

Post workout, the star often enjoys a homemade smoothie with similar ingredients.

“That’s the trick to nutrition for me, has been eating things that make me feel like I’m cheating,” she said, “But I’m not.”

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Fitness

Multi Gym Exercise Equipment Home Fitness Sale Relaunched by Strongway Gym Supplies

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Multi Gym Exercise Equipment Home Fitness Sale Relaunched by Strongway Gym Supplies

Coventry, UK – January 20, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –

Strongway Gym Supplies has relaunched sales of multi-gym exercise equipment through its online store. The units combine several training stations into a single frame, now available for home fitness users across the United Kingdom.

The multi-gym systems feature press stations, cable crossover points, lat pulldown bars, and leg extension attachments mounted on unified steel frames. This consolidated approach addresses space limitations common in residential properties where dedicating separate areas for each exercise type isn’t practical. Most units occupy a footprint between three and four square metres once fully assembled, though the exact dimensions vary depending on which attachments come included.

Weight resistance operates through either plate-loaded systems or pin-selected weight stacks. Plate-loaded models require users to manually add or remove weight plates between exercises, similar to how barbells are adjusted. Pin-selected stacks let users change resistance by moving a pin up or down through pre-set weight increments, which speeds up transitions during circuit training but adds to the initial equipment cost.

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The press stations accommodate chest pressing movements with adjustable seat heights and backrest angles. Some models include separate shoulder press stations positioned at different angles to the main chest press, isolating deltoid work without repositioning the entire body. Handles attach via rotating joints that follow natural pressing arcs rather than forcing fixed paths that might strain shoulder joints.

Mandip Walia, Co-Director at Strongway Gym Supplies, said the relaunch responds to consistent interest in equipment that handles multiple training goals without sprawling across entire rooms. “Most people don’t have dedicated gym spaces the size of a commercial facility,” he remarked. “They’ve got a garage, a spare bedroom, maybe a section of the basement. The multi-gym concept works because it stacks functions vertically and keeps the floor space contained. Someone can work chest, back, legs, and arms all from the same piece of kit.”

Cable systems run through the frame with high and low pulley positions. High pulleys handle lat pulldowns, tricep extensions, and cable crunches. Low pulleys work for seated rows, bicep curls, and upright rows. The cables themselves use steel construction with nylon or rubber coating, rated for thousands of repetitions before needing replacement.

Further details about the multifunction home gym machine can be viewed at: https://strongway.co.uk/products/strongway-multi-gym-with-weights-multifunction-home-gym-machine.

Leg stations vary between models but typically include either leg extension attachments, leg curl mechanisms, or both. These stations use padded rollers positioned above or below the ankle, with resistance applied through the cable system or direct weight plate loading. The range of motion adjusts to accommodate different leg lengths, preventing the rollers from sitting too high on the shin or too low near the foot.

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Seat and backrest adjustments use pin-and-hole systems similar to commercial gym equipment. Padding thickness ranges from two to four centimetres, depending on the model, with vinyl or synthetic leather covers that resist sweat absorption. Stitching around high-wear areas like seat edges gets reinforced to prevent tearing during regular use.

Frame construction uses steel tubing with wall thicknesses between two and three millimetres. Powder coating protects against rust, particularly relevant in garage environments where humidity fluctuates. Bolt-together assembly means the frames can be disassembled if relocation becomes necessary, though the weight of assembled units often exceeds 150 kilograms.

Additional information regarding home fitness equipment is available at: https://strongway.co.uk/collections/home-fitness.

Randeep Walia, Co-Director at Strongway Gym Supplies, remarked that the equipment reflects how home training has shifted over recent years. “People used to think they needed free weights for everything or nothing at all,” he explained. “The multi gym bridges that gap. It’s structured enough that beginners don’t feel lost trying to figure out proper form, but it’s versatile enough that experienced users can still get quality sessions in. That’s the balance these units try to strike.”

The company handles dispatch across mainland UK addresses with delivery timelines specified during checkout. The equipment ships in multiple packages due to component size. Assembly instructions walk through the process step by step, though having two people available makes handling the heavier frame sections considerably easier.

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The full product range can be accessed at: https://strongway.co.uk/.

The relaunch comes as home fitness equipment maintains steady demand among UK consumers. Multi-gym systems appeal to users wanting structured training options without monthly gym memberships or the space requirements of separate machines for each muscle group.

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For more information about Strongway Gym Supplies, contact the company here:

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Strongway Gym Supplies
Mandip Walia
+44-800-001-6093
sales@strongway.co.uk
Strongway Gym Supplies, 26 The Pavilion, Coventry CV3 1QP, United Kingdom

Information contained on this page is provided by an independent third-party content provider. XPRMedia and this Site make no warranties or representations in connection therewith. If you are affiliated with this page and would like it removed please contact pressreleases@xpr.media

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Exercise ‘Snacks’ Throughout Your Day Have Real Health Benefits, Study Finds

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Exercise ‘Snacks’ Throughout Your Day Have Real Health Benefits, Study Finds

Your fitness tracker might be telling you that you need 10,000 steps, 30 minutes of cardio or even an hour at the gym every day. But what if you could improve your health in just a few minutes a day? A growing body of research suggests you can.

“Exercise snacks” are brief bursts of vigorous exercise, typically lasting one minute or less, scattered throughout your day. Think climbing a few flights of stairs, doing some squats during a work break, or a quick burst of jumping jacks before lunch.

Unlike traditional workouts, these “snacks” aren’t done back-to-back – they’re spread across your waking hours, separated by one to four hours of your regular activities such as working, commuting, or watching TV.

Related: Scientists Identify The Optimal Number of Daily Steps For Longevity, And It’s Not 10,000

The concept differs from high-intensity interval training (Hiit), where you might do multiple intense bursts of activity within a single 20-minute workout. Exercise snacks are more like grazing throughout the day rather than sitting down for a full meal.

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A recent meta-analysis published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that in previously sedentary adults, exercise snacks significantly improved cardiorespiratory fitness, a measure of how well your heart and lungs work during physical activity.

The review concluded that these bite-sized workouts delivered meaningful health benefits, with an impressive 83% of participants sticking to their routines for up to three months.

Why exercise snacking works

Around a third of adults worldwide don’t get enough physical activity. When asked why, the answers are almost always the same: no time and no motivation. Exercise snacks tackle both barriers head-on.

In a 2019 study, sedentary young adults were asked to vigorously climb a three-flight stairwell three times per day – with one to four hours of recovery between bouts. Each session also included a brief warm-up of jumping jacks, squats, and lunges.

After six weeks, the stair climbers showed significant improvements in cardiorespiratory fitness compared to a control group – a key marker linked to longevity and reduced cardiovascular disease risk.

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What’s particularly striking about exercise snacks is their efficiency. While current guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity per week, exercise snacks can deliver measurable benefits in far less time – sometimes just a few minutes daily.

Related: Microdosing Exercise in Tiny Bursts Works – But There’s 1 Golden Rule

A 2024 randomised controlled trial compared stair-climbing exercise snacks to 40 minutes of moderate-intensity cycling three times weekly. Remarkably, the exercise snacks group – doing three 30-second, all-out stair climbs per session – improved their fitness by 7%, while the cycling group showed no significant change.

The potential benefits extend beyond fitness. A large-scale study of over 25,000 adults who didn’t exercise found that those who accumulated just three to four minutes of vigorous activity daily through activities such as fast walking or climbing stairs had a 40% lower risk of dying from any cause. They also had a nearly 50% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease compared to those who did none.

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There’s evidence that exercise snacks have blood sugar benefits, too. Research has shown that brief, intense exercise snacks performed before meals can reduce post-meal blood sugar spikes in people with insulin resistance (a precursor to type 2 diabetes) – potentially good news for anyone concerned about their metabolic health.

The best exercise snacks

The beauty of exercise snacks is their flexibility. You don’t need special equipment, a gym membership, or to even change your clothes. Here are some practical ways to incorporate them into your day:

Stair climbing is perhaps the most researched exercise snack. If you work in an office building or live in a block of flats, you’ve got free exercise equipment at your disposal.

woman running up stairs
Working in an office building means you’ve got free exercise equipment at your disposal. (Nikada/Getty Images Signature/Canva)

Try climbing vigorously – fast enough that you’re breathing hard by the top – for 20-60 seconds, two to three times throughout your day. Earlier research found that women who progressively increased their stair climbing to five ascents daily saw a 17% improvement in fitness after just eight weeks.

Walking bursts count too, provided they’re vigorous. Try doing a brisk one-minute walk around the office or a quick lap of your garden a few times a day. But in order to see benefits, you’ve got to make sure the pace is quick enough that holding a conversation becomes difficult.

Related: A Few Minutes of Exercise Today Could Do Wonders For Your Brain Tomorrow

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Bodyweight exercises such as squats, lunges or wall push-ups can be done almost anywhere. Try a set of ten squats every time you make a cup of tea or some wall push-ups before lunch. The key is intensity – you should feel your heart rate rise and be slightly out of breath.

Consistency matters more than perfection when it comes to exercise snacks. The research shows that even very brief sessions – as short as 20 seconds – can contribute to fitness improvements so long as they’re repeated regularly.

The trick is building these snacks into existing habits. Climb stairs before your morning coffee. Do squats during TV adverts. Take a brisk walk after finishing a work call.

Exercise snacks won’t replace the full range of benefits you’d get from a comprehensive fitness programme. But for the millions of us who struggle to find time for traditional workouts, they offer a practical entry point – one backed by increasingly robust science.

The biggest gains in health happen when someone goes from doing nothing to doing something. So next time you’re waiting for the kettle to boil or have a few minutes between meetings, consider having an exercise snack. Your heart will thank you.The Conversation

Jack McNamara, Senior Lecturer in Clinical Exercise Physiology, University of East London

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This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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This budget fitness tracker is an excellent Fitbit alternative

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This budget fitness tracker is an excellent Fitbit alternative

Why you can trust Live Science


Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best ones for you. Find out more about how we test.

Choosing from the best fitness trackers available can feel overwhelming at times — how can you differentiate them? How do you know if they have all the features you’re looking for? This is why we spend weeks testing fitness trackers, to help gather the information you need to make an informed decision.

When it comes to the Motorola Moto Watch Fit, there was a lot to like and only a few things that turned us off. However, when you consider the price of this fitness tracker, there isn’t much to grumble about. We loved the amount of yoga types you could select from, the personalized workout screen that took minutes, if not seconds, to sort, the Velcro-adjustable strap, the battery life, the sleep tracking and the durability of the Gorilla Glass screen.

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