9 things you didn’t know about… HOW TO RAISE YOUR HEART RATE (and lose weight)

You may groan at the prospect, but to blast body fat and improve fitness levels, nothing does the job like a cardio workout. ‘Any activity that increases your heart rate can be considered as cardiovascular exercise, and it’s something we all need to do to stay healthy,’ says Steve Virtue, fitness content and programming manager at Total Fitness. ‘Regular cardio workouts at low-to-medium intensity – over a sustained period – will build stamina, improve heart health and strengthen your lungs.’

So lace up your trainers and get the lowdown