All posts tagged: beginners

A trainer says this is the 11-minute dumbbell workout she gives to beginners who want to start lifting weights

A trainer says this is the 11-minute dumbbell workout she gives to beginners who want to start lifting weights

Published by Jenni Sidey

Lifting weights is one of the best ways to future-proof your body against injury and the physical effects of aging. That’s because adults lose between 3% and 8% of their muscle mass each decade after they reach 30. Weightlifting can help combat this muscle loss, which is why Holly Fivian founded Holsm, a strength workout platform for midlife women. If you’re completely new to exercise, Fivian recommends starting with bodyweight movements to help you get used to fundamental movement patterns like squats, push-ups and lunges. But if you’ve tried these movements before, adding a couple of dumbbells to your workouts could make all the difference. “Once these movement patterns become habitual and you know what good form looks and feels like, you can start playing around with movement,” Fivian explains. “You can add heavier weights, change your arm or hand position, try different squat, hinge, push, pull and lunge variations or change your tempo or range of movement. You may like “This is where training becomes fun.” Below, Fivian has shared the dumbbell workout she …

A trainer who works with midlife women shares the exact 10-minute workout she recommends for beginners

A trainer who works with midlife women shares the exact 10-minute workout she recommends for beginners

Published by Jenni Sidey

Holly Fivian is a personal trainer and the founder of Holsm, a strength training platform for midlife women. When she starts training her clients, she doesn’t get them to focus on weight-loss targets or strength goals. Instead, she encourages them to find a way to move that is enjoyable, works for their body, and has longevity. Latest Videos FromFit&Well With that in mind, she’s shared her simple (and enjoyable) five-move workout for beginners, which is the same routine she programs for her clients. “They repeat these same fundamental movements alongside their posture, diaphragmatic breathing and deep-core work until they really own them,” Fivian explains. You may like Holly Fivian’s 10-minute fundamental beginner’s workout Fivian’s workout consists of five moves: Glute Bridge Squat Press-up Mountain climber Plank shoulder tap Do the exercises for the suggested number of sets, timings and rest periods to get yourself a roughly 10-minute workout. Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in your inbox. Fivian recommends trying this five-move workout for six to eight weeks, or …

A Complete Beginner’s Guide To Exploring BDSM And Essential Sex Toy Starter Kits

A Complete Beginner’s Guide To Exploring BDSM And Essential Sex Toy Starter Kits

Published by Sam Flores

For a long time, there’s been a misconception that BDSM (bondage, dominance, sadism, submission, and masochism) is some kind of niche sexual fantasy. Well, folks, I’m here to tell you that that is well and truly wrong. In fact, research shows that almost half (46%) of people have ever tried it, while an additional 22% have experienced fantasies about it. If you so happen to fall into that category, you’ve come to the right place. While BDSM has been increasingly romanticised in media over the last decade or so (think: Pillion, Fifty Shades of Grey, I could go on…) there is no handbook for how to get into it. But some of the acts within BDSM come with risks, so to help you embark on your journey, we’ve consulted the experts for some beginner-friendly guidance. We’ve also rounded up the best BDSM sex toys to get started with, from handcuffs to beginner BDSM sets. 1. Communicate As with anything sexual, it all starts with talking to your partner about your desires. “Talk about what you’ve …

A personal trainer recommends this two-move bodyweight workout for beginners who want to build strength and get fit

A personal trainer recommends this two-move bodyweight workout for beginners who want to build strength and get fit

Published by Jenni Sidey

Complicated workouts and grueling fitness routines can make exercise feel like a chore. But moving your body can be fun—that’s the ethos of trainer Lucy Borrie’s workout method BeBody, which is inspired by 80s aerobic workouts. “We’ve combined aerobics, strength training, and Pilates into a single session, giving you the benefits of three workout types in one full-body experience,” she says. Latest Videos FromFit&Well Borrie’s method is about enjoying movement without compromising on results, which is why she focuses on moves that provide both a cardio and strength challenge. Here are two of her favorites that she often includes in BeBody workouts. You may like Try the two-move strength and cardio workout This is a circuit-style workout, which means you do the exercises one after another. Borrie recommends completing the circuit twice with minimal rest. Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in your inbox. “Start slow and then speed up your movement,” Borrie says. She also says doing the mini workout to a good playlist is “essential”, so blast …

A Pilates instructor says these are the two moves she always recommends to beginners to build core strength and develop body awareness

A Pilates instructor says these are the two moves she always recommends to beginners to build core strength and develop body awareness

Published by Jenni Sidey

Pilates is a very accessible form of movement. It’s low-impact, so it doesn’t put pressure on your joints, and requires very little equipment. But while a lot of the exercises are beginner-friendly, it’s important to execute each move with the right form. Doing so can transform how your body responds to the movement, making it more challenging while also lowering your risk of injury. Latest Videos FromFit&Well “Pilates was originally called Contrology, so we want to focus on controlling the body while we’re moving,” says Rebecca Daodun, a Pilates instructor and founder of workout app Pilates Prescription. She explains that executing a Pilates move correctly often requires you to hold one part of the body still while moving another. You may like To help beginners master this, Daodun gets them to practice something she calls limb dissociation, which involves holding the torso steady while moving the arms and legs. Below, the instructor has shared two exercises she recommends for all Pilates newcomers. Start your week with achievable workout ideas, health tips and wellbeing advice in …

I tried ArchEZ to see if it really makes Arch Linux easy for beginners – and it delivered

I tried ArchEZ to see if it really makes Arch Linux easy for beginners – and it delivered

Published by skeptic

Jack Wallen/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET key takeaways ArchEZ is an Arch-based Linux distribution. Aimed at new users, this distro makes using Arch easy. You can download and use ArchEZ for free. ArchEZ is an Arch-based Linux distribution that, according to the developer, “is an easy-to-use, highly customisable open source Arch Linux-based OS. It’s fast, secure, and supports all your favourite software and games. No ads, bloat or telemetry here!” Also: How to try out over 85 Linux distros, no installation required – with DistroSea This description sounds like it could be any Arch-based distribution promising ease of use and the possibility of gaming. But how did this particular take on it fare? I took the distro for a ride to see if it delivered on its promises. What is ArchEZ? ArchEZ is an Arch-based Linux distribution that aims to bring Arch to the masses. The developer’s goal was to create an OS that is beginner-friendly, private, privacy-focused, game-supporting, and lightweight.  The result is a desktop OS with the KDE …

Claude Code Tutorial for Beginners with No Coding Skills

Claude Code Tutorial for Beginners with No Coding Skills

Published by skeptic

Creating apps without coding knowledge might seem daunting, but Kevin Stratvert’s guide on Claude Code demonstrates how accessible it can be. Claude Code uses natural language processing to turn plain English descriptions into functional software, making it a valuable resource for non-coders. For example, users can describe a budgeting app idea and the AI generates the necessary code to bring it to life. By focusing on user input rather than technical expertise, Claude Code bridges the gap between creativity and development, offering a practical solution for those new to programming. Explore how to set up your workspace with Visual Studio Code (VS Code) and the Claude Code extension, making sure a smooth start to your app development journey. Learn how to craft clear prompts to guide the AI effectively, use Plan Mode to review and refine suggestions and manage files across directories for more complex projects. This guide provides actionable steps to help you navigate the process confidently, empowering you to create functional apps tailored to your needs. What is Claude Code? TL;DR Key Takeaways …

A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home (2026)

A Beginner’s Guide to Growing Mushrooms at Home (2026)

Published by skeptic

Mushroom hunting is cool and fun, but you know what’s not cool and fun? Having slugs or other mushroom hunters discover your secret spot. Or, worst of all, accidentally collecting the wrong kind of mushroom that could make you quite sick—or worse. Ideally, you’d be able to grow your favorite kind of mushrooms safely in your own home or yard, whether that’s shiitakes, morels, or lion’s manes, just like you would vegetables. But like many gardening-adjacent pursuits, it’s not that simple. Mushrooms, like all fungi, need just three things to grow: spores, a food source, and a humid environment. However, because mushrooms are incredibly sensitive to light, heat, and contamination, it doesn’t take much to create a prohibitive growing environment. And then there’s the question of whether it’s possible to simulate the critical symbiotic relationships that many mushrooms, especially more coveted ones like porcinis and chanterelles, must maintain with tree roots to thrive. I am far from a mycology expert, but during the past year, I, a busy full-time-working parent, have engaged in five different …

5 Great New Books For Sci-Fi and Fantasy Beginners

5 Great New Books For Sci-Fi and Fantasy Beginners

Published by Jenni Sidey

One of the great pleasures of being human is finding out what things bring us joy, and the pursuit of those things. For instance, perhaps you love to read, but you haven’t picked up anything in the science fiction or fantasy genres yet. If that’s the case—welcome! Come on in, the water’s fine. For readers looking to get started in SFF, sometimes it’s best to begin with gentle, low-stakes novels. Like books with great characters and stories, but not so many characters and place names, or made-up words, that you need a glossary to keep track. (Those books come later, and they’re also rad.) So here are five great books released in 2026 that are perfect for readers new to the genres, or anyone just looking for an excellent read. Enjoy! Strange Animals by Jarod K. Anderson After a near-death experience, Green decides to leave city life and commune with nature for a while. But his journey into the Appalachian Mountains puts him in touch with more nature than he was expecting. As he explores …

Milwaukee sells two battery systems, and most beginners commit to the wrong one

Milwaukee sells two battery systems, and most beginners commit to the wrong one

Published by skeptic

Picking your first Milwaukee battery system usually comes down to a number on the box, and that number doesn’t tell you much. I’ve seen plenty of people grab the 18-volt kit because it sounds more powerful. This is a lot more complicated than whether a number is bigger on the box, but there’s a reason why professionals swear by them. The voltage number on the box doesn’t tell the whole story Smaller M12 batteries make the tool lighter to hold When you’re just getting into Milwaukee’s cordless tools, it’s easy to get tripped up by all the marketing hype around voltage numbers and end up picking the wrong system. Don’t just look at 12V versus 18V in the box and assume a bigger number is objectively better in every situation. You need to consider the size, weight, and price of each system before you buy your first set of tools. This kind of feature affects how much you’ll spend in the long term, how comfortable the tools feel to use, and how reliable your whole …