John Carroll
John is a writer and editor based in London. He was worked for magazines such as Runner’s World, Men’s Health, Women’s Health and Cosmopolitan. A keen runner, what he lacks in ability he makes up for with enthusiasm and excuses.
Latest articles by John Carroll
![Woman doing a lateral step up outside](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/yz3wZ3dZAK4pv3Lzgw5mw5-320-80.jpg)
I did 50 weighted lateral step-ups every day for a week — here’s what happened to my body
By John Carroll published
Read what happened when one fitness writer did 50 weighted lateral step-ups every day for one week, plus the benefits of the leg exercise, and how to do it yourself.
![a photo of a woman doing reverse crunches](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/4FtkSsyoYqgSMPHxV9WifY-320-80.jpg)
I did 30 reverse crunches with leg lifts every day for a week — here's what happened to my body
By John Carroll published
One move to build a stronger core
![Man performing a plank outdoors next to the water](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/DKMturSDbJ3RH8uxkkUJcJ-320-80.jpg)
I did planks with knee taps every day for a week to build core strength — here's what happened
By John Carroll published
This plank variation engages your upper body, strengthens your core, and works your legs for a full-body workout to boost your balance and improve your posture without weights.
![Man in a forearm plank position on exercise mat in a light room with fists clenched](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/n76Wnb9PfvxNoQ6ob3vmER-320-80.jpg)
I tried 50 plank hip dips every day for a week — here's what happened
By John Carroll published
This plank variation works your obliques and strengthens your core, but it's tougher than it looks.
![woman doing donkey kick exercise](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/7t3aAaiUQirdQw6o8JtU4Q-320-80.jpg)
I did 100 weighted donkey kicks every day for a week — here’s what happened to my body
By John Carroll published
This weighted variation on the glute kickback is a great way to build lower body muscle and strengthen your glutes.
![Man performing a lateral raise with dumbbells](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/N7cKZJUp4C3kdvwvKoPXSR-320-80.jpg)
I did 30 lateral raises every day for 2 weeks — here's the results
By John Carroll published
The dumbbell lateral raise is an effective, muscle-building upper body exercise, and I was surprised how well my body adapted to the two-week challenge.
![Man performing dumbbell renegade rows](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TPQA8Pox9viBHcPPFq2qCA-320-80.jpg)
I did 60 dumbbell renegade rows every day for a week — here's what happened
By John Carroll published
This upper body exercise really worked my core and shoulder muscles, but I just couldn't enjoy it.
![Man performing a hollow body hold core exercise](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/n3yyP4pBGAjjdqY3VedVqA-320-80.jpg)
I did hollow body holds every day for a week — here's what happened to my body
By John Carroll published
This core-focused move works more than just your abs, connects your upper and lower body, and improves your posture without weights.
![a photo of a strong man holding a kettlebell](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/dwMYjQvncZHKXLpbjb5wNH-320-80.jpg)
Forget tricep dips — I did kettlebell skull crushers for a week, here's what happened
By John Carroll published
What is a kettlebell skull crusher, how do you do one, and what happened when this writer did kettlebell skull crushers for a week
![a photo of a strong man sat on a bench](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/kGwUn2DsiD7xc59TcRNJAX-320-80.jpg)
Forget lunges — I did single-leg seated squats every day for a week and here's what happened to my body
By John Carroll published
How to do single-leg seated squats, and what happened when this writer did them every day for a week
![a photo of a woman doing an incline push up](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/SsFnRYrz5ZaswmHQczsgxD-320-80.jpg)
I did 50 incline push-ups every day for a week — here’s what happened to my chest, arms and shoulders
By John Carroll published
What is an incline push-up, how do you do it, and what happened when this writer did 50 reps a day for a week
![a photo of a man doing crunches](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wuAaMSdvYyueY7PgJnDvwi-320-80.jpg)
I did the side-to-side crunch for a week — here’s what happened to my abs
By John Carroll published
I did the side-to-side crunch for a week — here’s what happened to my abs and the different variations I tried
![a photo of a man doing the dumbbell push press](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/MR4UbspotX99LtEPUijyrj-320-80.jpg)
I did the dumbbell push press every day for a week — here's what happened to my body
By John Carroll published
What is the dumbbell push press, how do you do it, and what happened when this writer did it every day for a week?
![a photo of a woman doing a walking lunge](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XGKeujy9SkLf9XAhLX5Ppj-320-80.jpg)
I did 50 walking lunges every day for a week — here’s what happened to my legs
By John Carroll published
What is a walking lunge, how to do a walking lunge, and what happened when I did walking lunges every day for a week
![a photo of a man doing a reverse lunge](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/Ekr6ZuHHiPPa5taKbApmzB-320-80.jpg)
I did the lunge crunch for a week — here’s what happened to my legs and abs
By John Carroll published
What is a lunge crunch, what are the benefits of a lunge crunch, and what happened when this fitness writer did them every day for a week
![a photo of a woman with strong abs](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/XMtCHBP7JsoTfJk8aUM6jc-320-80.jpg)
I did a standing bird dog every day for a week — here’s what happened to my abs
By John Carroll published
What is the standing bird dog ab exercise, how do you do it, and what happened when this fitness writer did it every day for a week
![a photo of a woman doing a dumbbell push up](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/3Gbu3sHqX9hCvYKCsF63ch-320-80.jpg)
I did dumbbell push-ups every day for a week — here’s what happened to my upper body
By John Carroll published
What is a dumbbell push-up, how do you do a dumbbell push up, and what happened when this fitness writer did them for a week
![a photo of a man doing a double leg stretch Pilates exercise](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/coXvxAWeHtMEv3p7FBisMW-320-80.jpg)
I did the double leg stretch for a week — here's what happened to my abs
By John Carroll published
What is the Pilates double-leg stretch, how do you do it, and what happened when this fitness writer did it every day for a week
![a photo of a woman doing a standing bicycle crunch](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/t8P6pSPQmBQh88XZmrq3t4-320-80.jpg)
I did the standing bicycle crunch for a week — here's what happened to my core
By John Carroll published
What is the standing bicycle crunch, how do you do standing bicycle crunches, and what happened when this fitness writer did them every day for a week?
![a photo of the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 23](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/VNoA57CBrDCACXPFYbHoEP-320-80.jpg)
Brooks Adrenaline 23 review
By John Carroll published
A review of the Brooks Adrenaline 23 running shoe - one of the best cushioned stability running shoes on the market
![a photo of a strong man in the gym stretching his arms](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/AxxYPfE7Ape8MMvHnAHn2H-320-80.jpg)
I did the cross-body arm swing for a week — and the results surprised me
By John Carroll published
What is the cross-body arm swing, how do you do it, and what happens when you add it to your routine for a week? We found out
![a photo of a man doing a jack knife sit up](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/z6n86f4Fvrimpts4RXAxR6-320-80.jpg)
Forget planks, I did the jackknife sit-up for a week — here’s what happened to my abs
By John Carroll published
What is a jackknife sit-up, how do you do it, and what happens when you do it every day for a week?
![a photo of a woman holding a kettlebell](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/8hWS6ZKiFTEyMDTM9oAawh-320-80.jpg)
I did the standing dumbbell twist for a week — here’s what happened to my abs
By John Carroll published
What is the standing weighted twist, how do you do it, and what happens when you add it to your routine for a week