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Love yoga like Kate Upton or keep on running like Ellie Goulding... take inspiration from the stars to get fit in 2016

Sponsored by F&F

Many celebs credit exercise for trim bodies and glowing skin
Gwyneth Paltrow and Katie Upton both advocate yoga
Ellie Goulding and Nell McAndrew love to run
Kym Marsh is a recently converted gym bunny
Find out how to follow their example and get fit in 2016

Published: 18:59 EST, 12 January 2016 | Updated: 07:06 EST, 13 January 2016

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Gwyneth Paltrow, Ellie Goulding and Kate Upton are among the celebrities who credit exercise for helping them achieve their trim figures, glowing skin and high energy levels.

So if you want to follow their lead and get fit in 2016, where do you start?

While the A-listers can often get the support of personal trainers to help them achieve their fitness goals, being able to hire one is by no means an essential part of leading an active lifestyle.

Sticking to an exercise plan is about finding a sport you enjoy so working out becomes a pleasure rather than a chore.

So if your New Year's resolution is to improve your health through exercise, get your kit on and follow the tips below inspired by the stars to get moving...

YOGA

Kate Upton shared this picture of herself on Instragram looking happy as she tries aerial yoga in a grey T-shirt and capri leggings

Stars including Reese Witherspoon, Katie Holmes and Kate Hudson are big fans of yoga and are often pictured carrying their yoga mats into a weekly class.

But perhaps the most famous advocate of the activity is Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow - who has even been given an award for her 'immense contributions to the yoga community.'

The 43-year-old mother-of-two believes yoga has had numerous benefits for her health and wellbeing.

She said: 'First of all physically, it completely changed me, I found I have strength I never thought I had.

'Mentally it has taught me patience and letting go and has changed my psychological outlook.'

Gwyneth Paltrow and Reese Witherspoon are both yoga fans. Gwyneth said the activity has 'completely changed' her both mentally and physically

She said even on her busiest days she tries to fit it in - often doing it first thing in the morning - and she said anything you can do is better than nothing if you want to maintain a supple body and clear mind.

She explains: 'It is important to do a bit of stretching and yoga - even if you can only do ten minutes. It just takes a bit of commitment and a mindset change.'

The actress has tried different styles of yoga over the years to maintain her interest, including aerial yoga, which involves using a hammock to work the muscles in gravity defying poses.

Sports Illustrated model Kate Upton recently shared a picture of herself on Instagram trying the technique and urged others to follow her lead with the caption 'come on everyone is doing it' #rainyday #justhangin'

The 23-year-old actress looked to be enjoying the exercise as she had a big smile on her face and had worked up a sweat in a grey T-shirt and capri leggings.

In an interview with Women's Health, she revealed yoga is a key element of her fitness regime as her goal is to be 'strong not skinny'.

The F&F Active 2 in 1 T-Shirt £12, and F&F Active Faux Leather Panel Leggings £16, are ideal yoga wear

She said: 'I do love that 'strong not skinny' is a movement now. When I first started out, it was just "skinny, skinny, skinny". And I want to be strong because I'm working 12-hour days and I want to do it with energy and happiness and I want to go out with my friends and enjoy my life.

'So I train about four times a week, mixing it up with light weights, lengthening body weight exercises, yoga, and boxing.'

If you want to get into shape like Gwyneth and Kate, look up a yoga class in your local area where you can be taught how to hold the poses correctly to enhance your muscle tone and flexibility.

When practising yoga, it is advisable to wear a loose fitting top that won't restrict your breathing and trousers with stretch fabric to allow you to comfortably hold the positions.

Clothing brand F&F have just the kit in their latest collection of activewear. Perfect garments for yoga are the Active 2 In 1 T-Shirt, £12, and F&F Active Faux Leather Panel Leggings, £16.

RUNNING

Running is one of the easiest sports to take up as you can head out of your front door and go whenever you have time.

This is one of the reasons popstar Ellie Goulding loves the sport as she said she can do it wherever she is in the world when she's on tour.

'I will find somewhere to go out and run,' she told the Huffington Post. 'Running is the basis of all the training that I do other than yoga. 'It gives me a great chance to focus when I am not in the car and I am by myself – it's like an escape.'

Ellie Goulding pictured taking part in a half marathon. She said she loves to run for escapism

While she enjoys the time she has to herself when running, the 28-year-old also recommends training with a friend to make it easier, and entering a race to give you a goal to work towards together.

'It's always great to encourage, motivate and support each other right up to the finish line,' said Ellie, who has completed a number of 10k and half marathons.

There are a number of running plans for beginners online to help you get started, with many recommending periods of walking in between running bursts until you are fit enough to run continuously.

Model and keen runner Nell McAndrew recommends joining in parkrun events which are free 5k runs held across the country every Saturday at 9am.

She told MailOnline: 'They are 'timed 5ks' rather than races, with a relaxed, friendly atmosphere so you don't need to be competitive or super speedy to take part.

Model Nell McAndrew, left, pictured taking part in a 5k parkrun, recommends the weekly events to all abilities of runners. Hit the road yourself in F&F's Active Digital Print Leggings, £16

'They are suitable for all ages and abilities - you can run alone, with friends, family or even your dog.

'I regularly take part and even did one with my family on Christmas Day which was one of my favourite parkrun experiences. Knowing there are people to run round the park with on a Saturday morning motivates me to get out of bed and go running.'

Joining in a group run like this - or by joining a local running club - will help motivate you to run in the winter months when the cold and wet weather can make heading out less appealing.

Run whatever with the weather with F&F's Active Digital Print Lightweight Running Jacket, £29

But with the right gear, facing the elements isn't a problem, and you'll soon warm up once you start jogging.

Opt for lightweight, breathable layers such as a running T-shirt or long sleeved top with F&F's Active Digital Print Lightweight Running Jacket, £29, over the top. Then for your bottom half, F&F Active Digital Print Leggings, £16, will keep your muscles warm and have stretchy fabric to allow freedom of movement.

Both items have reflective logos to help you be seen if running after dark.

GYM CLASSES AND HOME WORKOUTS

Joining a gym is many people's first port of call when they want to get fit. In doing so, you can join in various group classes on offer such as aerobics and spinning, or you can do a solo workout on the treadmill.

One recently converted gym bunny is Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh. The 39-year-old mother-of-four said she has a new-found love of exercise after feeling 'stuck in a rut' for years.

She told Reveal magazine: 'I'd found myself in a rut on the fitness front, I felt lethargic and couldn't find the time to exercise. You know what it's like when you work full time or have kids, or both.'

Kym Marsh pictured hitting the gym to do some sit ups in a nap she hared on Twitter. She's transformed her fitness after making time to exercise

Kim pictured heading to the gym in leggings and a hooded top. Follow her example in F&F's Active Neon Trim Zip-Through Hoodie, £18, right

But now the former Hear'say singer makes time to hit the gym and regular enthuses about her workouts on Twitter whilst sharing pictures of her toned abs.

'Another training session in the bag! Loving my body weight programme!! #feelgood #fitnessisthewayforward #healthybodyhealthymind', she wrote after one workout as she posed in a crop top.

If you don't have time to get a gym like Kym, that's no excuse not to put your body through its paces in 2016.

Many celebs advocate home workouts and supermodel Miranda Kerr said she regularly does a 15 minute session involving jumping jacks, squats and press ups along with other moves to keep her toned and raise her heart rate.

She explained in her blog for Kora Organics that workouts like this - where she does a minute of each exercise with 30 seconds' recovery in between - are easy to fit into her day.

She said: 'Like most busy working women and mothers, I can find it difficult to fit everything into the day, and more often than not exercise can get relegated to the bottom of the list.

Miranda Kerr said she does a 15 minute workout at home or even in a hotel room to stay in shape when she can't get to the gym

F&F Active Racerback Vest, £8, and coordinating F&F Active Contrast Seam Capris, £12 , are perfect for a workout at home or at the gym

'When I'm short on time, working long hours or travelling, I've developed a 15-minute workout routine that targets all areas, needs no equipment and can be easily done at home or in a hotel room. Not only does it give you a great workout, but it also increases your energy levels and improves concentration!'

Whether you decide to work out at home or at the gym, make sure you have the correct kit to ensure you can exercise in comfort.

F&F's fitness range is both functional and fashionable with the F&F Active Racerback Vest, £8, and coordinating F&F Active Contrast Seam Capris, £12, perfect for a gym class like Spinning or Zumba or an aerobics workout in your own home.

The F&F Active Neon Trim Zip-Through Hoodie, £18 is ideal to wear over the top as you warm up and cool down.

Click here to view F&F's full fitness range