Gretchen Reynolds

New Mexico

Health columnist focusing on exercise science and fitness

Education: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, English Literature and Political Science

Gretchen Reynolds is the author of the "Your Move" column for The Washington Post. Reynolds is an award-winning journalist who has been writing about the science of exercise and health for more than 15 years, first at the New York Times and now at The Post. Reynolds joined The Post after 16 years writing for the New York Times, where she created the popular "Phys Ed" column, which focused on exercise advice and the science of movement. One of her best-known stories was about a hotel-room workout developed by two exercise scientists. She dubbed it "the scientific 7-minute workout," and it beca
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Latest from Gretchen Reynolds

Cough drops and mouthwash: Tips to stay cool during summer workouts

If you plan to work out in hot weather, strategies like using menthol cough drops, mouthwash and peppermint tea can help you feel cooler.

July 5, 2023

A torn ACL can heal itself, new study shows. Surgeons disagree.

The finding that surgery may not be needed for ACL injuries could change future treatment and suggests that the knee is more resilient than previously believed.

June 28, 2023

Athletes swear by ketone drinks. A new study says they don’t work.

Cyclists produced about 2 percent less power after drinking the ketone beverage than the placebo, which would translate into a significantly slower race time.

June 21, 2023

The best workout to curb overeating

We may eat less and control our weight better if we push ourselves to do more high-intensity exercise.

June 14, 2023

Forget 10,000 steps. 7 surprising tips for step counters.

Think you need 10,000 steps? Scientists have come up with evidence-based recommendations about step-count goals that might be lower than you would expect.

June 12, 2023

New to running? Play this fun game for motivation.

This bingo card is a guide to all the tips and inside jokes only runners can appreciate.

June 11, 2023

Is it safe to exercise outdoors when the air quality is bad?

When wildfire smoke leads to air quality alerts, exercisers can take precautions to stay safer and lower health risks.

June 7, 2023

It’s never too late for exercise to boost your brain health

In a study of 70- and 80-year-olds, walking four days a week for four months led to better scores on cognitive tests.

May 31, 2023

    Tired of the treadmill? Try this workout instead.

    A recent study compared different types of short, intense workouts and found that a five-exercise bodyweight routine is as good as treadmill intervals.

    May 26, 2023

    5 things to know about protein

    Despite the hype on social media, most people can get adequate protein without adding whey shakes and massive servings of meat to their plates.

    May 24, 2023