Ally Head
Ally Head is Marie Claire UK's Senior Health and Sustainability Editor, a nine-time marathoner, and a Boston Qualifying runner. With eight years of editorial experience under her belt, she has a keen eye for a story, a passion for digital journalism, and is always innovating and pushing boundaries with how online content should be delivered to ensure her pillars are consistent top performers. Day-to-day, she manages a team of freelancers and works across site strategy, features, and e-commerce, overseeing all health and sustainability content, commissioning strategy, and reporting, and managing MC UK's yearly Women in Sport campaign and shoots, too. She regularly hosts panels and presents for events such as the MC Sustainability Awards alongside presenting for her two regular franchises, Decoded and Wellness Wins. The first is an Instagram franchise where she interviews fitness royalty including the likes of Kayla Itsines, Jillian Michaels, and Doctor Julie Smith in front of millions of followers, and her newest addition, Wellness Wins, shines a spotlight on the latest must-try wellness products that she's genuinely tried and loved. Before joining MC, she freelanced for the likes of Cosmopolitan, Glamour, Grazia, The Telegraph, Refinery29, Stylist, Good Housekeeping, and more. Prior to that, she was headhunted to lead digital strategy at Foodism. Her first ever journalism job was at Women's Health, where she worked for three years and headed up their nutrition content, cutting through the clean eating noise and enlisting qualified dieticians and nutritionists to give their take on everything from protein shakes, to probiotic gut health supplements. She's won a BSME award for her work on Sustainability and scooped a Spirit of Hearst award in 2018, too. She has an MA in Magazine Journalism from City University and a BA in English Language from the University of Birmingham. While at Birmingham, she was Head of Marketing for student radio station Burn FM and Travel Editor at the student newspaper, Redbrick, winning Article of the Year for a long read about living in New York in 2015. When she's not writing, she's training for her next race or hunting down a good pastry. Follow Ally on Instagram for more.
Latest articles by Ally Head
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I was fully prepared to call the trending TikTok walking pad a fad, but it's seriously improved my fitness
Considering investing? We've rounded up the best early Black Friday discounts, too.
By Ally Head
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As it's revealed gynaecological waitlists have doubled in the UK, we ask - why are female health diagnoses taking so long?
New BBC stats show a staggering three-quarters of a million women's health appointments are still waiting to happen.
By Ally Head
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I'm a Health Editor who runs marathons for fun - these are officially the 20 best gym leggings you can buy
Some are currently discounted ahead of Black Friday, too.
By Ally Head
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I'm a wellness enthusiast—55 gifts guaranteed to boost self care and make your loved ones smile this festive season
So good you'll want them for yourself, too.
By Ally Head
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I test leggings for a living - these are the 16 best pairs of high waisted gym leggings you can currently buy
That won't roll down, sag, or cut you in half.
By Ally Head
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Ever wondered which is more effective: weekend or weekday workouts? PT's share the definitive answer
Are you team weekdays or weekends?
By Ally Head
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Wellness Wins: I always thought acupressure was a bit woo woo - but the Yogi Bare mat is a total recovery game-changer
I can't recommend it enough.
By Ally Head
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As Editors who work out all the time, trust us - these are the only 5 exercise mats worth your money
Including options for weights, HIIT and everything in between
By Ally Head
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Two thirds of women exercise less during winter - 9 simple ways to stay on track
If you're feeling demotivated or unsafe.
By Ally Head
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How to cope with bad news — 4 expert tips for dealing with distressing global events
You may not be able to change the situation, but you can change the way you react.
By Ally Head
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I'm a 9x marathon runner who works out five times a week - 6 tips for making winter training enjoyable
Trust me - these are game-changing.
By Ally Head
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Workout leggings with pockets are game-changing - I test kit for a living and these are, hands down, the 13 best pairs
Starting from £14.99.
By Ally Head
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I'm a world-renowned gut health doctor - 5 surprising foods that might be triggering painful bloating this autumn
The more you know...
By Ally Head
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I've worked in the health industry for ten years - and I can safely say I'd avoid these 6 fitness trends at all costs
Trust me on this one.
By Ally Head
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A top expert answers - can you do Pilates effectively at home without spending money on equipment?
The question you've all been asking.
By Ally Head
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I'm the first to ignore viral fitness trends - but, as a Health Editor, can't stress how much I'm loving the Winter Arc challenge
This one gets my seal of approval.
By Ally Head
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Trust me, I'm a personal trainer - these are the foolproof ways to make your resistance band workouts even more effective
You're welcome.
By Ally Head
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Hailey Bieber’s signature breakfast has gone insanely viral - here, a top nutritionist shares how to make it yourself at home
Start the day in a nutrient-dense way.
By Ally Head
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I've run nine marathons - 15 things you need to know before running your first 26.2
As Ruth Chepngetich breaks the women's marathon world record in a time of 2:09:57.
By Ally Head
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8 forms of mental health help that promise to calm your mind, whatever you're currently facing
This Mental Health Awareness Day, know this: you are never alone.
By Ally Head
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Davina McCall is on a mission to end menopause stigma - and she's going to stop at nothing
"This is still happening, people."
By Ally Head
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I'm a ruthlessly picky Health Editor - meet the wellness products I *actually* recommend to family and friends
Aka, my all-time favourites.
By Ally Head
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The sportswear boom at Fashion Month *should* be a good thing for diversity and representation - my unfiltered thoughts, as a Health Editor
In a sea of questionable model castings, athleisurewear came out tops - but at what cost?
By Ally Head
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Looking to lose fat and build lean muscle? A dietician's cheat sheet, plus why eating enough protein is key
Not just for gym bros.
By Ally Head
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This is how to thrive, rather than survive, during menopause, according to world-renowned experts
In celebration of Menopause Awareness Month, meet our experts.
By Ally Head
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Energy dipped since the season has changed? This is the supplement you need to be taking, stat
Shockingly, the majority of Brits have low levels of this one, very important vitamin - and it’s easy to rectify.
By Ally Head
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Wellness Wins: This supplement has been dubbed a “magic potion” - and after two years of testing, I concur
ARTAH’s best-selling electrolyte is the real deal.
By Ally Head