Shape is not a magazine I would normally chose to buy, but when a copy ends up in my hands, as it invariably does, I usually flick through before chucking it under my bed where all things that need to be banished from sight but still can't, for some unknown reason, be thrown away, live.
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Advantages: Quick to flick through Disadvantages: ...Quick to flick through
Shape is not a magazine I would normally chose to buy, but when a copy ends up in my hands, as it invariably does, I usually flick through before chucking it under my bed where all things that need to be banished from sight but still can't, for some unknown reason, be thrown away, live.
Published monthly by Dennis Publishing, Shape is, as the name would suggest, concerned with all things healthy and fitnessey. They're a little over ... ...if you're into keeping in shape and being fit and healthy it might not be the mag for you. Also, the make up section seems a little pointless to me - in terms of sports, you'd just sweat it off anyway, and for daytime / evenings, I never see the point in showing people how to cover up the healthy glow they developed as a result of their work out - surely slightly flushed cheeks are more attractive the milky white ones?
Shape is not a magazine I would normally chose to buy, but when a copy ends up in my hands, as it invariably does, I usually flick through before chucking it under my bed where all things that need to be banished from sight but still can't, for some unknown reason, be thrown away, live.
Published monthly by Dennis Publishing, Shape is, as the name would suggest, concerned with all things healthy and fitnessey. They're a little over the top with their accepting yourself and worshipping life emphasis - all their sections have the L word in the title - love your health, love your body, love your world and so on.
Unlike some other magazines, this one manages to strike a nice balance between health issues (good detail, but only about those affecting 20 - 40 year old women really), fashion (not too many pages, "average" sized models and most importantly wearable clothes), fitness tips ( achievable goals from followable plans) and food advice ( yummy recipes and not too much focus on dieting). They even have a travel section, with self-indulgent holiday ideas as well as the usual spa breaks and hiking trips.
They don't give freebies all that often, but when they do they're good ones - clothes, books, extra magazines and so on. The magazine itself often features funky offers, whether they be for half price facials or free product samples. Competitions usually feature holidays either abroad or in this country as prizes - so not just a year's subscription and a 10 year old goody bag then. Although as all mags it contains a fair num of adverts, the majority of these are contained to the last few pages where they have a classified section, making them easy to skip through (unless you are actually in the market for a boob job or cyber sex partner).
The features are usually well researched and written in a nice readable way. They have quizzes with a twist - instead o f a list of boring questions about what you'd do if you caught your partner cheating on you, they have lifestyle related tests, such as "will you age faster than your friends?" I'm happy to say that I won't - the combo of my skin tone, my smoking and drinking habits (never) and the amount of sleep I get, I should be looking 17 for the rest of my life. Which is better than, y'know, looking 70.
They feature readers quite a lot, whether it be for "day in the life of a typical….." or for their success stories section, where now thin and fit types show off their bloater pics. Why you can't deny are always fun to look at.
On the negative side, the magazine seems very much geared to losing weight - even if you're into keeping in shape and being fit and healthy it might not be the mag for you. Also, the make up section seems a little pointless to me - in terms of sports, you'd just sweat it off anyway, and for daytime / evenings, I never see the point in showing people how to cover up the healthy glow they developed as a result of their work out - surely slightly flushed cheeks are more attractive the milky white ones?
I took 2 of my 3 free issues of Shape on holiday with me, but was soon bored: there just isn't enough detail or depth in any of the articles to keep you engrossed for long enough. Overall, it's a nice all round magazine but not really my thing. Because they cover so many different areas, they just cannot delve into any one in as much detail as I'd like. Which is a shame, because if they got that right, they might be onto a winner. Final verdict has to be though, if all you want is to get into shape, then getting into Shape is not necessarily the best way to do it.
Shape Magazine - £2.60 / month
For subscription details call 01454 642448
<< But...the American edition is interesting, entertaining and whitty, and gives you a fab insight into life in the States. It's more expensive than the UK one as they import it, but well worth buying and is readily available in all major newsagents>>
Advantages: Feel good magazine - not just about sport but about how to live a healthy lifestyle. Very well written. Disadvantages: There really are no disadvantages.
...type magazine, think again. Shape is not about sport but about loving yourself; both your inner self and your body. It's also a magazine that caters for all ages so not just the young but more tailored towards the young at heart. When this magazine pops through my letterbox every month I can not put it down - i also file them for reference - sounds a little much but that's how informative and uselful their pages are. It has incredibly well written ... ...and what's new, foods, faddy diets and promotes healthy eating including giving you guidelines, alerts you of new scientific research that could affect you and has dates for you calendar on events that are happening round the country, has fabulous competitions, finds lovely places to get away for weekends and gives out sensible and fun advice. It's a magazine that is a friendly guide if you don't know where to start to get your life back on track; ...
LupiL 22.09.2003
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Shape
Shape is not a magazine I would normally chose to buy, but when a copy ends up in my hands, as it invariably does, I usually flick through before chucking it under my bed where all things that need to be banished from sight but still can’t, for some unknown reason, be thrown away, live.
Published monthly by Dennis Publishing, Shape is, as the name would suggest, concerned with all things healthy and fitnessey. They’re a little over the top with their accepting yourself and worshipping life emphasis – all their sections have the L word in the title – love your health, love your body, love your world and so on.
Unlike some other magazines, this one manages to strike a nice balance between health issues (good detail, but only about those affecting 20 – 40 year old women really), fashion (not too many ...
zoe_page 14.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Shape
Advantages: lots of fitness info Disadvantages: not as much content as other magazines
Shape is yet another health and beauty magazine for women, this time focused more on exercise and fitness rather than fashion or lifestyle. All in all I found the magazine rather average - the lay out is adequate and some of the articles are quite interesting, but really it has nothing new to offer the already crowded shelves of women's magazines. I have to admit to being a sucker for the free gifts on the front of magazines, but Shape rarely seems to give anything away, so it seems less attractive on the shelf than other titles. However, I have to admit that I do have a bit of a soft spot for Shape: I once wrote them a letter which they printed, and so they sent me a Reebok fitness set! OK, so I haven't used the fitness equipment (I'm not the most sporty person in the world!), but it was quite a nice surprise!!
Shape magazine ...
pinklady 13.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Shape
Advantages: The free facial cleanser Disadvantages: Just up from Just Seventeen
I subscribed to Shape magazine on a trial period, mainly because I'm sad like that and will try anything once (no dodgy e-mails please). The free Liz Earle facial cleanser with linen face clothe was the most sophisticated and valuable thing about the whole experience. The magazine is only one step above the sort of female oriented claptrap you expect to read as a teenager. Each page is filled with contradictions, such as eat what you like and still lose weight versus exercise like a paratrooper and look like our models. There are Jerry Springeresque tales of losing weight and getting a life/love. The most dreadful article revolved around comparisons drawn between those who eat and those who don't - coming down severely on the side of those who merely acknowledge food; they didn't show an analysis of the enamel of both sets of women ...
Maddi69 29.05.2002
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Shape
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