Personal Training

Shape up in a week with this easy and delicious meal plan

Need to get in shape, quickly and safely? Here are our top pound-shifting tips and a simple meal plan that'll get you slim and slender in no time.

To lose a few pounds and to stop your tummy from feeling and looking bloated, cut down on salt to help prevent fluid retention. That means eating freshly made meals rather than processed foods. Also, eliminate all sugar and refined carbohydrates, swapping to wholegrain alternatives, and no more sugary snacks!

Eat little and often, every three hours or so, to keep your blood sugar and energy levels stable. Aim to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus a healthy snack mid-morning and one mid-afternoon. This will stop those roller-coaster highs and cravings for sweet foods.

Eat plenty of lean protein (chicken, lean meat, fish and eggs) and add vegetables or salad to meals to boost your intake of fibre, vitamins and minerals. And aim to drink six to eight glasses of water a day, including diluted low-sugar fruit drinks, herbal teas or cups of tea. All the above will be beneficial in keeping your skin supple and hydrated, helping cellulite to look /less/ obvious.

Finally, if you know your self-discipline can waiver from time to time, keep a food diary to monitor your actions.