Nowadays, you don't need to spend a fortune on a gym membership to get fit because there's a fantastic range of affordable equipment you can use at home or outdoors. I asked some of the best personal trainers, responsible for honing the bodies of everyone from Dido to Kate Beckinsale, for their pick of the top training tools...
David Kirsch, who trains Heidi Klum, Linda Evangelista and a host of others recommends a stability ball which are fantastic for training the core muscles. 'Try holding the ball with both hands over your head, knees bent. Bending at the hip, keep your arms cose to your head until your body's paralell to the floor. Lift your right shoulder towards the ceiling, keeping your core engaged. Hold for 15 seconds and repeat on the other side.' For more tips read The Ultimate New York Body Plan, £9.99.
Jamie Baird who trains Kate Beckinsale recommends the Activa Air Disc, £18.95 (www.physicalcompany.co.uk) 'Lie with knees bent, right foot on the disk. Left your left leg in the air keeping your hips level. Now lift both hips off the floor maintaining level hips. Hold for a beat and then lower. Repeat 20 times on both sides.'
Kathryn Freeland who has trained Oscar award winner Cate Blanchett recommends dumb bells.
'They're versatile, simple to use and easy to store. A good exericise to banish bingo wings is to stand with feet hip width apart, hands over head and elbows bent so the weights are behind your head. Now keeping your elbows tucked in close to your head, lift the weights up toward the ceiling squeezing the triceps.' Do three sets of 12.
Fitbitch special tip - invest in Bowflex Select Dumbells, £239.99 (www.gymworld.co.uk) which are one set of dumbells that sit in a cradle that has a dial which you can use to pick up varying weights. It's far better than buying lots of different single dumbells - or only buying light ones that your body will soon get used to which will prevent you toning up.
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