Fit Fun Day

If you're bored of your workout, then check out Evans Cycles Ride It! events. At designated weekends throughout the year, the national bicycle chain store hold mountain and road bicycle rides. They mark out the route, offer a free memory map, energy food and drink and you can even book a demo bike and try out Gore Tex garments at the event. The events offer a variety of routes starting at a fun ride of 15 miles, right up to 90 mile cycle. Entry is £10 via http://www.evanscycles.com/ride-it Bike your way out of your fitness rut!

Train for a triathalon - the J-Lo way

Six months after becoming a first time mum, Jennifer Lopez has decided to get in shape by training for a triathalon. It may sound like a daunting task for the 39-year old singer, but as personal trainer and triathatlete, Lily Rose of urbanfit.co.uk points out, you don't have to be a super fit athelete to do it.
'It can sound intimidating but if you're a beginner or don't have much experience of exercise, you can start out on novice events,' she explains. 'This involves swimming 375m, cycling 10km and running 2.5km. Once you've mastered that, you can progress to the sprint and then olympic distances.'
And the best thing about triathalons? It will get you in shape like no other sport as it works your entire body, particularly your core which works to stabilise your body through the three different disciplines of running, swimming and cycling.
'Triathalons are fantastic ways of getting fit,' agrees Lily. 'They work your cardiovascularly but are also a great fat burning exercise - you will lose a shedload of weight.'
The best way to start training for a triathalon is to work out for five minutes on the bike, switch to the treadmill, and then repeat this three times. This will get you use to the transition between the different disciplines. Also, focus on your swimming and building your core stability. For free core training tips, write a comment.
For more information about upcoming triathalon races visit www.britishtriathalon.org.
To see J-Lo talking about her trianing visit http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=5600031&page=1

Jennifer Love Hewitt loses 18lbs

After being subjected to the long lens of a papparazzi, Jennifer Love Hewitt was roundly ridiculed for her weight gain recently. But unfair though the papp shot was, there is nothing like an unflattering photograph to prompt you into action, and the Hollywood actress is no exception.
In the latest issue of US magazine (www.usmagazine.com/jennifer-love-hewitt-reveals-new-thinner-body) the star reveals her new slim-line, size 10 figure after losing an amazing 18lb in ten weeks. She's achieved it with the help of her trainer, Stevie Sant'Angelo, who customised a nutritional plan made up of 1250-1500 calories a day.
''The less processed the better,' says Jennifer. 'When you teach someone to eat properly, it's all about eyeballing the portions.'
But the real secret behind her amazing shape up, is a dynamic exercise routine, involving skipping, running and spinning, as well as building lean muscle with the help of kettlebells.
Originally used by Russian strongmen, these ball shaped weights are renowned for helping people shape up fast.
Resembling cannon balls but with a hande, this means the weight is off set, helping to challenge the muscles more than traditional dumbells. And because the movements use several muscle groups, you get twice the workout in half the time. Check out this YouTube video to see how a kettlebell workout could help you.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy5uU7ku-Lo

Free celebrity workouts

What did we ever do without YouTube and the internet? What it means is that it's now possible to get expert personal training workout and tips from trainers responsible for getting the Hollywood stars into shape.
In under a hour, I've already revamped my own training regime and have picked out some of the best free sites for you guys...

Gunnar Peterson
Responsible for getting Jennifer Lopez and Gwen Stefani into shape, Gunnar is one of the top trainers in the world. This site is brilliant with easy to follow video instruction on a number of functional exercises. This is the new buzz word in the fitness world, meaning that you exercise in a manner that replicates the movement patterns that your body usually does day to day.
Link: www.gunnarpeterson.com
Who is it for? Fit chicks
Difficulty rating: ****

The Body Doctor
Otherwise known as David Marshall, this is the man credited with the amazing transformations of Sophie Dahl and Rachel Weisz. He's most famous for a six week plan which, in three 90-minute sessions completely transforms your body. At a cost, of course. That's why it's worth logging on to his website for free stuff! The vidoes are a bit cumbersome to watch and the exercises aren't that challenging but it's great for beginners.
Link: www.bodydoctor.com
Who is it for? Chicks ready to spread their fitness wings
Difficulty rating: **

Kathy Kaehler
She's trained Claudia Schiffer and Lisa Kudrow, which is good enough for Fitbitch as they both look fantastic. Unlike the other's, Kathy provides both a 30-minute cardio workout to help burn fat, as well as an easy to follow resistance exercises. These are just as vital as muscle burns more calories at rest so it helps you slim. And it's particularly important for those of us who are over 30 as we lose 0.5kgs of muscle every year.
Link: www.kathykaehler.com
Who is it for? New chicks
Difficulty rating: *

Mark Jenkins
He's helped Beyonce develop her enviably toned curves and notably helped Missy Elliot completely metamorphose. And when you watch his workouts you understand why. This video workout focus on plyometric exericses. These are short, explosive exercises usually practised by those training for a sports event and develop spped and strength. To follow this workout you'll need a lot of equipment and it's not stuff you'll get at your local gym. Still, if you're ready for the burn, then this is the one.
Link: www.infitness.com
Who is it for: Uber fit chicks
Difficulty rating: *****

Five of the best diet tricks

© istockphotos.com/Sarah Louise Johnson

And by diet tricks, I'm talking how you can actually have something sweet without completely falling off the diet wagon and giving up on those hard won, slim-line curves.

First up, an well known but original one - the humble Jelly Baby. Don't you love 'em? Containing just 85 calories and 0.1 grammes of fat in five of these squidgy, delicious jelly bodies you can't fail. Er...except if you buy a whole packet and scoff the lot. My advice? Go to a Pick n'Mix and just buy five...or nick some from your friend's children!

It may sound mad but try freezing a handful of white grapes. When you get the urge for something sweet just suck them - they're like sweets. Alternatively, buy some frozen cherries, blackberries or blueberries from the supermarket and use them. Only 60 calories and 0.1 grammes of fat.


Yummmm, Fig Rolls are another of our favourites, crunchy on the outside and gooey in the middle. And at only 40 calories and 1.4grammes of fat. You can only go wrong if you eat the lot. If you have no self control, steer clear.



Chocolate...mmmm, how could we survive without it? But Fitbitch is fed up of those diet features saying 'Have a few squares of 70% dark chocolate as a treat.' Are you kidding?! What, so you're just going to have two and put the rest in the fridge and forget about it. I don't think so.
But there is away around it...if you melt the chocolate first and then eat with a spoon ...dare I say it, you feel a bit sick by the end. OK, so not strictly speaking a treat but it cures you of that overwhelming 'Homer, must eat doughnuts' kind of moment. 55 calories and 4.1g of fat for 1/3 of a small bar of Green and Blacks 70% dark chocolate.

And lastly, it's going to sound weird but it's lovely. I came across this when I found my Iranian flatmate dipping a Finn's Rye Crisp in a pot of natural yoghurt. I thought it was disgusting until I tried it...and it's really, really nice. 50 calories and 1.4grammes of fat.

Anne Hathaway's fitness secrets

Anne Hathaway, 25, star of Brokeback Mountain and the Devil Wears Prada is in fantastic shape, yet she only exercises for 30 minutes, three times a day. Her secret? Interval training.
'I do interval running for about half an hour, during this time, I'll walk for a minute and a half, then I run for a minute, then sprint for a minute.'
By fatiguing the muscles by constantly challenging them, you not only tone up more quickly but because your metabolic rate is raised for up to two hours after you've exercised you keep burning calories even after your work out if finished.
but if you're not fit enough to run, then don't worry. Interval training counts as anything where you go from a slow to a faster pace. This could be a slow walk to a jog, or walking on a level surface and then going uphill. Just be honest with yourself - as long as you're challenging yourself it will work!

Sweet treats that won't make you fat

It sounds like something out of Alice in Wonderland, but companies in Ameria have invented a new generation of chemicals that aims to fight the increase in adult obesity. The chemicals, known as flavour modulators trick the brain into thinking you are scoffing a sugary, fatty snacks when you could be eating something as healthy as a carrott.
Next year, Cadbury is reportedly aiming to use flavour modulators in some of it's foods, while Coca-Cola is working on a way to boost the taste of it's sugar-free drinks. It may sound like a good argument in the fight against the obesity epidemic but Fitbitch can't help but wonder whether there will be anything left in the supermarket soon that isn't full of chemicals.