Hands up who could do with saving their gym membership fee every month? The good budget-friendly news is that you can easily fight the flab for free by giving these creative calorie-crunching crackers a go.
Every tip comes from a top fitness expert - so what are you waiting for?
Burn calories without the gym
The thermeogenic – i.e. increase in calories loss - effect of eating spicy food actually raises you metabolism for a couple of hours after eating by an estimated 20 to 30%.
"Having sex on average burns 200 to 300 calories and is slightly more entertaining than going to the gym. Do both together if you're feeling adventurous - the added excitement will burn extra calories!" says celebrity personal trainer Dan Roberts, www.danrobertstraining.com. Try different positions and alter the pace to work different muscle groups.
Dance and sing to your favouite songs. And really go for it! The sillier the better. "You'll get a rush of dopamine.- happy chemicals - to the brain as well as burn 100 calories in a just a few tracks" says Dan Roberts.
Walking short distances throughout the day, even if it's just down the street to grab lunch, or getting off the bus a stop early, will contribute to your total daily calorie usage. "Walking more everyday will help keep you in shape in the long run" says author of The Anatomy of Pilates, Paul Massey.
Says Dan Roberts: "In the field of performance fitness, this is called plyometrics, originally designed to help athletes bridge the gap from strength to power. But for us non-athletes, it's a fantastic way of burning calories. Jump side to side over a box as quick as you can. Do five sets of 20."
"Your metabolism will be soaring from the start of the day to the finish, burning away calories to keep you trim" says Joslyn Thompson of www.fitgirlabouttown.com. Eating little and often is best for weight loss.
Avoid unnecessary calorie intake by cutting out sugary drinks such as juice, sugary coffees and fizzy pop. "You may think you're getting ahead with a healthy diet but consuming high calorie drinks will contribute equally to your calorie intake as solid food. For example, an average soft drink contains around 140 calories, equal to a healthy snack" says founder of www.thestretchinginstitute.com, Brad Walker. Choose water, herbal teas, and juices with no added sugar.
Though it may not feel the case, your body is perfectly bio-mechanically designed to run. While the weather's still lovely, it'd be shame not to."Doing something natural in nature is wonderful for both the body and soul" says Dan Roberts. "Plus, you'll burn 400 to 600 calories an hour. Run fast for a minute, then slow, and repeat after you finish your run to elevate metabolism for up to 24 hours. You'll burn extra calories by doing nothing."
Giving your partner a body massage can be surprisingly physically demanding. "Breathe into the movements, keep your core muscles strong, and concentrate on using firm, consistent strokes which use strength from the whole of your body, not just your hands" says Ladan Soltani from Fitness TV, which launches on Sky on September 1st, www.fitness.tv
Footballers, sprinters and ballerinas keep slim and supple by doing something called dynamic flexibility. This is stretch, a mobility exercise and a calorie-burning activity all in one go: Stand up straight and slowly start swinging a leg like a pendulum up and down, getting higher and higher each swing. Keep it controlled but use momentum. "It's a far more effective way to stretch your hamstrings than touching your toes. And you get a bonus cardio, calorie burning workout with it" says Dan.