How To Tone Up For Your Holiday

Every time you eat, your body uses up energy to break down your food. This can be up to 30 per cent of the calories ingested! So if you split your daily meals up, you'll reduce the overall impact they have on your diet. Spread your three main meals into five to six snacks, but without increasing the portion size. At 11am, eat the starter you had planned for your lunch. Eat your main dish at 1pm and leave the pudding for 3pm. This method has an additional advantage: it stabilises blood sugar levels, keeping cravings at bay.

Eggs, dairy, turkey, soy, wholemeal bread, sardines and salmon... The protein in these foods controls the production of the neurotransmitter, serotonin. When our serotonin levels are low, we crave fatty and sugary foods. So by eating protein at lunch, you won't get the munchies for these things later in the day.

Every morning, drink a glass of room temperature water with a squeeze of fresh lemon. This will detoxify your body. For a bit of variety, you can always alternate this with a couple of tablespoons of organic apple cider vinegar instead. Our tip: use cold water if you need to kick-start your digestive system.

Combining these two ingredients will boost your metabolic rate by up to 4 per cent. It works a treat. Eat a vitamin C-rich fruit; such as mango, orange or kiwi; washed down with a double espresso. Do this in the morning though, rather than at night!

If you're behind a desk all day your blood flow will slow, your muscles will sleep, toxins will accumulate and your skin will slacken. So get moving! Get up from your desk whenever possible and have a five minute stretch of your legs. And try to rotate your ankles while you're seated.

Firming creams are great for attacking orange peel skin. Rich in caffeine, they'll deal with your lumps and bumps, plus their moisturising, nourishing action will leave you with supple, plump, baby-soft skin.