Guest Author - Vicky Talbot

Finding the time to exercise regularly can, quite frankly, be a bore. Whilst there are far more fun ways to spend your time than slogging it out in the gym, think of how great it would be to slip easily into your skinny jeans, wear hip-skimming skirts without the muffin-top and wear your LBD without breathing in for dear life? If that image is enough to get you motivated, try these five fashionable fitness moves, chosen specifically to get you into that coveted piece of clothing without the pinch.

Jeans – prime your pins

It’s never been more paramount to keep your legs in tip-top condition with the advent of the love-hate skinny jeans trend. Thanks to Kate Moss, now not only do we need to worry about our denim-clad bottoms, it’s also crucial to keep our calves trim too. This is a tricky one as toning is key to keeping legs slim but too much muscle work will bulk out your calves, leading to many a struggle when pulling your skinnies up. Try this gentle but lengthening yoga position to slim and tone legs gently resulting in an overall lean and leggy look:

- Stand straight, feet together and slowly raise your arms above your head, placing hands together, palm to palm stretching upwards.
- Hold this position for 30 seconds then slowly lower your arms forward, keeping the straight and keeping your hips square.
- Keep legs straight and continue bending forward and down as far as you can without bending your knees – you should feel the stretch all down the back of your legs.
- With daily practice you’ll soon be able to hold the position for longer and touch your toes, improving your flexibility and muscle tone.

Strappy tops – blitz your upper arms

Summer isn’t too far away so start work on your upper arms now if you want to wear strappy tops aplenty with confidence. Weight-bearing exercises are the best option for wobbly arms and the good news is that arms are relatively easy to get into shape fast with a little perseverance. Your local gym will be able to advise you on which weights are best for you, however if you want a quick and effective move to do indoors, try this and minimise your batwings in no time:

- Sit on the edge of your sofa and wriggle forwards so you’re sitting on the edge with your palms face down, facing outwards so your fingers are splayed and facing towards the back of the sofa.
- Carefully lower yourself off the sofa, knees bent and arms supporting your back.
- Lower your body and bring yourself up again to seating position and repeat this movement completing 3 sets of 12 repetitions for a fabulous pair of flab-free triceps.

High-waisted trousers – tone your bottom

All things tailored and high-waisted form the basis of a trend which sees the return to waspy waists, sexy curves (hurrah!) and well-toned behinds. Whereas high-waisted jeans may only be for the bravest of fashionistas, high-waisted trousers and skirts can look fabulous in the office tucked into a bright white shirt – although garments with a high waist can often draw unwanted attention to your rear. For an all-over bottom blitz, try this quick and easy exercise that will reduce your rear in no time:

- Lie down on your back with knees bent and arms facing down by your sides.
- Gently lift your bottom off the floor raising your pelvis up until your bottom and back are aligned with your bent legs and hold the position for five seconds.
- Carefully lower back onto the floor and repeat, completing 3 sets of 12 repetitions for a beautifully toned behind.

Body-con party dress – flatten your tummy

There’s plenty of opportunity for hiding away underneath voluminous kaftans and smocks in the spring, but real trend-setters will be picking out a body-conscious bandage dress to take them through the season. To pull off this look with confidence, perfect your poise and posture. Stand straight, keep your chin ever-so-slightly raised, tuck your bum in and keep your shoulders back. By keeping your core stomach muscles tight, you’ll soon naturally appear to have a flattened tum. This quick toning position will soon tighten your abdomen area, although if it’s your first time persist with it – it can be quite gruelling at first!

- Lie on your front, legs out straight behind you and lean on your forearms, head facing forwards.
- Curl your feet underneath you and lift your body weight up so you’re resting your weight on your forearms and pushing up on your feet.
- Your body should be in line, be sure not to dip at your back – keep everything straight and pull in your stomach muscles.
- Hold the position for as long as you can – first timers will find this quite difficult but keep pushing it and you’ll be sporting a flattened torso in time for bikini season.

Low-rise styles – melt your muffin-top

Whether it’s a sultry low-rise skirt, a hip-skimming pair of bikini bottoms or your favourite pair of jeans, garments that cut across your lower midriff can create the dreaded overhang effect: the muffin top as it’s not-so-affectionately known to some. This area on your hips can be one of the toughest to slim down but the results can make a huge difference to how you look in your clothes, creating a perfect hourglass figure minus the unsightly lumps and bumps. Choose hip-hugging pieces carefully – always try before you buy and don’t be ashamed to get the next size up if something feels tight. To help slim down your hips, try this easy move that can be incorporated into your sit-up routine:

- Lie on your back with your knees bent and arms flat on the floor by your sides.
- Sit up slightly as if to do a sit-up but stop a few inches off the floor as your stomach muscles start to tense.
- Lift your arms parallel off the floor and in turn move them forward side to side, pushing your right arm towards your right foot then returning to the centre and repeating on your left side.
- Do 3 sets of 12 repetitions and keep a steady pace.