Two and a half difficult weeks have passed since the Bikini Blast began and the million-dollar question: have we seen some improvement? I know I said I’d be avoiding the scales like the plague, but I had a sneaky look today and despite definite muscle gain (which is heavier than fat) I have managed to loose eleven pounds – I know, I can’t quite believe it either!

Working with my personal trainer, Sarah has been amazing so far; it has given me the motivation to do not only our exercise sessions, but a lot more besides. Today’s session was by far the hardest so far. After the obligatory ten-minute aerobic warm-up (rowing, hill climbing, cycling, stepping – whatever torture she picks that day!) Sarah did 40 minutes boxing training with me. Wearing boxing gloves, I had to complete 30 jabs, then 30 box jumps and repeat this three times. Trust me, it’s hard work!

Since the first Bikini Blast, I have managed to injure myself and have been forced to pull out of the two running events I had planned this month. However, Sarah has managed to reshuffle my training so that I’m doing low impact cardio alongside the explosive anaerobic workouts.

This is the area where I needed most work and involves lots of high intensity circuits and sickeningly tiring weights, as well as boxing, jumping, dipping, lifting, and stepping. Phew!

Sarah makes me focus on using compound muscle groups as they help to burn calories. Lots of the exercises we all dread (such as squats and lunges) make up the workout and you’ll find some short youtube clips below so that you can join me in blasting your bod to bikini perfection!

Grab your dumbbells (we use 8 kilo weights) and try some Sumo Squats.

We do a lot of planks to work on the core muscles (make sure you hold it for a minute!)

If you haven’t keeled over, try side planks (another minute on each side) – these will work on those love handles!

Blast bingo wings with tricep dips - try three sets of 20 of these and ensure you keep your bum close to the step/chair.

Over the next few weeks we’ll be stepping up the intensity and I’ll be upping the mileage on my bike and at spin class (which is, btw, literally the best class in the world) and I’ll be trying out a 10 day pass at Bikram Yoga to help sweat those last lumps and bumps off!

I’ll be in touch, wish me luck!

For more information on personal training with Sarah telephone +44 (0) 7877 744450 or email sarah.craig@fitatalltimes.co.uk