Get fit faster 6 TIPS FOR RAPID FAT LOSS Whether you have over-indulged on your holiday, had the kids off school or just couldn‘t face training in the heat, many of us let our exercise regime slip over the summer. Here is some advice to help you kick-start your routine and get you back in shape in no time at all.

1 Eat small meals at regular intervals Rather than eating three large meals try to eat five to seven smaller meals and snacks throughout the day. This will help you regulate your hunger and provide a steady flow of energy, meaning you will not be tempted to start snacking.

2 Drink water or green tea Fruit juice and fizzy drinks are laden with calories which will promote fat storage. While they will provide you with a short-term burst of energy, in the long term they will leave you feeling tired and lethargic. Staying hydrated by consuming enough water helps prevent hunger pangs and burns fat more efficiently; while consuming green tea has an added advantage of enhancing your metabolism, making you burn more fat at rest.

3 Bodyweight exercise can get results Squats, lunges and press-ups from the knees are all great exercises for getting into shape. Not only this but they are also a great starting point for the inexperienced exerciser, or if you are just getting back into a routine.

4 Target the process – not the result Set your goals on factors that you can control. Often clients become fixed on a number such as “lose one stone” or “fit into a size 8 dress”. However, it is important to have smaller, short-term goals to give you a regular motivation boost. Take charge of your goals by focussing on processes, good habits, regular exercise and things that you can achieve – like the performance of a certain exercise. Focussing on drinking two litres of water a day or consuming five portions of fruit a day, or from an exercise perspective going for a run every other day, is a more realistic and motivating way of setting your goals.

5 Try as many forms of exercise as possible Training in one way generally will not get the best results. Combining different types of exercise such as Pilates, running and weight training can help maximise your results. The celebrities who get the best results train in a range of methods for a number of hours a day. Generally they will credit one form of exercise but remember: they may be doing up to four hours a day of training. It’s pretty hard not to get a result with that volume of exercise. Varying your type of training when you start out will test your body in a number of ways, and will allow you to see what forms of exercise you enjoy and what you could fit into your routine in the long term.

6 Match intentions with action How many people start a diet that is finished within four weeks? Re-focusing your goals and achieving your ideal physique is something that most people want to do but very rarely put the effort into achieving. Make the change this month and match your intentions with the right actions. If this means starting an exercise routine or cleaning up your diet then get focussed. Set your goals, make a plan and do it so you achieve the results that you talk about.

The Matt Roberts personal training fat-loss training package, launched this month, is designed to achieve fast and efficient fat loss. For more information: info@mattroberts.co.uk; mattroberts.co.uk