It is one of life’s mysteries that no matter how disciplined you are when it comes to limiting the number of canapés and glasses of champagne you eat and drink or how many helpings of Christmas pudding you refuse, you will still end up feeling as if your tummy has expanded over Christmas. A lot of it may well be fluid and bloating, which should settle down, but you may have put on a few pounds and the belly seems to be the area that shows it first.

Thankfully, I find that the stomach is one of the easiest parts of the body to make a difference to. You can quickly see improvements with the right routine and, of course, if you cut out alcohol and drink plenty of water you will also help to eliminate all the toxins. In the past year I spent a month replacing my morning coffee with a cup of boiled water and a few slices of lemon, without changing my diet or even trying to lose weight, and I lost a few pounds. These exercises should help you to tone up and feel better.

THE PLANK

Great for core strength and definition

Lowdown The basic plank is a great way of engaging the core stomach muscles and getting the trunk area into shape quickly. It’s also another exercise that you can easily modify.

To get the basic position, lie face down and place forearms flat on the floor, and with your palms push your body up with either your knees or your feet still in contact with the floor. Raising up on to your feet is obviously the more difficult version, but if you raise on to your knees it may help you to get a feeling for the exercise to start off with. Squeeze your bottom muscles tightly to support your back. If you are in the full position, with your feet in contact, your hips will be raised off the ground so that the front of your body is parallel to the ground. Hold for 30 seconds. Don’t lower your head; keep it in line with your back. To make this exercise harder, once you are in plank position, you can raise alternate feet and hold each for five seconds.

THE BURN

Easy does it Hold the plank for 30 seconds, twice (with a minute’s rest in between each).

Feeling adventurous Get your body set in a good strong plank position, holding for a total of 30 seconds, but alternate each foot during the exercise, five seconds on each foot.

Showing off Hold the plank position and lift your hips and lower them 20 times. Each time you lower, return to the original plank position.

THE SIDE PLANK

Great for getting your waist back in shape

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