Whoever said ‘no pain, no gain’ was a monster – being active is all about having fun, and if you can find something you love doing, chances are you’ll shape up with minimum effort.

Summer’s coming, but the cold winter months have taken their toll – neglected diet and little exercise can leave you feeling sluggish – but now as the weather warms up, it’s easier to take care of ourselves. Here are our top tips…

• We’d all love to shed pounds in a week but it’s not going to happen without going to extreme measures and that isn’t a healthy option. Far better to opt for fresh vegetables, salad, fish and grilled chicken in place of processed foods.
• You don’t have to do the same workout all the time. With so many different types of exercise now on offer – yoga, spinning, Zumba, pilates, circuit training – you can switch things as boredom leads to demotivation.
• A Cardio workout is one of the best ways to shed some pounds. Aim for at least half an hour of cardiovascular activity nearly every day to keep heart disease and extra bodyweight at bay. You don’t need to go to the gym to do this – walking, jogging, mowing the lawn and gardening are all examples of things that count.
• There is no doubt that exercise is far more enjoyable when you are doing it alongside somebody else ­– and dieting too – the success of Weight Watchers, Slimming World and other support networks are proof of the pudding. Persuade friends to put an evening aside once a week and get together for a gentle jog or brisk walk. It not only makes it a sociable event but you can share progress together (and a little competition never hurt anyone!).
• Why not think about signing up for a sport? Make a game out of working out while improving muscle tone, losing weight and getting a great cardiovascular work-out.
• Joining a gym can be a great way to get fit but you can enjoy a variety of workouts at home or outside that will give you the same results. Fitness DVDs, gardening and turning the chores into a workout will all help with your exercise regime. Put on your favourite music and do some housework in time to it ­– vacuuming, scrubbing the shower and cleaning the windows all have a high calorie burn.
• Finally there’s no denying that ‘tanned’ and ‘healthy’ go hand in hand and most of us would say we feel more confident, slimmer and healthier with a tan. Treat yourself to a self-tanning cream for an instant boost!.