Bikini countdown plan

13 days

Move your body and get active. You can see my motivational tips for assistance with this but with two weeks to go you shouldn't need them! Get down to the gym, on that bike, throw your stuff around the aerobic studio, jump, skip, swim...whatever it takes. Ban yourself from lifts, get off the bus early. I know you have heard it all before but now is the time to do it.

Incorporate some resistance training. The benefits will definitely show in time for that bikini moment. Lunges and squats are great for getting your bum into shape while dips and press-ups will tone flabby arms. Aim for two sets of 12 - 20 reps at least three times each week.

Seven days to go

With only one week till bikini showdown I shall now share a key secret weapon: posture. By addressing you posture, within minutes you've apparently shifted half a stone in weight.

As many of us are daily desk warriors we have a tendency to slump our shoulders and curve our backs. For an amazingly fast improvement in how you look and feel practice sitting and standing with your shoulder blades pulled back and down. This will lengthen your neck and make your whole upper body appear narrower. Concentrate too on activating your core muscles. Stand up tall and pull your tummy button in towards your spine. A slimmer more elegant you in approximately one minute, it's easy when you know how!

Five days

I am not an advocate of the Atkins diet as I like being able to talk to people without killer dog breath. However, at this stage in proceedings, cut down on the carbs after 5pm. This again will help combat any bloating. Better still if you can eat your evening meal before 7pm.

Three days

Pale may be interesting but sadly we don't all have Liv Tyler's physique. To boost the now trimmer you, invest in a good fake tan. If you've got some cash to spend then a 'Fantasy Tan', where your tan is literally airbrushed onto your body, is fantastic. And no, it's not cheating.

Two days

Being hair-free is almost as important as your passport. Shiny, hairless legs look longer and leaner so don't deny yourself this advantage. It's up to you how far you want to go during your visit to the salon but for ultimate bikini beauty and confidence I recommend removal of as much body hair as possible.

I think it is important to add a special note that I do not recommend home waxing unless you are a professional or crazy. A friend of mine once had a nasty incident with a home waxing kit. I will spare you the details, suffice to say she was in shorts for the duration of her holiday.

One day

You've worked hard, you look fabulous. Take some time to administer loving care to your feet and hands. If you are rich you can head back to the salon.

If not:

• Take care to remover all your old nail polish
• File to shape
• Soak feet and hands in warm water mixed with cuticle oil, olive oil or body moisturiser for 10 minutes
• Gently push back cuticles with wooden cuticle stick
• Allow nails to dry
• Apply one base coat
• Two coats of your selected colour (I recommend lighter shades to enhance your tan)
• One top coat

Now off you go. Have fun, be good, and for an instant pre-night out body boost, 10 squats, 10 press-ups and 20 sit-ups should keep you looking good till sunrise.