Tone at home!

THE DVDS

DAVINA FIT

The new Davina Fit has four half-hour workouts to choose from - including aerobics and toning exercises - plus a yoga stretch to finish. Davina promises that in exchange for working up a sweat for 30 minutes, three times a week, you'll see results.

The expert verdict: "Davina looks amazing and her wicked sense of humour makes this DVD great fun," says Michelle Glen, aerobics instructor and David Lloyd Group exercise coordinator. "The music's good and the real-life success stories will keep you motivated."

* £19.99, available from all good retailers.

9/10: These workouts only take 30 minutes so they're ideal for busy mums or those who don't have time for a lengthy exercise session.

MINISTRY OF SOUND PUMP IT UP THE ULTIMATE DANCE WORKOUT

This one-hour workout DVD, fronted by X Factor dancer Dominique Tipper, has routines devised by Take That choreographer Gareth Walker. They're coupled with music from Dizzee Rascal, Calvin Harris and Basshunter, so you can burn off the Quality Street and bust some moves.

The expert verdict: "Fun and high energy, the DVD includes lots of good advice on how to do the exercises properly, making sure your posture is correct and you're using the right muscles," says Michelle. "It's best for those who enjoy dancing and are already pretty fit. It's so fast paced I had difficulty keeping up with the moves at times, but thankfully you can quickly master it."

* £11.95, Ministryofsound.com

6/10: Great for clubbers who are already fit, not so good for your mum!

THE COMPUTER WORKOUT

New U Fitness First Personal Trainer

Designed for the Nintendo Wii with gym chain Fitness First, this is the first console game to feature real trainers rather than 3D graphics. You can choose from 50 goals, such as dropping a dress size or toning up for a holiday, and over 80 exercises, from squats to yoga, for a complete workout. A nutritional plan and recipes are included.

The expert verdict: "I rate this for beginners as well as those who work out every day," says personal trainer Stuart Amory of In-Kilter Fitness. "I like the fact that you can pick the trainer whose style motivates you the most. Amazing value if you commit to using it regularly."

* £29.99 (plus you need a Wii, £149.95), all good retailers.

9/10: The nearest thing to a personal trainer in your living room.

ThinQ Fitness

Whatever your fitness needs, this website has it covered! Go online for access to a huge range of videos, from fat-burning aerobics or yoga for pregnancy, to pointers on how to use gym equipment. The classes vary in length so you can pick whichever fits into your schedule. Some videos are free, others are pay-per-view, or you can become a member for unlimited access! Simple.

The expert verdict: "Brilliant if you're strapped for cash, too shy for public outings in Lycra, or your man's hogging the TV!" says Stuart. "With so many workouts on offer, you won't tire of the same old routine. There's something for all ages and levels, from your kids to your gran, and a forum for members to swap tips and motivate each other. I'll be recommending my clients check out this website on days I don't see them!"

* £4.99 a month, Thinqfitness.com

10/10: A winner. A cheap but brilliant way to get motivated.

Fabulous readers can get a month's subscription free! Email thingqdigitalmedia.com quoting: 'FABULOUS MONTH FREE OFFER' in the subject box.

I Am Super Chick
If you're keeping a close eye on your budget this year but still want to get fit, give IAmSuperChick.com a try. This website offers a huge range of interactive fitness programmes to do at home, diet advice and more, all from just £9.99 a month (far cheaper than a gym membership that you'll never use anyway!) You'll have your own personal online trainer, exercise videos, an interactive training diary and the 'Lunchbox' so you can calorie count with ease.

And if you're getting cabin fever, you can meet up with fellow super chicks IRL (that's 'in real life' in computer-speak!) Group training sessions take place in some of London's hottest nightspots such as Mahiki and in the fresh air in Hyde Park and Parsons Green in the summer. iamsuperchick.com

THE GADGETS

The Shake Weight

It looks like a dumb-bell but uses technology similar to vibration plates, so each time you move the weight it creates hundreds of muscle contractions in your upper body. You can use it on its own or at the end of a workout and it promises to tone your entire upper body in just six minutes a day - that's about two ad breaks. No wonder WAG Alex Gerrard is a fan.

The expert verdict: "Vibration training is a good way to achieve the results of a great workout in double-quick time, and it's also been proven to increase bone density. So not only are you saying bye-bye bingo wings, but you're combating osteoporosis at the same time," explains Dean Hodgkin, fitness expert at Ragdale Hall. "This gadget tones shoulders and wobbly arms, and its size and portability factor means it's small enough to take on a power walk around the park to increase calorie burning."

* £29.95, Tesco and Highstreettv.com

8/10: Only works your upper body, but works it well!

The CoolBoard

Anything that knocks your body off balance is a sure-fire way to super-tone your core muscles. Originally designed to help skiers and snowboarders shape up, this balance board creates instability, so when you perform exercises while standing, sitting or lying on it, your muscles work even harder. It comes with a list of basic exercises to help tone your arms, bum and tum, but if you want to take your training further, you can log on to Coolboard.co.uk and download more intensive exercise plans.

The expert verdict: "Improving core strength can lead to a healthier spine as well as improved performance in other sports," Dean says. "The board can be used to tackle the whole body so just one simple piece of equipment can tone you from head to toe."

* Board from £79.99, exercise plans £3.20, Coolboard.co.uk

7/10: Pricey but brilliant fun when you get the hang of it.

PHOTOGRAPHY: WALTER CHIN/TRUNKARCHIVE.COM DEAN HODGKIN (DEANHODGKIN.COM), STUART AMORY (INKILTERFITNESS.CO.UK)

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