Tummies are always the first place to betray any weight gain – and as every woman knows, shifting a spare tyre can be notoriously difficult.
But is it possible to ditch the love handles without slaving away in the gym every day or totally cutting carbs and alcohol from your diet?
One exercise phobe from London decided to put it to the test by attempting to tone up her stomach with a manageable workout programme.
Katie Pike, 33, a Client Services Director from London, who juggles long hours and an active social life, challenged herself to emulate her favourite Instagram fitness stars, but on a far less strict – and less time-consuming – workout programme.
Katie managed to drop a stone in 12 weeks, shed two dress sizes and totally kickstart a healthy new regime. Here, she shares the programme with FEMAIL – and she says it’s perfect for the average woman like her.
Katie Pike, 33, from London, challenged herself to get toned and ditch her spare tyre by working out three times a week. She managed to drop two dress sizes and one stone in 12 weeks (left: before and right: after)
Katie, who is 5ft 10in, admits she’s never enjoyed exercise but wanted to get fitter, stronger and feel confident in a bikini.
She visited boutique boxing gym Kobox, which is frequented by Cheryl, Ellie Goudling and the cast of Made In Chelsea, three times a week.
The 60-minute workout combines heavy bag boxing routines with functional strength training in pitch black with UV lighting.
The instructors – among them Toby Huntington-Whiteley and Antoine Dunn, brothers of supermodels Rosie and Jourdan – have also devised a ‘Punch By Numbers’ approach to training on the heavy bag and project the combination on the walls.
Katie was mentored by Kobox coach Toby, who she said was ‘pretty firm’ with her.
Katie did her three weekly workouts at boutique boxing gym Kobox, which is frequented by Cheryl, Ellie Goudling and the cast of Made In Chelsea
‘He warned me that it wasn’t going to be easy and was quite brutal about where I had been going wrong before (and I didn’t think I was ever that bad). But he was also super encouraging and made me feel like I could really achieve my goals.
‘He basically made me realise there are no excuses, and you need to go “all in” for the best results. He gave really good nutrition tips as well as fitness that I could then apply in my own life and workout classes.’
Katie, who attended classes at both the Chelsea and City venues, said her first session was ‘seriously hard’.
‘I struggled with the weights and was taking a lot of breaks. Now I have so much more strength and stamina, I have really enjoyed learning to box and push myself to always stick to the workouts, a lot of it was mind over matter but the amazing instructors really encourage you to keep going.’
Katie dropped from 10st 9lbs to 9st 5lbs and a dress size 12 to an 8.
‘I feel so much more confident,’ she said. ‘It wasn’t about losing weight but toning up and the main thing has been my shape changing. The best part is, I am now addicted so I only want to get leaner and stronger.
‘I feel so much more energised and sleep better. All round it has really made me a happier person.’
CAN THE SAME WORKOUT WORK WONDERS ON A WOMAN WHO WANTED TO TURN HER SKINNY FRAME INTO MUSCLE?
While Katie was looking to shift fat around her middle, 23-year-old Charlotte Brown from London wanted to turn her naturally skinny frame into a more lean and strong physique.
While she admits she’s lucky to be able to eat what she wants, she had never done exercise before and wanted to enhance her fitness levels.
Charlotte Brown, left, before, and, right, after, from London wanted to turn her naturally skinny frame into a more lean and strong physique. She had never done exercise before and said she loved her new ‘womanly’ physique
Speaking about her first Kobox class, Charlotte said: ‘I was by far the worst person in the class on my first day which was frustrating, especially because I wasn’t technically “overweight” and I was one of the youngest people there.
‘I have since realised that going at your own pace is so important – stop looking around the room as your only competition is yourself. I have always strived for immediate results and this journey has made me look up to and really respect anyone who maintains a great physique through fitness, as the hard work and determination it actually takes to reach those goals is no quick fix.’
Charlotte, who packed on a few kilos of muscle after the 12 weeks and toned up, says she feels ‘more womanly’ now, adding: ‘I am so much more confident! I feel more womanly now. My shoulders are broader, which makes my waist look smaller too.
‘I was self-conscious about my tummy so actually having toned abs feels like a miracle! And I weigh more than I ever have done.’