Tight Abs On A Tight Budget

It's a myth that you need to spend lots of pounds to lose pounds. By being a bit creative (and avoiding hefty gym fees) you can keep both your body and your bank balance healthy.

Spend Some To Lose Some

If treadmills and sit-ups sound too dull, then buy a trampette (£17.99 from Argos).

Their mini size means you can exercise in front of the T.V, and their mini price means that they're cheaper than a month's gym membership.

If your budget can't stretch to a trampette, then what about an exercise DVD?

Your workout would be far from monotonous, and you have the added bonus of a personal trainer in your living room!

Whether it features yoga, martial-arts or a Z-List celebrity, you're bound to find something that suits you.

Here are five of the most weird and wonderful DVDs out:

• Ministry of Sound: Pump It Up- Burn It, Lose It (£6.99)
• Yogalates For Weight Loss (£5.99)
• 10 Minute Solution: Target-Toning (£4.99)
• Billy Blanks: Tae Bo Vol. 1: The Future of Fitness (£5.99)
• Coleen McLoughin: Brand New Body Workout (£7.99)

Go Back To Basics

If you're lucky enough to have a scenic campus then make the most of it!

It's a myth that you need to spend lots of pounds to lose pounds. By being a bit creative you can keep both your body and your bank balance healthy.

Alex Sheppard

Jogging or brisk walks are one of the most effective ways to burn calories, and all you need are running pumps and a bottle of water.

According to experts "depending on your weight and fitness level you'll burn 100-200 calories in a half-hour session" (Weight Loss Resources)

Another inexpensive calorie-burner is swimming.

If the idea of doing lengths repetitively doesn't strike you as entertaining, then go with friends.

It's cheaper than the cinemas and you'll feel much better for it afterwards.

As an added bonus, until July Kelloggs are offering a free swim voucher with every box of cereal bought.

Click here to see if a pool near you is participating.

Minor lifestyle changes you could make count as exercise.

"A new area of research claims that Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis, or NEAT...will burn off more calories than exercise will" (BBC 'The One Show').

For example, if you have a car, try washing it yourself. 30 minutes of car-washing burns 144 calories.

Just don't reward yourself with a Mars bar at the end!