Cheap, quick, and easy ways to get fit and healthy

The overall best way to make yourself fitter, slimmer and healthier is, I believe, to incorporate different activities into your everyday life. There will of course be some people who can join a gym and take up a rigorous programme of exercise classes, aerobic workouts, and weights, but for most people this is not likely to be a sustainable programme.

Instead, I suggest that incorporating exercise into your daily schedule is far more likely to have long-lasting success. There are little things that everybody can do, such as getting off the bus a stop or two earlier and walking home, taking care to walk up the stairs instead of using the lift, and walking instead of driving short distances.

Driving short distances in a car is, in any event, extremely inefficient. The petrol consumption of a car rises significantly, and numerous short journeys not only drain the battery but result in the engine running cold for a lot of the time. It's not only expensive, it's damaging for the vehicle, and will increase running costs.

Instead of, for example, driving with children a mile to school, it doesn’t take much longer to walk instead. This has the great advantage of giving the children extra exercise as well, and incorporating it into their daily lives.

One thing that works for some people, is to consider cycling. Many cities now have cycle paths, dedicated cycle lanes, and an increased awareness of cycling as a form of public transport.

A decent bike, helmet, and reflective gear can all be bought relatively cheaply, and cycling can be incorporated into a daily routine with ease.

As well as the exercise gained in getting where you want to go, it can be very useful if traffic is heavy, and there is also a great deal of pleasure in propelling yourself by your own efforts, and speeding past cars and buses stuck in traffic jams.

Cycling is a very efficient way of doing several small jobs. If I need to collect a prescription, buy some milk, and post a letter, cycling is the best way. It's quicker than walking, and much less hassle than driving or taking the bus. And it adds exercise into your daily life.

Children can join in too - we have a bike seat (and helmet) for our toddler, and he absolutely adores going on the bike. It's hysterical to watch him seriously indicate left or right, copying his Dad.

For slightly older children, you can get mini-bikes which are attached to the back of an adult bike - like a tandem for adult and child. I've seen quite a few of these in London, and they look great. We'll definitely get one in the future.

In addition to this, an exercise video or DVD can really work wonders. I think it’s important to choose one which suits what you’re interested in. There are many different kinds, including yoga, dance routines, and step.

Many of them are promoted by some random celebrity, and my personal preference would be to avoid one of these, and to concentrate on what the routines actually are, rather than who is presenting them.

It is also important to eat healthily and well. This doesn’t mean never eating anything you like, as absolute abstinence is a quick path to breaking a diet.

There are no foods which are inherently bad, in my view it is all a question of quantity.

So if chocolate is really your thing, a square or two of really good quality chocolate can really be enjoyable without ruining your diet. It’s not eating a bit of chocolate which is the problem, it’s scoffing bars of it in one go.

Eating better isn't about depriving yourself. It's about learning to enjoy healthy foods, learning to cook for yourself and not rely on pre-processed ready meals full of fat, salt, and sugar.

Flavouring food better really helps - I reckon people eat more if its bland. So incorporate herbs, spices, garlic, and olive oil in your cooking.This won't just help you lose weight, but will also give you energy, anti-oxidents, and naturally-occuring vitamins.

Eating lower GI food is also good if you are going to exercise. Food like oats release their energy over time, meaning that you won't get a spike in blood sugar and a crash in energy levels shortly afterwards.

And don't forget to drink enough water!