Tuesday, 26 September 2006

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The way Coleen McLoughlin lost 10lb

The secret of her fab svelte figure

Coleen McLoughlin got into her best shape ever for the filming of her fitness DVD. She dropped at least one dress size and turned any sign of flab into lean, defined muscle. The amazing transformation has seen her go from girl next door to svelte and toned beauty in a matter of months.

Wayne Rooney's fiancée has achieved her fabulous new figure and shed 10lb in weight after following a sensible, low-fat eating plan combined with vigorous gym sessions. Coleen, 20, kick-started her diet at her local Weight Watchers club, near her parents' home in Liverpool.

Don't crash diet

The slimming club's philosophy appealed to Coleen who says she doesn't believe in crash dieting – as it allows followers to eat any of the food groups, provided they stay within a daily points system.

'The only way to shape up for good is by eating sensibly and exercising,' says Coleen, who claims she's never been into fancy food or faddy diets. 'I try to eat healthily, but I don't deny myself anything.' And, as she's shown by regular visits to the gym, she's prepared to put the effort in to achieve her new trim and toned body.

She revealed the secrets behind her exercise regime in her Brand New Body Workout fitness DVD, which provides a step-by-step guide to fighting the flab.

Allow for a treat or two

Coleen dropped from a curvy size 12-14 to a sexy size 10 by cutting out junk food from her diet – such as pizzas and Chinese takeaways that she loved. She now goes for the healthier option of grilled chicken, fish, steamed veg and pasta. Unlike some extreme celebrity dieters, she hasn't cut out carbs completely and she does allow herself an occasional treat after a hard workout.

Her exercise regime includes aerobic and Thai boxing moves as well as a fitness tool called Flexi-Bar. 'I love working out, especially Thai boxing – it gives me a great buzz,' says Coleen. 'Since I've started my exercise programme I have so much more energy and I feel fantastic.'

Coleen's secret weapon

Coleen has sculpted her body with the help of a Flexi-Bar – a piece of exercise equipment that provides resistance to make your muscles work harder and therefore achieves faster, more effective results.

The Flexi-Bar is a fibreglass rod with weights at each end. Exercisers wobble the bar back and forward to set up vibrations that travel up the arm and into the body, reaching the core muscles of your neck, shoulders, back, stomach and hips.

These muscles are vital for posture and strength, but are deep inside the body and exercise can't normally reach them – only an outside force will make them work. The makers of Flexi-Bar claim it's very effective at rapidly reducing body fat levels.

Coleen has been combining the Flexi-Bar with movements such as squats and crunches – experts recommend no more than three sessions of 10-15 minutes per week, which it's claimed will bring results within just a few sessions.

• Flexi-Bar, from £69.99 (visit www.flexi-bar.co.uk)

Ali Agnew