Buddy up and beat the bulge!

So, summer is finally here and you've decided to get yourself in shape for when you hit the beach on your next sun-soaked holiday.

But after a week of your health kick, you begin to find yourself putting your feet up in front of the telly when you could be at the gym.

After all, you work hard enough at the office to warrant a bit of time relaxing of an evening and weekend, right?

Well maybe so, but don't give up on exercise just yet, as something as simple as getting a friend to join in with your new fitness regime could do wonders.

According to figures from insurance firm Diamond, women have a better chance of losing weight if they diet and work out with a buddy, with the statistics showing the average female will drop ten pounds by doing so.

Those who go it alone, however, won't lose a pound, they revealed.

Exercising with a friend is fun and encouraging

Commenting on the research, a spokeswoman from Slimming World said exercising with a pal can offer a perfect combination of fun and encouragement to get motivation on the rise.

And this, the representative added, could even lead to training becoming embedded in your lifestyle.

"There are three levels of support that are especially helpful when building activity into your life. First, listening support - having someone to listen to your difficulties and share your successes. Second, talking to someone who can offer advice and expertise about activity, so that you can feel confident that you're doing the right thing and, finally, someone to challenge you and keep you motivated to maintain your new routine," she said.

Try to avoid seeing exercise as a chore

I know it's hard for many of you to imagine working out being fun. But that really is the key to sticking with your programme, as one of the easiest ways to give up on your efforts is to start seeing it as a chore.

According to the spokeswoman, there's absolutely no point in trying to force yourself to keep up your efforts if you can't stand it as you'll simply lose all your much-needed motivation.

The vital thing to try and aim for is making physical activity satisfying and part of your regular routine.

There are loads of different ways you can stay fit

And this doesn't mean just going to the gym and hitting the treadmill day after day, she explained, as "going for a ten-minute walk through the park, getting out your exercise DVD at home, getting together with a group of friends for a kick-about or going swimming with the kids" can be both fun and good for you if you do it often enough.

Implementing ideas like this is also great for keeping costs down and making sure your physical activity is fresh, enjoyable and free on a regular basis could even mean you don't need to shell out on hefty gym subscription costs every year, which may leave both your bank balance and your body looking much healthier.

So, if you're still determined to obtain that beach physique in time for your holiday, why not enlist the help of a friend and increase the likelihood of achieving your goal and having some fun along the way!