It's the beginning of summer and your long-awaited summer holiday is finally on the horizon . . . but hand-in-hand with all your dreams of golden sand, tranquil blue seas and garish cocktails comes the inevitable fear. The fear of baring flesh. Suddenly those quick-fix diets start to look tempting. Lose a stone in a month? Sign me up now!

But didn't you try a similar diet last year? And didn't you stick to it for a week and then give up? (And then console yourself with a family-size bag of crisps.) So maybe this year it's time to try something different. Maybe it's time to use this moment of motivation to make a real change to the way you eat and the way you exercise - and stick to it once the holiday's just a memory. Maybe if you do that, by the time next year's holiday rolls around you won't even need to fear the flesh. Imagine never having to waste another moment's time worrying about being 'bikini ready' . . .

If you're ready to commit to making a real, sustainable change to your lifestyle, The Grit Doctor is here to help. The author of RUN FAT B!TCH RUN and CUT THE CRAP distils some of her most motivating tips to get you ready this summer . . . and next summer too.