20 Quick body fixes

Fat days have a habit of creeping up on us when we least expect it, and more often than not they coincide with that all-important social occasion - be it a wedding, birthday or first date. Nikki Blunt has this survival guide to nip and tuck you into shape!

Get a tan

Ever wondered why body builders always tan themselves to the max? Well, tanned skin looks healthy and radiant, but can also appear to make you look more trim and toned. Tanning lotions and spray tans are relatively harmless and are a much better option than baking in the sun for hours on end.

"Creams or sprays are generally made up of vegetable dyes that stain the skin and give a temporary appearance of a tan. The dye is shed, along with any dead skin cells, after just a few days," according to the Better Health Channel, Victoria.

You can buy ‘do it yourself' tanning products from the supermarket, like Johnson's Build-A-Tan, which start at around $8.00, or you can take yourself off to your local tanning salon and get a professional spray tan. These vary in price, depending on where you go. Expect to pay around $50.00. Some salons have deals and specials on (especially during the winter months) so be sure to shop around.

Exfoliate

Exfoliating is the process of removing dead skin cells from your body and unclogging your pores. You can use an exfoliating glove, pumice stone, loofah or ready-made scrub. Exfoliating reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, keeps the skin healthy and reduces breakouts, and can help retain a tan if you exfoliate before putting on your sunscreen!

You can buy do-it-yourself exfoliating products but if you're looking for something a little more powerful then you'll need to go to a dermatologist, which usually involves micro-dermabrasion or a chemical peel.

"Specially formulated skin peels are more effective than micro dermabrasion but involve a few days of visible peeling skin," says Dr Mark Edinburgh of the Australian Society of Plastic Surgeons. So make sure you set aside some time to camp out until the peeling stops!

Wear heels

A study by the University of Verona in Italy has found that wearing stilettos can be good for a woman's sex life. Dr Maria Cerruto says that wearing stilettos directly works the pleasure muscles linked to orgasm as the high heels tone and shape the woman's legs and strengthen her pelvic muscle. In addition, wearing heels elongates your legs, making you appear taller and therefore giving your body extra shape.

Get a manicure and pedicure

Apart from being a relaxing way to spend your Saturday afternoon, getting a manicure and pedicure on a regular basis has therapeutic purposes too. Professional manicures and pedicures help prevent nail damage, hang nails and overgrown cuticles. Both options involve massaging the parts of the hands and feet that are overworked in everyday life. Not to mention, you'll walk out of the salon with perfectly groomed and hands and feet!

Change your hair

Have you ever heard the saying ‘a haircut is as good as a holiday'? Changing your hairstyle can make you feel like a new and improved person. Getting a haircut encourages your hair to grow and gets rid of any split ends you may have. Hairdressers generally tend to use far better shampoos and conditioners than most people use at home, so the extra nourishment that you get from this can't hurt either! A salon-grade semi-permanent hair colour has moisturising effects too. So why not get a colour change while you're at it?