The words 'chic' and 'groomed' aren't often used to describe Britney Spears. But two days ago that's how she looked when she stepped out in skimpy hotpants and strappy heels - showcasing some seriously toned and impressive pins. What was even more astonishing was that a fortnight earlier, the singer was snapped looking frumpy and dumpy with cellulite and wobble. But can you really turn your pins from porky to perfect in a fortnight?
EXERCISE
It's rumoured that Britney has been dancing her way back to fitness. According to Janey Holliday, personal trainer and founder of female workout company Fit For A Princess: 'For great legs, your exercise needs to take a two-pronged approach.
'To improve shape, you need to do resistance exercises, such as squats and lunges but all the lunges in the world won't give you lean legs if you don't tackle the fat that lies over the muscle.
'So you have to do cardio exercises such as jogging, aerobics and kick boxing which will burn calories. Alongside a healthy diet, they'll help strip fat.'
For the ultimate in fat burning, Janey recommends doing anything from three to six hours of cardio a week.
'You should alternate your cardio days with a resistance workout that lasts between 30 and 45 minutes, and take one rest day a week. As your fitness improves you'll be able to do a cardio workout and a resistance workout on the same day.'
DIET
Unfortunately it's impossible to single out an area of your body from which you'd like to lose flab. So if your pins are too plump, you need to lower your levels of body fat.
Celebrity trainer James Duigan, who puts Elle Macpherson through her paces, always tells his clients to cut out caffeine, refined sugar, alcohol and processed foods. The result is a diet he calls Clean & Lean.
'Your body stores toxins in fat cells,' says James. 'When you crash diet, you slowly start to lose fat cells but the toxins remain in your body making you feel rotten.
'Your body doesn't like to feel like this so it decreases the rate at which you burn fat, slowing down the weight loss. But once the toxins are removed from your diet, you feel great and it's easier to shift the flab.'
Most people notice a change in appearance in just a week.
Miraculous: The popstar shows off her perfect pins as she gets out of a car
SALON TREATMENTS
Dr Patricick Bowler, cosmetic doctor and medical director of Court House Clinics, reckons you're most likely to banish cellulite with treatments such as Accent XL (from £200 a session) which uses radio frequency to heat lower layers of the skin and stimulate collagen growth, resulting in smoother skin.
For instant results, you could try the Universal Contour Wrap (from £75), which mummifies you in clay and bandages and guarantees a minimum loss of six inches from all over your body including the thighs and knees. Devotees swear by it. Another quick fix is a spray tan (from £35).
Not only does a tan even out skin tone making lumps and bumps less obvious, but a talented therapist can give you a contour tan - shading darker areas like the inner thighs to create the illusion of muscle definition.
DIY TREATMENTS
Body brushing might sound boring but converts believe that it's one of the single most effective things you can do to help banish pesky cellulite. Use a dry, stiff brush to work in long strokes from your toes upwards every morning before you shower.
Noella Gabriel, director of product and treatment development for spa brand Elemis is convinced that it works - and quickly too.
'Body brushing helps to stimulate circulation and lymphatic drainage, which aids detoxification and encourages cellulite deposits to disperse,' she says.
Well moisturised skin will also make your legs look healthier so exfoliate regularly and follow with a moisturiser.
There are loads of lotions and potions promising to help banish cellulite. For just £10.75, it might be worth trying Nivea's Good-bye Cellulite 10 Day Serum which boasts seriously swift results by claiming to break down fat cells and stop new ones forming, thanks to its lotus plant extract.
CLOTHES
As every girl knows there's no point honing your body if you don't show it off in the right way, and that is where Britney got it spot on with her outfit this week.
She opted for a simple white vest and a pair of grey shorts. The colours not only complement her tan, but they also don't detract from her legs. The shorts are high enough to show off an expanse of leg, but not so short that they're indecent.
Even the slimmest thighs can be made to look porky if the material cuts into the flesh.
For the ultimate in leg-lengthening footwear, look for a neutral coloured shoe which fools the eye into thinking that the leg extends all the way to the toes, and go as high as you dare.
Britney's wedge is ideal as it allows you to get serious elevation but with more stability
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