Intense cardio sessions aren’t the key to toning up, says top personal trainer

Spend hours in the gym every week on the treadmill in the hope of toning up?

You could be wasting your time; at least, according to one personal trainer. Camilla Akerberg is a trainer and nutrition coach who has amassed over 210,000 followers on Instagram, where she regularly shares her workout and diet advice. The Australian woman says that heavy cardio alone won't get you looking lean.

"To lose weight and tone up you do not have to do intense cardio five times per week to get results," Camilla told the Daily Mail.

"If you don't already have a good muscle volume - this method can leave you looking skinny-fat rather than the desired toned and fit look."

She says that if you're after a lean physique, weights are the only way to go. "Don't be scared of lifting weight girls! Lifting weights and building lean muscle mass is a key factor to toning up." There's also good news if you're not into salads - Camilla reckons a balanced diet will yield better results than simply cutting out certain foods. This is because depriving yourself of anything isn't sustainable, she says.

"You do not have to eat mainly leafy greens and cut out all sugar and alcohol entirely to see results.

"A balanced diet, with a variety of nutritious foods including fibrous greens and vegetables, fresh fruits and berries, lean proteins, healthy fats and good carbohydrates is the key for long-term results. "

Sounds good to us.