Don't Tell Me I Can't…Get A Six-Pack

Jo Chilvers proves that age doesn’t matter when it comes to looking good.

- Anna Verdon

Looking at photos of Davina McCall, Jennifer Lopez and Heidi Klum, it’s hard not to be impressed. They have the bodies of women decades younger, and – although I’m no a-lister – I know just how much hard work and determination it takes to keep so toned. You see, like them, while I’m a mum well into my 40s, I have abs of steel.

I’ve always tried to keep fit. As a teenager, I did aerobics classes. And after getting married and giving birth to George in December 2002, running around after my son and juggling shifts at my hairdressing salon meant I quickly lost the baby weight.

Of course, like most women, I always felt I could do more – and look better. As soon as George started nursery, I signed up to the gym. It helped that my husband Richard loved working out, too. And I spent my 30s going to exercise classes and eating healthily. But while friends told me I looked great, as a curvy size 14 I hated my tummy. I’d hide under a sarong on holiday and longed to be toned and defined.