The Bodydoctor, promises you'll drop five inches from your waist and lose a stone in six weeks at Forte Village

After 90 minutes working out with the Bodydoctor trainer, I'm feeling instantly fitter

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Grazia Magazine, January 2010

The best thing about holidays in the Med (other than sunshine)? Wine and fine food, of course. The worst? Bringing it all back as excess baggage (or is that just me?). But David Marshall, the Bodydoctor, promises you'll drop five inches from your waist and lose a stone in six weeks at Forte Village. Including, he claims, during your stay. With 28lbs of baby weight to lose, I need no further bidding. I'm in!

It helps that Forte Village is a luxury resort which, despite its sprawling acres, maintains a boutique feel throughout eight hotels, 44 suites, 21 restaurants and a (well hidden) children's leisure park. Pretty promenades me-ander through leafy, tropical parkland, leading to an idyllic white sand beach, which gently shelves into a blue picture-postcard ocean. For unrivalled people-watching, station yourself on one of its sumptuous sunbeds, or decamp to one of the chic beachfront bars and eateries.

Eateries. Humph. Remembering the Bodydoctor's philosophy, my heart sinks ever so slightly - although it works on the kind of renounce-all-wheat-dairy- and-alcohol-related-toxin principle that makes you actually want to swap a cheese sarnie for a lentil bake, it's not really what you want to be signing up for before arriving in the land of wine, cheese and, erm, pasta. Faced with a choice between diet failure or no fun on holiday, I resign myself to failure.

But the reality is quite different. As it turns out, my only sacrifice is getting up early every day (but my sunny wander along the pretty paths from villa to state-of-the-art gym more than makes up for it) and after 90 minutes working out with Josef the Bodydoctor trainer, I'm feeling instantly fitter and ready for some guilt-free indulgence.

Which is fortunate, because the food all over Forte Village is incredible (even the archetypal all-you-can-eat buffets exude mouthwatering seasonality) - it's all so fresh and light that even if it doesn't fit the Bodydoctor philosophy, I can't seem to care. Our favourite spot is The Belvedere, the fine dining rooftop restaurant of The Hotel Vlla del Parco (the tempura is the best I've tasted). And, with its spacious, Sardinian-style bungalow accommodation set in the hotel shady park, the whole of this traditionally Italian boutique hotel is heavenly. Its also home to the Thaermae del Forte, the internationally renowned spa and thalassotherapy centre with six seawater pools and anti-ageing treatments based on an exclusive sea oil formula. a light lunch option created by the chefs and the Bodydoctor.) And the best bit? No excess baggage on the way home. More rose, anyone?

Claire Irvin Book before 15 March and seven nights in a double room at Forte Village's Villa del Parco costs from £2,036 per person on a half-board basis with Sardatur Holidays (020 8940 8399; www.sardinia-holidays.co.uk), Quote Grazia and get a free Bodydoctor book, DVD and introductory session, worth £200. For 'Meet and Greet' airport parking service, visit www.holidayextras.com or call 0800 093 5478

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