The power plate, the vibrating platform, the most innovative piece of exercise equipment this quarter-century: whatever we decide to call it, it has entered our lives and it is not going anywhere. Its power lies not only in the electric charge running from the socket, but in its capacity to transform the body. 

It was first invented by a Russian scientist, who was working on ways to keep astronauts healthy while they were travelling on lengthy space voyages. It was so successful on the space ships that the technology was then brought to the lay people of the world to help us to build our bodies up too.

Here's how it works: the user does normal exercises whilst on the machine. They may do squats, lunges or abdominal crunches, for example. The vibrating motion of the equipment intensifies the work out, making the muscles contract up to around 50 times a second. The results are therefore achieved much faster when using a power plate.

Indeed, manufacturers claim that just 15 minutes on the machine is equivalent of 1 hour of traditional exercise. This means that it saves valuable time.

Its bone strengthening qualities make it a great option for the elderly and the disabled – for those who do not manage to do much intensive exercise. Though, of course, it is great for people of all ages too.

In addition to this it tones up the muscles, helps to increase circulation, makes improvements to posture, gives you more strength and flexibility, and will bestow onto you with a glorious glow of post-workout satisfaction.

Despite all of these wonderful benefits, do beware of potential injuries. The last thing you want to do is put unnecessary strain on your muscles and joints. The best way to protect them is to learn the correct stances for the specific exercises that you do. Hiring a personal trainer to show you how to protect yourself from injury is an incredibly worthwhile investment when undertaking any new fitness regimen (because you only have one body so it is important to take care of it), and this is no different.

There really isn't anything more extreme than the triathlon. The run, swim, cycle combination has been the battleground of the bravest of men and women since its conception in the 1920s in France. Originally known as “Les Trois Sports”, the event originally included a swim across the channel. Nowadays triathlons can be found across the world on a variety of terrains.

The physical benefits of training for a triathlon are as diverse as the races themselves. Since the competitors train to swim, run and cycle, they are using pretty much all of the muscle groups. Cycling tones the lower parts of the body, swimming the top parts, and running creates lean, long muscles. Alongside the physical benefits of this physique, triathletes tend to look pretty sizzling too.

It is a race, and so its entrants burn a lot of calories while rushing towards the finish line. This means they'll never have arguments with the bathroom scales so long as they're training. Moreover, it provides a great cardiovascular workout which is excellent for keeping the body heart-healthy and in tip top condition.

One of the very best things about engaging in this particular sport is that by working all of the different muscle groups, you will reduce the chance of getting an injury. This is the bane of the sports fanatic's life, and so it is good news to all.

Unless you've been dabbling in alchemy and have finally found the secret of everlasting life, chances are pretty high you'll pass on from this life one day. But it's not all doom and gloom. If there's one thing your inevitable end is good for, it's inspiration.

Whether you intend to go to heaven or to hell; to the nothingness of ashes or to be reborn another sentient being according to your karma in this life, there are still tons of experiences to be lived and memories to be made before you do finally pop off.

Lots of people like to record these things on what is called a ‘bucket list' (so called after the phrase ‘kicking the bucket'). They then use this directory as a guide to decide how to tailor their life plans to achieve their dreams. If this appeals to you and you're looking for a little inspiration, here are our top five:

1. Sail around the world. Imagine standing up on deck, looking out upon serene scenes or rocking with crashing waves, captain's hat upon your head. You then hook your lunch, feet dangling off the sides, fishing rod in hand. While you're barbequing your catch, you thank your lucky stars that you're living your dreams. It has got to be done.

2. Spend a summer walking and climbing in the Alps. Why? Basically, because you'll spend a whole season having unforgettable picture perfect moments, and you'll get really fit at the same time. Nice!

3. Learn to yodel. This goes hand-in-hand with your summer in the Alps. Want to communicate with your friends further down the slope? Or are you more in the line of Sound of Music type recreation? Either way, this one just sounds fun (for the yodeller at least, we make no promises regarding the enjoyment levels of their friends)!

4. Go zorbing. Zorbing can actually be quite cheap (relatively) which is nice for the old bank balance. It's the one where you get inside a big, clear plastic ball and bounce around the place in it. The attraction to it is almost inexplicable, and yet even just the idea of it is very entertaining.

If your morning activities are mapped out roughly like so...

• Wake up at 6am.
• Stumble into shower.
• Pull on joggers.
• Spend next hour in park being bossed around, working butt off with big, burly, ex-army type man.

...You are either mentally unstable, in which case we ought to get you to the men in white coats pronto, you've joined the Forces, or you've found the latest fad: the boot camp workout.

Despite its terrifying name and demanding nature, this exercise programme does build strength and endurance. In addition to this it will most likely result in weight loss. Well, it burns so many calories that it will result in weight loss for sure so long as you don't leave the workout overly satisfied and spend the rest of the week gorging on burgers, chips and deep fried mars bars.

Spending an hour outdoors is pretty for you good too. Your heart and lungs get to puff themselves weary, which is brilliant in terms of cardiovascular exercise and you get to take advantage of the health benefits of lungs full of morning-fresh air as well.

One of the reasons that boot camps are so popular today is that there is no option to skimp out. You know that when you sign up you will be forced to work hard. The schedule does not let up either, each member of the party is expected to follow the non-stop regimen rigorously, and in so doing the challenging exercises do their job and get you fighting fit in no time.

Bodybuilding and eggs go together like a horse and carriage. This saying is not quite as lyrical-romantic as the traditional version, but it is just as true. Eating protein rich eggs will boost your muscle mass, it's as plain and simple as that. So if you're serious about increasing your size, make sure to include them in your diet plan.

Muscles develop in a process of tear and re-growth. While the body builder lifts weights, they are breaking the protein fibres of the muscles. When they repair themselves, they grow back bigger. A sizable portion of protein is needed to aid the restoration of the muscles and the enlargement of their size.

Protein is the active agent in eggs that helps muscles to re-grow. There is about 6 grams of protein in an egg. In addition to this, eggs contain B vitamins, vitamins A, E and K, folic acid, riboflavin, calcium, iron, zinc and amino acids.

The fats in eggs can put some body builders off, but it really ought not to. There is about 5 grams of fat in the yolk. The majority of this is useful fat for the body. Egg whites are completely fat free, which is nice to hear. Therefore cut some of the yolks out of an egg white rich meal and you'll be laughing.

The heart pumping departure from the runway, ascending with eyes closed tight, checking parachute position with fumbling fingers. Edging towards the open mouth of the plane, taking a deep breath, opening your eyes, wide. Vaulting out of a plane door, free falling, spinning, gliding, being on top of the world...

There's nothing on earth that compares to the incredible rush of skydiving.

If you don't believe us, here are eight more reasons to chew over:

1. It gives you an incredible aerial view. Having a bird's eye view of the world was only dreamed of before the invention of the aeroplane, so soak it up.

2. You can do it for charity. Fundraise for your favourite charity and get the dive for free. That way your racing heart will be filled with joy as well as fear as you leap out of the plane.

3. The pure panic and alarm that you feel when you're edging your way towards the door of the plane gets your heart pumping which is a cardiovascular activity, and therefore good for you.

4. If you get really good, you can join a skydiving troop and train to dive in formation. The pictures of jumpers holding hands in an airborne circle at the drop centre – that could be you!

5. Once you have actually jumped out of a plane at 10,000 ft, you'll never doubt yourself again.

6. You can do it with friends. Having a great day out with your best chums means that you can share the exhilarating memories with them forever.

7. The buzz of the land stays with you for hours afterwards. Not only will you have a great wee jaunt up into the air but your whole day – heck, probably your whole week will be better!

Are you looking for a career change? Are you also thinking you need to get in better shape this year? Believe it or not there are lots of jobs out there which could help you do both. What's even better is that these physically demanding jobs are often much more exciting than sitting in a cubicle and can really broaden your career horizon. Let's look at some of the best ones going.

One possible option is to become a removal person. Though few people like having to move their stuff from one place to another, getting paid to handle people's property when they move house can be a great and lucrative way to stay fit. If you are carrying wardrobes, suitcases, tables, televisions and fridges up and down stairs two or three times every week it will soon show on your body, as you develop more muscle tone and better stamina. 

If you don't fancy carrying heavy weight around you might consider looking for work as a life guard in a local pool. In order to get this job you will need a qualification and getting your hands on that will take some physical and mental work. Once you have it though you can work in any pool or beach in the UK and do as much swimming as you like for free.

If you are more of a great outdoors type, why not look into work as a gardener? Gardening involves lots of lifting, sawing and cutting but also plenty of more peaceful activities like planting and pruning so, in some respects, it can be seen as the best of all worlds. If you have no experience chances are you will have to start off with some pretty menial jobs but once you work your way up, gardening can be a really lucrative job and one that gets you plenty of exercise and fresh air.

We all want to keep our bodies trim and slim but when you have a tight work schedule or a busy home life squeezing in those hours in the gym may not be so practical. Plus when you've been working late in the office the last thing you want to do when you get home exhausted is take a jog around the neighbourhood. It isn't that you aren't willing to put the hours in, it is simply finding the hours that is the problem.

If this sounds like you, you may benefit from taking the time to consider a few little tips to keep you in shape without messing up your timetable. Most important is that you move your exercise routine to a time that suits your programme. One possibility is to use the early morning. All it requires is waking up, say, 30 minutes before you usually do and taking that time to go for a quick run before you jump in the shower. If that's not practical, think about how you can make the trip to work more physical. If you have a shower in your workplace, cycling or jogging there in the morning can be a great way to start the day. If you don't have that option, even a brisk walk will make a difference to your fitness and health.

If you just can't face exercise in the morning another option is to fit it in around your work schedule later on in the day. Many people find their lunch hour good for this as it gets them away from their desk for the hour and returns them to work energised for the second half of the day. So many people fall into the trap of eating at their desk which means your brain and body don't get the true break they require. Squeezing in a quick run or lengthy walk at lunchtime is a smart and healthy way to sidestep that hazard.

When working out, we try to get the most out of it that we can. We push ourselves to the limits of our endurance, and then go back and do it again the next day. Now, there is a good deal to be said for a repeated, strenuous workout. However, many people are finding themselves with increasingly less and less time to do their work in. Thus, many of them have had to find ways to maximise the efficiency of their workouts in whatever way possible. And the manners in which they have done so are quite ingenious.

One of the biggest problems is how to deal with the time factor. Sure, you'd like to keep your full 45 minute routine, but the press of your job or previous engagements is making this rather inconvenient. Well, one way to circumvent this problem is to double up. For example, you can combine a curl with a shoulder press and make one single move; you swing the dumbbell up like a normal curl, rotate your wrist 180 degrees while moving your arm to be parallel to your torso, and then do the shoulder press, lifting the dumbbell up over your head. This is only one example, but the principle holds sound with other exercises, as well.