How to get a flat stomach in your FORTIES: The former Olympic speed skater behind Melanie Sykes' washboard abs says middle age is NO excuse for a spare tyre

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For many women on a mission to get in shape, a flat stomach is the fitness equivalent of the holy grail.

Still the older we get - and the harder it becomes to shift the pounds - achieving the sort of washboard abs seen on celebrities seems an ever more distant dream.

But according to the woman behind Melanie Sykes' ultra-toned tum, former Olympic speed skater turned celebrity trainer Sarah Lindsay, middle age doesn't have to be a barrier to body goals.

Sarah, from Kingston in Surrey, who counts Caroline Flack, Pixie Lott and Christine Bleakley as clients in addition to 46-year-old Melanie, told FEMAIL: 'I have seen women with good abs at 50 - and I intend to be one of them.'

Gym bunny Melanie Sykes, 46, shared a snap of herself with Sarah Lindsay showing off the results of all her efforts  

A former Olympic speed skater, Sarah, 36, now runs her own exclusive gym, Roar Fitness 

The TV presenter shows off her washboard stomach in a sports bra and leggings 

'One of my now dearest clients came to me for a "12 week transformation" at 48-years-old, which we achieved in style,' says Sarah.

'She has trained with me ever since and after turning 50 last week she is without doubt in the best shape of her entire life with a butt like a 25 year old athlete,' she goes on, adding that many of her clients report a boost to their sex life as a result of their efforts.

Far from touting countless crunches as the route to rock hard abs, Sarah says lifting weights holds the key to a toned stomach.  

The trainer, who now runs her own exclusive gym, Roar Fitness, in Aldgate, puts strength training at the centre of her method, and clients can expect to find themselves deadlifting loaded barbells, or doing shuttle runs back and forth while dragging a weighted sled behind them.

The 36-year-old says that with the right approach 'almost anyone' can achieve a flat, toned stomach within 12 weeks, but that definition is ultimately dependent on being lean.

'Of course there are exceptions and some of my results with larger women have taken a few extra weeks, but it's not a race,' Sarah told FEMAIL. 

'I don't do much specific ab work until I know the client can get lean enough to see abs. The core is worked to a huge degree during heavy weight training, so ultimately, lift heavy enough weights and your ab work will be taken care of,' she adds. 

The ex speed skater recommends a minimum of three training sessions a week, and says it's crucial to up the intensity of your workouts as you get stronger and begin to 'plateau'. 

Sarah also suggests upping your intake of fats, protein and vegetables at breakfast time, and says the meals you consume in daytime hours should contain the majority of your calories.

'I tend to include a complex carbohydrate like sweet potato, rice, pulses or oats,' she says.

'This should mean that you're not getting home from work starving, when the danger is to eat anything and everything in the cupboards while you wait for your dinner to cook - I'm very guilty of this myself.

'A smaller dinner of lean meat or white fish with vegetables should be enough,' she says.   

Sarah Lindsay trains a host of celebrities at her exclusive London gym, including Christine Bleakley (left) and Pixie Lott (right) 

A former Olympian, Sarah said she established Roar to try and give clients a taste of how it feels to be 'looked after like a world class athlete'. 

'As an athlete I had several people looking after me - physio, coach, nutritionist, psychologist,' she says.

'But when I started personal training [I realised] the trainer is expected to do it all.'

Sarah decided to put together a team of dedicated experts under one roof to provide a holistic experience.   

Sarah says Roar's focus on strength over cardio is down to her belief that a 'calories in vs calories out strategy' is not a long-term solution.

'As soon as you stop running or eat more you will probably gain fat,' Sarah says.   

'To become strong and increase muscle will improve your metabolism and keep fat off long term. 

'It's also really nice to be strong.

'To be physically capable of doing anything gives you huge confidence and more any more people are looking for a more athletic stronger physique instead of just thinner.'

To learn more about Sarah's methods visit roar-fitness.com.