London. Whitehall, March 2006

Ever since Ian Fleming's fictional character slammed onto our big and small screens, feats of impossible physical activities have been performed by a whole succession of different actors playing this lead role - whilst at the same time looking cool, calm collected and incredibly sexy.

But - what has this got to do with body building - or more particularly, body sculpting ?

Apart from Sean Connery, who was a body building champion way back, none of the others have been that enamored with body building as such, relying on the suave clothes and expensive hand tailored suits to make the slick macho image.

However, the latest in this long line of actors to play this role is Daniel Craig, pictured in a recent copy of the Daily Express, looking quite a picture with a magnificent, rippling 6-Pack.

But, last October his physique was nowhere like the macho image it is today.

So, how is such a noticeable physical change carried out? To many people, they just associate weight lifting with people determined to spend their lives pumping iron, with no particular end result, except to get more and more muscularly defined.

But, when combined with specific training routines, dietary requirements, and a lot of will-power, weight lifting can be very successful in enabling body sculpting to be carried out.

Many an actor has used this technique when adapting to a new acting role and it would seem that the nouveau James Bond is no exception.

But what sort of routine is required to carry out this physical character change, and how long does it take? To start with, real serious motivation, determination and concentration are a pre-requisite. Most of you who start off down this path try real hard but you just have too much going on already to really devote yourself to this rigorous task. Bodybuilding is a very serious and complex business.

You just can't pick up the dumbbells, sweat a few pints, do a few lifts and achieve a physique of the style you desire. Hey, if it was that easy you'd be there already. No, it's much, much more than that. It's practically a science, and there-in lies the problem. How can you research, develop and carry out an evolving and responsive training , eating and supplements plan, in addition to everything else in your life - Girlfriend, Boyfriend, Wife, Family, Partner, Kids, Dog, Life, Work, Beer.

If you are serious about changing your body shape, losing weight, and defining those muscles so that your body is something to be admired, not hidden, then I would seriously recommend that you have a look at some of the web sites on body building that you can find on the internet. . Look for sites that outline routines body builders have used or followed when preparing themselves for international championships. The diary of events as followed by these keen body sculptor types is not something to be taken on by the faint-hearted.

In fact, it should not even be attempted by anybody that does not already have a good grounding in the type of exercise required of these specialists, and who also understand the effects and symptoms that nutrient manipulation, lowering calorie intake during heavy exercise, and the effect that low blood sugar may have on a body working under very hard physical workouts. It is a combination of cardio and weight exercises, diet control, and actual nutrient manipulation to ensure maximum body fat loss, and also the clearest of muscle definition.

You need to look for guides to their mental state, and how they cope with a rigorous diet of nine structured meals a day, and the stresses and strains of trying to incorporate an already busy schedule, all at the same time. A lot any body sculptor's success in completing the challenge has to be down to very clearly defined goals on their part, and a determination to succeed in their objectives.

Encouragement from friends who helped train with them, and of course, the use of a specific day a week to examine and photograph any major body shape changes, will play a great part in the successful completion of their challenge. It is also important that any of the nutrients used during their challenge are also listed, and a range of suppliers identified so that the best source of supply could be identified.

By following part or all of these guidelines, and rigorously sticking to the routines outlined on these sites, it is virtually guaranteed that any fit person who wants to sculpt their body into a thing of classical beauty, whatever the physical material that they started out with, with perseverance and determination - will succeed!.

Why not rise to the challenge, and give it a go? You never know, you may get offered the leading role in another blockbuster - even as a hunky extra.