IT might not be Everest but climbing Arthur's Seat can be quite a challenge, as many an ill-prepared tourist will testify.
Few who huff and puff their way to the top have the energy to do anything more than sneer at the exercise freaks who pound up and down the Capital's most famous hill.
But if they did take a closer look they might find themselves staring straight
into the eyes of Edinburgh's most famous Survivor.
The blond highlights have been replaced by a mass of black curls, but the super-fit physique which won Jonny Gibb £1 million and legions of fans around Britain is still easily recognisable.
It is three years since the rugged former Lothian and Borders policeman won the hit reality TV show Survivor after beating 11 other contestants in a series of strength and endurance tests on a Panamanian island. Now after months travelling the world he is back in Edinburgh to offer lesser mortals the chance to hire him as their "fit buddy".
As a personal trainer on a programme called Buddyfit, Jonny is employed by groups of up to four friends to visit them in their homes, gardens or the city's open spaces to give them the kind of tailored exercise workout normally reserved for celebrities themselves.
Buddyfit works on a combined approach with five principles designed by a team of leading industry professionals to offer clients the ultimate package in health, fitness and lifestyle, combining personal training, nutritional advice, life coaching, supplementation expertise and stress management coaching. The ten-week programme is aimed at groups of friends who are too busy, embarrassed or lazy to go to the gym.
Jonny, 34, says: "It's a really good idea for people who join a gym and pay £50 or £60 a month and end up never using it. Training with friends and in your own home or garden is great for motivation.
"The concept of Buddyfit is very much about the outdoors as well so I often take people to Arthur's Seat, or Inverleith Park. I was a bit worried about what it would be like in the rain but I've done it and it's OK. After a while you get sweaty anyway so it doesn't make much difference."
So far clients are mainly "friends of friends", and he is firmly playing down the Survivor tag despite its obvious allure to both men and women.
"I'm just Jonny Gibb. I'm not Jonny Gibb from Survivor any more. The people I am training are mostly friends of friends so they know about it. But I don't even mention it now.
"That was three years ago, it's time to move on.
"I've kept out of the public eye for quite a while now and I don't really get stopped in the street any more.
"I've changed the way I look. It's all just dark curly hair [instead of blond highlights]."
The twice-weekly workouts for Buddyfit members include routines using dumb-bells, fit balls and punch bags.
Jonny, who also does one-to-one personal training outside his work with Buddyfit, says personal training appeals to all ages. His clients range in age from 19 to 55.
The Buddyfit ten-week programme also includes a DVD featuring individual advice on each principle to be watched at two week intervals. Week one is lifestyle coaching courtesy of Edinburgh celebrity lifecoach, Dawn Breslin, who aims to empower clients to make the changes. Week three concentrates on "optimum nutrition", a common-sense eating programme that can be adapted to suit any lifestyle.
WEEK five focuses on supplementation, with health expert Clinton Sellers. Rebecca Winters and Vereker Norris discuss the crucial area of kids' health and fitness in week seven; and in week nine mind, body and spirit expert Diane Cox takes clients through stress management.
The programme is also geared to cater for people with health problems, including osteoporosis, arthritis or diabetes, giving specific exercises to help improve their condition. For example, people with asthma are encouraged to concentrate on cardiovascular exercise, like aerobics, which give the heart and especially the lungs a real workout to improve the functioning of the respiratory system.
While his success on Survivor would be enough to persuade people to hire him as a fitness coach, Jonny has done a rigorous 12-week personal trainer course in Edinburgh since returning to his home in Leith permanently in January.
His return followed months overseas including a stint working with orphaned children in India.
His million-pound winnings are still far from spent, though he is tight-lipped about how much is left, saying only: "I'm not on my last beans yet."
He also admits that he still has itchy feet, but has decided to come back home because he thinks it's time to be "sensible" for a while.
"You can't just travel forever. At some point you have got to be sensible. That's what I'm trying to do at the moment."
He plans to continue as a personal trainer until the end of the summer, before deciding whether it's time for another change.
While he has no immediate plans to return to the police, the former drugs squad officer has not ruled it out either.
And he is still on sabbatical after extending his initial two years' leave period after winning Survivor to four years.
"[Going back into the police] is definitely still a possibility. I've still got lots of friends in the police and I'm on a four-year sabbatical which takes me to July 2006.
"I do miss some aspects of it - but I don't miss getting up at five in the morning on a cold wet November morning.
"Some of the things you have to deal with are not very pleasant either.
"But other things give you a real adrenaline rush. And I miss the camaraderie."
Like many reality TV stars he would love to be a rock star or be in a band of some description.
But, unlike some, he has no plans to pursue that dream as he is well aware that his musical talent, in his opinion anyway, deserves a very negative description.
"Music and fitness are two things I have been into for a long time. But I'm useless at any instrument and I can't sing so for now I'll carry on with personal training."
So the chances of Jonny releasing his version of Destiny's Child's Survivor are, thankfully, slim.
Buddyfit training costs £40 per hour, and is performed in small groups containing a minimum of two people.
The Buddyfit DVD costs £15. For more information visit www.buddyfit.com.
To hire Jonny Gibb as a personal trainer email
info@jonnygibb.comJONNY'S TOP TEN FITNESS TIPS Find a fitness activity you enjoy. If you don't enjoy it you won't stick to it.
For maximum fat loss and muscle tone make sure your weekly training combines cardiovascular with resistance training and stretching.
Exercise regularly, a minimum of three times a week for at least 20 minutes to one hour at a time.
Drink two litres of water per day to flush out system.
Cut out processed foods which make the digestive system and metabolism sluggish.
Try interval training - a one minute walk followed by a one minute run is much more efficient than working at a steady pace.
Build muscle. It boosts metabolism burning more calories, even whilst resting.
Exercise in the cold. You'll work harder to keep warm and lose more calories.
Train with a friend as this helps to keep motivation up.
Set a realistic goal and time frame. And reward yourself.
