Tips have you got a spare year or two. Sorry welcome. If you read the dairies people have put down their tips. My favourite is making your SF in an electric bender with a load of ice, it makes it really thick and lasts so much longer.
I have been doing the Shred DVD it is fantastic, I had to stop for a bit as I got a chesty cold,will take it up again after my hols. It is not for the faint hearted but I am not usually motivated by DVDs in the least but I read the reviews and thought it cannot be that good so tried it and it is.
Sorry I do go on, I must get to bed. Good Luck