If, like me, you returned to work this month to find that your suits had mysteriously shrunk by a few inches over the Christmas break, then losing a few pounds is probably one of your priorities for the new year.

If you work at an investment bank, you might feel that you are in pretty good shape already. The endless cost-cutting and restructuring over the past year probably feels like one long and painful workout, as the industry slims down and gets into better shape to deal with a much tougher environment ahead.