We're used to Madge always playing with her look but new photos published show looking like we've never seen her before. The paper describes the performer, known for her killer bod as "pale, tired and hollow-cheeked, with bulging veins in her hands and wrists, and sinewy muscles on her arms"

Friends revealed to the paper that Madge is under enormous personal pressure to put on a hit performance at the July 7th concert at Wembley Stadium.

'Madonna has felt on something of a personal crusade to raise awareness of the humanitarian crisis in Malawi. 'The state of the planet is also something she feels very strongly about. She feels that at Live Earth she will be speaking to the planet,' said the source.

'And she obviously wants to look her best. The eyes of the world will be on her and she is very conscious of the creeping hand of time and how her advancing age has affected her appearance. She has thrown herself into the fitness regime like never before in recent months. And the results are clear. You may say it's over the top, but she's the kind of person to do things to the bitter end. She is very driven.'

Madonna is said to practice pilates and yoga and does up to 400 sit-ups a day. She also employs macrobiotic chefs who prepare organic and nutritionally balanced meals. She washes it all down and out with two litres of water a day.

We thought working out was supposed to make you look good? Who cares about eating a balanced macrobiotic diet if it's gonna make your arms look "sinewy?" Ewwww!

Knowing Madge however, it's only a matter of time before the sinewy look becomes the next big thing.