Georgia Collins and The Wine Diet:
So the month is nearly up and to be honest Ive done well on my diet, except well, it didnt really feel like a diet. Ive been eating my oily fish, cutting back on sugary food and drinking the compulsory glasses of wine, but its not made much of a difference. Okay so my jeans might be a little looser but theres been no drastic change and I put that down to the fact that the food Ive been eating isnt drastically different to what I normally eat, and isnt that sort of the point of a diet? While it may not have been the solution for me I do think this would be suited to someone trying to kick their bad eating habits but without cutting out treats completely.
Amy Lawrenson and The Water Secret:
The Water Secret isn't just about shifting the pounds, it focuses on improving skin and general well-being (although I did lose 4Ibs in the first week). I'd recommend it for anyone who suffers from skin problems or is feeling sluggish and lacking energy. Here's my confession, I didn't last the whole month - I lost motivation and found it a little too confusing. So, instead I have switched allegiances to Dr Dukan and his diet that took France, and Emma, by storm. Since telling people I'm on it, I've heard some amazing success stories (one friends mother lost three stone!) Im keeping my fingers crossed and my meals protein only.
Suzanne Scott and the James Duigan Clean and Lean Diet:
This wasnt a quick fix, you wont lose 8lbs in a week or have instantly defined muscles, but then again it doesnt claim to be. Its healthy eating from the get-go. Whilst it leans heavily towards protein, unlike monotonous protein only diets, a variety of greens are on the ok list. If like me coffee is your daily staple then be warned, only one cup of organic coffee is allowed per day. Likewise sugar and refined carbs are out. Combined with the meal plan is a really simple exercise regime that you can easily slot in to your day. My favourite is Tube Walking a slow walk interspersed with squats all the while with a taught exercise band around your ankles. After a few of these youll discover muscles you didnt know you had. Whilst I wasnt able to stick to the plan as religiously as I would have hoped (socialising and chocolate cravings got the best of me) there are things I have adopted from the book such as eating a protein based breakfast which according to James shifts the body to fat burning mode and keeps you fuller for longer.
Sophie Gridley and The 'I' Diet:
The I diet not one of my biggest successes. Its prescriptive and repetitive: not necessarily drawbacks as these are the techniques the I diet employs to get you on the straight and narrow. For two weeks you repeat a three-day rotation of menus, limiting variety, and thus minimising temptation and calorie consumption. Its not a crazy starvation menu and it all makes sense. But these menus (which you are told not to stray from and not to alter) are probably a walk in the park for the average American but a lot of the foods are rarefied and I couldnt find them. They dont even have fat-free peanut butter and low carbohydrate bread in Selfridges food hall.