Healthy diet options
Low Fat Diet
Government statistics reveal that most of us eat too much fat - on average around 45g a day. Experts recommend we eat no more than 30g of fat a day. The answer to this problem is simple - we need to reduce the amount of fat in the foods we eat. This is actually not as hard as it sounds as there are several easy way to reduce fat in your diet.

Replace your normal foods that are high in fat with 'reduced fat' varieties. About 10 years ago this would have been quite difficult to do, but nowadays you can find an abundance of alternative low fat products in all the major supermarkets. Not only are there alternatives, but there are even many reduced fat 'brands' to choose from including many 'own brand' varieties. These alternative products are also much more flavoursome than they were a few years ago - food manufacturers have at last acknowledged the demand for delicious low fat alternatives, so now you can eat the foods you love, without the extra fat and without having to compromise on flavour!

As a general guideline, you should be aiming to consume foods that contain no more than 4gms of fat per 100gms of product. You will find that all low fat products will list the fat content in a table which is printed on the packaging. So if you're in a rush and you need to grab a snack, just refer to the table and you'll have a good idea as to whether you should be eating the snack or not!

Simple Alternative Choices For Everyday Foods:
a) Replace full fat milk with skimmed, or if you feel you really can't survive without any cream, replace with semi-skimmed.

b) Instead of making your usual sandwich with full fat cheddar cheese, try one of the half fat varieties from your supermarket, or better still, fill your sandwich with reduced fat cottage cheese - it's much lower in fat!

c) Crisps - we all love them as a snack but know we shouldn't be eating them. If you feel desperate for a packet of crisps try the latest reduced fat varieties, like Walkers 'lite' crisps. Boots 'Shapers' brand also has a large selection of lower fat crisps and snacks.

d) Chips - forget about peeling potatoes and dropping your chips into a deep fat fryer, try the many makes of reduced fat oven chips which are tasty, yet healthier too.

Calorie Controlled Diet
This involves a little more effort than the simple low fat diet mentioned above, although essentially both diets involve the reduction of fat in the diet in one form or another. Calories are a measure of the amount of energy in our food (a major source of which is fat). The average woman should normally eat around 1600 calories per day, around 1200 calories when dieting, but never below 1000 calories. If the calorie intake is reduced below 1000 it is not providing sufficient energy for the body to operate and it falls into starvation mode - when the body stores fat for times when it is needed, the metabolism slows down and it becomes weak and lethargic, which in turn can lead to health conditions like anorexia.

It is therefore important to monitor your calorie intake carefully when following a calorie-controlled diet - to make sure you don't have too many calories (as you will store excess fat in the body) or too few (when you could fall into starvation mode). There are many books available which are dedicated to listing the calorie content of foods. You will also find the exact calorie content of a food in the table printed on its packaging. Usually the table will tell you the calorie content per 100gm of product as well as the total number of calories for the product itself. This way, you can total-up your calorie intake throughout the day and monitor it accordingly.

It is worth noting that many people find calorie counting an effective method of losing weight.

Detox Diet
This method of 'healthy' weight-loss hasn't been around for many years, but has recently gained a great deal of popularity. The benefits are not just weight-loss related - detoxing has been proven to increase energy levels, reduce stress and tension, improve body tone and reduce cellulite - the unattractive 'orange-peel' skin often found on the thighs, bottom, tummy and upper arms.

As the above demonstrates, detoxification diets are not just about losing weight - detoxing or 'spring cleaning' yourself is a method to rid your body of the build-up of toxins, fatty deposits and excess waste so you feel healthier in body and mind.

Preservatives, pre-packed foods, refined foods, fast foods all contribute to this build-up. A detoxification diet can: a) Cleanse your system
b) Enhance your circulation and improve your immune system
c) Help banish cellulite There are various detox programs which you can follow.

They each involve some form of the following:
a) The elimination of certain 'bad' foods (often fatty fast foods, refined foods, those high in preservatives etc)
b) The addition of 'good' foods (like dried fruit, fresh fruit, raw vegetables, high fibre foods, fish)
c) Drinking plenty of still mineral water throughout the day to 'flush' the body.
d) No alcohol, drugs or nicotine

Usually, detox diets usually last between 4 and 30 days depending on the program in question. The body rids itself of fatty deposits, toxins, preservatives etc. to release your energy, relax your body and slim your figure.

As you can see from the above, it is possible to effectively lose weight simply and healthily - all you need is a little effort and lots of willpower. Why not take a photo of yourself 'before' you start your diet and pin it to the fridge in the kitchen. Then, if you ever feel disillusioned and depressed, all you need to do is take a look at the picture and you'll soon be back on track. When you have lost the weight, treat yourself to a make-over and some new clothes as a reward for your slimming success.