Nudge yourself SLIMMER

You don't need a big overhaul or fad diet. Small changes can make a big difference to your weight. Here's how

- KAREN EVENNETT

It's that time of year when thoughts inevitably turn towards sleeveless dresses and skimpy tops. Do you have the time and know-how to whip your arms into shape, or will you be shopping for lightweight coverups? And - a relatively new concern - will you be in with a better chance of baring your flesh if you're boasting one of those glucose-monitoring discs that seem to adorn so many slender arms these days?

What about your midriff? Is there any chance you could whittle down your waistline in time for the bikini season? Will eating just 800 calories a day (very popular right now) or engaging in overnight fasting speed you on your way?

Or maybe you're thinking of dabbling with the ketogenic diet? 'It's become one of the most widely searched diets on the internet,' explains Jenna Hope, a registered nutritionist and author of How to Stay Healthy. 'But sticking to its restrictive rules means cutting right back on carbohydrates - and, in doing so, you risk nutrient deficiencies through avoiding healthy pulses, fruit and vegetables.'

The way forward

However tempting and even enlightening all these fast-fix diets may appear to be, the truth is that a fast fix is just that - a short-term solution. 'Once you start eating "normally" again, there's a high risk that any weight you've lost will pile back on,' says Jenna. 'But, worse than that, we often see significant weight regain following a fad diet - meaning you'll end up heavier than before you tried to slim down.'