Dieting in December?
So it's mid December and all your good intentions to slim down in time for the festive season have gone out the window. Don't panic! With steely determination and a few lifestyle changes, your slinky party dress will be a cinch to wiggle into come New Year's Eve.

Follow our easy-peasy diet for 14 days (which even allows one day off for a festive blow out!) and we guarantee you'll be feeling better than ever and looking party perfect come December 31.

Star tactics
Think like a celeb when it comes to wobble-free party planning. Whilst Victoria Beckham admits that she loves the odd tipple during the festive season, she makes up for any overindulgences by snacking on fruit - "I love to eat strawberries. I think the antioxidants make up for the damage." Jessica Alba snacks on dried fruit and frozen yogurt when the dreaded selection box is passed around, whilst Demi Moore drinks cups of herbal tea to ward off mid-afternoon hunger pangs.

Festive fitness
Get moving! Healthy eating will help you lose weight, but to reap the real benefits (ie, not having to hold your tummy in all night), you'll need to combine your diet with strict, regular exercise. An aerobic workout that really makes you sweat is the only way to fight flab, fast.

Running, cycling or skipping for 45 minutes a day will drastically improve fitness levels and help shed kilos. As far as toning up goes, combine your daily aerobic exercise with 25 minutes of strength training to firm your legs and arms using dumb-bells. Add squats, lunges and plies to your routine, and make simple changes that will help burn calories - take the stairs instead of the lift and walk to the supermarket instead of taking the car - it all adds up.

The diet plan
This two-week eating plan is so easy to follow, it's criminal! Prepare to sizzle in that LBD, girls...

Breakfast
Start each day with a cup of hot water and fresh lemon slices and combine with one of the following:
- Two slices of mixed grain bread with a teaspoon of peanut butter or a little low-fat spread wth marmite
- One banana, a handful of strawberries and 250ml of skimmed milk, whizzed together in a blender
- Small bowl of porridge made with skimmed milk
- Mixed fruit salad

Lunch
Choose from one of the following:
- Medium-sized sweet potato with a sprinkling of low-fat cheddar and a large mixed salad with lemon juice dressing
- Brown rice salad with mixed beans and peppers
- Turkey or chicken salad sandwich on wholegrain bread
- One cup of wholemeal pasta with tuna in brine or springwater, tomatoes, onion, black olives and mixed peppers, with a drizzle of balsamic vinegar
- One cup of cous cous with roasted vegetables and a squeeze of lemon

Dinner
Choose from one of the following:
- Grilled chicken breast with lots of steamed vegetables
- Baked salmon or tuna fillet with roasted vegetables and salad
- Stir-fried vegetables and tofu with one serving of noodles

Snacks
Allow yourself two snacks per day:
- A handful of raw, unsalted almonds
- A piece of fruit (try plums, pears, strawberries or apples)
- Two rice cakes with a teaspoon of low-fat cream cheese
- Two oatcakes spread with low-fat hummus
- A small handful of dried fruit

Drink
Say no to alcohol, caffeine, fruit juice and fizzy drinks, and have herbal teas and at least two litres of water a day.

Last minute fixes!
Remember, black is a universally flattering colour. Use it to your advantage by choosing a party frock made of the best fabric you can afford, which enhances your best assets and skims over your flaws.

Burn calories and have fun by always being first on the dance floor, like Mary-Kate Olsen. "It's so much fun, you don't even realise that you're doing exercise," she says. An hour of dancing burns around 550 calories.

Do three sets of weights 10 minutes before you step into your party frock. A short burst of pumping iron will have your muscles looking firm and toned when you arrive at the party.

Put your best foot forward. Don a pair of killer heels with your LBD and the height will instantly give the illusion of slimmer pins. Party time is definitely no time for flats!