What it promises: Brace yourself – this diet is not for carb- lovers! Marisa Peer focuses on cutting out carbs and stocking up on protein. Dieters enjoy fresh, raw food, and aren’t allowed carbs after lunch. Evening meals are protein-rich meat and green salads. It’s tough, but the diet aims to change the way you think about food. Nicola’s verdict: I was daunted by the prospect of this diet. I love bred and potatoes, so I wasn’t sure how I’d manage. But it was surprisingly easy to follow, and Marisa devised my own personal menu.

The first thing I had to get used to was how much meat and eggs are involved in the diet. In the morning  I’d have a three-egg omelette with turkey ham, followed by a chicken salad for lunch, and a chicken stir-fry for dinner. For snacks I had green apples, nuts, sugar-free peanut butter and celery sticks. I thought I’d feel hungry during the day, and was surprised when I wasn’t. I did miss having tasty sauces with my meals though, and food often tasted quit bland. I’m busy at work, so I needed a diet to fit my lifestyle. But I quickly got into a routine of making my salads the night before work. The only hard thing was resisting sweets, but I stayed strong!

I’m carrying on with the diet, but will relax a bit and allow myself tortilla wraps and pittas. A girl’s got to have some fun! The diet is strict, but it gets results. Now my friends are all keen to give it a try.