The SOS desperation diet

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A new diet, whose inventors claim it can help you lose a dress size every week, has arrived just in time for the party season. But can it really work?

The silly season is here and it is time to get your little black dress out and party. But somehow you have grown one size too big for that party frock.

Do not panic just yet. According to the author of the SOS Desperation Diet, you can drop a dress size in just one week.

Editor of Slimming and Health magazine, Tara Alia, said it was actually a sensible diet that worked, but should not be followed all the time.

"It is perfect for anyone who is looking to just drop a dress size quickly and not have to go down the route of crash dieting," she said.

"It is actually a really good diet to not only let you drop a dress size, but give you better skin and make you feel more energetic, sparkly eyes and all the things you want when you are going to a party," she said.

"It is perfectly safe. It has been devised by a naturopath so it has been very carefully thought out, it isn't something you should do once or twice a year but at Christmas time and it is only seven days, it is fine to do that."

With Christmas approaching, Today Tonight found three ladies wanting to quickly shed extra kilos.

They were twin sisters Paula and Kim and 20-year-old Rachel.

"My company Christmas party is in a week or so," Kim said.

"So, I mean, I plan all year to look good for this and I've really just let it go the whole year."

"I've got a little dress I want to fit back into, it's a bit tight across the mid section, so I'm really hoping that its going to fit by the end of the week," Rachel said.

The diet includes fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrain cereals and breads, dairy and some lean meats.

Unfortunately there is no room for treats in this diet, just good healthy food, a little light exercise and some herbal tonics to help kick-start your metabolism and flush out any toxins.

A sample menu is as follows:
* Breakfast: half a grapefruit, a poached egg, and two poached tomatoes.
* Lunch: a large stuffed tomato with tuna and low-fat cottage cheese, and a green salad.
* Main meal: stir-fried chicken with plenty of vegetables, followed by fresh mixed berries and low fat yoghurt.

All the dieters lost weight in the week. Paula lost 4kg, while Kim and Rachel both lost 3kg.

For the full seven day diet, pick up the December issue of ''Slimming and Health'', available in supermarkets and newsagencies.