Let’s face it, starting a new diet or fitness plan is never easy.

After the first few weeks, you always struggle to maintain it. There is never enough time, there is no-one giving you any support, and, after a while, you can’t be bothered - it’s too much effort.

I think we have all been there. Well, DietPixie has come up with five ways to help you stay on track.

If you consider yourself to be a very spiritual person, the macrobiotic diet could be just what you are looking for.

More of a way of life than a weight loss plan, it is based on the concept of balancing your ‘yin’ with your ‘yang’. Translated literally, the Greek word Macrobiotic means ‘great life’.

Not a bad thing to strive for. But ‘what is your yin and yang?’, I hear you cry. Well, put very simply, it refers to types of food.

Trying to lose weight can be a real pain. Cutting down on the things you like to eat, like chocolate or chips, is never easy.

But to make matters worse, some foods you think will help you shed the pounds could actually be doing exactly the opposite.

It's that time of year again, cereal boxes, TV adverts, the girls at work… the Kellogg's 'drop a jeans size' diet is everywhere.

But will eating two bowls of cereal a day in lieu of, well, proper meals really help kick start a new weight loss regime?

Sure, our bodies are temples and long-term health requires long-term effort.

But sometimes we all need a quick fix to clear the system and boost the body.

Eating the right diet isn’t just about maintaining a healthy body and looking your best, it can have a real impact on your brain and mental agility.

There are a number of factors determine how many calories you should consume per day, here’s a run-through of what to consider.

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Kate Diamond talks you through the resolutions it really does pay to keep - for good.

Need a diet? Check out the following:

ATKINS DIET
MACROBIOTIC DIET
LOW-FAT DIET
FIVE-FACTOR DIET

Foods containing carbohydrates – not pure proteins or fats - appear on the GI index and are given a numerical rating.

This 'GI value' depends on how energy is released and the effect the food will have on blood sugar.  The lower that rating, the better.

Slimming World is one of the longest-running eating plans, based on the traditional slimming club format.

For a fee, dieters can attend each week to get weighed and to share tips and advice with other members.