Diets A-Z: Celebrity diet secrets

Natalie Cassidy

Soap star Natalie Cassidy has been almost unrecognisable since her transition from butch ex-Eastender to snake hips after her two-stone weight loss. These drastic results don't come from a crash diet or extreme fad. In fact, Cassidy didn't subscribe to any weight loss plan at all. She simply rustles up her own healthy meals from scratch - like soups - and pops down to the local gym to work out.

But she says now she's reached a healthy weight and doesn't want to go any further, 'I'm never going to be a stick because I've got big bones, but men don't like skinny birds anyway. I've never been on a diet. I think worrying about weight is ridiculous.'

So what's next for the new-look Natalie? You've guessed it - the obligatory exercise video is already in the making. The actress has recently been spotted filming at a dance studio.

Lily slims with hypnosis

Lily Allen always claimed she was proud of her size 12 to 14 figure making a bold statement in her ball gowns and trainers and famously criticising the size zero craze. Allen also fronted her own range for New Look with prom dresses for the curvier figure, when she said: 'All my dresses are super-girly but that doesn't mean you have to be a size zero. In fact, the more curves the better!'

She then made a comment on her blog saying, 'I'm afraid I have fallen victim to the evil machine. I have spent the past hour researching gastric bypass surgery and laser liposuction', before the singer who once championed curves jumped on the 'skinny bandwagon' and now says she is happier since plummeting to a size 8 to 10.

Allen didn't follow a conventional diet plan - she attended hypnosis session with Harley Street therapist Susan Hepburn to retrain her brain to crave healthy food and enjoy trips to the gym.

She says, 'After the hypnotism, I want to go to the gym every day, otherwise I feel really bad. I just want to get more toned and healthy. I'm really good about everything at the moment - I've never been happier.'

Claudia's model behaviour

Schiffer doesn't diet as she says 'it messes up your metabolism', but does have her own healthy eating regime. 'I keep my daily calorie count down by eating only fruit and vegetables before noon and quelling hunger pangs with healthy tomato juice, grapes and herbal teas.'

The model drinks also lots of water and takes regular exercise, like tennis and horse riding. 'It is about being comfortable with yourself and your body no matter what your shape or style - when you are happy on the inside your confidence shines through making you look and feel amazing' she says.