By the end of the week you'll be feeling slimmer, fitter and more energetic - and that's a promise. Here's what to do in week two.

Day 8
Check your fluid intake
Make sure you are drinking at least 6-8 cups or glasses of fluid (preferably water or diluted juices) to aid the elimination of toxic waste products. Even minor dehydration can also make you feel tired. According to Dr John Rogers, professor of Family and Community Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in America, mild dehydration also causes mucus to dry out, affecting your ability to prevent infections.

Day 9
Eat porridge
Oats and pulses are excellent super foods as they have an extremely low GI (glycaemic index). This means they don't cause a rapid rise in blood sugar, which in turn keeps levels of fat-forming insulin low. Nutrition expert Dr Anthony Leeds, from King's College, London says: 'Women on the same calorie intake lose more weight if they eat lower GI carbohydrates like porridge, baked beans and lentils, than they do if they eat higher GI carbohydrates such as corn flakes, white bread or mashed potato.' Don't overdo it if you have irritable bowel syndrome though - pulses and oats are high in soluble fibre, which can exacerbate symptoms of wind and painful bloating.

Day 10
Keep on top of things
All those little jobs can pile up and drain your energy. Use a spare hour to clear your desk and keep filing up to date. At home, don't let cleaning or ironing stack up or you'll end up having a huge pile to tackle in one go, which will leave you exhausted. According to ancient Chinese wisdom, clutter represents energy that is stuck and makes you feel tired. So get rid of all the junk you've been hanging on to 'just in case' and surround yourself only with the things you love. If you have lots of gadgets lying around which don't work, your energy levels will drop. Fix them or throw them all away.

Day 11
Add resistance exercise to your repertoire
This is the type of exercise that helps to tone and build lean muscle mass rather than burn fat. But in the long run it will help you lose weight just as effectively, as the more lean tissue you have the higher your metabolism will be. The best type of resistance exercise involves lifting light weights - but it doesn't have to be at the gym. You can also lift cans of beans or plastic dumb bells, available from any sports shop.

Day 12
Use a herbal booster
Lift the last vestige of winter blues with a course of St John's Wort. The active ingredient (hypericin) increases levels of serotonin and other mood-lifting chemicals in the brain. Look for a standardised extract providing at least 900 micrograms per day, and use for about a month. There are contradictions though - don't take it if you're on the pill, pregnant or breast-feeding.

Day 13
Stay fruity
Don't just eat fruit and veg for a fortnight and then go back to your old habits. Starting today, aim to eat at least five different servings of fruit and vegetables daily - it's not that difficult as fresh, frozen, juiced and canned varieties all count. A serving is approximately 80g/3oz - that's around three tablespoons of peas, a standard sized serving of broccoli, a dessert bowl of salad or a small to medium apple.

Day 14
Forget fads forever
You're nearly through your two week detox, so now's a good time to start thinking how you are going to carry the good work forward. 'Stop thinking "diet", and think healthy eating instead,' says Dr Wendy Doyle, a state registered dietitian. The definition of a faddy diet is one that you can't continue long-term or involves cutting out foods you like completely. A sensible diet is one that's healthy but includes all the foods you like in moderation.

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