Can an apple a day keep the weight away?

We tested the wackiest diet tricks for one month, with surprising results

By Michele O’Connor, 10/01/2017

WACKY WEIGHT LOSS 1: EAT AN APPLE BEFORE EVERY MEAL

Rid your fridge of naughty treats and get some Granny Smiths in there instead! Munching on an apple before dinner means the pectin (fibre) it contains turns into a sticky gel in the stomach, and stops the body from absorbing sugar too quickly, according to a study at Cambridge University. "Apples are a low-energy, high-fibre food, so will fill you up and prevent overeating during your meals," explains dietician Ursula Arens.

TESTED BY: Jo Beck, 37, a consumer service officer from Nottingham.

"The stress of moving house has meant I've put on t in the last few weeks. I like apples, but it did feel weird munching on one before I could join the rest of the family for dinner. It really took the edge off my appetite, though. I normally have at least two chocolate bars a day, but the fruit curbed my cravings and, amazingly, I ate none at all.

But lots of apples can make you a bit windy - and you can get easily bored with them. It's an easy weight-loss tip that I'll continue, but I'll try eating oranges or bananas before meals to mix things up."

WEIGHT BEFORE: 9st 7lb

DRESS SIZE: 12

WEIGHT AFTER: 9st 2lb

DRESS SIZE: 10

WEIGHT LOST: 5lb

VERDICT: 8/10

WACKY WEIGHT LOSS 2: DRINK WATER BEFORE EVERY MEAL

According to experts, many of us mistake hunger for thirst, so the theory is that gulping down a glass of water before every meal will stop us overeating when we get to the table. "There's some research to support this, but it isn't a long-term weight loss method," warns Ursula. "Water leaves the stomach very quickly, so feelings of fullness don't last long."

TESTED BY: Lucy Andrews, 26, a PR from Hampshire.

"My diet is usually healthy - a big bowl of Alpen for breakfast, houmous, carrots and salad for lunch; and meat or fish with veg for dinner - but thanks to lots of takeaways, I've put on 8lb in the past nine months.

Drinking two glasses of water before every meal sounds easy, but I knew I'd struggle as I'm not a fan of plain water. It took a bit of getting used to, but it did fill me up. I definitely ate less, didn't snack between meals, had more energy and felt less dehydrated.

By week three, I was cheating a bit and drinking squash instead, and the downside was frequent trips to the loo. But I was delighted to find I can now get into a size 10."

WEIGHT BEFORE: 10st 8lb

DRESS SIZE: 12

WEIGHT AFTER: 10st 1lb

DRESS SIZE: 10-12

WEIGHT LOST: 7lb

VERDICT: 9/10

WACKY WEIGHT LOSS 3: JOT DOWN EVERYTHING YOU EAT

A recent study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found slimmers who kept a food diary lost twice as much weight as those who didn't. "Keeping a record is a useful awareness exercise, especially if you set yourself targets like eating more fruit and veg," explains Ursula.

TESTED BY: Cassandra Holmes, 33, an events organiser from Lincolnshire.

"I'm a size 12, but am rapidly heading towards a 14, and I'm sick of sucking my stomach in! Keeping a diary was an eye-opener - I was shocked by how much I ate on some days. I tend to snack on crisps and chocolate, but didn't realise quite how much until I had to keep a record.

Although keeping a food diary didn't stop me having treats, I did try to make the 'naughty' things last longer as I felt a bit guilty writing them down - so I ate fewer of them. I can't say it made me change my habits dramatically, though, and I put my weight loss down to extra walking I was doing. It might work better for those with more of a conscience!"

WEIGHT BEFORE: 10st 13lb

DRESS SIZE: 12

WEIGHT AFTER: 10st 8lb

DRESS SIZE: 12

WEIGHT LOST: 5lb

VERDICT: 2/10

WACKY WEIGHT LOSS 4: CHEW MORE SLOWLY

Do you eat dinner in front of Corrie and find you've finished before the first ad break? This could be why you're piling

on the pounds, warn scientists from Imperial College, London. They believe eating quickly stops the release of a hormone that tells your brain you've had enough. "It takes 20 minutes for your brain to register you're full, and the average meal lasts around 10 minutes, so it makes sense to slow down a bit," says weight-loss expert Ali Campbell.

TESTED BY: Linda Uvah, 27, a bank worker from Coventry.

"I want to get into a dress I've had my eye on, so the idea of eating the same food as usual, just more slowly, sounded appealing.

I thought it was going to be easy, but slowly chewing everything 10 times made my jaw ache and meant my usual 10-minute meal lasted three times as long. However, I did savour my food more and found I ate less at mealtimes - mainly because everyone else had finished long before me, and my food was cold! I felt embarrassed that everyone was waiting for me, but I shouldn't have worried as now I can wear a smaller size without a drastic diet overhaul!"

WEIGHT BEFORE: 10st 9lb

DRESS SIZE: 12

WEIGHT AFTER: 10st 3lb

DRESS SIZE: 10-12

WEIGHT LOST: 6lb

VERDICT: 6/10

WACKY WEIGHT LOSS 5: HAVE A BANANNA FOR BREAKFAST

Whether you're a 'coffee and muffin' girl or the 'full English' kind, what you eat first thing can make a difference to your bulge battles. The Japanese 'Morning Banana Diet' involves eating a banana and drinking a glass of water for breakfast. You can have a normal lunch and dinner, but can't eat after 8pm or have desserts. "Bananas are a healthy breakfast, but no more so than a bowl of cereal or porridge," says Ursula. "And you're likely to be hungry by mid-morning."

TESTED BY: KIM JOHNSON, 42, AN INTERNET ENTREPRENEUR FROM SHEFFIELD.

"I lost 2st for my 40th birthday, but the weight has slowly crept back on. I usually skip breakfast, so eating first thing was new to me.

I was really motivated for the first couple of weeks, but the novelty wore off when I got bored with bananas. And it was hard not eating after 8pm as I often get in late and eat after I've put my child to bed. On the plus side, it made a huge difference to my digestive system - no more constipation! As diets go, this was easy, so I was thrilled to lose t and will keep it up."

WEIGHT BEFORE: 11st 8lb

DRESS SIZE: 14 top, 12 bottom

WEIGHT AFTER: 11st 1lb

DRESS SIZE: 14 top, 10 bottom

WEIGHT LOST: 7lb

VERDICT: 8/10