By cutting processed carbohydrates from your diet for two weeks, then reintroducing them gradually, the eating plan is proven to melt muffin tops – fast.

No wonder beach beauties like Jessica Simpson and Kim Cattrall love it.

Now, five years after it hit Hollywood, the plan has been updated for summer, so it’s easier than ever to get a bikini body – and lose up to 8lb.

To get you started, we have an exclusive extract from The South Beach Diet Super Charged – a two-week introductory kick-start to the eating plan that will give you back your waist faster than you can say “gastric band, please”.

After following this plan for two weeks, start to reintroduce whole grains, including bread and pasta, as well as fruit.

You should also do more exercise.

14-DAY MEAL PLAN

Your South Beach Diet kick-start

BREAKFAST:

Start every morning with 180ml of vegetable juice. You can also have a cup of tea or coffee with skimmed milk.
Choose one from:

* Wake-up energy shake: 120ml low-fat reduced-sugar vanilla soya milk, 115g fat-free natural yoghurt, 90g silken tofu and 4tbsp roasted almonds, all blended until frothy.

* Ham and low-fat cheese omelette with chives.

* 2 scrambled eggs with chopped onion and 1/2 roasted red pepper, plus 2 turkey sausages.

* Low–fat cheese omelette with 2 sliced tomatoes.

* Poached egg and smoked salmon served on 20g of spinach cooked in a little olive oil.

* Mocha smoothie: 120ml skimmed milk, 225g fat-free yoghurt, instant coffee powder to taste, 30ml sugar-free chocolate syrup and 6 ice cubes, all blended until smooth.

* scrambled eggs with 2 turkey rashers and 2 sliced tomatoes.

MID-MORNING SNACK

Choose one from:

* Houmous with red pepper, celery and cucumber sticks.
* Smoked salmon on cucumber rounds.

* Celery sticks with 2tbsp wholenut no-added-sugar peanut butter.

* Red pepper filled with reduced-fat cottage cheese and chives and chopped green pepper.

* Raw vegetable crudités with coriander guacamole.

* 115g fat-free Greek yoghurt with a dash of almond essence.

* 30g assorted reduced-fat cheese cubes with raw vegetable crudités.

LUNCH

Choose one from:

* Clear mushroom soup made with chicken stock and dried mushrooms.

* Sliced steak on a bed of mixed greens with salad dressing made from a little olive oil, garlic, herbs, mustard and vinegar to taste.

* Smoked chicken salad with 1/3 small avocado, 2 chopped turkey rashers, tomatoes, red onion and cos lettuce with dressing.

* Broccoli soup made with broccoli, onion, garlic, vegetable stock and a splash of skimmed milk. Purée until smooth.

* Tuna salad made with chopped cos lettuce, a handful of white beans, cucumber, tomato, celery and radishes.

* Salmon fillet on a bed of watercress, cucumber, dill and reduced-fat crème fraîche.

* Lean beef burger (no bun) with 60g reduced-fat Emmental cheese, mustard, tomato and lettuce. Serve with three-bean salad made by mixing black-eyed beans, kidney beans and chickpeas with red onion and herbs.

MID-AFTERNOON SNACK

Choose one from:

* Grilled chicken with roasted red peppers.

* Raw vegetable sticks with low-fat yoghurt dip flavoured with coriander, cumin and turmeric.

* Large latte made with skimmed milk; 30 pistachio nuts.

* Houmous with salad of lettuce, tomato and cucumber.

* 15 almonds; 240ml glass skimmed milk.

* 115g reduced-fat cottage cheese with pepper strips.

* 2tbsp peanut butter on celery sticks.

DINNER

Choose one from:

* Grilled sirloin steak with grilled mixed peppers.

* Roasted chicken topped with a small handful of toasted pistachios served on a bed of mixed greens and roasted artichoke hearts.

* Grilled salmon served on a bed of tomatoes, spinach and capers; rocket and red onion salad.

* Sautéed lamb with spinach and chickpeas. Serve with baked aubergine and Parmesan cheese.

* Prawn and pak choi chilli stir-fry. Serve with steamed courgettes cut into strips and dressed with black pepper and lemon vinaigrette.

* Vegetable moussaka made with tinned lentils in place of lamb. Serve with a radish, cucumber and spring onion salad.

* Grilled chicken kebabs with peppers and red onion. Serve with a Greek salad made with cucumbers, tomatoes, olives and reduced-fat feta cheese.

The South Beach Diet Super Charged by Dr Arthur Agatston (Rodale, £12.99).

JOIN FABULOUSDIETS.CO.UK TODAY AND LOSE A STONE IN JUST SIX WEEKS. PLUS IF YOU BECOME A MEMBER TODAY WE'LL GIVE YOU FOUR WEEKS FREE

Photography: Folio-id, Scope, Alamy, Photolibrary.com