Most of us wish our legs were longer or thinner. Sadly we can’t help you with the length, but we do know how you can lose 7lb off your thighs, knees and ankles – and by next weekend!

You won’t need to live at the gym to lose the inches. Just stick to simple foods, and in seven days you’ll be ready to bare your legs in a short skirt. How short? Well, that’s up to you…

Why it works

Your legs are one of the easiest areas to shape up because pretty much any exercise you do tones your pins. Plus if your legs are the first place you store fat, it’s also the place where you’ll lose it first.

How it works

The four diet rules for beautiful legs are:

1. Lean, low-calorie proteins to help replenish muscle fibres, which are constantly broken down in exercise.

2. Essential fats for glossy, glowing skin.

3. Potassium and natural diuretic foods – which cause you to pass more urine, reducing water retention, puffiness and cellulite.

4. Citrus fruits to boost fat loss and help the body absorb iron.

5 top foods

1. Bananas
2. Eggs
3. Salmon
4. Citrus fruit
5. Avocado

The diet basics

The plan includes a special salad to eat every day as a snack or with a main meal, which contains natural diuretics like asparagus and celery. You’ll be eating about 1,000 calories a day, and you can lose up to 7lb in seven days. You’re also allowed coffee, tea, herbal teas, and water.

SPECIAL SALAD (200 cals)

Make a base of dark green leaves like spinach, watercress and lettuce.

Then add:
* 1 stalk of celery, sliced
* 1/2 medium carrot, grated
* 1 tomato, sliced
* A few strips of avocado
* 6 cooked asparagus spears, fresh or tinned
* 1tbsp cold peas
* A handful of cooked, cold French beans
* 1tbsp salt-free sweetcorn
l 1tbsp toasted pine nuts (optional)

Dressing: Mix 1tbsp plain yoghurt with the zest and juice of 1/2 lemon and a little grain mustard. Toss well with the salad.

Breakfast (under 250 cals)

Choose one:

* 1/2 grapefruit and 2 eggs, any style.
* 1 banana, 6 almonds, 1tsp honey and 250ml skimmed milk, blended in a shake.
* 30g sugar-free muesli with skimmed milk, topped with 1/2 banana, sliced.
* Omelette made with 1 whole egg and 2 egg whites. 250ml glass ruby grapefruit juice.
* 1 sliced banana topped with a small carton of plain yoghurt. 1 boiled egg.
* Small dish of grapefruit segments in juice. 30g muesli with skimmed milk.
* 1 banana and 250ml fresh orange juice, blended.

Lunch (approx 250 cals)

Choose one:

* 300ml spinach, celery or asparagus soup, with 1 multigrain crispbread.
* Small carton of cottage cheese, a banana, 10 grapes.
* 1/2 avocado filled with 50g prawns, 1tbsp vinaigrette dressing and 1 multigrain crispbread.
* A green salad with 1/2tin of tuna in water.
* 2 multigrain crispbreads topped with 1tsp mayo and 1 sliced hard-boiled egg.
* 2 crispbreads topped with cottage cheese and 2 sliced tomatoes.
* A green salad with 30g Edam and 1 sliced apple.
Dessert: 1 apple and a bowl of strawberries or raspberries.

Dinner (approx 300 cals)

Choose one:

* 4oz poached salmon with spinach and carrots.
* 4oz chicken stir-fried with 2tbsp grapefruit segments, served on stir-fried vegetables.
* 4oz cold salmon mixed with 1 cubed mango, served on green salad.
* A 3-egg Spanish omelette (with added peppers, tomatoes, onion and mushrooms) and green salad.
* 4oz cold salmon mixed with 1/2 avocado in yoghurt dressing, served with green salad.
* Lemon chicken escalope (shallow-fry a flattened chicken breast with the zest and juice of 1 lemon) with 3 vegetables.
* 4oz salmon stir-fried with a handful of prawns and a little soy sauce, served on a mixed vegetable stir-fry.
Dessert: A bowl of mixed berries.

Snack (Optional)

All under 100 cals – have only ONE per day:

* Stick of celery filled with low-fat cream cheese.
* 1 apple and 3 Brazil nuts.
* 2 oatcakes with sliced tomato.
* 1 pineapple ring with 2tsp cottage cheese.
* 1 small carton of fat-free plain yoghurt with 1tbsp berries.
* 1 hard-boiled egg.
* 1 bowl of mixed salad with yoghurt and lemon dressing.

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Photography: scope beauty, alamy, pa photos consult your gp before starting any diet or exercise plan