Some say you shouldn’t count calories and some swear by it. With some of the excellent tools around these days it’s not nearly as hard as it used to be but does still require discipline to do it properly.

3. Give yourself a calorie target. Whether it’s low-carb, low-fat or fasting, diets ultimately work, if they work, because they reduce calorie intake. Give yourself a target and you’ll be more likely to succeed. Work out your daily needs using an online calorie calculator and track your intake using a smartphone app.