(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-01-08 14:51

Jessica Alba: Ditched the diets drinks and gained the perfect figure

J IS FOR JAVA COFFEE: Notice how every time you see a photo of celebrities, they are carrying around a huge cup of coffee?

It's what's in the coffee that makes the difference between fit and fat.

If they're in need of a sweet fix, stars use a small amount of real sugar, not artificial sweeteners which can contribute to obesity.

Unsweetened almond or soya milk, which has fewer calories than regular milk but more creaminess than skimmed, is also a celebrity favourite.

. . . and JESSICA SALAD: When singer and actress Jessica Simpson wants to lose weight she eats the same salad at Loggia Italian Cafe in Studio City, California, every day.

They now call it "The Jessica" on the menu.

Make your own version with two chopped Asian pears, ten sliced strawberries, one cup of grilled chicken breast cut into strips, ten romaine lettuce leaves, chopped, a small handful of croutons.

Mix them with a dressing made up of 2tbsp olive oil and 1tbsp balsamic vinegar, one egg yolk and 1tsp Dijon mustard, with salt and pepper to taste.

K IS FOR KNIT: Julia Roberts and Uma Thurman do this to keep themselves from snacking, relieve stress and improve concentration.

L IS FOR LIQUORICE: Eat a piece of liquorice, a strong breath-freshener mint, or a Listerine breath strip when you're hungry.

It might be enough to stop you from eating something that will derail your diet.

Plus, the fresh taste on your tongue will numb your tastebuds.

M IS FOR MATCHA GREEN TEA: This is a concentrated form of tea in which one cup is the equivalent of eight to ten cups of green tea. It boosts your metabolism and also cuts sweet cravings.

N IS FOR NIGHT-TIME: The most important time of day for dieters. Kate Beckinsale's trainer insists that she cut out starchy carbs when the sun goes down.

It's one of the "quickest ways to drop pounds fast".

O IS FOR ONE CHEAT DAY A WEEK: Give yourself one day off a week so you don't feel deprived.

Still-stunning Michelle Pfeiffer allows herself Mexican food or doughnuts on occasion.

P IS FOR PRUNES: Hollywood nutritionists suggest using four chopped-up prunes with the minced beef when you make up a hamburger.

It cuts the fat by 40 per cent and you won't even taste it.

QIS FOR QUICK SUGAR FIX: One Los Angeles bun shop is particularly popular with Hollywood starlets.

But instead of ordering a massive cinnamon roll, they ask for a tiny paper cup filled with icing. That way they satisfy their sweet tooth without eating the calories.

R IS FOR REFUSING: Don't be tempted by gherkins or pickles as Americans call them.

Celebrities never eat them as the high sodium content encourages bloating and water retention. As one said, you "might as well suck on a salt-shaker".

S IS FOR SCALES: Try the Celebrity Weighing Scales. Each benchmark on this scale is not a number but the name of a celebrity - even Bridget Jones.

Boring to know you weigh 135lb but much more interesting to know you weigh the same as Goldie Hawn.

Of course, if we ever hit the Cameron Diaz marker we will all weep with joy. Available in the UK at www.firebox.com.

. . . and SUSHI: Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie live on it.

It's low-calorie, and the vitamin-rich seaweed can lower cholesterol.

T IS FOR THE TEN MINUTES TRICK: When actress Jennifer Garner was trying to shed the 4st she packed on with baby Violet, she played a mental trick on herself.

As she approached her treadmill with dread, she would say: "OK, it's just for ten minutes, after that you can get off the thing. That's no time at all."

She added: "The funny thing is, after the ten minutes I would always want to do another ten minutes, which led to another ten minutes. It's a great way to trick yourself into doing your cardio."

U IS FOR UNDERHAND PHOTOS: They say that the camera adds 10lb? Now there's a camera that makes you look thinner.

The HP Photosmart R937 digital camera trims 10lb off your figure. Celebrities swear by it.

V IS FOR VEGANISM: Alicia Silverstone says that going vegan is the key to lasting weight loss: "I swear it's so easy. You don't have to have a diet mentality at all if you eat healthy, plant-based foods."

W IS FOR WEDGES: According to Hollywood stylists it's the footwear that makes you look the thinnest.

Cameron Diaz, Jessica Simpson and Gwen Stefani all wear wedges for that reason. Stylists love them for cover shoots as it makes the featured actress look taller and slimmer.

Y IS FOR YAZ: An exercise class that combines spinning and yoga and is the current workout du jour in Hollywood.

Actress Rosario Dawson is a fan and says: "It's not only great that I'm feeling strong, but because of Yaz my butt is looking much better these days."

Z IS FOR ZETA JONES: Our Catherine believes in variety: "I'm always mixing it up a little bit between walking, working out in a gym and swimming. I don't do any routine two days in a row."

And the bad news? No one gets off that easy. No matter what these women eat, one thing remains consistent: their workouts.

Cindy Pearlman notes: "These women don't skip the gym - ever.

"If they have to get up at 5am to start filming, they will get up at 3am to work out. They never miss a day."

• THE Black Book Of Hollywood Diet Secrets is available from amazon.co.uk, from January 31, £6.59.

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