1. Cut back on your alcohol for January. It's nothing but concentrated kilojoules (calories) that will stop your body from burning up your fat stores.

2. Boost your fibre from vegetables, wholemeal breads, wholegrain cereals, beans and fruit. Fibre makes food "bulkier" and more filling, so you'll feel fuller with less.

3. Cut back on dietary fat. It's the best way to shed body fat - fat from food is turned into body fat more easily and efficiently than carbs or protein.

4. There are no magic foods or supplements to dissolve away fat - not grapefruit, kelp, cider vinegar, chitosan, brindle berry or fucus.

5. Don't skip breakfast.

6. Avoid big meals late at night. This when we're least active and excess kilojoules (calories) are more readily converted to body fat.

7. Slow down your eating. Sit to eat and make your meal last to give your brain's appetite control centre time to register you're full.

8. Power walking is one of the best ways to burn off fat. It costs nothing, requires no special equipment (except good walking shoes) and can be done at a time to suit yourself.

9. You can't remove fat from just one problem spot - thighs, bottom, tummy - by exercising that area. Fat is lost from all over the body regardless of the exercise, but exercise will tone muscles and tighten loose skin.

10. Put more movement into your day. Use the stairs instead of the lift or walk to work or the shops.

Catherine Saxelby is a nutritionist and author of Nutrition for Life. Get more healthy eating tips at www.foodwatch.com.au