IT'S that time of year again. No matter how good your intentions were over Christmas, that all-too-tempting surplus of chocolate, snacks and booze leaves most people with an uncomfortably tight waistband by January. So, if your New Year's resolution involves losing that stubborn spare tyre, there's only one thing for it: find a diet.

While we all know that upping our exercise and lowering our chips and chocolate intake will get us there eventually, it's much more tempting to try one of the latest crop of intriguing new diets that all promise great results. So, from coconut oil to self-hypnosis, here's a round-up of what's on offer this January:

THE BEYOND ATKINS DIET

WE'RE all familiar with the controversial low-carb diet pioneered by Dr Atkins and co, but this plan promotes a more balanced approach by re-introducing healthy carbs - such as fresh fruit and vegetables - to the famous high-protein diet and encouraging a combination of aerobic, resistance and passive exercise.

By regulating blood sugar and adopting a total body approach, Beyond Atkins not only aims to aid weight loss, but also reduce the need for high blood pressure and high cholesterol medication.

A celebrity fan always helps, and legendary US TV host Larry King says the plan has helped him lose weight and control his type 2 diabetes.

l Beyond Atkins by Douglas J. Markham (Pocket Books, £6.99)

THE COCONUT DIET

COULD coconut oil be the magic ingredient to supercharge your metabolism? Cherie and John Calbom certainly think so, saying it ''has worked for many people - when nothing else would''.

They suggest that adding two to three tablespoons of coconut oil to a sensible low-carb eating plan will encourage your body to burn fat faster, and may even help lower cholesterol and improve conditions such as diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome and digestive disorders, enhance thyroid production and increase overall energy.

The 21-day plan promises weight loss of 10lbs or more, with lots of water, lean protein, vegetables and the all-important virgin coconut oil. This should be followed by a four-week 'cleansing' programme before healthy carbs are slowly re-introduced.

l The Coconut Diet: The Secret Ingredient or Effortless Weight Loss by Cherie Calbom and John Calbom (HarperCollins, £5.99)

THE PAUL MCKENNA DIET

HYPNOTIST Paul McKenna says the mind is like a computer and the secret to successful weight loss is 're-programming' it to avoid common pitfalls like loss of motivation and cravings for high-fat foods, snacks or second helpings.

Accompanied by a 'mind-programming CD', Paul's system aims to break these bad habits by providing techniques to help you to take control of your willpower, and encourages you to eat when you're hungry, enjoy every mouthful and stop when you're full.

Celebrity devotees include newsreader Kirsty Young.

l Paul McKenna Can Make You Thin by Paul McKenna (Bantam, £9.99). Available from January 20.

THE FRENCH DIET

WHILE some diets insist on taking the fun out of food, Mireille Guiliano has stepped forward with an 'anti-diet', a good-humoured lifestyle guide that aims to teach us how to enjoy life - and, most importantly, food.

Abandoning punishing health regimes in favour of eating a wide variety of balanced, pleasurable meals, you're encouraged to study your old eating habits for three weeks, then spend three months tinkering with portion size and a wide variety of foods and recipes to find out what suits your body.

The third phase involves stabilising your eating pattern and the final stage encourages you to stick with eating and living habits that suit your tastes and metabolism for life.

l French Women Don't Get Fat by Mireille Guiliano (Chatto & Windus, £12)

THE HOLFORD DIET

BALANCING blood sugar is the key to successful weight loss, according to Patrick Holford, a nutritional expert who's used his scientific knowledge to devise a plan that aims to increase energy levels and decrease appetite.

Based on the latest medical and nutritional research, the programme includes a full weight loss diet and exercise plan, snack suggestions and motivating case-studies, with plenty of science to explain how certain foods - for example kippers, seeds and oats - can re-programme your body to burn fat away.

l The Holford Diet by Patrick Holford (Piatkus, £7.99)

76-BITES-A-DAY DIET

IF controlling the amount you eat is your major stumbling block, the 76-bites-a-day diet could prove useful.

Known as DietDirectives, the plan was developed by US dietician Meredith Luce, who claims that sticking to the correct number of bites each day will help shrink your stomach and normalise your metabolism, while reducing your calorie intake.

While most foods are allowed - including steak and pasta - breakfast and snacks shouldn't be more than 16 bites and lunch and dinner 22 bites each. Three times a week, you're also allowed either a glass of wine or three bites of pudding and are advised to chew each mouthful at least ten times.

l To subscribe to the 21-day programme, visit www.dietdirectives.com. Membership costs $29.

THE TRAFFIC LIGHT DIET

WITH all foods split into one of three categories: green for go; amber - go carefully; red - stop and think, this diet is even suitable for children.

With no foods banned, all you have to do is find out which foods fall into which category, then choose most of your food from the green list, some from the amber group and just a few (small portions) from the red.

This encourages a high consumption of low calorie, high nutrient foods which, when teamed with moderate exercise, should lead to a healthy, steady weight loss that's easy to keep up long-term.

* The Traffic Light Diet by Judith Wills (Orion, £6.99).

l Eating Owt will be back next week