If your holiday festivities included an abundance of pigs in blankets and mince pies, you might find yourself welcoming 2026 with snugger clothes and a few extra pounds clinging to your hips.

Research routinely reveals that the festive season often leads to a slight weight gain for many. One survey involving 1,000 participants indicated that 48 percent reported gaining up to seven pounds, with another 8 percent putting on as much as 14 pounds. Without proactive measures, this seasonal indulgence can gradually lead to more significant weight issues.

To counteract this, you could rely on sheer determination, pledging to reduce your calorie intake gradually and consistently to see a drop in those scale numbers over time.

Alternatively, you might feel inclined to revisit or even start using weight-loss injections, perhaps considering a dosage increase if their appetite-curbing effects seem diminished.

Yet another strategy involves diving into a quick yet healthy weight-loss regimen, potentially helping you shed those extra pounds within a fortnight.

Whichever way you choose, there’s always something to help you turbo-charge your weight-loss.

Whether you’re taking the jabs or not, these are the very principles of getting to your ideal weight and staying there and re-setting good dietary habits for maximum health.

TURBO TIP 1: Use the power of protein and fibre

Protein in the form of meat, fish, tofu and legumes should be your first priority at every meal, with fibre in the form of vegetables or salad making up the rest of the plate.

‘Protein and fibre provide the bulk of the nutrients your body needs for optimal health,’ says Dr Clare Bailey Mosley, who worked closely with her husband, the late Dr Michael Mosley, on formulating their pioneering Fast800 plan.

‘If you keep away from refined carbohydrates (such as white bread, cakes and biscuits), your body will go into a natural state of ketosis where it burns fat for fuel, and many people report feeling brighter, lighter and clearer-headed without feeling hungry,’ she adds.

If you’re taking weight-loss jabs, adequate protein in the diet is essential to help protect against muscle loss, and fibre is packed with both the nutrients and roughage you need to offset the way the medication can slow your digestive system.

TURBO TIP 2: Apply calorie control

Whether you’re on the jabs or not, putting an 800-1000 calories a day limit on your meals is a way of offsetting the ‘portion creep’ that can see us eating far more food than we need.

The metabolic advantage of this calorie limit is, according to Dr Bailey Mosley, the way it nudges the body into a ‘fasting’ mode which triggers a highly beneficial process of cellular repair.

‘For rapid weight-loss you can stick to 800-1,000 calories a day for two to four weeks, as long as it is safe for you to do so,’ she says. ‘Then you can relax a little by eating slightly more over a long weekend and going back to the “fasting” protocol for two or more consecutive days during the week.’

This degree of flexibility also works well if you’re on the jabs – allowing you a few days of more relaxed eating as the suppression effect of each weekly jab begins to wear off.

TURBO TIP 3: Shut the kitchen early

Reducing your eating window to ten or even eight hours a day can be a powerfully effective way to turbo-charge weight-loss whether you’re on the jabs or not.

‘Studies show our bodies prefer us to front-load the day, eating most of our calories at lunchtime so there’s plenty of time for effective digestion during the afternoon,’ explains Dr Bailey Mosley. 

‘But one great advantage of setting a daily time limit on meals is that it stops evening snacking.

‘Any grazing or nibbling you do in the evening is regarded by the body as “feast eating” and that food is much more likely to be stored as fat,’ she says.

That’s because our biological clock is geared to expect fasting and repair at night, so insulin sensitivity rises and hormone levels change. 

This means food eaten in the evening is more likely to trigger a spike in blood sugar levels and without muscle activity to soak up excess glucose, it is more likely to be diverted into fat storage than if eaten during the day.

The process starts to shift at around 6pm, with the body firmly establishing ‘night time mode’ by 9pm, and is more pronounced with age – particularly for women after midlife as muscle mass declines and insulin sensitivity worsens.

TURBO TIP 4: Drink water, not booze

Take advantage of the reduction in pester power that comes with ‘Dry January’ to give your body a break from alcohol.

Alcoholic drinks provide ‘empty’ (zero nutrition) calories and the alcohol interferes with the fat burning process, making it more likely that those calories are stored as fat.

Increasing your intake of water will speed the weight-loss process, explains Dr Bailey Mosley: ‘When you are in fat-burning mode, your body will excrete more fluid than normal and, if you don’t drink enough water each day, you can very easily become dehydrated and constipated,’ she says.

This can be a particular problem if you’re taking weight-loss jabs which can suppress thirst cues as well as hunger cues.

TURBO TIP 5: Boost GLP production

One clever way to turbo-charge your weight-loss if you’re not taking medication, or if you feel your jabs aren’t working as well as they once did, is to take steps to boost your body’s natural GLP production.

The active ingredients in the weight-loss jabs – tirzepatide in Mounjaro and semaglutide in Wegovy – work by mimicking a hormone which the body produces naturally when we eat.

The hormone, known as glucagon-like peptide, or GLP, is released by the gut and sends a signal to the brain that we are full. In addition, it slows down the passage of food through the digestive system, keeping us feeling fuller for longer.

Although even the lowest starter dose of the jabs will contain far more GLP than our bodies can naturally produce, this natural appetite curbing effect is worth tapping into.

According to Ian Marber, a nutritional therapist and author of The GLP-1 Handbook, the key is eating certain food groups in specific combinations. This, says Marber, can encourage your cells to produce GLP which naturally quells appetite.

‘GLP is released by specific cells in the lower part of the digestive system called L cells, in response to the presence of food and nutrients,’ he explains. ‘Although the L cells will release GLP whatever food is present, they respond especially well firstly to fat, then fibre and carbohydrates, and lastly proteins.’

For max GLP, he suggests simply ensuring there’s a little fat, fibre, carbohydrate and protein in everything you eat. ‘This may sound fiddly, but it is really quite easy,’ he says.

‘Greek yoghurt with berries and almonds works well, as there’s fat and protein in the yoghurt and the almonds (which also contain fibre) while the berries offer more fibre and carbs.

Similarly, you might have a rye cracker with nut butter or some smoked salmon as a snack, mixing food groups to tick all the boxes.’

As the GLP naturally produced by your L cells doesn’t last very long, Ian Marber recommends eating a little something every two and half to three hours during the day: ‘This helps top up energy and glucose levels but also triggers another dose of GLP,’ he explains.

These GLP-boosting snacks don’t need to be very big. For example, try eating half an apple and two Brazil nuts or a teaspoon of almond butter and a few raspberries.

Rapid weight-loss is not suitable for everyone. Consult your doctor if you have any doubts or medical concerns.

How to reset if you are on the jabs 

In the run up to Christmas, many jabbers may have taken a ‘jab break’, either skipping a week, reducing their dose or extending the space between doses to allow leeway to eat and drink more than their medication might normally allow.

You might now be regretting it and plan to re-start a jab programme or bump up your dose in a bid to get back on track.

It is best to discuss your plans with your provider (your doctor or pharmacy).

‘If you’ve taken a short break of around a week, it is usually safe to return to the same dose you were previously on or step back down one dose if you were experiencing intolerable side effects before the break,’ says GP and GLP-1 expert, Dr Crystal Wyllie, who works at online pharmacy, Zava (zavamed.com). If you’ve had more than a two-week gap, she warns against going straight back to your highest dose.

‘You are at increased risk of severe and potentially long-lasting side effects,’ she says, recommending going back to the starting dose and gradually working your way back up again. Most pharmacists will be happy to discuss your medication.

The GLP-1 medications are licensed to be used for weight maintenance, so as long as you can prove you have been on a GLP-1 journey, you shouldn’t have trouble getting a new prescription, even if your new weight no longer meets the original eligibility criteria (a BMI of 30, or 27 with additional health concerns).

A break might provide a chance to save some cash and switch from Mounjaro to Wegovy, which is some 30 per cent cheaper. Although the appetite suppressing effect and side-effects profile of the two GLP-1 formulations is similar, the dose is calculated differently. Speak to a pharmacist.

Exclusive recipes from the fast800 diet plan

One tried-and-trusted route to weight loss – whether you’re on jabs or not – is the Fast800 plan which was originally pioneered by the much-missed Daily Mail columnist, Dr Michael Mosley.

The plan is very simple: eat a low-ish carbohydrate, Mediterranean-style diet, sticking to 800-1,000 calories a day, focusing on protein, fibre and healthy fats to keep you feeling full and to silence cravings.

The Mail has been given exclusive access to recipes and meal plans from thefast800.com initial rapid weight-loss phase. The recipes and meal plans have been crafted to deliver a minimum of 60g of protein and 20-30g of fibre a day – all under 800-1,000 calories, making them a healthy choice whether you’re taking weight loss jabs or not.

Breakfast: Portobello toast with spinach and egg 

(Serves one, 235 cals)

Ingredients: 

2 portobello mushrooms, stalks removed

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 large free range egg

100g spinach leaves

¼ tsp ground paprika

1. Turn the grill to high. Place the mushrooms on a baking tray, drizzle with oil and season with salt and black pepper. Place under the grill for 8 minutes.

2. In a saucepan, soft boil the eggs in a small pan of boiling water for 5 minutes then drain and run under cold water. Peel and half.

3. Flip the mushrooms under the grill and continue to cook for 5 minutes, until they are cooked through.

4. Meanwhile, place the spinach in a small pan with a splash of water and cook on medium heat until it has wilted. Drain and sprinkle with paprika.

5. Divide the spinach and egg between the two mushrooms.

Lunch: Greek salad with beans 

(Serves one, 319 cals)

Ingredients: 

1 tsp olive oil

1 tsp red wine vinegar

¼ tsp dried oregano

½ x 400g tin cannellini beans

40g feta cheese, cubed

60g cherry tomatoes, halved

50g cucumber, diced

¼ red onion, diced

10g olives, diced

1. Make a dressing by mixing the olive oil, vinegar and oregano with a little salt and pepper.

2. If eating immediately, combine all the remaining ingredients and pour over the dressing.

Dinner: Broccoli and cheddar soup 

(Serves one, 374 cals)

Ingredients: 

½ broccoli, chopped

½ broccoli, chopped

½ leek, chopped

¼ courgette, chopped

250ml vegetable stock

40ml whipping cream

40g cheddar cheese

Sea salt and black pepper

1. Place the broccoli, leek and courgette in a saucepan and pour in the vegetable stock. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until the vegetables are tender. Stir in the cream and cheese and set aside to cool.

2. Using a hand blender or food processor, blend until the soup becomes smooth.

3. Rewarm the soup over medium heat for 2 minutes or until heated through. Add a little hot water if you want to adjust the consistency.

4. Season with salt and pepper and serve.