Health: This detox regime delivers results but it takes an iron will

IN pursuit of the body beautiful I’ve done some fairly tough things. I’ve endured a week-long boot camp and pumped weights until I couldn’t raise my arms without tears coming to my eyes.

I’ve sat at the hairdressers in a chemical haze, and I’ve had the hair on much of my body yanked out with hot wax. But I can honestly say, the biggest challenge to date has been completing a five-day detox programme.

For me, like just about everyone else I know, the festive period took its toll on my sense of propriety, and well into this month I was still rounding off my day with a fistful of Quality Street. Something had to be done.

The Lemon Detox diet is not for the faint-hearted. It’s more of a fast than a diet, as all you are expected to consume over a period of three to ten days is a concoction made of freshly squeezed lemons, Madal Bal Natural Tree Syrup (a blend of maple and palm syrup) and a dash of cayenne pepper. The creators of this programme know how tough it can be, which is why they’ve teamed up with the Blythswood Square Hotel in Glasgow to devise the Lemon Detox Package.

By sequestering myself in this spa hotel for the first couple of days of the diet I was effectively avoiding temptations and allowing a spot of pampering to take the sting out of proceedings. On arrival, my therapist Natalie supplied me with the lemon drink, administered a salt scrub and seaweed wrap and deposited me in the hotel’s incredible spa complex to relax. So far, so pleasant!

On the morning of day two I was feeling pretty ravenous and despondent at the thought of another four days without solids. However, Natalie took my mind off my growling belly for an hour as she gave me a massage with detoxifying oils and provided me with my freshly squeezed breakfast (lunch and dinner).

Many lemon detoxers report feeling rather rough on day two. Withdrawal from caffeine and other “toxic” substances can result in headaches and general poorliness. I felt weak and tired. That night I slept like I was in a coma.

By day three I wasn’t feeling “energised”, as promised. I was foggy-headed, and greatly regretted my decision to return to work. My breakthrough came on day four, when I felt better, and was starting to feel a bit more comfortable in my clothes.

By day five I was almost used to not eating, although I was desperately missing going to the gym. However, things seemed a lot rosier when I got on the scales and discovered that I’d shed 5lbs in five days. Two weeks later, the weight has stayed off, my appetite has shrunk, I’m back at the gym feeling as strong as before and, an unexpected bonus, some IBS-like symptoms I previously suffered from have disappeared. Another boon – even a dry cracker never tasted so good.

• The three-day Lemon Detox Break at Blythswood Square (0141-248 8888, www.blythswoodsquare.com) costs £570pp or £940 for two sharing a room. See also www.lemondetox.com