Book excerpt: A witty and practical guide to losing weight, or just looking like you did, with 365 tips for a healthier, slimmer appearance every day of the year -- the perfect impulse buy. The first and most important secret in Carole Bodger's The Little Book of Dirty Diet Tricks is that looking good while you're getting thin is just as important as losing the pounds, and in this down-to-earth, often hilarious guide, she shows you exactly how to achieve your weight-loss goals and keep your spirit up by looking fabulous and feeling thin until the real thing kicks in. Whether you are overweight and struggling with never-ending diets, or just trying to shed the five pounds you gained on vacation, this book offers a year's worth of the sanest, healthiest, most tried-and-true weight-loss tips around, plus straightforward strategies for looking slimmer throughout the process, from clothing and makeup techniques to posture improvements. Learn to modify your habits (substitute a Fig Newton for an Oreo); discover new ways to get a little exercise (powerwalk to the mailbox); and have some fun along the way (eat everything with chopsticks.) The 50 million Americans who diet each year know that losing weight can seem like an endless journey; the hundreds of specific, easy-to-use suggestions found here will shorten the trip.