The post-Christmas rush to the gym peters out during the February winter doldrums, but with spring around the corner we find ourselves wanting to drop a few pounds and clean our system of cheap Valentine chocolates.

Weight loss solutions may come and go, but one method, the diet cleanse, has regained attention and popularity lately. It is chosen by people who want to lose weight quickly or purge their bodies of toxins. Unfortunately, there are a myriad of products and diet cleanse plans to choose from leaving many wondering which regimes are healthy or even safe. You need to keep some key points in mind when selecting the safest and most effective ways to cleanse:

1. Understand Cleansing Basics

The human body is an amazing machine with the ability to purge environmental toxins naturally and automatically. There is really no scientific description for a cleanse and products on the market do not adhere to any medical backing. Basically, a cleanse is a marketing term coined for nutritional supplements that offer extra support for those looking to rid their system of toxins. Still, like many non-traditional medical solutions, diet cleanses can have a place in healthy living.

2. Why Do a Cleanse?

It is important to cleanse for the right reasons. The majority of diet cleanses are done for fat flushing and fast weight loss. The results are usually a let down and can set a dieter up for failure. Some use the cleanse as a way to erase over indulgence. January is one of the most profitable months for health food stores catering to clientèle longing to undo acts of holiday gluttony. The best reason for a diet cleanse is to get on the right track. A nutritious cleanse can be a great way to jump start a poor diet with essential vitamins and antioxidants. Fiber-rich fruit and vegetables are an integral component to a healthy cleanse and will aid the body in elimination.

3. Effectiveness Depends on You

Most people look to a diet cleanse to aid in weight loss but these plans are not a cure-all solution; instead they offer a way to wean you into healthier living. The most successful plans are those that consider an individual's lifestyle and personal goals.

4. Can You Stick With It?

A successful plan is one that adheres to a natural eating schedule with familiar foods. A popular diet cleanse looks at the main culprits for illness and obesity. Sugar, fat and refined flour are replaced with healthy alternatives. White bread sandwiches are replaced with multigrain slices and anemic canned vegetables move over for fresh organic produce. Although these changes in diet seem easy to accomplish, the truth is that unhealthy foods can be difficult to give up.

5. You Can Do It

If the plan makes you cringe or seems too drastic, the rate of success will probably be pretty low. Eating healthy can initially take a little more time than buying fast food, but with planning it can easily be incorporated into the busiest of schedules. You don't have to haul your juicer and a pound of produce into the lunch room; it can be a simple as bringing a salad. The best laid plans are those that can be followed without making your life more stressful.

6. Just Tell Me What to Do

There are a huge variety of cleansing plans out there and some verge on being a bit creepy so here's an easy solution. Fat Smash Diet offers a complete 90-day program that starts with a nine day detox slowly adding more to the menu as the weeks move on. At first the program can be a bit of a stretch, especially if eating bread is a religious experience. Overall though, it offers the highest chance for successful weight loss, health, or whatever else may be feeding your need to cleanse.

Have you ever tried a diet cleanse? Tell us your story!

by Vivian Nelson-Melle