Former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher went on a strict diet of eggs to get into shape before her first election victory in 1979, according to documents released Saturday. The now 84-year-old devoured 28 eggs a week, which helped her shed 9 kilogrammes in two weeks. Her diet plan was among thousands of Thatcher-era papers released by her foundation.

The diet included a daily breakfast of grapefruit, one or two eggs, black coffee or clear tea. Two eggs were served in each of her week day lunches, while steak, lamb chops and fish were the staple of most dinners. "She probably thought: 'The cameras are going to be on me the whole time - I'm going to lose some weight'," said Chris Collins of the Margaret Thatcher Foundation.

Copyright Deutsche Presse-Agentur, 2010