As the weather warms up and we begin shedding clothing layers, summer becomes a reality and with that so does bathing suit season! So instead of spending another summer under wraps or dreading bathing suit shopping again…follow Bodylogixs tips below and get bikini ready FAST! A few diet tweaks and a regular workout regimen should do the trick.
Avoid white flour: White flour, white rice, white potatoes, chips (the list goes on and on) are all stripped of nutrients and fiber which allows them to convert to sugar quickly in your body. All sugar that isn’t burned gets stored as fat. Therefore switch to whole grain bread, brown rice, sweet potatoes, unsweetened oatmeal, high fiber cereal, quinoa, buckwheat and whole wheat pasta.
Increase your fibre: In a recent study, women who consumed more high fibre foods gained less weight over a 12 year period of time. High fibre foods are low in calories, keep you full, require more chewing time and stabilize your blood sugar, all important aspects in weight loss.
Eat your veggies: Naturally high in fibre, low in calories, full of water and bursting with nutrients, veggies are your friend. At each meal make sure veggies fill ½ your plate. One serving of veggies = 1 cup cooked or raw. Try to get at least 2 ½ cups per day!
Say yes to fruit: Craving something sweet? Reach for fruit instead of candy. At only 60 calories per serving and packed full of nutrients you can satisfy that sweet tooth without gaining weight. High fibre choices include: apples, pears and berries. Aim for 2 servings a day which is as simple as eating 1 small apple and 8 large strawberries.
Eat throughout the day: Ideally you should never go longer than 4 hours between meals. In order to keep your metabolism running and hunger at bay you should eat three meals and two snacks daily. Eating regularly will not only prevent you from gaining weight, it will also help you make smart food decisions.
Drink water: Water helps flush out sodium in order to prevent excess bloating and it will also keep your hunger at bay. Many times we confuse hunger and thirst, so the next time you think you’re hungry, drink a calorie free glass of water, wait 10 minutes and then reevaluate your hunger. Aim for 8 glasses per day.
Quit the clean plate club: Next time you go out to eat, try this. Leave over half of your meal. It might sound crazy but restaurant portions are usually 6x the proper portion sizes! That adds up to a lot of additional calories, which equals additional pounds. Start this new habit today and watch the pounds melt off.
Fill up on antioxidant rich foods: Foods including fruits, veggies and whole grains are full antioxidants which studies show help prevent wrinkles, skin cancer and aging. If you want to look good in that bathing suit try to eat 2 servings of fruit and at least 3 cups of vegetables a day!
Skip the salt: Salt causes all types of disease and it also wreaks havoc on your skin. Too much salt can cause bloating, puffy eyes and even swollen ankles. Who needs that when you’re trying to look good in a bikini? When dining out, don’t add salt to your food, it’s already been added in the restaurant kitchen and when dining in, use low sodium products and remove the saltshaker from the table.
Enjoy natural diuretics: The week before your first trip to the beach start adding in foods that are natural diuretics such as asparagus, cucumber, celery and dandelion tea. They’ll help to flush excess water out of your body while keeping you full on minimal calories without preservatives!