Beat the Bulge In Time to Bare


The pressure is on. Halloween is 24 hours away and despite your monthly mantra that you will lose five pounds by ____, the weight hasn't come off and you have a very tight Tinkerbell costume to fit into by tomorrow.

Unfortunately weight loss isn't magic and you won't be able to drop any actual poundage overnight. But don't fret, what you can drop is water weight and I have a few tricks to tighten your waist by the witching hour.

Right Now:

Drop that Sugar-free Latte! Sugar alcohols and artificial sweeteners cause bloating, and will make your belly bulge out. Opt for a green tea today (which supposedly speeds up metabolism) or chamomile tea (which reduces bloating). Stay away from carbonated beverages as well like soda (even diet) and energy drinks, which will also blow up your belly.

Drink a TON of water. "When you drink an inadequate amount of water, your body feels that there is deficiency of water outside. As a result, the body goes under starvation mode, and stores water in its cells for future use. The over storage of water, because of any reason, makes you look bulky and heavy."-Kalpana Kumari, M.Sc. Biotechnology

Avoid Salt. Common products with excess sodium are: soups (average 30% daily value), processed meats (deli turkey: about 15% a serving), and simple carbs (white bread: 9% a slice). Salt causes the body to retain water= bloating.


Tonight:

Get a Spray Tan. If the claustrophobic booth and the toxic smell isn't your thing just grab a bottle of the D.I.Y. at CVS and you can adjust your glow to your liking. On the lighter side, a little bronzer dusted in the right places can turn your tummy into a six pack in no time :) Additionally, Sally Hansen makes a nice last minute touch-up called Spray On-Legs that, well, you get it!

Don't Eat Three Hours Prior to Bed. Your body doesn't digest food as efficiently while you are sleeping so don't eat before bed or you will wake up with undigested food in your stomach which once again, causes bloating.

Go to Bed Early. Stress and lack of sleep can also surprisingly lead to bloating, so get a good night's rest in order to look your best.


Before the Big Night Out:

Eat A Banana. Potassium is a diuretic and can help rid the body of the sodium that causes water retention. But eat it alone. When fruits are eaten alone, they digest faster than when combined with fat or protein and won't have time to ferment in the stomach (which would cause bloating).

Go for a run/jog/brisk walk. Exercise aids your digestive system in eliminating toxins (if you know what I mean). And it will give you a healthy glow :)

Spanx. Worse comes to worse, slip these babies on under your outfit for a very last minute suction savior!



Good Luck Everyone!

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