Whether you are gearing up for bathing suit season or for a special event, many will look for a quick fix to shed pounds fast. But dietician Tanya Zuckerbrot says crash dieting is simply the wrong way to do it.
"I am completely against crash diets, and that’s because crash diets are a short term solution to a life-long problem. Sure, you’ll lose some weight on a crash diet, but you're not going to keep it off," she says.
So if you want to drop a few pounds and quick what to do? Zuckerbrot has a few suggestions:
"Instead of focusing on what you have to cut out, focus on what you have to add in. Because by adding in fiber to you’re diet, you’re going to feel full throughout the day, your energy is going to be consistent." She adds: "If you’re looking to drop anywhere between five and seven pounds, I would recommend starting two weeks before that date. In two weeks, you can safely and effectively lose around five pounds."
But if you are looking to lose more than 10 pounds, give your self at least a month.
“Cut out all refined carbs from you diet, which are basically carbohydrates that get digested very rapidly which tend to increase your hunger and cause to overeat. You want to avoid anything that contains a lot of sugar. You might want to cut back on milk and yogurt products for those last two weeks. And lastly, obviously, cut back on the fried foods. They're loaded with access fat and calories.”
Also: "Stay hydrated. And that’s because the symptoms of dehydration, mimic the symptoms of hunger. When you’re dehydrated, you feel weak, and shaky, and tired and cranky and you might think, I need to eat something to feel better, when in fact a zero calorie glass of water would have done the trick. "
Lots water will help flush out all that fiber you'll be adding to your diet she says.
"So think clean. Think fruits, vegetables, whole grains, drink lots of water and you’ll be looking good in a bikini."