Get a Better Body in 2 Weeks

Holiday just days away? Use these tips to get bikini ready fast.

By Caitlin Gaffey

LOSE WEIGHT
Yes, you can eat! Juice detoxes may be a fashionable way to lose weight quickly, but “an intelligent approach to streamlining your diet is just as effective,” says L.A. nutrition expert Jackie Keller, who works with Charlize Theron. “Plus, if you’re eating real food, you can think, exercise, and be around people while dieting.” Key guidelines:

• Cut out alcohol, soda (carbonation causes bloating), chemical sweeteners (even those in gum, which may cause gas and cramps), white flour, excess salt, red meat, saturated fat, and processed foods. Limit yourself to one cup of coffee a day.

• Replace refined carbohydrates like white bread, white rice, and sugar with whole-grain brown rice, oatmeal, or wheat bread. “Never cut out carbohydrates completely,” explains Keller. “If you don’t have a sustained energy source, your body will burn muscle for energy.”

• Start drinking green tea and tossing dandelion greens into your salads. Both are natural diuretics. Broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower can cause bloating, so nosh on asparagus, cucumbers, and celery instead.

• Scale back. Portion size is key to weight loss. Try downsizing your dinnerware. Put the same portion of food onto a smaller plate, and you may feel more satisfied.