Last Minute Weight Loss Tips

So you’ve taken the plunge and booked a late break in the sun, or maybe you’re making the most of those last rays of sunshine before autumn comes calling? One thing’s for sure, you’ll want to look and feel your best and super fast.

• • Move more This might seem obvious, particularly if you love your exercise anyway, but moving as much as you can before you don your new two piece is one of the best ways to look and feel great. Even if you train regularly you can still make small changes to your everyday routine that will make a difference.
    For example, get off the bus a stop earlier and walk for longer to work. Run up and down the stairs at home instead of walking. Squat when you bend to pick something up and get those glutes super toned. Tense the muscles when you’re standing and get up from chairs without using your hands and arms to engage and tighten core muscles.

• • Ditch sugar Sugar makes you sluggish. It’s the enemy of all dieters causing energy spikes and hormonal problems which make it harder to lose the inches, particularly around the stomach. Try to avoid sugary treats and sweeten drinks with cinnamon instead. It has half the amount of calories per spoonful and is also thought to kick start the metabolism. You’ll notice a difference in a few days!

• • Get into hula hoops We don’t mean the potato snack! Hula hooping is fun and it’s something you can do at home, but more importantly it will help whittle down your waist in no time. This is because you have to engage your core and tighten tummy muscles to keep the hoop suspended. What’s more, 30 minutes hooping can burn around 200 calories. Attempt 20 to 30 minutes every day for a week leading up to your holiday for a trim silhouette!

• • Beat the bloat A couple of days before you bare your bod to the world, avoid carbs like white bread, pasta and rice. Instead choose wholegrain options like quinoa, oats and brown rice. These are high in fibre and will aid digestion which in turn reduces bloating.

• • Body brush Invest in a good body brush and get the circulation flowing. Use brisk upward movements to reduce the appearance of cellulite, whilst tightening and brightening skin. This works particularly well on the thighs and the good news is you’ll start to look and feel better straight away.

• • Avoid gas guzzling Cutting out fizzy drinks is an instant way to gain a flat tum. They contain carbon dioxide, a gas that is released in your stomach causing excess air. Chewing gum is another offender, as is talking whilst eating because you swallow extra air. Take your time with each meal, chewing every mouthful properly to avoid creating gas in the stomach. You’ll also be less likely to overeat if you savour your food this way!

• • Tone and stretch For lithe legs and a slender torso take up body toning exercises, and practice for 20 minutes every day. Choose yoga, Pilates, or tai chi. A few simple stretches to help lengthen limbs and increase flexibility work wonders before you hit the beach!

• • Rev things up Get your metabolism firing on all cylinders and keep super hydrated by drinking three cups of green tea a day. This refreshing cuppa eases digestion immediately relieving a bloated tum and it also has the added effect of revving up your metabolism, which means you’ll lose weight quicker. If you don’t like the taste it also comes in tablet form.

• • Fake the bake! Adding shadows and highlights with fake tan can really make a difference to the way you look and feel in a bikini and it takes no time at all! The key is to create contours by applying a bronzer a couple of shades darker than your normal skin to areas that lack muscle definition. Then apply a highlighter to the bits that are toned, like upper arms and shoulders. Shade either side of your belly button vertically to enhance muscle definition and give the illusion of a flatter tum and beneath the crescents of your bum for a bootilicous lift!

• • Stand tall Want an instant tummy tuck? Check your posture. Standing correctly with your shoulders rolled back, tummy muscles engaged and spine extended can make you look around five lbs lighter! To help, imagine there’s a thread travelling up your spine and out of the top of your head, and it’s tugging you gently upwards. Also imagine tightening a belt around your tummy as you do this, drawing in the stomach muscles.

• • Take a probiotic When there’s an overgrowth of the wrong type of bacteria in your gut, your entire system becomes inflamed and you’re more likely to crave the wrong types of foods. You’ll also suffer from bloating. Taking a probiotic will give you an instant energy boost, soothe digestion and alleviate swelling.

• • Banish booze and go for zest! Alcohol is highly calorific and will dehydrate you rapidly. This causes the body to hold on to every last bit of water, making you look and feel bloated. Instead opt for water with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and drink throughout the day. You’ll feel energised whilst eliminating extra fluid caused by water retention. If you can’t manage it all day, just one glass first thing in the morning will still make a difference.

• • Treat yourself! Getting the bikini body you crave can be fun! Treat yourself to a massage before you hit the beach. It improves circulation and lymphatic drainage, making your skin appear tighter and giving it an instant glow.

• And finally…. When you’re ready to wow in your two piece, make a point of looking in the mirror and reminding yourself how fabulous and fit you are! A happy confident smile is the best bikini accessory.