Your 7-Day Slim Down Plan

You have one week until your beach vacay--here's one tweak you can do every day to look lighter and feel firmer.

SUNDAY
Eliminate Processed Foods
They're easy to get sucked into, yet unsatisfying. "They make you crave more food than your body needs," says Wiatt. If you can't pronounce the ingredients, the food is off-limits. Or hit the produce aisle for foods with no label at all.


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MONDAY
Lay Off The Sauce
Not only are alcoholic drinks dehydrating and high in calories, they also make resisting unnecessary nibbles incredibly difficult. (No shocker here: Studies prove women consume more calories after drinking.)

TUESDAY
Get A Fiber Fix
It may be tempting to nix all carbs, but don't forgo fiber, a proven source of long-lasting satiety. Sprinkle flaxseed onto yogurt or add a few teaspoons of sliced almonds to your salad. If you're really craving carbs, have 1/3 cup fiber-rich quinoa, barley, or brown rice.

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WEDNESDAY
Burn, Baby, Burn
Eating steadily throughout the day feeds the fire of your metabolism and keeps it burning calories at a steady clip. Enormous portions, on the other hand, slow it down. Aim for three small meals (300 to 350 calories each) and two snacks (100 to 150 calories each).

THURSDAY
Banish Bloat
Broccoli, onions, and peppers cause gassiness and bloating. Stick with water-based produce like cucumbers, spinach, and asparagus. Potassium-rich fruits like bananas and oranges also purge retained water.

Your Ultimate Bikini-Body Shape-Up Plan

FRIDAY
Flush It Out
Cells retain water when they don't have enough of it. Down two to three liters (or four to six regular-size bottles) each day. Sip slowly and the water will hit your bloodstream rather than filter out through your liver, so you won't have to pee every five seconds.

BEACH DAY!
Befriend Protein
The Atkins Diet is outmoded, but a healthy, protein-rich breakfast will fill you up and head off unnecessary snacking through this final push. "Try an egg-white scramble packed with veggies," says Wiatt, who makes hers with three whites.

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TELL US: Are you ready for your next trip to the beach?

--By the editors of Women's Health

More from Women's Health:

7 Ways to Fight Your Food Cravings

Is Your Sleep Schedule Making You Gain?

Foods That Make You Do Bad Things


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