Do you exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet, but still shy away from throwing on the ol' bikini? When you reach for a coverup, do you prefer one that hides, well…pretty much everything? Have no fear; I'm here to help. Today I'm sharing a few dietary tips to help you avoid last-minute puffiness, so you can get a bikini-ready body in no time.
Cutting the following items from your diet for a short period of time won't necessarily cause you to lose weight. However, you will shed excess water and eliminate bloating, which means you'll look leaner and better in your swimsuit!
Eliminate these 5 foods at least a week before donning a bikini to help eliminate puffiness. #diettips #healthyliving Share on X
5 Foods to Eliminate for a Bikini-Ready Body
In order to get a bikini ready body in a hurry, you'll need to eliminate these 5 items from your diet completely, at least a week prior to the big day.
1. Salt
Salt is the ultimate enemy when you're trying to appear leaner, because excess salt causes you to retain water. [1] When that happens, you'll appear puffier. (Think Pillsbury Dough Boy. Not the effect one typically strives for in a bikini, right?)
Cut your salt intake by not adding any extra salt to your food — hide your salt shaker if necessary — and by cutting out as many processed foods as possible. Deli meats and canned soups are foods many assume are healthy, but they actually contain high amounts of sodium. Check the label on all processed foods and avoid any with high sodium levels. Even better, just stick to fresh, whole foods!
2. Carbonated Drinks
You probably know this by now, but soda has no redeeming health qualities. It's particularly bad if you want to look good in a bikini, because the carbonation in soda can cause unnecessary belly bulge. Do your body a favor and ditch the soft drinks for good!
While you're at it, cut out sparkling water, beer, champagne, and anything else bubbly a week prior to donning a two-piece.
3. Sugar
High levels of sugar can cause you to gain weight over time, but did you know fructose and sorbitol — sweeteners found naturally in many fruits and veggies — can cause bloating? [2] Avoid eating fruits high in these sugars, such as peaches, oranges, apples, and pears.
Some veggies, such as onions and artichokes, also contain fructose. Don't give up these healthy items for good, just try limiting them in the week prior to a bathing suit event.
TIP: While you're at it, you should also skip items containing high-fructose corn syrup, such as sodas (again), juice, and many types of cereal.
4. Gum
While it may seem like a good idea to keep your mouth occupied with gum so you won't stuff it with fattening foods, that isn't always the case. Gum often contains sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, both mentioned above as a no-no. Plus, when you're chewing gum, you're swallowing air…and that causes bloating. You may want to avoid using straws for the same reason.
5. Raffinose
What is raffinose, you may ask? It's another type of sugar naturally occurring in many foods, but it is also known to cause bloating. The most common culprits are beans, broccoli, asparagus, cabbage, and kale.
They're great foods to have in your diet — just not the week before you want to appear lean and mean in your bikini.
I hope these tips help you feel a little more confident when the time comes to rock a bikini. After all…confidence is the best accessory a girl can own! Please let me know in the comments if you have any questions.