“How do I lose weight fast?” This is, hands down, the number one question asked to me by all of my clients who are getting ready for a wedding or some other milestone in the way-too-near future. I’ll tell you the same thing I tell them, but FIRST, you have to promise me that you’ll follow the 5-day rule. Meaning, you should only follow this advice for 5 days in a row, and then go back to being yourself. This is a lose-weight-fast strategy, not a keep-weight-off strategy.
Ok, now that promises are made, here’s how you do it:
The key to losing weight fast is all about being particular about what you do and do not put in your body. The end goal in all of this is to get your body to release extra fluid, and that’s a matter of both what to eat and what not to eat.
What TO Eat: Remember, our goal is to get our body to release extra fluid, which means you’re going to want to pee, a lot. There are certain foods, called diuretics, that help with this. Some examples of naturally diuretic foods include: asparagus, lemon, celery, fresh ginger, cabbage, brussel sprouts, eggplant, garlic, artichokes, raw tomatoes, parsley, apple cider vinegar, and, of course, WATER. Eat/drink lots of these (and never venture too far from a bathroom.)
What NOT to Eat: Stay away from ANY and ALL starchy carbs such as bread, potatoes, crackers...even their healthier counterparts like brown rice and wheat bread. It takes more water to digest grains and starchy carbs, so these are all off-limits. The only grains that you can eat during this period are oats because they are soluble fiber. There I said it - feel free to hate me, I’d hate me too if I just told myself to cut out all carbs. Remember, 5-day rule. We’ll go back to loving our carbs and each other in a week.
One more thing, and this one actually benefits your weight loss journey for the long-run: for 5 days in a row, and for every single thing you eat, leave 2-3 bites on your plate. This not only cuts unneeded calories, but also trains your stomach to desire smaller quantities of food...which is ultimately the key to being lean for life. This technique is easier than you may think, and REALLY makes a difference.
Remember, each of these strategies are only meant to be followed for 5 days at a time, and WILL show results in the short term.