6
Tricks to Drop Up to 5 Pounds in 3 Week
1. Drink
Mainly Water
A sports
or energy drink, fruit smoothie, or light beer — each serving contains about
100 calories. Yet these beverages don't satisfy you the way 100 calories of
food does, so they're a waste. Other liquids may be high in sodium and
carbohydrates, which trick your body into retaining water, puffing you out.
Water,
on the other hand, has zero calories and carbs and little to no sodium, making
it the perfect slim-down drink. And, strangely, it actually helps flush out
excess water weight as well as jumpstart your metabolism.
If water
is too boring, add lemon wedges or mint leaves using an infuser.
2. Do Cardio 30 Minutes a Day
Any
workout that gets your heart rate up will burn calories. But you'll use more
calories if you pick a cardio routine that engages multiple muscles
simultaneously, says Wendy Larkin, personal-training manager at Crunch's Polk
Street gym, in San Francisco.
Three to
consider: spinning, cardio kickboxing, and boot-camp workouts. Half an hour of
each torches 200 to 300 calories while toning up your arms, legs, and core so
everything appears sleeker and tighter.
You'll
burn even more calories per session if your workout incorporates interval
training: alternating short bursts of intense cardio with slower activity.
Experts aren't sure why it works, but trainers swear by it.
3. Drink Coffee an Hour Before Working
Out
This is
the one exception to the stick-to-water-only rule: Just as a coffee run makes
your morning at work more productive, a pre-exercise cup of java with a splash
of skim milk (about 11 calories) or black (just 5 calories) will energize your
workout, explains Dr. Klauer. "You'll
burn more calories without realizing you're pushing yourself harder."
4. Do 36 Push-Ups and Lunges Every
Other Day
These
gym-class staples will help sculpt muscle, so you'll sport a more streamlined
appearance. Do three sets of 12 of each exercise every other day.
"Push-ups target your upper body, while lunges work your butt, hips, and
thighs," says Larkin. Quick tip: Make sure your back and legs remain in a
straight line during your push-ups; it'll improve muscle tone. Also, you can
build even more muscle with the lunges if you hold free weights in each hand
while doing them.
5. Pop an Anti-Gas Pill
Take one
of these chewable tablets, sold over the counter at drugstores, to relieve
bloating in your abdomen and to break up gas bubbles in your digestive tract,
leaving you with a flatter tummy.
6. Do Squats and Sit-Ups
Bodybuilders
use this technique before competitions, because it adds definition to muscle.
Do three sets of 12 of each exercise to tighten your abs, butt, and legs
temporarily.
