When the alarm goes off at 6 a.m., your first instinct may not be to work those abs. Yet five minutes of high intensity core work, first thing in the morning, will trim inches from your waist. "It speeds your metabolism for the rest of the day," says Len Glassman, owner of Personal Best Training Center and creator of FITness FUNdamentals DVD.
Two slimming moves we like: Hold a plank, with your back straight and tummy pulled in, and sustain the position for 15 seconds if you're a beginner, 30 seconds if you're intermediate, and one minute if you're advanced. Another option is to lie on your back, draw your knees into your chest -- keeping your back flat on the floor -- and squeeze your knees and the insides of your feet touching. Now twist your hips back and forth, from side to side, while keeping your knees and feet squeezed together. Beginners can do 10 to 20 reps; intermediates: 25 to 50; advanced: 50-plus. In both, the key is to shorten your contractions and isolate your lower abs as much as possible.
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Make the Most of Your Time
We've all heard that it's good to be as active as you can with everyday activities -- park far away from the grocery store, take the stairs at work -- but what if you went even further and turned those already-helpful everyday activities into interval training? "Intervals keep your heart rate going for maximum burn, and studies show that it's much more effective than steady state cardio for fat burning," says Kristin McGee, celebrity yoga and fitness expert. Two ideas:
1. When brushing your teeth in the morning and before bed, do 50 squats both times, as quickly as you can without dribbling toothpaste all over your bunny slippers. Though brushing and squatting might take some practice, form here is key. "Sit back in an imaginary chair and be sure your knees don't go past your toes," McGee says. "Stand back up squeezing your glutes."
2. When yapping on the phone, do heel raises. Stand with your feet in ballet first position, heels together and toes turned out, and rise to your toes and then lower down. Do this every time you get a call, or even if you find yourself stuck in a bank or grocery line. "Heel raises are discreet, and you can do them throughout the day, all day long." She suggests 20 reps, five times a day.
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Switch from Sauces to Spices
Opting for cayenne pepper over ketchup, or a chili powder rub over BBQ sauce, can do wonders for weight loss. "Spices work with the body naturally, whereas sauces can work against it," says Ashley Koff, RD, award winning dietitian and co-author of "Mom Energy." Sauces deliver a bummer triple whammy: They typically have too much sodium, sugar, and artificial ingredients. Spices, on the other hand, help you burn fat from within.
"They warm you on the inside, and they can act as a metabolic aid, fight bad bacteria, and cleanse the body," says Koff. In a recent Purdue study, researchers found that when red cayenne pepper was eaten, rather than taken as a supplement, participants burned more calories.
Add it to egg whites, lamb kabobs, marinara sauce, or chicken tacos. You won't even miss the old stuff, says Koff. "Sauces typically cover the taste of food, but spices enhance it."
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Cut the Sugar from Your Drinks
Cutting sugary drinks are a simple way to lose a quick 5 pounds, since sugar is hidden in a lot of surprising beverages -- including milks, non-dairy milks (like almond and soy), and juices (fruit and veggie). Fructose, lactose, cane syrup, corn syrups, agave, honey -- in excess, they all contribute to weight gain, especially belly fat. To reduce your sugar load, Koff suggests going from a large to small latte, replace bottled lemonade and sweetened iced tea with green juice with lemon and ginger, and choose flavored waters like Hint Water and Ayala's Herbal Water, which get their taste from herb and fruit essences, over Vitamin Waters full of added flavors and sugars.
Cutting sugar impacts your metabolism's efficiency, since excess sugar gets stored as fat -- especially around your middle, says Koff. It also affects hormone function and impairs digestion. Though you're saving yourself calories by losing the sweet stuff, Koff says this is more about optimizing metabolic function, since the body will use what it's taking in as energy and not store it as fat. The goal is not to replace your sugars with artificial, non-caloric sweeteners, of course, but if you must add oomph to your morning joe or tea, organic Stevia or Xylitol is fine.
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Split Meals with Yourself
When it's time to eat, most of us pack more calories into a meal than we need. Koff suggests splitting your meals into mini-meals consumed every three hours during the day. This way, Koff says you'll give your body the fuel it needs for optimal energy, without extra that can be stored as fat.
If only I could lose 5 pounds by Friday.
So goes the all-too-common refrain, often overheard in dressing rooms, ladies restrooms, and spin classes galore — or, let's face it, anywhere there's a mirror and a captive female listener who'll pretend to care.
It's not like we're obsessed with being something we're not, but a flatter belly or looser jeans asap would definitely come in handy for an impromptu beach weekend or party where we expect to see an ex. The thing is, most of us don't think it's possible to look 5 pounds thinner that fast. But here's a shocker: It's do-able. And you don't need to go on some long-term, healthy foods diet to lose weight that quickly.
Don't just take our word for it. Our favorite experts say that depending on your body type, it's realistic to drop 5 pounds in five days -- or at least lose enough water weight, or trim enough inches, to make it look like you have, which is all that really matters. Best of all, none of the following ways to look skinnier involve crash dieting, funky pills, or hunger pangs that'll make you run for the nearest vending machine at 4 p.m.
Instead, these tips involve eating good-for-you foods, staying adequately hydrated, exercising for a reasonable amount of time, and breathing deeply — all stuff that we should be doing anyway to help our bodies thrive in the midst of our stressful, busy, and emotionally exhausting lives (funny how these are the factors that contribute to a lot of weight gain in the first place). And while each tip is designed to make an impact on its own, combining a few of these can only help you lose weight more quickly.
So put down that diet soda and get a jump on sliding into those skinny jeans by Friday. Here's how.
