Certain foods are guaranteed to bloat your body and Kirsch says to avoid these for a couple weeks leading up to your bathing suit debut. Steer clear of "dairy, regular and diet soft drinks, sports drinks, and excessive fruit and instead stick to greens like spinach, broccoli, kale, and asparagus (a natural diuretic), as well as snacks like raw almonds, red peppers, and celery," he says. Oh, and hydrate with water and teas only.
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Remember, all calories aren't created equal
One of the biggest mistakes women trying to slim down make is treating every calorie the same. Many women think the calories from say, a granola bar, are going to be processed by the body the same way the calories from a chicken breast are. This is not true, says Kirsch. When you are trying to loose weight "skip processed carbs and excessive fruit or fat. Stick to nutrient-rich, quality calories such as chicken, quinoa and vegetables," he says.
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Schedule a facial
According to celebrity esthetician and skin care expert Ren�e Rouleau, women need to get facials at least four times a year -- that's once at the start of each new season in order to remove dry skin, correct discoloration and brown spots, and most importantly, stimulate cell renewal for a fresh face, says Rouleau. So if you haven't had a facial since winter, it's time.
If you can't get to a spa to get one done, make sure you are giving yourself mini at-home facials on a regular basis: Step 1: Start by washing skin with a mild cleanser.
Step 2: Use a facial exfoliant to remove dead and dry skin cells. Try Eraclea Daily Bamboo Exfoliant, $40.
Step 3: Immediately follow with a few drops of a skin-repairing serum, then apply a thin coat of a clarifying mask to your entire face and neck. The mask will help the serum penetrate deeper into your skin. Try Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, $21.
Step 4: Leave on 10 to 15 minutes, and use a warm wash cloth to gently clean off your face. Finish by applying your favorite moisturizer.
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Ward off breakouts
If you have oily skin, summer can be the worst time to try to keep breakouts at bay, as sweating aggravates acne and leads to pimples on the body and face, says dermatologist Heidi Waldorf. She recommends treating mild to moderate facial acne with retinoids and benzoyl peroxide, which you can get from your doctor or in some drugstore brands. Other ingredients to look for: zinc sulfate, tea tree, caffeine, and niacinamide, which will all work to slow oil production. See the highest-rated acne fighters here.
With your body on full display, you're going to want to have smooth, hydrated skin, which means taking care of any dry, cracked or rough patches with a little TLC. This means paying extra attention to your knees, elbows, heels and hands.
Start this process in the shower by applying a super moisturizing body wash like Dove VisibleCare Creme Body Wash with NutriumMoisture, $7.99. Lather it over your body with a loofah to gently exfoliate and hydrate skin at the same time. Once you're out of the shower, rub a lotion all over and add a couple of drops of body oil like L'Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil, $34, which works to repair the hydrolipidic barrier of the skin and really sink into those rough patches (knees, elbows, etc.) So you get glowing -- fast.
So the jig's up and most of us have finally realized, and begrudgingly accepted, that we will not be frolicking on the beach in a thong bikini this summer.
Sad? Eh, maybe if you (and your metabolism) are stuck in the '80s. Otherwise, you should know that you don't need a starvation plan -- or a sarong wrapped over your butt -- to feel confident in your body and sexy in a swimsuit this season.
That's right, you heard us. It's time to retire the Montego Bay seahorse sarong. Sorry, but come on -- it's really only hiding your self-esteem. You won't need that cover-up anyway, because with insider secrets from David Kirsch (celebrity trainer to the fittest and most fabulous stars) on how to quickly de-bloat and shed a few pounds, coupled with the best summer skin tips for glowing, bronzed skin, you're going to want to flaunt every inch of your body.
