Come lunchtime, skip the microwaved food and carb-heavy take-out options and opt for a healthy salad. And to make your lunchtime more bikini ready, make sure you're topping your salad with protein. "Protein dispersed throughout every meal will allow you to keep the blood sugars regulated and thereby allow your body to burn fat for fuel," says Zerling. Salmon, lean turkey meat, chicken breast, or egg whites are all filling options.

If a salad just won't cut it, try redesigning your sandwiches. "Turn your lunchtime sandwich into a healthy wrap, or swap any bread for lettuce, and swap mayo for avocado," suggests Zerling. Ware also suggests branching out from run of the mill iceberg lettuce and adding kale and other vegetables like broccoli and cauliflower.

You can breathe a sigh of relief; the bikini ready diet doesn't require cutting out your caffeine fix. But pay attention to what you're ordering before you start guzzling your healthy diet away. "You may not be aware that your large cappuccino or iced coffee can be setting you back up to 400 calories," warns Ware. "That's like eating two glazed donuts for breakfast! A lot of working professionals crave that caffeine charge to get through the day, so just try changing the way you order your favorite drink. Ask for skim milk and fat free creamer and skip the whipped cream altogether. Try a flavored coffee plain before you add anything to it."

When preparing dinner at home, pair lean proteins like chicken breast, salmon, and white fish with bitter greens. Ware recommends arugula, watercress, broccoli rabe, and kale, as these naturally help with digestion. Then, swap your usual carb-heavy side dishes for healthier options. Try spaghetti squash in place of pasta, or Quinoa or cauliflower in place of white rice, to keep your meals satisfying and filling.

Another quick trick to make any dinner more bikini friendly in a pinch? "Chili pepper flakes," says personal trainer Christine Heggestad. "Add them to your meals to increase your metabolism and
suppress your appetite." She adds that the "capsaicin, an active chemical found in chili
peppers ... activates the same neuronal pathways as fat, sending the signal
to the brain that you are full. Capsaicin also triggers the release of
endorphins and serotonin, which makes the individual feel better both
physically and emotionally."

Your biggest ally in your quest to a bikini bod is something you have everyday: Water. "Yup, plain water," says Zerling. "The more water you drink, the more your cells flush out toxins, allowing for a better conduit for nutrient transport." Drinking more water will also keep you feeling full throughout the day, (so you're less likely to reach for that bag of chips) and give you more energy, so you'll have the fuel to get through that afternoon or evening workout.

To see if your water consumption is up to par, Zerling says you should be drinking 1/2 your body weight in ounces of water every day. To help reach this goal, keep a refillable water bottle at your desk and in your purse so you're constantly sipping throughout the day. If you're looking for a little more zest, squeeze in a lemon or lime, or add refreshing mint to reduce bloating and aid digestion. Staying hydrated will also help you get a flatter belly. "High glycemic carbs cause water retention, but so does dehydration," says Zerling. Bottoms up!

To curb your sweet tooth, reach for fresh fruits. This sounds fairly obvious, but some fruits are better than others when it comes to prepping a bikini bod. "Swap out that banana, watermelon, [or] cantaloupe, and swap in more fibrous, low glycemic fruit such as an apple, peach, pear, plum, or a cup of berries," says Zerling. Bikini season is also the perfect time to go full out on the citrus. "Reach for a grapefruit. This fruit is loaded with vitamin C and it is speculated to possess some sugar regulating properties for the digestive process. Grapefruit also satisfies a sweet tooth, which can decrease the need to turn to other sweets that are more calorically dense."

But there is one catch: That morning glass of orange or grapefruit juice doesn't count! "Sometimes we forget that what we are drinking can be just as detrimental as what we are eating," says Ware. "Skip the juice and go for the whole fruit. Juices can be loaded with added sugars, and you're missing out on the tummy-filling fiber when you don't eat the whole fruit."