You can wake up slimmer than when you went to bed the night before—if you adhere to this important list of to-dos:
Drink plenty of water during the day.
You don't want to ingest enough to fill a tanker truck—overconsumption of water can be dangerous. But you do want to drink eight to ten glasses of liquid throughout the day, and eat foods that are naturally full of water. While filling up on water and other low-calorie beverages might seem to weigh you down, just the opposite is true. Staying hydrated keeps your digestive system moving smoothly to flush out toxins. If you drink too little, your kidneys compensate by making your body retain water.
Cut down on salt.
Salt is a culprit to water retention. One sodium-heavy restaurant dinner could cause you to hold onto enough water overnight that the scale won't budge downward in the morning. Aside from not eating out, make an effort to avoid the salt shaker at home. Stay away from hidden sources of sodium such as soy sauce, canned soups, and lunch meats—and avoid all processed foods. Eat whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and lean protein jazzed-up with herbs and spices.
Hit the gym.
Of course, taking a single exercise class isn't going to cause a drop in dress size overnight, but a good sweat session confers other benefits. Exercise can give you a psychological boost by enabling you to skip the fries at dinner. This can get your blood moving and flush out your body's toxins.
Cut down on carbs.
This one is controversial, with prominent nutrition experts reminding us that carbohydrates are necessary in order to function, while weight-loss "gurus" insist that avoiding carbs is the quickest way to weight loss. But finding the middle ground can help you button your favorite jeans tomorrow morning. Instead of drastically cutting all carbs the day before a weigh-in, make an effort to leave out processed, refined carbs (such as those found in breads and crackers) while eating healthful, whole-grain ones (think fruit, beans, whole wheat pasta). And remember to keep your portions small.
Sources:
The Mayo Clinic
http://www.mayoclinic.com
ResearchPennState
http://www.rps.psu.edu
University of Maryland
http://www.umm.edu
