I’ve been a serial dieter since I was 16 years old. I’ve tried them all. From the grapefruit diet to eating steak only, to Paleo and Keto. I even tried to be a vegan. I’ve cleansed with both smoothies and juices. Then I had an “aha” moment. Diets don’t work. I studied at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and became a health coach. I learned that everyone is different and what works for one, won’t work for another. We have to pay attention to what works for us. I travel, and eat out a lot. I eat the bread and cheese in Paris, and tacos in Mexico. And I, like you, most likely went to my share of holiday parties (and enjoyed every minute of them). Towards the end of 2018, I let myself slip (perhaps a bit too much). Through trial and error, I figured out a way to get back in shape, fast. I wanted to give you my tips that help me lose the bloat, and ultimately the weight.

Lose The Bloat

It takes two to three days to lose your bloat and water retention, and start feeling better. The answer? Drink more water. It’s not epic information. You need to flush all of the sweets and bad stuff out to start feeling better. My favorite hack is to prepare a hot water thermos with herbal tea. I mix peppermint and dandelion and try to drink eight glasses a day to get the job done. Peppermint aids digestion, and dandelion flushes out your liver. You can put a little ice in your hot tea to drink it more quickly. Do not use sweeteners. I even created a product, Debloat, in my new line EVOLUTION_18 to help with this specifically.

Turn Off Your Sweet Tooth

Turn off your sweet tooth with something other than cookies or cake! I have a couple of favorite low calorie, low sugar, and low carb treats. Lily’s Stevia-sweetened chocolate chips. Either eat a tiny spoonful of them, or mix them in non-fat, plain Greek Yogurt with monk fruit. Also, I love powdered peanut butter in plain, non-fat Greek Yogurt (add sweetener only if you need it). What this low-sugar carb does for me, is signal my brain to say lunch is over. So good.

Don’t Skip Meals

Eat three times a day, and eat strategically. Each meal should consist of mostly protein, vegetables, and a little bit of fat. Breakfast: Scrambled egg whites with cracked pepper and sea salt. Add a bit of 2% fat goat cheese. Eat with a few flax crackers - my favorite kind is sea salt Flackers. Lunch: One sheet of a Nori Roll seaweed wrap (10 calories), Meille mustard (my favorite), sprouts or arugula, two slices of peppered turkey (from Whole Foods, 60 calories), and tomatoes. Eat a couple until you’re full, or, have one as a snack.

Eat Hydrating Foods

Eat more water-based foods. The more you eat throughout the day, the better.

• 96% of water: Cucumbers
• 94% of water: Celery, Tomatoes & Zucchini
• 91% of water: Broccoli & Cauliflower

Rest is Key

When you are tired, it shows: Dark circles under the eyes, dull skin, breakouts, and a loss of focus and energy. Stress, diet, and a lack of exercise can really affect your sleep. To fall asleep more easily, you must develop a nighttime ritual. If possible, set a regular sleep schedule, both for when you go to bed and when you wake up. Don’t take daytime naps, as it will interfere with your sleep at night. Use your bedroom only for sleep-no tech or TV. Practice deep breathing or listen to a guided relaxation app or CD. When you’re getting your sleep balance right, you will feel more alert and energetic and look fresher and brighter.

Get in the right mindset

There is a direct link between stress and beauty. Stress shows up on your face, in your eyes, on your hair, and on your skin in a whole host of issues, from acne to dark circles. Experts are just beginning to understand the link between the stress hormone cortisol levels and how it affects you from the inside out. Everybody has cortisol, but how you manage and process it makes all the difference in how it manifests in your body and appearance. To manage stress, we need to make sure to take the time to restore our bodies and our minds. Every day, I start my morning by taking a deep breath. This helps me set my mindset for the day.

Exercise and Sweat

Being strong is beautiful, and always empowering. The stronger you are, the more powerful you feel. Strong is better than skinny. A strong body comes in many shapes and sizes. It’s not just that one pencil-thin look that you see on the runway. It celebrates muscles and curves, not just skinniness. Fitness is all about feeling great in your body. If you make exercise a regular part of your life, no matter how old you are, you will never regret it. I love the mental and physical challenge that comes with pushing myself, and I make sure to break a sweat for at least 30 minutes a day. I’ve found that the key to sticking to this, is mixing it up. This might mean trying a new class, taking a new route on a run, or working with a new trainer. Trying new things is also mentally stimulating; it breaks us out of our rut and routine.