T-3 days and we are officially on vacation! I’m just a tad bit excited. Just a little. Who am I kidding, I am more excited than my kids! You know why? Because it means someone else is going to do the cooking, cleaning, and bed making and I’ll be taking naps, sipping on margaritas by the pool and perhaps even reading an entire book!
Speaking of laying out by the pool, this week I’ve been working hard on trying to get rid of some belly bloat I’ve accumulated from some sugar I’ve ingested and too much carbs and processed foods. Since Sunday I’ve been doing 5 things to help me get rid of my belly bloat.
Warm lemon water in the morning
Lemon is a natural diuretic and it aides in digestion. This may be a little TMI but when I drink warm lemon water first thing in the morning, I pee constantly throughout the day and am more regular.
It’s best to drink a glass of warm lemon water 20 minutes prior to ingesting any other drinks or food. It’s known to have the best health benefits this way.
Vitamin C will also boost your immune system and keep you from getting sick. Nobody wants to be sick on a vacation.
Read more about what happened to me when I started drinking warm lemon water.
Eat Clean
Cut out sugar, dairy, salt and processed foods.
I know for me, sugar and dairy do a number on my body. Dairy makes my face all puffy and the sugar makes me break out. Darn those pesky zits! So I’ve pretty much cut out dairy and sugar for the past week or so and I’ve already noticed improved skin tone and less bloated looking face and neck.
Salt and processed foods are obviously not good for you but its also a huge culprit in making you retain water. Did you know that 98% of American’s are consuming more salt than they should? Yikes!
My body is so sensitive to salt and processed foods now and since doing Whole3o I am so much more in tune with this.
Listen to your body and what it’s telling you. If you are super thirsty after a meal, perhaps you just ingested way too much salt and/or you’re not getting enough water. Drink water to lose water. Which leads me to my next point.
Drink lots of water throughout the day
They say 8 glasses of water is sufficient. I notice that when I don’t get more than 8 glasses of water a day, I’m tired, lethargic and hungry constantly. Drinking water will cleanse your system and when you pee, it should be clear. To help me remember to drink my water, I carry around a large bottle of water with me everywhere I go. It’s my reminder that even when I’m not thirsty, I should still drink.
I also drink lots of caffeine-free tea during the day which is in addition to my 8 glasses.
Consume food that helps shedding water
Salmon, asparagus, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, green leafy veggies, bananas and cantaloupes are my go-tos because they are rich in potassium. Potassium rich foods help excrete excess water. So load up on the potassium if you want to see your six pack. In my case, my one pack.
Sweat it out
I love a good sweat session. My favorite sweaty workout is a cycle class but since I haven’t been able to get out these days I’ve mainly just been going for a jog or a brisk walk. Although not as intense of a workout, I still break a sweat and feel great after which is what’s most important.
These have and continue to work for me. Are there things you do to help get rid of that darn belly bloat? Let me know in the comments below!
These seem very helpful! I love lemon water 🙂
Definitely agree with the lemon water. Works like a charm. I’ll try some of your other suggestions too. It’s almost bathing suit season……
Do you know why it says to drink warm water with lemon instead of cold water? Just wondering if it makes a difference.
I definitely need to follow some of your tips (and start eating healthier!) I just bought a swell water bottle so hoping it will help me drink more water during the day!
xx, Jonilyn | http://www.mycuratedcloset.com
Such great info. I just starting doing sweat yoga and while it’s really hard, I love the feeling afterwards and am now addicted!
Great tips! Cutting out sugar is the hardest for me as I have a very big sweet tooth!!
Lauren
http://www.basicbabelauren.com
I’m in a wedding next weekend and need to lose like 3 pounds to make sure the dress fits better. These are great tips to get rid of that uncomfortable bloated belly! I will be eating salmon and asparagus now!