Steering Clear of the Crash Diet

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All of my adult life I’ve heard about insane diets that people do in order to lose weight fast. There’s the Cabbage Soup Diet, the Lemonade Diet, the Master Cleanse, HcG diets--- the list goes on and on. I’m going to be honest and say that not only do crash diets frighten me, but I’d be terrible at them!

First of all—I cannot imagine what eating strictly cabbage soup for a week would so to your digestive system. As I’ve gotten older, my stomach just can’t take what it used to! I avoid alcohol and large amounts of both gluten and dairy, simply because my stomach just can’t take it! How would I ever tolerate something that severe? Also, any friend I’ve known who has done one of these “quick fix” diets has gained the weight back immediately afterwards, sometimes with extra to spare!

As we near the end of this competition, it’s tremendously tempting to consider a crash diet that will help me drop hidden pounds (water weight!) fast. Having been at this weight-loss game for 17 months now, I’ve decided I’m not giving in to that trick. I know in the long run that it will hurt my progress and make me feel like garbage. I have to avoid-at-all-costs the temptation of anything that will give me a reason to “binge eat” when I’m done. I’ve been really happy with my progress in January, and rewarding myself after a crash diet would blow it all.

We had a Superbowl party on Sunday, and as I keenly avoided all things carb-laden and fat-filled, a few people asked about my progress in the competition. One friend remarked that she “can’t wait to see me the day after my last weigh-in,” implying that I would then be stuffing my face full of the junk food I’ve cut out for so long. I informed her that—no, I would not be binging on sugar and starch the day after, but that I still have goals to meet.

For me, this competition isn’t about winning. It may sound cheesy or false, but I’m really just happy to have improved my health, figure, and the way I feel. I am almost at the weight I was when I met my fiancé, and both of us are happy that I’m getting back there (I’m really much more pleasant when I feel better!). My confidence completely changes the way I carry myself. I went into an interview last year where the interviewer informed me that I needed to stop “pulling at my clothes” and fidgeting. I was truly uncomfortable in my own skin, and even strangers could sense it. One pound at a time I’m overcoming that lack-of-confidence and beginning to see how my lifestyle can be different.

So instead of crash dieting, I’m sticking to my plan. For those who need to be at their best weight for a big day or event, here is a compilation of safe and healthy ways of quickly minimizing pounds, water-weight and bloating for a skinnier you:

1. Don’t skip meals--it sounds good, but isn’t the best way to cut calories.

2. Drink A LOT of water (and nothing else) to flush your system.

3. Avoid sodium and starch—both of which make you retain water.

4. Eat as many veggies as possible.

5. Exercise more—sweat it out!

6. Change up your workout habits--- shock the system a little.

7. Eat protein to fill you up.

8. Skip late night calories that you won’t burn.

9. Add hot-lemon water to your morning routine before breakfast (my dietician’s suggestion—Google it!).

10. Do 30 minutes of cardio a day (my trainer swears by interval training: 15 minutes in the morning and 15 at night).

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