How to Lose Weight in Seven Days

If you need to lose weight in a hurry for a reunion, date, photo opportunity or other special occasion, you don't have to resort to diet pills, starving yourself or unhealthy crash diets. There are many simple, healthy ways to help your body shed unwanted pounds and bloat within as few as seven days.

Instructions

1

Drink up. When you only have a limited amount of time to drop pounds, don't waste calories on beverages like milk, soda and juice. For the next seven days, drink only water. Water contains no calories, carbohydrates, sugar or sodium and helps to hydrate the body. Drinking more water actually helps to flush waste and bloat out of your body, helping you feel refreshed and slimmer. If plain water is too bland, try adding lemon or lime wedges or a sprig or two of mint.

2

Avoid refined carbohydrates. Processed carbohydrates in foods such as white bread, pasta and cookies can cause you to bloat and retain water. They also cause a vicious cycle of cravings and overeating. "Simple carbohydrates wreak havoc on your weight because they're digested very quickly, leaving you hungry and more likely to overeat later," says Jana Klauer author of The Park Avenue Nutritionist's Plan. For the next seven days, replace refined carbohydrates with fresh produce like vegetables, which are mostly water.

3

Eat breakfast. Some people skip breakfast to save calories, but if you're wanting to lose weight fast, breakfast can be your biggest ally. Starting the day with a healthy meal can help prevent overeating in the evening, making it easier to stick to your eating plan. Skipping breakfast causes the body to release more insulin, encouraging fat loss and increasing your risk of obesity, according to Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D., Mayo Clinic nutritionist. If you're not used to eating breakfast, start with something small and simple like a piece of fruit or a bowl of oatmeal.

4

Try a circuit workout. Circuit training, in which you perform sets of muscle-training exercises back to back without resting, burns more calories than traditional weight training, according to Jim Stoppani, Ph.D., author of the Encyclopedia of Muscle and Strength. "In addition, doing a whole-body workout employs more muscle, which in turn burns more fat," says Stoppani. To maximize your strength-training workout, perform one set of 15 repetitions for each move without taking a break between moves. After you've performed every exercise, rest for 20 seconds and repeat the circuit.

5

Get a daily dose of cardiovascular exercise. When you need to drop pounds in a hurry, perform a 30-minute cardiovascular workout daily. Cardio increases your heart rate and helps you burn more calories. To kick up the calorie burn, choose a cardio activity that works several muscles at once, such as spinning or kickboxing, suggests Wendy Larkin, personal training manager at Crunch Gym in San Francisco.