The Food Lover's Diet

Get a Flatter Belly in 3 Days

If you have only 72 hours to fit into that slightly tight skirt, further slim your tummy with these strategies:

1. Pass the salt. Skip sodium-packed foods, such as processed foods, canned soups, packaged snacks, and fast foods.
2. Get wet. The more water you drink, the more easily your body excretes it. Spice up your beverage intake by drinking iced ginger-lemon tea.
3. Cut back on carbs. Skip the extra slice of bread and have an open-faced sandwich, or select the smoothie instead of the waffle for breakfast. Choose protein-rich snacks such as low-fat cheese or nuts.
4. Deflate. Go light on gas-forming bran, legumes, cabbage, bell peppers, dried fruits, and onions.

Originally published in Fitness magazine, June 2006.