One Small Change: 3 Ways to Lose 5 Pounds in a Month

Eat right all the time? Not gonna happen. Make small daily changes? Sure, you could do that. To prove it, we put three women to the test. Read on to see how making tiny tweaks to their eating habits helped them lose 5 pounds in a month.

By Camille Noe Pagan

No Alcohol

My one small change: "I ditched alcohol for one month"

Kellie Fagan, 25

Height: 5'0"

Current weight: 128.5

Pounds lost: 6.5

The Challenge

"My diet downfall is drinking," says Fagan. "Social events with my friends and colleagues always involve alcohol. I can end up having a dozen or more light beers, margaritas, or glasses of wine during any given week. And when I get a buzz, it's hard to resist junk food, which makes losing weight close to impossible."

The Expert Says

"Having one or two drinks a day or four-plus on the weekend -- even if it's light beer or wine -- adds hundreds, even thousands of calories to your diet," says Molly Morgan, RD, a dietitian in Vestal, New York. Also upping the calorie ante: "Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, so an order of French fries or a burger doesn't seem as bad as it normally would."

The Plan

Go for the flavorful fake-out. At your next party, have an appetizing drink that looks like a cocktail, such as sparkling water with lime. This way you won't feel bored or deprived.

Skip fruit juice. It averages at least 110 calories a glass.

Don't sip while stressed. If you're drinking to unwind after a tough day, better to target that stress in a healthy way. Head to the gym! Go for a walk!

Or try our Made-for-TV Express Workout >>

Difficulty Factor: Moderate

"Early on, I went out for a friend's birthday and struggled not to drink," Fagan admits. "I didn't think I could do it, but I just had diet soda the entire evening. There were plenty of times over the month when I wanted a drink, but once I started waking up feeling refreshed on Mondays, instead of exhausted from a weekend of partying, it got easier. It also helped that my friends and family were 100 percent supportive."

How to Stick with It

"I created a cravings swap," says Fagan. "After a stressful day, all I wanted was a beer (okay, several). Instead, I relaxed on the couch with a bit of ice cream. The calories can't even compare to a bunch of beers."

The Unexpected Perk

"I stopped smoking, too," says Fagan. "I crave cigarettes more when I drink, so it made sense to kick the habit while I wasn't touching booze. And I'm not turning back!"