An Easy Detox To Shed Holiday Weight

With all the merriment, parties, and festive treats surrounding you this month, it's likely that you'll experience the unpleasant aftermath of a holiday eating spree at some point during the next few weeks. It's perfectly normal to indulge once in a while, but it's less fun the next day if you're left to suffer the unpleasant consequences of feeling heavy, sluggish, and downright blah. If you're looking to undo the damage of your holiday splurging, help is here! Bounce back from a splurge by starting my simple, 8-step post-party detox plan the very next morning — you'll be back on track in no time.

Eat a Protein Rich Breakfast.
The morning after a big meal or party, eating a good breakfast is crucial — but think twice before hitting the bagel shop. Research consistently shows that opting for a high-protein morning meal is key to preventing overeating the rest of the day. That's because protein fills you up and keeps you satisfied, ultimately reducing your overall calorie intake. Reach for a protein-packed nonfat yogurt or cottage cheese with some juicy fruit like berries or melon; the fruit has the added benefits of bloat-reducing potassium and a high water content to boost hydration. Another great choice is an egg white omelet with vegetables, a low-calorie, protein-rich meal that will re-energize your system.

Enjoy a Super Lean Lunch.
To help combat midday cravings, it's wise to load up on another dose of protein as well as plenty of vegetables at lunchtime. Non-starchy veggies like broccoli, spinach, mushrooms, carrots, cauliflower, and bell peppers are rich in fiber and water, which means they fill you up without filling you out. You should aim to have at least 2 cups of veggies at lunch, so a colorful salad might be the best way to go. Top it with your preferred lean protein: grilled chicken, sliced turkey breast, water-packed chunk light tuna, shrimp, cubed tofu, or beans. Dress your greens with a few dashes of olive oil and unlimited plain balsamic vinegar (salty bottled dressings can worsen bloat).

Finish Up with a Thinner Dinner.
At dinnertime, once again, it's all about lean protein and vegetables. Enjoy skinless poultry, fish, or tofu with at least 2 cups of antioxidant-rich veggies. And if you're body craves starchy carbs, round out your detox dish with a fist-sized potato or quinoa. Try Cajun spiced tilapia with steamed broccoli and a baked sweet potato, or create a tofu and quinoa stir-fry with lots of peppers, mushrooms and onions.

Try This Smoothie Swap.
A cleansing smoothie is a great go-to meal choice for days following a high-calorie party. Choose either breakfast, lunch, or dinner and swap your plate for my refreshing Greens-in-a-Glass detox drink. It packs in nearly 3 cups of produce, including a generous amount of nutrient-rich spinach – hello vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants! The smoothie provides 5 grams of hunger-curbing fiber, and all those potassium-packed veggies help flush out extra salt that may have you feeling bloated. Many commercial green juices are carb-heavy and skimp on protein, but not this one, thanks to the addition of plain Greek yogurt.

Halt the Salt.
Eating salty foods causes you to retain water, since your body holds on to more H2O to dilute the extra sodium. The end result: you feel puffy and bloated, which is the last thing you need post-cocktails and cookies. For the next few days, be extra conscientious about skipping the saltiest offenders like deli meat, soup, canned foods, cheese, and salt-laden condiments, and avoid using the salt shaker completely. Opt instead for naturally low–sodium foods like fresh vegetables and fruit, yogurt, and unsalted nuts and seeds to satisfy your hunger and slim your stomach.

Banish Bloat with Potassium.
Potassium is helpful for getting rid of the day-after puff, since this mineral counteracts the bloating effects of sodium. To get your fill of potassium-rich foods, enjoy melon or sliced banana with your yogurt at breakfast, or add plenty of spinach to your egg white omelet. You can also toss a scoop of beans and beets to your lunch salad, and have a small baked white or sweet potato with dinner. Other potassium-rich foods include lentils, edamame, winter squash, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and fish.

Fill Up on Fluids.
Proper hydration is always essential, but it's especially so after a night of indulgence. Drinking ample amounts of flat water helps to flush excess salt and fluid out of your system, aids in digestion, and help you deflate the puffiness caused by yesterday's food extravaganza. Plus, if you're regretting those last few cocktails from the previous night, rehydrating your body will help you recover from a hangover more quickly. Aim to drink at least two 8-ounce cups of plain water before every meal to ensure you're hydrated. When it comes to water, the more the better, so sip away!

Hit the Reset Button with Exercise.
A big dinner or cocktail party may leave you feeling hazy and lethargic – far from motivated to roll out of bed and hit the gym. But exercise, especially cardio, is the best way to press the reset button after a night of splurging. Start your day with a brisk 45-minute brisk walk. You'll sweat off the uncomfortable bloat and release mood-boosting endorphins, so you'll be in the right frame of mind to make healthy food choices the rest of the day (preventing a one-day splurge from turning into a one-week splurge!).