Diet Tips To Get A Bikini Body Of Your Dreams

We can all see summer right around the corner and many of us take a look in the mirror and don't see the body they wish they had.

Over the winter, we are stuck inside, there are tons of holidays, and many of our diet plans go out the window.

The next thing we know, the weather is warming up and we still have those extra winter pounds lingering. This year, why not decide to take control and get that bikini body that you've always dreamed of.

Getting in shape for the summer doesn’t mean that you have to enter fitness boot camp and starve yourself so you can have that toned, firm, and sleek body that turns heads at the pool or on the beach.

In reality, there are a lot of different things we can do to cut out unnecessary fat and calories from our diet, helping us to reach our goal, without the need to starve ourselves in the process.

The problem with most bikini body diets is that they deprive you. They often leave you feeling hungry, cranky, and lacking energy.

In this guide, we will discuss ways that you can cut calories and reduce your fat intake, without having to sacrifice all the foods you love or go hungry.

Liquid Calories Can Be A Killer

Think about all the things you drink daily. A tasty coffee drink in the morning, a soda at lunchtime, and a couple of glasses of wine with dinner.

Many of us fail to think of liquid calories as calories, and they very much are, as much as the food you eat.

If you start to add up all the calories in those beverages you consume every day, you'll begin to see what we are talking about. A frothy coffee drink can have upwards of 500 calories in it, most of them from fat and sugar.

When you add these empty calories to the number of calories we consume daily from our snacks and meals, it is easy to see why people have so much trouble losing weight.

Simply switching to unsweetened tea and water can make a huge difference in the number of liquid calories you consume daily.

Black coffee or coffee drinks that have low-fat or fat-free milk are preferable to the overly-sweetened and cream-laden drinks many of us drink daily.

Seltzer water is a great alternative if you still want fizzy flavor, but not all the empty calories.

Fruit juices with no sugar added are another alternative to sugary juices and calorie-rich sodas.

Diet sodas, while they have their own set of issues, are better than regular soda, which often has as much sugar in a can as a candy bar.

White wine has fewer calories than other alcoholic beverages, so this might be a better option if you still want to indulge on occasion.

Remember that alcohols are sugars, so none of them will be free of calories and even a few glasses of wine can add 500 or more calories to your daily total.

Do Not Skip Meals

One of the biggest mistakes people make when trying to lose weight is skipping meals and skimping on food. While this might seem like a great way to cut calories, it often works against you and is not advised.

Our body needs fuel to run properly. Failure to provide our body with proper nutrition can put our body in what is often called "starvation mode." What this means, in essence, is that your body goes into reserve mode.

To protect your body from perceived starvation, more of what you eat when you do this is turned into fat. It is your body's way of protecting against starvation - an evolutionary response from times where food was often scarce.

This can often mean that, even though you are eating less, you won’t see weight loss.

Additionally, you will feel sluggish and lethargic, since your body is lacking in nutrition and energy.

It might seem counterproductive, but eating more often is one of the best tips to spurn your body into weight loss mode.

This doesn’t mean that you eat six huge meals a day. Rather, you eat smaller portions of food more often.

Not only does this provide your body with the nutrition you need, but it also helps keep you feeling full and satisfied since you aren't going long stretches without eating.

Long stretches without eating are often what lead to unhealthy snacking.

Eating these small, more frequent meals can also help increase your energy levels and keep you from having that afternoon energy slump.

Protein, Protein, Protein

There are tons of studies that show that diets that are rich in lean protein promote healthy weight loss. Protein provides steady energy and also gives you that satisfying feeling of fullness.

There is a reason that we are so drawn to meat, eggs, and other sources of protein - they provide those dense, energy-rich calories that we need to get through our day.

So protein is your friend, but the type of protein you rely on also matters.

Eating a diet that is rich in protein doesn’t mean eating bacon for breakfast, burgers for lunch, and steak for dinner, as much as we would all love that.

However, lean meats like fish, chicken, poultry, beans, and legumes, are not only rich in protein, they are chock full of vitamins and minerals that promote weight loss and overall health.

Lean meats have much less fat and cholesterol than fattier cuts of meat like pork or beef.

Legumes and beans are great sources of tasty protein that contain no cholesterol and are rich in nutrients.

Canned and dried legumes and beans are inexpensive and versatile. Chicken, turkey, and other types of poultry can be used in any number of dishes.

Fish and other seafood are not only rich in protein but also brain- and heart-healthy fats.

Eggs are also a great source of protein and nutrients, but it is advised that you not lean too much on eggs for your protein since they are higher in cholesterol.

Remember Spices

Many people think that if they can't rely on cheese, butter, or other dairy products, their food will be bland and boring. This couldn't be farther from the truth.

Think about all the available spices. These are often calorie-free or low calorie and they add a world of flavor to a huge variety of dishes.

Get creative and learn to appreciate the world of spices. There is no limit to the number of flavor combinations you can create. A quick web search will introduce you to the world of different cultural cuisines and the flavor profiles they employ.

Don’t Forget Snacks

We all know that three square meals a day are important for our wellbeing but often, this means that we end up with long spaces of time between meals.

It is during these times that we often reach for that bag of potato chips or candy bars.

These long periods between meals often lead to lags in energy, focus, and concentration. No dietician recommends going long periods between eating. Especially not if you are trying to lose weight.

Rather than giving up your midday snacks, the better idea is to make better choices as to what you reach for when you get a little hungry. Ditch those potato chips and chocolate bars.

A handful of nuts like almonds is a great way to get a boost of energy and will fill you up. Loaded with protein and healthy fats, nuts are a great way to stay full between meals.

Trail mix, without tons of chocolate, is another great option. A piece of fruit with a handful of almonds is a way to get your sweet fix, without going for that snickers bar.

In Closing

As we approach the warmer summer months, many of us are taking a look in the mirror and not particularly happy with what we see.

This year, rather than cover up our winter pudge, why not take things into our own hands and make the changes we need to lose the weight and get that body we have always wanted?

It doesn't require long days in the gym, punctuated by celery soup and plain water. Losing weight and getting into shape just takes foresight and thought.

For many of us, it isn’t how much or how often we eat, but what we eat.

Making lifestyle changes like switching out sodas for a calorie-free beverage, eating frequent, small meals, and switching to lean meats, largely plant-based, can make a huge difference.

Many of us don’t realize how many calories we consume on beverages and snacks that leave us unsatisfied.

Learning how to make smarter food decisions will not only make weight loss a lot easier, it won’t feel like a diet since you aren’t going without and depriving yourself.

Ultimately, these tips are great for more than just getting into shape for summer. These are lifestyle changes that can be internalized and maintained.

They are not crash diets that deprive us of anything and everything good. Rather, these are great tips that will help you eat healthier, lose weight, and keep it off, without feeling like you have to starve yourself in the process.