Similar to what people advise when it comes to how to prevent a hangover (not drinking) or how to prevent pregnancy (not having sex)… the best bloat prevention is not partaking in the puff-making foods, drinks, and practices in the first place! Right… But sometimes you simply “can’t help yourself.” And sometimes you actually can’t- like during that fab time of the month! Ugh. But just in case you are adherent to the abstinence ideal, here are a few must-follow rules to Prevent the Bloat in the First Place!
PRACTICE ABSTINENCE
Stay Away From Salt! Soy Sauce, Frozen Foods, Canned Soups, Movie Theater Popcorn, even Cottage Cheese and Hot Sauce contain lots of puff-inducing sodium.
WATCH: Cut the Salt & Stop Being So Puffy!
Cut the Alcohol. In addition to contributing to actual weight gain (as opposed to merely making you “look” like you’ve gained weight) thanks to the 70 to 600 calories per cocktail (often depending on how fruity it is), alcohol can instantly add temporary girth to your gut, face, thighs, even fingers overnight.
Do Away with Dairy! You might not be lactose intolerant, but you could be lactose sensitive with won’t leave you running for the bathroom, but can make you your stomach puff up.
Skip the Salad. I know. Totally counter-intuitive. But if you aren’t used to eating lots of raw greens, your body may have a hard time breaking them down- particularly deep greens and cruciferous veggies like cabbage, broccoli and brussels sprouts- which are also sulfuric veggies (like onions) that release gas when broken down from their raw state. To keep the stomach swell (and stench) down, cook your veggies first.
Too late…? Here’s How to De-Puff and Instantly Appear Slimmer!
EAT
Drop Water Weight
Since it is literally impossible to drop poundage on a days notice, yet you still want to look as if you’ve “lost weight,” your best bet is to go for a decrease in circumference… through water loss. Here are foods that can help do the trick.
“Diuretic” Foods to Encourage De-Puffing
-Celery
-Celery Seed
-Cranberry Juice (also helps in detoxification and urinary tract infections)
-Green Tea (also a known fat-burner when guzzled in large quantities)
-Dandelion leaf tea (also helps in detoxification and urinary tract infections)
-Fennel
-Juniper Berries
-Lemon
-Nettle
-Parsley
Up Your Potassium
Potassium-rich foods actually counterbalance the puffing qualities of salt and alcohol, acting as a mild diuretic. Here’s a list of potassium-rich foods that you should slip into your diet right now.
-Avocado
-Beets and Beet greens
-Edamame
-Papaya
-Dates
-Spinach
-Butternut Squash
-Dried Apricots
-Banana
-Broccoli
-Orange juice
-Yogurt (if you aren’t lactose sensitive)
-Yams
-Unsalted Almonds
-Grapefruit
-Salmon
EXERCISE
Focus on last minute touch-up toning on any exposed muscles. The rush of blood to the area will temporarily engorge the muscle, making it appear to be more tone and tight than it actually is.
For an Arm-Exposing Top, TRY: Pushups. No, not the bra, the exercise (though the bra works too). Push-ups are the perfect last minute exercise to pumps up the arms and give you that healthy glow in just a few moments. It’s a trick that guys have been doing for ages- just before a big meeting, presentation, interview, or even a date, they get down and do push-ups to pump up both their muscles and their egos. Thankfully you don’t have to get down and give me anything. Wall push-ups work just as well when it comes to instant tightening and toning of the muscles plus the other eye-catching benefit of cheek flushing.
For a Short Leggy Skirt, TRY Heel Raises and Plies. It’s all about getting your gorgeous calves noticed while toning up your thighs. The extra definition is sexy, plus it’s a sign of endurance…
WATCH: Dancer’s Legs & Butt… Your Daily100
BEAUTY
Both beauty products and even certain foods, when spread on your skin, are said to help soften, tighten, tone. A few to try are:
Puffy Eyes? Soap & Glory You Won’t Believe Your Eyes™ Moisture Serum
LOVE the way the tri-ball rollertube feels as it gently (yet secretly super effectively) smears away under-eye puff thanks to the “Instatight and Puffease 360” Technology. ($25) Sephora
Bloated Butt and Thighs? Murad Body Firming Cream
Massage the velvety, Vitamin C-infused cream into your butt and thighs and within 15 minutes you will notice that your skin is 40% firmer. Yup! It’s proven. ($43) Murad
REFRIGERATOR DE-PUFFING
Raw Eggs
Yes, raw eggs right out of your refrigerator! No joke. The lecithin in the yoke strengthens connective tissue. Slather it on your puffy butt, thighs, stomach, or face. Let it sit for 5 minutes. Wash it off. After washing it off, your skin will appear tighter.
CONFIDENCE
Confidence can be your sexiest accessory! Without it, you can be wearing the most beautiful gown, and have a great hair day, but still not be the best version of yourself. Don’t leave home without it!
Power Panties! Struggling to muster up confidence for your big date? Don’t turn red; wear red! According to Feng Shui belief, wearing red underwear will emit power, attract luck and boost self confidence. But red doesn’t go with the outfit? Wear red panties. I call them Power panties! Now you’ve got Feng Shui on your side. Plus they’re sexy 
