10 ways to wake up slimmer

Avoid late night nibbles

Eating late at night should be avoided if you’re after a flat tum the following morning. Studies have shown that eating late at night can cause weight gain as the body clock is disrupted. One US study found that mice that ate throughout the day and night had 70 per cent more fatty deposits than the mice who only ate at set times. Not only that, giving your digestive organs more to process when they should be having a break can lead to bloating and the feeling of waking up with a full stomach. Do yourself a favour and enjoy your evening meal at least two hours prior to going to bed to wake up feeling lighter.

Choose slimming foods

It is not only when you eat that can affect how slim you feel the next day, but also what you eat. Enjoying a light and easily-digestible dish for your evening meal as opposed to rich or stodgy foods could go a long way in helping you achieve slenderness overnight. Avoid complex carbohydrates and red meat, particularly steak, as well as fatty foods, as these are notoriously harder for the body to digest. Opt instead for simple and plain foods such as salmon and chicken, spinach, sweet potato, melon and probiotic yogurt, and keep the portion size under control too if you want to wake up slim.

Evening exercise

A half hour session of exercise can do the world of good in countless ways; it can lift your mood thanks to the release of endorphins, clear you mind of stress and, most importantly, boost your chance of waking up slimmer. Psychologically, exercise makes you feel fitter and slimmer which can give you the confidence boost you need when it comes to your body shape. But more importantly, exercise can improve digestion as it boosts blood flow, leaving you bloat-free and feeling slimmer the following morning.

Television tummy time

While you’re indulging in your evening TV ritual, make more use of this ‘me time’ by incorporating some stomach exercises. For many, the stomach is the key area that dictates how slim they feel, so focusing on this part of the body could be the difference between feeling flab or fab. On a carpeted floor or exercise mat, do some basic stomach toning exercise such as the plank, sit-ups or crunches. This little abdominal boost, although short and sweet, may help you feel that little bit more nipped-in the following day.

Push yourself

If you’re heading to the gym, the pool or out for a run, aim to push yourself that little bit harder than you normally would. Challenging your stamina and strength will not only give you an adrenaline high, but you’ll also burn more calories and challenge your muscles in new ways which will tone you up and help you feel slimmer. Besides, the compliments you’ll receive the next day for your healthy glow will fill you with confidence regardless of your figure.

[10 ways to unwind and de-stress before bed]
[Bride waits SEVEN YEARS to get married to fit into her perfect wedding dress]
[Can the Cookie Diet REALLY work?]

Tune time

Want to stay at home but still feel fit and fab the following day? Whack on your favourite tunes or turn up the music channels and boogie to your heart’s content. Letting loose in your living room to your favourite hits will free inhibitions while burning the calories too. Get hot and sweaty, head for a shower then to bed to enjoy a deep exercise-induced slumber. You’ll wake feeling refreshed and hopefully lighter from burning off your evening meal.

Buy clothes and underwear that really flatter your figure

Go shopping

Aside from altering your food and fitness habits, why not go on a shopping spree for clothes and underwear that really flatter your figure? There is oodles of advice out there regarding dressing to suit your body shape, so lap it up and use the tips to guide your decisions. Invest in some shaping underwear to support and form your figure into a slimmer version of you. Combine with some flattering garments, such as peplum tops for larger midriffs or cap sleeves to disguise shapely upper arms, and you’ll instantly feel slimmer. Just don’t forget posture – this can do its bit for helping you feel and appear slimmer too.

Banish the booze

Alcohol is notorious for causing bloating, which can make you feel chunkier than you actually are. Drinks including cider, beer, sparkling wine and spirit mixers lead to bloating because of the gas they contain. Not to mention that if alcohol was to enter a contest for ‘slimming-friendly beverage’, it would indeed come last. Containing seven calories (29 kilojoules) per gram it’s not kind on your waistline, so leave it out.

Keep hydrated

Perhaps not the best idea just before bed, but drinking plenty of fluids can help you achieve that slim feeling you’re after as it can reduce water retention and bloating while flushing your body of all the toxins you can so easily build up.  Herbal teas such as green, peppermint and dandelion are the perfect beverage for achieving that all-important slim feeling as they are hydrating and aid digestion, but plain old water is not to be sniffed at as this does the job effortlessly too. Aim for 6-8 cups of herbal tea or water throughout the day and you’ll feel lighter come morning. A word of warning, though; if it’s overnight slimness you’re after, try to avoid caffeine, carbonated drinks and, of course, alcohol.

Meditate

As we all know, the mind is a powerful thing.  Some believe that slimness can be a state of mind rather than a physical state, so ‘thinking thin’ can be more effective than you anticipate. Stress is often linked with being overweight (as it can lead to comfort eating and an imbalance of hormones) so why not give relaxation techniques a try, such as yoga or meditation? Calming the mind and focusing on your breathing can help center your thoughts, and perhaps even perceptions of your body too.

Ref:  http://sg.news.yahoo.com/10-ways-wake-slimmer-050034384.html