The document provides tips for quickly reducing bloat and water weight in three days before a party. It recommends avoiding foods that cause water retention like soft drinks, dairy, and salty foods. It suggests drinking water and dandelion tea to flush toxins from the body. Aerobic exercise and specific yoga poses can help reduce excess gas and stress-related bloating. Wearing geometric prints or black clothing can create a slimming effect. Eating vegetables high in fiber, water, and nutrients like lettuce, fennel, cucumber, tomatoes, beets, watercress and artichokes can help reduce bloating and water weight.

1. KNOW YOUR ENEMY
Since actual weight loss won’t happen
in three days, strive to combat bloat.
Bloating causes excess gas and water
retention, creating an uncomfortable,
puffy feeling. It can come from
overeating, lactose intolerance,
high-sodium diets, constipation,
menstruation and more serious
ailments.
WHAT TO GIVE UP
Prepare to break up with your
boyfriends, Ben & Jerry—or your
girlfriend, Sara Lee—for a few days.
Soft drinks, coffee, dairy products,
refined carbs, gum, salty foods and
fatty foods all wreak havoc on your
body, causing air and water retention.
BULGE | Let’s say a party approaches in three days. You’ve
RSVPed, hired a driver, picked a dress—but the zipper isn’t
budging. Or maybe your tux is bulging—but in all the
wrong places. Now what?
In our quick-fix generation, we expect immediate
results. The crazy methods abound: sleeping in
trash bags. Working out in Saran Wrap. Starving
yourself, then ingesting cayenne pepper coladas
á la Beyoncé. Not smart. Here are a few tips on
shedding weight quickly—but safely—before a
big event.
WHAT TO EAT
To debloat the right way,
lettuce help. All of the
following vegetables can
help to reduce water
weight. Top 4oz of your
favorite lean protein—we
vote chicken or fish—with
natural diuretic apple cider
vinegar as dressing.
★ Lettuce aids
metabolism and the flushing of toxins.
★ Fennel has carminative and diuretic
properties.
★ Cucumber is rich in sulfur and
silicon, increasing urination.
★ Tomatoes aid the metabolism and release of
water from the kidney to flush out waste.
★ Beets attack floating body fats and fatty deposits.
★ Watercress and artichokes also
help to move toxins.
DALLAS LIFE |
ENHANCE
Puff Daddy
Losing bloat without losing your sanity
WORDS MADELINE HOLLERN ILLUSTRATION CINDY MENJIVAR
16 | MAY
BULGE | Let’s say a party approaches in three days. You’ve
RSVPed, hired a driver, picked a dress—but the zipper isn’t
budging. Or maybe your tux is bulging—but in all the
wrong places. Now what?
In our quick-fix generation, we expect immediate
results. The crazy methods abound: sleeping in
trash bags. Working out in Saran Wrap. Starving
yourself, then ingesting cayenne pepper coladas
á la Beyoncé. Not smart. Here are a few tips on
shedding weight quickly—but safely—before a
big event.
ENERGY | DRY SODA | WETTA AIN’T ALWAYS BETTA
Tantalize your palate with a new, fresh and “Dry” taste. DRY Soda is
all natural, non-caffeinated and flavored with extracts of fruit and
herbs. With unique flavors such as Rhubarb, Kumquat, Lavender and
Lemongrass, DRY Soda leaves many consumers skeptical, and some
describe it as an acquired taste. Either way, this modern alternative to
alcoholic beverages allows the non-drinker to feel special amongst other
sophisticated mixers. drysoda.com —Faren Ball
16 | MAY
WHAT TO DO
Aerobics sweat out water weight.
For excess air, watch your breathing.
Stress can cause an overload of air to
trap in the stomach. There are specific
yoga poses designed to reduce gas-
related bloating caused by stress. For
puffiness, try the ultra-sexy Wind-
Relieving Pose. Just don’t do this in
front of your party date.
WHAT TO WEAR
For women, let the 2008 trend
of geometric prints work to your
advantage—they trick the eye and
create a trimming effect on the
tummy and thighs. For Bridget Jones-
style assurance, try their Slim Cognito
Seamless Mid-Thigh Shaper ($62,
spanx.com) For men, don’t discount
the power of black. It’s chic, timeless
and ultra-slimming. Party on,
Wayne. Party on.
WHAT TO DRINK
Drinking water to lose water
weight may seem counterintuitive,
but it actually flushes toxins from
your body. For something a little
more exciting—and perhaps
more effective—we recommend
dandelion tea. Dandelion leaves
act as a natural diuretic. We like
Alvita Dandelion Root Bulk Tea ($7,
drugstore.com). Dandelion naturally
detoxifies the liver. Come to think
of it, you might want to drink
these teas after the party as well.
way,
lettuce help. All of the
following vegetables can
weight. Top 4oz of your
favorite lean protein—we
vote chicken or fish—with
natural diuretic apple cider
metabolism and the flushing of toxins.
Fennel has carminative and diuretic
Cucumber is rich in sulfur and
silicon, increasing urination.
Tomatoes aid the metabolism and release of
water from the kidney to flush out waste.
Beets attack floating body fats and fatty deposits.
Watercress and artichokes also
help to move toxins.
DALLAS LIFE |
| DRY SODA | WETTA AIN’T ALWAYS BETTA
Tantalize your palate with a new, fresh and “Dry” taste. DRY Soda is
all natural, non-caffeinated and flavored with extracts of fruit and
herbs. With unique flavors such as Rhubarb, Kumquat, Lavender and
Lemongrass, DRY Soda leaves many consumers skeptical, and some
describe it as an acquired taste. Either way, this modern alternative to
alcoholic beverages allows the non-drinker to feel special amongst other
sophisticated mixers. drysoda.com —Faren Ball
create a trimming effect on the
tummy and thighs. For Bridget Jones-
style assurance, try their Slim Cognito
Seamless Mid-Thigh Shaper ($62,
spanx.com) For men, don’t discountspanx.com) For men, don’t discountspanx.com
the power of black. It’s chic, timeless
and ultra-slimming. Party on,
Wayne. Party on.
ELEMENTS_52_H_10to16.indd 16 4/28/08 9:27:28 AM