Can you or can you not lose 5 pounds in a day? That is the question.
The answer is, yes you absolutely can. As overambitious as it sounds, you can lose up to 5 pounds in one day in the form of water and waste weight.
You must note that this is not permanent weight loss and the water weight will likely be regained if your body goes back to retaining water.
Therefore, take care to implement longer-lasting dietary and lifestyle changes for more permanent results.
Until then, here is how to get rid of the 5 pounds in one day.
How to Lose 5 Pounds in A Day without Exercise
1. Wear A Sauna Suit
While sauna suits may not be the go-to method of losing weight on a normal day, trying to lose 5 pounds in one day isn’t normal either – thus it calls for some compromises.
Sauna suits have been used since time immemorial to lose water weight. This is why athletes workout in them just before being weighed in order to clock in the preferred weight. They induce sweating, through which you lose all the excess water in the body.
Only resort to wearing sauna suits with the express permission of your physician and do not do it for more than 20 minutes.
2. Stay Hydrated
On the day that you plan to lose your 5 pounds, take water and stay hydrated. Why would you take water when planning to lose water weight, you may wonder?
This is because when you are dehydrated the body produces an antidiuretic that makes it retain water. More water retained equals more water weight.
Drinking water, on the other hand, will help the body expel extra water and retain much less.
3. Keep Off the Salt
All sodium sources should never see the light of the day if you are planning to lose 5 pounds in a day.
As you consume salt, the body tries to match up your consumption with the water it retains in order to maintain the sodium-to-water balance. The more you consume, the more it retains.
4. Stack Up the Proteins
Proteins are more metabolically active than carbs and fats. This means it takes more calories to synthesize them and transform them into nutrients the body can actually use.
But that is not all. Proteins inhibit the release of sugar into the system, and anybody who wants to lose any kind of weight knows too much sugar is bad news.
Better still, proteins are more filling than carbs and record a lower calorie count. Eating proteins will thus keep you fuller for the better part of the day. You will not be giving in to hunger and cravings to offset your intake. Get protein from lean meats such as chicken breast.
5. Get a Good Night Rest
Sleep deprivation slows metabolism, according to research. The last thing you want when trying to lose 5 pounds in one day is low metabolism.
Go to sleep early and rest for at least eight hours in order to get your metabolism in good form.
6. Stay Stress-Free
Stress causes the release of the stress hormone cortisol, which induces craving for sugary, fatty food. A 2007 study found the presence of cortisol in the hair of 2,000 overweight participants’ hair – a direct link of stress to unhealthy diet.
This is why most people find solace in junk food whenever they are stressed – turns out it is science. Try as much as possible to be stress-free to ward off stress-induced cravings.
7. Cut Down on Carbs
Keep off the starches on the day that you plan to lose 5 pounds. Starches help the body retain more water and are easy to digest.
This means the body will use it up quickly and you will be hungry again in a short while. Foods like white bread, pasta and cookies should be off the menu of that day.
8. Pack on the Fiber
Just like proteins, fiber gives the body such a hard time to digest, in fact, most of it is not digested at all. It demands more energy and more time, thus more calories. It fills you up for longer.
Whole grains, fruits, and dark leafy veggies are rich in fiber. Yet other key benefits of fiber-rich foods is they help in digestion, passage of food through the gut and enables easy bowel movement. This will come handy in getting rid of the waste weight.
9. Eat Foods with Natural Diuretics
Diuretics cause you to pass urine more frequently, thus getting rid of water and waste weight. Eating foods that are rich in diuretics can help you lose retained water.
Such foods include seeds like pumpkin seeds and nuts, fruits and veggies like watermelon, asparagus, Brussel sprouts and teas like dandelion tea.
10. Keep Yourself Busy
Move around, and this does not mean you have to take part in physical exercises. Walking to the grocery store instead of taking the car can help you break into a much-needed sweat.
Cleaning the house, organizing your house, clearing out a room are some of the simple activities you can do to remain active.
11. Steer Clear of Processed Foods
Most processed foods are high in starch and calories. They are also very high in sodium.
In fact, most of your sodium intake comes from processed foods than from table salt. Be very wary of highly processed and refined foods.
12. Avoid Sugary Drinks
The mind does not register these drinks it does solid food, according to this study. Even though you will be taking in calories, you will not be feeling full. The extra sugar will also cause the body to retain water.
Bonus: Take a Cup of Coffee or Tea
They contain diuretics that will inspire a bowel movement. Make sure you don’t add sweeteners to these beverages. Not even natural sweeteners.
Final Word
The reason why we emphasize on the day you want to lose the 5 pounds is, you can only do this for one day – never more.
Trying to lose 5 pounds each day for two or more consecutive days will put your health at great risks. More so, your body will react by storing more calories and inducing your appetite.
With that said, you can lose weight rapidly and keep it off if you follow this simple and safe weight loss plan.
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