10 Celebrity Trainer Tips For Last-Minute Bikini Prep

This article was repurposed with permission from POPSUGAR Fitness.

Only have a week or two before you're set to don a bikini? We asked the top celebrity trainers to spill all the last-minute weight-loss advice they give their clients when they are prepping for a red carpet event or photo shoot. While we won't say it's not hard work, the good news is that there aren't any gimmicks or starvation schemes. Even better news? You'll feel strong, confident, and ready to wow in just a few days. Check out the last-minute weight-loss secrets below!

Exercise Every Day
You're down to the wire, so make sure you make every moment count. "If you're trying to get ready for a last-minute event, then you better not skip a day," says celebrity trainer Zuzka Light. She recommends short 20-minute workouts done with medium weights or your own bodyweight. "The best workouts are high-intensity short routines that combine strength, cardio, endurance, balance, and flexibility," says Light. "Basically, you're using functional exercises that target every component of fitness in one powerful workout routine." Trainer and Vionic shoes spokesperson Juliet Kaska also recommends interval training to burn fat, as well as Pilates to help define your waist.

…But Don't Overdo It
While working out is integral to seeing results, overtraining can actually have the opposite effect, warns Gabrielle Union's  trainer Ahmad Baari. "If you're dieting plus overexercising, you'll do more harm to your body by creating a toxic environment, which results in the body holding onto fat," he explains. Instead of long, overly hard exercises, Baari says to focus on the quality of your reps in order to stimulate muscle growth. "Anything more will be creating an overstressed system," he says. "Your body reads stress as a signal to hold onto stored fat instead of releasing it into the bloodstream to be used as fuel to replenish your muscles." 

Go High Quality
Pick high-quality foods like grass-fed beef, free-range poultry, and organic produce. "Choosing a good-quality food goes a long way, no matter what your goal is," says Light. Baari also recommends going for dark green, nonwilted, nutrient-dense vegetables to help fuel your body while losing pounds.

Fuel Your Body Right
When you're prepping for a last-minute event, eating becomes less about enjoying a gourmet meal and more about eating foods that give you the nutrients your body needs to stay energized. "You are literally fueling your body with just what it needs," says Tia Falcone, who used this philosophy to help Miss America Nina Davuluri get pageant ready. For many trainers, that means getting rid of all processed foods, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, breads, and pastas, and instead, sticking to lean proteins and fiber-rich vegetables, along with healthy fats like avocados and olive oil.

Get Serious
If you really want to see results, it's time to get serious about your actions, says Kaska, the woman responsible for Stacy Keibler's toned legs. "Every bite and every second counts," she reminds us. Of her clients, she says, "if they aren't serious about it, it doesn't matter what I tell them to do, and the time we spend together working out won't matter."

Click HERE for five more last-minute weight-loss tips from celebrity trainers at POPSUGAR Fitness!

More from Women's Health:
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