7 Tips for Looking Abs-tastic In Your Halloween Costume

Whether you’re planning on dressing up in one of this year’s super-trendy Halloween costumes (we hear Maleficent and a sexy version of Elsa from Frozen are hot) or are sticking to the classic witch or black cat, you probably don’t want belly bloat messing up your outfit. While overhauling your eating and workout habits are the best route to scoring a flatter stomach for the long haul, there are a few steps you can take to beat puffiness the night before—or even of—the Halloween party. Follow these tips to eliminate pooch:

Avoid Salty Foods
Sodium makes you retain water, so hide the salt shaker entirely or limit yourself to a very small amount when you’re salting your food. Also, avoid packaged items like crackers, canned or boxed soup, or frozen meals, which tend to pack huge amounts of hidden sodium, says New York City nutritionist Brittany Kohn, R.D., of Middleberg Nutrition.

Lay Off of Certain Veggies the Day-Of
Fall is definitely Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and cauliflower season, but these and other cruciferous vegetables contain raffinose, a sugar fermented by gut bacteria that causes gas and can lead to bloating, says Kohn.

…But Load Up on Asparagus
“It’s a diuretic that flushes out water, and it's also a prebiotic, which increases probiotics in your system to help absorb food and reduce gas and bloating,” says Kohn.

Sip Warm Water with Lemon
Lemon is another natural diuretic that helps your body expel excess water, says Kohn. Not a fan of the sour taste? Just make water your go-to drink—it helps flush out sodium.

Don't Cut Back on Calories
When you’re trying to de-bloat, eating very low-calorie foods can backfire on you because you have to eat more to feel satisfied and that causes your stomach to expand temporarily during digestion, says Kohn.

Move More
Finding time for a sweat-inducing workout will help reduce puffiness. But simply getting up more, even if it’s just to do chores or throw a ball toy around with your pet, can help prevent gas from building up and bloating you, says Kohn.

Shut Down the Kitchen After Dinner
The night before you rock your costume, finish your last meal of the day by 8 p.m. and resist the urge to snack. You’ll wake up with an empty—and flatter—stomach, says Kohn.

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