It's too late to do a sensible healthy diet and workout plan for the summer hols, but that doesn't mean a crash diet - here's what you CAN do

That long-anticipated summer holiday is fast approaching, but, instead of wistfully daydreaming about getting horizontal with a mojito and an appallingly predictable beach read, you’re in a cold sweat over the Big Reveal.

Yup, bikini season is upon us, and if you haven’t been as diligent with the diet as you’d intended, it can be a terrifying prospect

Fortunately, you still have plenty of time to make visible changes. Stick to the following advice for the next two weeks and you’ll give Beyonce a run for her money. Ish. Okay, not at all really, but you’ll still look pretty damn hot.

1) Make water your new best friend
It’s free, simple to do and has transformative effects, yet few of us drink anywhere near our recommended intake of H2O.

Humble water has numerous health benefits, and is one of the best things we can take if we want to slim down quickly. As well as giving you clear, smooth skin, it promotes weight loss, removing by-products of fat and filling up your stomach, thereby reducing hunger.

Aim for six to eight large glasses a day, and flavour with fresh mint leaves, lemon, lime or berries if you get bored.

2) Beat the bloat
Keep bloating under control and you’ll feel a lot more confident by the pool. There are lots of things that can cause a swollen stomach: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, hormonal changes, swallowing air... But in most cases, a few simple changes to your diet is all it takes to achieve a flatter tummy.

Avoid greasy and fried foods – it takes the stomach longer to break down and digest fats, which causes gas to build up.

Also eliminate salty, processed food, spicy foods, such as chilli, onions, tomato sauce, garlic and vinegar and vegetables like broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, baked beans, lentils and peppers (just for these two weeks, they have plenty of benefits in your regular diet).

Chewing gum, white bread, cake, biscuits and artificial sweeteners are other dietary culprits.

3) Ditch tea and coffee
Caffeine releases the stress hormone cortisol, which increases your cravings for sweet and salty foods. Switch to herbal teas instead: fennel, dandelion and milk thistle are great for detoxing.

4) Avoid diaryMilk and cheese can cause bloating, especially in women, so avoid for a few weeks. You’ll still need your calcium, though – replace with salmon, almonds, spinach and rhubarb

5) Try a one-day cleanse
Kick-start your bikini diet with a juice day. First thing, have with a hot water with ginger and lemon. Ginger is full of antioxidants and will boost your metabolism and eliminate toxins. Go for juices with plenty of greens: spinach, apples, cucumber and kale. This will cleanse the digestive system and balance the acidity in your gut.

6) Steer clear of alcohol
It’s dehydrating and high in calories, and like caffeine, it encourages us to snack.


7) Go for a protein-rich breakfast
Ditch the sugary cereal and embrace the preferred breakfast of the A-listers, the egg-white omelette with spinach. It’ll keep you going til lunchtime and more importantly, will keep that stomach flat.

Happy holidaying