11 Summer Slimdown Tips

On-trend diet moves, well-designed platefuls and kick-ass superfoods can give your weight loss a brilliant boost.

1 PLAY HUNGER GAMES

Those first pangs that drive you to snack are usually nothing to do with hunger at all. Those growls are down to dehydration. At the first rumble, rehydrate with water or better yet, herbal tea. Look for one with cinnamon or the herb gymnema in the mix – both control blood sugar and, in turn, those cravings.

2 PAMPER YOUR BUGS

Take a probiotic daily to encourage good gut bacteria. Research suggests that gut bacteria sends signals to the brain to create cravings for foods they need to thrive. This means that if we up good bacteria with a probiotic, they’ll send signals for healthier foods.

3 SLEEP IT OFF

Some believe that if you sleep less you get a bigger waistline thanks to hormones encouraging sugar and fat cravings. New research indicates that shorter sleepers simply have a slower metabolism. Great sleep will leave you refreshed and a night-time supplement with metabolism-boosting amino acids, superfoods and vitamins could help towards losing that (middle) padding.

4 WATCH THE CLOCK