Harper’s Bazaar: January 2006

New Year, New You

Quickly Shed Those Holiday Pounds to reduce bloating, drop all dairy from your diet for 11 days (make sure to replace it with a calcium supplement in the interim) and avoid Chinese food, pizza, and pasta. Sally Kravich (sallykravich.com), a holistic nutritionist based in Los Angeles and New York, recommends taking two capsules of acidophilus (available in health-food stores) each morning when you’re recovering from a holiday sugar binge. It helps control sugar cravings by boosting your body’s level of good bacteria. She also warns against turning to protein bars to slim down: “They are not real food, so they often don’t satisfy your hunger and may lead to cravings.”

If you need to lose a few pounds, try Kravich’s 1000 calories-a-day fresh fruit and vegetable diet for up to a week. That means no grain, dairy, or protein. Says Kravich, “Unlike a liquid fast, this diet will keep your energy up. After the initial week you can continue to do it on weekends.”