You've heard of those people who go on the latest fad diet and lose 8 pounds in the first week. You know that it's mostly water weight (and yes some muscle) but you wouldn't mind being in their shoes either. Quick weight loss can do a lot for your self-esteem plus it can motivate you to eat better and exercise regularly so that you continue to lose weight. On any given day most of us are holding on to at least five pounds of false weight and you don't need to go on a fad diet to lose it fast. The diet changes below can help you lose 5 pounds fast but keep in mind that these are only meant to be temporary changes.

Give Up Wheat Products
Dr. C. Leigh Broadhurst, author of Diabetes: Prevention and Cure, has stated that if she had to pick one strategy to recommend to people for weight loss and health it would probably be cutting out wheat. This is a recommendation made by a lot of diet gurus, allergy specialists, and body fat experts. The problem with wheat products like bread, cereal, and pasta, is that they are overly processed but made to look super healthy. Some contain tons of sugar, very little fiber, and make you retain a ton of water while others cause hidden food allergies that affect your immune system and make it difficult to lose weight. If you must have bread and cereal products read the ingredients list and make sure they contain whole grain corn, whole oats, rye, bulgur, and similar whole grains. Avoid products that have fructose as the second ingredient. With pasta you can switch from regular to spinach or buckwheat pasta. Your health food store has all these items for the same price as a regular supermarket plus they sell whole grains in bulk so you could even make up your own cereal.

Cut Out Dairy
Low-fat yogurt sounds healthy but is loaded with sugar, which could spike your insulin levels and turn on fat storage. Low-fat cheese and low-fat yogurt contain a good amount of sodium, which is a major cause of water retention. In addition the slightest allergy to dairy products, which goes undetected in many people, can cause gas and bloating, and a sluggish immune system. One week with no diary could help you feel less bloated, and less sluggish.

Stick To Water and Over-Hydrate
Eliminate all soft drinks, fruit juice drinks, flavored teas, lemonade, etc. All these have hidden calories and diet sodas are carbonated and have caffeine which both contribute to bloating. Drink a gallon or more of water a day. This may be very difficult for those who don't like water but drinking excessive amounts of water flushes your system of toxins, it helps your body metabolize stored fat, and prevents water retention and bloating. The best part is water has no calories and is a natural appetite suppressant. This comes in handy when you're trying to live without your favorite foods for a week.

Choose Only Healthy Condiments
Pass on the mayo and dressing (fat-free also) butter, margarine, sour cream (fat-free as well), vegetable oils, salt, and sugar. Instead try salsa on your baked potato, or marinate with mustard, balsamic vinegar, fresh lemon juice, fresh squeezed orange juice, garlic or herbs. Hot peppers and spices like curry, paprika, cayenne pepper, cumin, and crushed red pepper are also great choices. You can make a quick dressing with 1 1/2 tbsp. of olive oil, 1 tbsp. of balsamic vinegar, and a dash of Italian spices. Check the labels of any combination spices to make sure no salt is added.

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Avoid Processed Foods
For the next week your goal is to eat like a caveman or cavewoman. Focus on eating lean proteins (egg whites, tuna packed in water, skinless baked chicken, grilled fish, and only the best cuts of beef all organic if possible), some fruits, potatoes, brown rice, and tons of greens and other veggies. If you're serious about dropping five pounds fast anything that is processed, even if it sounds healthy (fruit juices, fat-free crackers, bagels, low-fat granola, low-fat ham or turkey), is out of the question.

Just think of this as a detox diet or a vacation from your processed foods diet. Remember that this is simply a way to jump start weightloss and not a healthy way of eating for an extended period of time. It's meant to shock your system into releasing stored water and toxins. It's also meant to motivate you to make healthier choices and exercise on a regular basis. If you're able to stick to this for even five days you will definitely see a drop in weight, flatter abs, less puffiness in your face, and feel lighter. Once you're done and happy with the results and would like to transition into a healthy diet you can read the Healthy Eating Guide for specific guidelines on how to get started.