Scout for Hidden Sugars

Then, nix ’em from your diet! You’ve probably already cut back on the sugar-bombs like candy and cookies, but the sweet stuff may be lurking in foods with otherwise good reps. Fruit juice, granola bars, certain bran cereals and bottled iced tea can be chock-full of hidden sugar, often in the form of high fructose corn syrup, according to nutritionist Deborah Arneson, author of Fries, Thighs and Lies: The Girlfriend’s Guide to Getting the Skinny on Fat.

LOSE: 1 lb. a week if you cut sugar intake from 100 to 200 daily grams to 35.

Scarf Down Soups and Salads

“Recent research shows that filling up on a low-cal salad or broth-based soup at the start of your meal can help you cut about 100 total calories,” says Lisa Talamini, chief nutritionist and program director for Jenny Craig. So dig in to your appetizer — just remember to go easy on the salad dressing!

LOSE: 1 lb. in two weeks if you cut 100 calories from both lunch and dinner.

Gobble Before You Gulp!

Grab a snack before you sip. “Drinking caffeine or alcohol, especially on an empty stomach, encourages insulin to floodgate into the bloodstream,” explains Arneson. Result? The activation of cortisol, a fat-storing hormone. If you can’t live without your morning latte or a post-work margarita, quaff only after a nibble of healthy fats like whole-grain bread with peanut butter — it’ll help stabilize your blood sugar levels.

LOSE: 1 lb. in two weeks.

Wedge in Extra Workouts

Being busy doesn’t mean you can’t cram calorie-burning into your daily routine! The key: more movement in our lives, even when we’re not technically exercising, says Carol Forman Helerstein, Ph.D., a Long Island-based clinical nutritionist. Even if you’re on the phone, “stand up and do some lunges, or pick up a two- to three-pound water bottle and do some curls to work out your arms,” adds Erica Gragg, fitness instructor and co-author of Bikini Boot Camp.

LOSE: 1 lb. in two weeks if you squeeze in three 10-minute quickies each day.

Recheck Restaurant Portions

Dining out? It’s easy to let portions slide, especially once you’ve lost some weight, explains Talamini. But to keep shedding those last few pesky pounds, use visual cues to keep your meal under control. “Imagine your plate divided into quarters,” she suggests. Veggies should make up half the plate, protein should be a quarter and starch (rice, bread or pasta) the last quarter. If you’re eating an entrée like salmon, keep it to the size of a deck of cards. Ask for a doggie bag for any leftovers!

LOSE: 2 lbs. in five weeks.

Refresh Your Routine

No longer feeling the burn from your daily walk? “Weight loss may plateau because muscle memory kicks in when you do the same exercise over and over,” explains Gragg. Challenge your body and use up more fuel by giving different muscle groups a jolt. Mix it up: Do some laps in the pool at your local Y or try out some high-intensity power yoga.

LOSE: 2 lbs. in four weeks by increasing the intensity of daily exercise.
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Our Experts: Carole Bodger, author of The Little Book of Dirty Diet Tricks; style expert Kathryn Finney of BudgetFashionista.com; Erica Gragg, Co-author of Bikini Boot Camp