Better in 7: The Ultimate Seven-Day Guide to a Better You

PART 1

better body in 7

There might be a lot of things you do well in your life, but I’m willing to bet that shaping up isn’t one of them—which is why you may not be as svelte and toned as you wish. I have a hunch you’ve tried everything, from celebrity videos to drinking diet shakes and all that. And let me just say these techniques work great, especially if you don’t like doing things like, say, breathing or chewing.

A lot of our attempts to get in shape last about four days at best—which is about three-and-a-half days longer than usual. This is why I’ve abbreviated my Shapelier in 7 programs into just one week—because you want to get in better shape fast. These programs will show you how to quickly lose weight, trim your abs and thighs, and more.

And I’m not talking only about camouflaging figure flaws you might hate. Now, I don’t know about you, but my perception of camouflage is clothing the Army puts on to hide from the enemy and blend into the background. If that’s the case, bikinis should look like sand and have shells glued on them. I know you don’t want to hide anything. You want it to go away. If I’m right, the next few chapters are for you.

CHAPTER 1

thinner in 7

Do you wish you could lose weight fast? How about 10 pounds in seven days? Got a big event coming up? Would you like to drop a dress size by Friday?

Here’s my special Thinner in 7 diet, which is designed to carve off up to 10 pounds in a week, flatten your belly, and even change your shape. Oh, and I should mention that it will leave your face looking years younger, because it’s based on natural foods.

But this diet isn’t for the lazy. If you want to be every man’s (including your husband or boyfriend) object of desire, you need to watch what you eat. No more burgers, shakes, ice cream, doughnuts, sausages, tacos, and fatty fast foods that slap fat on your hips and elsewhere. You’ll never see sexy women pig out and eat that kind of junk. It takes determination and desire to look as good as they do.

And here’s a plus: You will get results overnight. No woman I’ve ever talked to wanted to wait weeks on end to start looking more shapely. Women like you want results right away, and this diet delivers—as quickly as the very next day.

At this point, I know you’re probably thinking: What the hell does a plastic surgeon know about diet? Fair question—after all, we do body contouring procedures like tummy tucks and liposuction as fast routes to a better body. Do we even care about diet? Yes, we do—big time.

Most plastic surgeons are very in sync with diet and nutrition. We prefer that our patients be within around 5 or 10 pounds of a respectable, healthy weight prior to having any kind of plastic surgery, including liposuction. Performing surgery on very overweight or obese people is risky. I’d rather have you be as fit as possible. Being in shape helps ensure a great outcome, because I can see your best silhouette, and the surgery will go better. I won’t take a patient who is very overweight. So, I tell my plastic surgery patients that I will do my part in helping them achieve their desired look, but they must first do their part in practicing healthy eating and exercise habits to ensure they get to a surgery-appropriate weight and then make healthy lifestyle choices to maintain the results of their surgery.

The Thinner in 7 diet you’re about to start is similar to what I use with patients who need to trim off pounds prior to surgery; so, I know it works because I’ve seen it work.

This diet is based on two principles: calorie manipulation and water manipulation. The calorie manipulation principle has to do with controlling calories. You’ll be following a lower-calorie diet; however, it won’t feel restrictive, because the foods you’ll eat are very filling. Lowering calories forces the body to burn fat for energy, and when you burn fat, your body shape starts to change for the better.

As for water manipulation, the diet is designed to flush your body of toxic water—the stuff that wants to stay around, causing bloat, puffiness, and lots of extra pounds. So, yes, you’ll lose water weight. But hey, ladies: Water is weight—ugly, figure-marring weight. I want you to lose it! When you lose water weight, you flatten your belly rapidly, and you’ll get into a smaller size effortlessly. Accordingly, the diet emphasizes diuretic foods and natural diuretic supplements that help counteract bloating that occurs when your body tries to retain water. And if your tummy ever sticks out (the result of abdominal bloating), this diet will flatten it rapidly.

Trust me, the day you start this diet, you’ll instantly feel less bloated, which is a big factor when it comes to slinking into your sexiest clothes. The diet offers a balanced and healthy way to eat nutritiously, because you’re getting good carbohydrates, beneficial fats, and proteins during the day.

Okay, let me walk you through this diet, day by day. Do exactly as I outline; do not deviate.

H1Icon.ai Day 1

The first day starts with fruit only because it is a natural way to fuel the body with energy and nutrients. Fruits have terrific fat-burning benefits: they are filling, fat-free, low in calories, and high in fat-fighting fiber, compared to other foods most of us normally eat.

Upon rising:

Weigh yourself naked. Record your weight on a note card, journal, or other piece of paper. Don’t weigh yourself again until the eighth day.

6 to 7 a.m. (or whenever you normally get up):

Start by microwaving a coffee cup full of water. Squeeze in the juice of one lemon. Sip. This drink helps rehydrate your body after a night’s sleep and assists the colon in contracting to expel waste.

Within 30 minutes:

For breakfast, have 2 cups of watermelon chunks and 1 cup of green tea.

With breakfast:

Take one dose of dandelion root extract (250 milligrams each)*.

* Dandelion root helps increase water loss, thanks to active but hard-to-pronounce ingredients called taraxasterols. Taraxasterols accelerate the removal of sodium from the kidneys, and this makes you pee more. Take about 250 milligrams of dandelion root, twice a day.

Take one dose of bearberry extract (200 milligrams each).**

** The leaves of the bearberry plant can help prevent bloat. They contain an active ingredient called arbutin, which also creates more pee. Look for a supplement that provides at least 200 milligrams per dose, and take it twice a day.

Take one multivitamin/multimineral tablet.

9 a.m.:

Drink 2 cups water; flavor with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

10:30 a.m.:

Drink 8 ounces (1 cup) of coconut water. Coconut water is loaded with the mineral potassium. Potassium flushes out excess water, which means you’ll eventually have the flattest tummy in the restroom. Apart from this, many of us doctors believe that coconut water’s ability to maintain water balance helps rev up the body’s metabolism.

Noon:

Prepare a fruit salad of any of the following:

Option 1: One large navel orange + one Granny Smith apple + 1/2 cup of fresh raspberries. Have 1 cup of water, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Option 2: Quarter cantaloupe + 1 cup of fresh pineapple chunks + 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries. Have 1 cup of water, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Option 3: Half grapefruit + one pear + 1/2 cup sliced strawberries. Have 1 cup of water, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

With lunch:

Take one dose of dandelion root extract (250 milligrams each).

Take one dose of bearberry extract (200 milligrams each).

3 p.m.:

Drink 2 cups water; flavor with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

6 p.m.:

Prepare a fruit salad of any of the following:

Option 1: One large navel orange + one Granny Smith apple + 1/2 cup of fresh raspberries. Have 1 cup water, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Option 2: Quarter cantaloupe + 1 cup of fresh pineapple chunks + 1/2 cup of fresh blueberries. Have 1 cup water, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Option 3: Half grapefruit + one pear + 1/2 cup sliced strawberries. Have 1 cup water, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Tips to Make Day 1 Successful

Eat a different combination of fruit at dinner than you did at lunch. This way, you don’t get bored eating the same fruits. By boosting your intake of fruits, you’re increasing the amount of vitamins and minerals to strengthen your immune system so you won’t get sick—everyone hates to get sick—and you’ll improve the quality of your skin so that it glows, though not in the dark.

H1Icon.ai Day 2

6 to 7 a.m.: (or whenever you normally get up):

Start by microwaving a coffee cup full of water. Squeeze in the juice of one lemon. Sip.

Within 30 minutes:

For breakfast, have 2 cups of watermelon chunks or one whole grapefruit or a quarter cantaloupe, and 1 cup of green tea with your meal.

Take one dose of dandelion root extract (250 milligrams each).

Take one dose of bearberry extract (200 milligrams each).

Take one multivitamin/multimineral tablet.

9 a.m.:

Drink 2 cups water; flavor with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

10:30 a.m.:

Drink 8 ounces (1 cup) of coconut water.

Noon:

Prepare a large plate of salad: mixed greens, 1/2 diced cucumber, 1/2 cup chopped parsley, one chopped celery stalk, and 1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms. Spritz the salad with a salad spritzer (such as Wishbone) for flavor. Have 1 cup of water with lunch, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Take one dose of dandelion root extract (250 milligrams each).

Take one dose of bearberry extract (200 milligrams each).

3 p.m.:

Drink 2 cups water; flavor with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

6 p.m.:

Prepare a plate of the following steamed vegetables:

Ten spears of asparagus

1/2 cup cooked carrots

1 cup steamed sliced red bell peppers

1 cup water with dinner; flavor with fresh lemon juice, if desired

Tips to Make Day 2 Successful

Rather than use salt to flavor your veggies, season them with no-salt herb seasoning. It’s fine to spritz them with a few sprays of vegetable cooking spray, if desired. The vegetables you will eat today are for fiber, as well to help eliminate water. Vegetables have a small amount of carbohydrates for energy, but more importantly, they’re full of vitamins and minerals.

H1Icon.ai Day 3

6 to 7 a.m. (or whenever you normally get up):

Start by microwaving a coffee cup full of water. Squeeze in the juice of one lemon. Sip.

Within 30 minutes:

For breakfast, have 2 cups of watermelon chunks or one whole grapefruit or quarter cantaloupe, and 1 cup of green tea.

Take one dose of dandelion root extract (250 milligrams each).

Take one dose of bearberry extract (200 milligrams each).

Take one multivitamin/multimineral tablet.

9 a.m.:

Drink 2 cups of water; flavor with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

10:30 a.m.:

Drink 8 ounces (1 cup) of coconut water.

Noon:

Prepare a large plate of salad: mixed greens, 1/2 diced cucumber, 1/2 cup chopped parsley, one chopped celery stalk, and 1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms. Add to your salad: two hard-boiled eggs, sliced. Spritz the salad with a salad spritzer (such as Wishbone) for flavor. Have one glass of water with lunch, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Take one dose of dandelion root extract (250 milligrams each).

Take one dose of bearberry extract (200 milligrams each).

3 p.m.:

Drink 2 cups of water; flavor with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

6 p.m.:

One chicken breast, baked or grilled, plus 1 to 2 cups of steamed vegetables (green beans, yellow wax beans, spinach, turnip greens, dandelion greens, or other greens, summer squash, or zucchini). Have 1 cup of water with dinner, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Tips to Make Day 3 Successful

Please stick to the vegetables listed. Other common diet veggies such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower can cause bloating, so you want to avoid those on this diet. You’re almost halfway through—see, that wasn’t so hard, was it?

H1Icon.ai Day 4

6 to 7 a.m. (or whenever you normally get up):

Start by microwaving a coffee cup full of water. Squeeze in the juice of one lemon. Sip.

Within 30 minutes:

For breakfast, have 2 cups of watermelon chunks or one whole grapefruit or quarter cantaloupe, and 1 cup of green tea.

Take one dose of dandelion root extract (250 milligrams each).

Take one dose of bearberry extract (200 milligrams each).

Take one multivitamin/multimineral tablet.

9 a.m.:

Drink 2 cups of water; flavor with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

10:30 a.m.:

Drink 8 ounces (1 cup) of coconut water.

Noon:

Prepare a large plate of salad: mixed greens, 1/2 diced cucumber, 1/2 cup chopped parsley, one chopped celery stalk, and 1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms. Add to your salad: two hard-boiled eggs, sliced. Spritz the salad with a salad spritzer (such as Wishbone) for flavor. Have one glass of water with lunch, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Take one dose of dandelion root extract (250 milligrams each).

Take one dose of bearberry extract (200 milligrams each).

3 p.m.:

Drink 2 cups of water; flavor with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

6 p.m.:

One (4- to 5-ounce) grilled sirloin steak or filet mignon, plus 1 to 2 cups of steamed vegetables (asparagus, green beans, yellow wax beans, spinach, turnip greens, summer squash, or zucchini). Have 1 cup of water with dinner, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Tips to Make Day 4 Successful

If you find yourself feeling hungry between meals, nosh on baby carrots and/or increase your water intake. Thirst often masquerades as hunger.

H1Icon.ai Day 5

6 to 7 a.m. (or whenever you normally get up):

Start by microwaving a coffee cup full of water. Squeeze in the juice of one lemon. Sip.

Within 30 minutes:

For breakfast, have 2 cups of watermelon chunks or one whole grapefruit or quarter cantaloupe, and 1 cup of green tea.

Take one dose of dandelion root extract (250 milligrams each)

Take one dose of bearberry extract (200 milligrams each)

Take one multivitamin/multimineral tablet

9 a.m.:

Drink 2 cups of water; flavor with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

10:30 a.m.:

Drink 8 ounces (1 cup) of coconut water.

Noon:

Prepare a large plate of salad: mixed greens, 1/2 diced cucumber, 1/2 cup chopped parsley, one chopped celery stalk, and 1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms. Add to your salad: two hard-boiled eggs, sliced. Spritz the salad with a salad spritzer (such as Wishbone) for flavor. Have one glass of water with lunch, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Take one dose of dandelion root extract (250 milligrams each)

Take one dose of bearberry extract (200 milligrams each)

3 p.m.:

Drink 2 cups of water; flavor with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

6 p.m.:

One tilapia filet, grilled or baked, plus 1 to 2 cups of steamed vegetables (asparagus, green beans, yellow wax beans, spinach, turnip greens, summer squash, or zucchini). Have 1 cup of water, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Tips to Make Day 5 Successful

If you’re getting bored with steamed veggies, try stir-frying them. Spray a small sauté pan liberally with vegetable cooking spray. Cut the veggies into bite-size pieces and add them to the pan. Stir fry for six to ten minutes, stirring lightly. Add a few tablespoons of water if the vegetables are sticking to the pan.

H1Icon.ai Day 6

6 to 7 a.m. (or whenever you normally get up):

Start by microwaving a coffee cup full of water. Squeeze in the juice of one lemon. Sip.

Within 30 minutes:

For breakfast, have 2 cups of watermelon chunks or one whole grapefruit or half cantaloupe, and 1 cup of green tea.

Take one dose of dandelion root extract (250 milligrams each).

Take one dose of bearberry extract (200 milligrams each).

Take one multivitamin/multimineral tablet.

9 a.m.:

Drink 2 cups of water; flavor with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

10:30 a.m.:

Drink 8 ounces (1 cup) of coconut water.

Noon:

Prepare a large plate of salad: mixed greens, 1/2 diced cucumber, 1/2 cup chopped parsley, one chopped celery stalk, and 1/2 cup shiitake mushrooms. Add to your salad: two hard-boiled eggs, sliced. Spritz the salad with a salad spritzer (such as Wishbone) for flavor. Have one glass of water with lunch, flavored with fresh lemon juice, if desired.

Take one dose of