Among many other essentials, nutrition is vital for a bikini model! Your nutrition one week out from a photo shoot can either work in your favor or work against you! In the dictionary nutrition means “the provision, to cells and organisms, of the materials necessary (in the form of food) to support life”, but nutrition to a bikini model means so much more! That’s why you need to be aware and careful of what you are eating and drinking, what your activities consist of, and what your bad habits are!

Once the 7 day countdown until your shoot begins, you need to cut out any and all forms of alcohol. Alcohol dehydrates you, and depending on how much you take in, can make you look sickly with symptoms including, paleness, dark circles, dull your teeth and make you bloated. With that being said, all you should be drinking is water, no soda, no artificial juices, and cut out nearly all dairy products. Your body will need calcium, so one glass of milk with dinner is acceptable. The amount of water you should intake daily is at least 8 glasses, or 4 bottles.

If you eat healthy, your diet should only slightly change. Be sure to eat 4-6 times per day. An example of a good diet; oatmeal and a fruit for breakfast, a nutrition bar/granola bar/yogurt for a mid-morning snack, a salad for lunch with light dressing, a nutrition bar/granola bar/yogurt for a mid-afternoon snack, a protein shake after your workout, and a small portioned dinner consisting of white meat, steamed rice, and a side of vegetables (your portions should be no bigger than your fist) and a glass of milk with dinner. The types of foods you should have in your pantry and fridge should be, yogurt, fruit, egg whites, nutrition bars, granola bars, tuna, white meat, extra lean beef, whole grain rice, vegetables, spinach, light soup and oatmeal. Be sure to stay away from greasy foods and foods with a large amount of preservatives! Make sure you drink water consistently through out the day! Water helps to flush out the toxins in your body, and dramatically reduces and/or completely eliminate the amount of bloating you would experience during your shoot. Read the rest of this entry »