10 Things We Hate About Bloat - No. 6

6. "Yep, bikini bloat is a bitch.."

Hey ladies, it’s Amy here. You don’t know me so I’ll fill you in on a few things about myself.. 

I’m a 24 year old gal who loves many things, some of which include: Netball with my babes, mixed netball with my crew, surfing (well, attempting to anyway) and most importantly eating.. I have recently discovered that after a meal I feel about 10 kilograms heavier than I actually am. Crazy, right? Well, it’s what many of us go through on a daily basis during Summer, and to be honest, I’m freaking over it. I love the beach and I love hanging out with my friends by the pool on a hot weekend. But I HATE feeling like a beached whale rolling around in the sand. Let’s be real, most of us have been there, and it doesn’t make us feel confident in ourselves. Yep, bikini bloat is a bitch.

You get me, right? Like, you have those pool parties and the food starts rolling out and you totally want to go for the sausage rolls and party pies but you don’t because you know you’ll balloon out and next thing you know you’re using your stomach as a floating device in the water.

Don’t get me wrong, I love sandwiches, burgers, donuts and everything else in between. I guess I thought it was just super normal to bloat as severely as I did… But in all honesty, I hated that I spent so much time in a bikini and felt terrible in one. I wouldn’t necessarily say I have body confidence issues, it’s just this damn stomach after I eat! But you know what? There is ALWAYS a solution to this kind of problem, and it’s not skipping breakfast!

If there’s any advice that I can give on how I kick bloat’s ass, it’s that doing things like not drinking water and not eating doesn’t help, or solve any issues. If I know I’ve got something on the next day that I want to be looking (and feeling) freaking good for, I just make sure I’m smart about what I eat, and when I eat. If I’ve got a pool party on the next day, I’ll make sure I have a pretty substantial dinner the night before, and something small in the morning when I wake up instead of the other way around. I find that if I wake up and have some strawberries, blueberries and raspberries with some yoghurt followed by a glass of water I feel fresh and bloating ain’t got nothin’ on me.

I also make sure I have at least 2 glasses of water before I go to bed the night before so that it gives my body time to digest what I’ve eaten before the next day. I also always make sure I have a little snack before I head out the door.. Juuuuust to avoid going head first into the snacks table when I arrive at the party. Things like some carrots and dip, or crackers with something on top are the perfect on-the-go snack to keep you ticking along until you're hungry again. 

And you know what, I gotta be real for a second and also say that sometimes no matter how much you try and follow those tips, you will have those days where you do everything right and you’re still not 100% confident and bloat free when you wake up. And that’s ok!

Bloating is like a bully. It wants you to back down and make you feel sh*t about yourself. But you know what, even if you have a party that day and you're not feeling your best, you need to own it and show bloat that you don’t back down from a fight. There’s always a way around it... and the answer is not staying home!  So if you ever have one of those days, grab your sexiest one piece bathing suit, and totally rock it. Confidence is the key. And it’s always a good idea to have a cute sarong on standby to tie around your waist if you want. If you’re smiling and having a good time, no one is going to look at your bloated stomach.

And plus, Flat Tummy Tea had my back. I discovered it after a few of the netball girls told me about it. I thought to myself, “If this stops me from feeling like a beached whale I am so in”. In Summer I will do a four week cleanse at least 2 or 3 times.. it’s the only thing I've found that works and has left me feeling confident enough to go down to the beach and run around in a bikini.

I guess I just want other girls to realise we all bloat, and we all feel crappy for it, but there totally is a solution which can leave you feeling so amazing and confident! Life is short, so pick up that cake and then be sure to go and make yourself that Flat Tummy Tea girl!