Taylor Hill/FilmMagicHalloween is mere days away and regardless of what's on your agenda for the evening, one thing's for sure: You've got that fierce costume on lock.
It's finally time to show off your genius getup, but first, fitness. You might be more of a Harley Quinn than a classic black cat, but either way, you're going to be putting it all out there—at least more than usual. (You know what we mean!)
So, you ask, is there anything you should be doing right now to tighten up and feel extra-confident on the big night?
It's a good, pressing question, so we asked Erin Oprea, trainer to country stars Carrie Underwood, Jana Kramer, Kelsea Ballerini and former Bachelorette Kaitlyn Bristowe, what exactly you can do in these last remaining days to look and feel your best in your outfit at your Halloween party. And yes, these are the same tips Carrie uses to get camera-ready for her performances.
Starches and Other No-Nos: "Stay away from bloating foods like broccoli and cauliflower and also keep away from too many starches," she said. Starches are a type of carb and, like Halloween parties, there's a good kind and a bad kind. According to Erin, you should eat healthier starches (like legumes, whole grains and potatoes) earlier in the day and completely cut out the baddies (cookies, cakes, candies and other sugar-y goodies)—at least until the party, that is. "Processed foods aren't ever your friend but, especially right now. Watch that sodium level and de-bloating foods, like beets, will be great to add at this point unless you're an all-star and already regularly eat them," explained Erin.
This Isn't the Week to Skip the Gym: Bad news: if you're not already Carrie Underwood-fit—you're not going to get there one week out, no matter how hard you train. But Erin did say to skip the heavy weights this week and hit the treadmill instead. "I never say stop weight training, but one week out won't cut you up any more; on the other hand your cardio can make a big difference in that period," revealed the pro. But you don't need to go harder than usual: "As long as your workouts and nutrition are consistent leading up to this week, stick with the schedule," she said.
Make Sure You're Getting Enough H2O: If you regularly don't drink enough water daily, this week is a good time to start. "If you get a healthy amount, stick with it—you don't need to up the quantity. I stick to around half my body weight in ounces," she said. Another note: If you drink coffee and exercise, you need to drink even more.
Don't Underestimate Your Precious Sleep: Tired isn't a good look ever. "Get some solid nights of sleep leading into the big party. If you're looking for that best fresh face and body then let bedtime do most of the work," said the pro.
The clock is ticking, people!