How can I dodge vacation pounds?

Q:

I finally reached my goal weight—I’m down 56 pounds and can’t wait to step out in a swimsuit on a cruise this month. But I’m hoping to enjoy the buffet and frozen drinks on board without gaining weight back. What do you suggest? A:

Our secret weapon for warding off weight gain when we know we’re going to be indulging: sipping coffee or water mixed with a scoop of whey protein first thing in the morning. This protein contains long-chain amino acids that require a lot of energy to digest, so it gives metabolism an early boost. Indeed, research at Arizona State University in Tempe shows that drinking a whey protein beverage increases calorie burn by

100 percent. This helps ensure any desserts or cocktails are torched instead of being stored as fat.

Another boon: Morning whey protein can also increase levels of appetitesuppressing hormones by 298 percent for the remainder of the day, helping to reduce the temptation to overindulge. You’re smart to add turmeric to your diet. Studies show the curcumin in the spice dials down fatpromoting inflammation and spurs fat cells to self-destruct—effects that helped study subjects given 1 tsp. of turmeric daily lose 6.6 times more body fat and 7.6 times more belly fat than those who didn’t get the spice.

The only hitch? The body tends to metabolize curcumin too quickly for the compound to be fully absorbed and utilized, which can limit results. That’s why we recommend adding

1⁄4 tsp. of ground black pepper to any dishes that contain turmeric. This spice blocks the metabolic pathways that break down curcumin, boosting its bioavailability by 154 percent. The payoff: Research in the journal Nutrition & Metabolism found that subjects given turmeric and pepper together lost 8 percent more body fat than those who consumed turmeric alone.

I’ve lost 18 pounds by adding turmeric to my smoothies,

but I’m still 26 pounds from my goal. How can I speed results?