Picking up models’ dieting tips is an easy way to keep up with the latest fitness news and trends. Movie stars and models know all the tricks for staying in shape because they have the money to spend on personal trainers, health clubs, and any diet book they could possibly want. If you don’t have that much cash, the next best thing is listen to the advice of those who do.

Models like Heidi Klum and Gisele Bundschen, along with lesser known models, have been interviewed repeatedly by journalists wanting to know what advice they have for the average person who wants to drop a few extra pounds or ten.

Here are some of the tips that come up again and again:

1. Drink plenty of water Your body needs plenty of water in order to metabolize fat efficiently. If you’re active – and you should be if you’re trying to lose weight – drink at least 36 ounces (about four and a half glasses) of water a day.

2. Cut back on alcohol This really is a model’s dieting tip, since models attend a lot of social functions where alcohol is served. They know, though, that alcohol suppresses the body’s ability to burn fat. It also dehydrates, which reverses the benefits of tip #1.

3. Increase your muscle mass Muscle, while heavier than fat, burns calories. Getting more of it is easier said than done, though. Basically, this means doing strength training exercises like weight lifting. Read more