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Why May is the best month to start a diet, according to Dr. Oz

Good news, New Year's resolution-breakers! May is one of the best months to start a diet.
/ Source: TODAY

You made a New Year's diet resolution, didn't stick to it, and now swimsuit season is rapidly approaching. We get it.

The good news is that, as it turns out, May is one of the best months to start a diet. Which is why Dr. Mehmet Oz is kicking off the "28-Day Shrink Your Stomach Challenge" on his show Thursday.

There are multiple reasons why the time is right to reboot your diet, according to Dr. Oz.

  • Sixty-one percent of women say they focus on their weight the most in May, and 57 percent say dieting is easier in the summer, according to polling data from The Dr. Oz Show.
  • People tend to eat less in hot temperatures.
  • Better weather and more sunlight mean more time to be outdoors and active.
  • The increased sunlight of the summer boosts serotonin levels, which reduce some people's need to eat.
  • There's an abundance of healthy, seasonal foods like peaches, cucumbers and asparagus.
Dieting in May
Dieting in MayShutterstock

RELATED: Lighten up with Dr. Oz's vitamin-packed veggie smoothie

As part of the 28-day challenge, Dr. Oz has broken down what you need to eat and when in order to slim that waistline in time for summer, focusing on four key points.

  • Avocado in the a.m.: Whether it's avocado toast or an avocado chocolate smoothie, it's a good source of fiber and potassium to start the day while replacing other fats in your diet.
  • Veggies all day: Dr. Oz's "veggie flush drink" featuring spinach, cucumber and pear provides a daily serving of vegetables and helps flush your body of excess toxins.
  • Fasting window: Don't eat anything from 9 p.m. until 9 a.m. to give your metabolism time to reset as well as time to burn fat.
  • What to avoid: Stay away from sugar, diet soda, packaged and processed foods, dairy and alcohol.

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