Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day, and for many, losing weight is a top priority.
There are so many details brides have to attend to, but one of the most important is how they can lose weight and look spectacular. Try the following tips to make sure you look as beautiful as you feel on your special day.
1. Pay attention to good nutrition.
Whether you want to fit into your mother's wedding dress or have a picture of your dream gown, you may need to lose a few pounds. Now's not the time to resort to fad diets or starving yourself.
Diets that result in quick weight loss aren't always safe, so the key to being fit for your wedding is to start early. You can fit into your dream gown and look good in all your pictures if you follow a healthy plan for nutrition.
* Skip the soda or dessert. By cutting only 200-250 calories a day, you are on you way to weight loss.
* Eat! Starving yourself or skipping meals causes your body to store fat instead of burning it.
* Get plenty of fiber and protein. These will help you keep your body healthy and aid in weight loss.
* Eating right can be hard when you are busy, which makes convenience foods so dangerous. Resist the temptation by always carrying good snacks with you.
* Stress can make us eat more than we normally would, and weddings are very stressful to plan. Instead of eating, go for a walk, try a yoga class, or do a cardio video each night. You'll feel calmer ? and thinner.
* Alcoholic drinks are full of calories, and they can cause you to become bloated. Put down the frozen margarita and grab a glass of ice water instead.
* Cut out desserts. Satisfy your sweet tooth with fruit or drinks with sugar substitutes.
2. Exercise is critical.
Worrying about your weight is not enough. Waiting until the last minute to lose weight doesn't work.
You have to start the weight loss process far enough in advance so you can lose weight healthily. Don't harbor unrealistic expectations that you can drop pounds overnight.
* Start exercising. You can start slowly by walking around the block every day or going to a fitness class. As always, add intensity and variety to your workouts to keep the weight coming off.
* For people who do exercise, Bride Boot Camp videos and exercise programs can be just the challenge their body needs to kick up fat and calorie burning. There are a lot of different videos offered by excellent trainers, and they can be immensely rewarding.
* Take dancing lessons. This will prep you for the big first dance with your new spouse and help you get more fit.
* Some great exercises to try are:
- Anything cardio. Get your heart going.
- Pushups. If you can't do a traditional form, try a modified one. You'll still get the same terrific results and have great chest and back muscles to show off on your wedding day.
- Lunges. These are effective for defining and tightening your thighs and butt. For even better results, add a chest press.
- Pilates and yoga are great for toning and lengthening muscles.
- Resistance bands help add intensity and difficult to cardio or strength training routines.
- Good posture can make you appear thinner. You'll also look more confident and beautiful.
3. Weight loss blunders brides often make
* Starting too late. They may be down to the last month and want to lose twenty pounds. You probably cannot do this healthfully and safely. Don't put your health and long-term goals at risk (crash dieting can lead to even more weight gain). Even quick weight loss doesn't happen overnight.
* Ignoring exercise. There's no way around it: you need to exercise in order to lose weight and keep it off. Even if you do lose weight with just diet, your muscles look slack. Exercise gives you a much more defined, toned, and sexy look.
* Not eating. Skipping meals is a great way to stall weight loss. It causes your body to go into starvation mode and horde fat. You can't trick your body out of it ? so eat!
* Wanting to do too much too fast. You need to have realistic goals. If you have always had a muscular curvy build, you won't be able to diet or exercise your way into a willow slim figure. Accept your body. You can look amazing no matter what your body size or shape. Don't choose your dress according to the body you wish you had but the one you actually do have.
Losing weight before your wedding takes time and preparation, just like the wedding itself.
Have a celebratory glass of champagne after your boyfriend pops the question. The next day, get started on a healthy, safe weight loss program that can help you look your best.
Posted under Wedding
This post was written by Brad Morgan on January 16, 2009
