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Easy Ways
to Get Fit For Your Wedding
By Lynn
Bode
Every
bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day. Selecting a
dress that will make you look and feel great is an important
first step. But what happens when you look in the mirror and
notice trouble spots like saggy arms or unsightly folds in your
back or waist? When this happens it’s not uncommon for brides to
try quick-fix diets to help them get in shape. Unfortunately,
many dieting brides make fitness mistakes that not only prevent
them from reaching their goals but also cause unnecessary stress
and sometimes even illness. Those are two things no bride needs!
Here are five of the most common diet mistakes as well as some
tips to help you avoid them.
1. Too much, too late.
One of the most important things to remember if you are trying
to lose weight is to start early. For example, don’t try to lose
20 pounds two months before the big day. The key is to plan
ahead so that you can lose the weight (or just tone up)
gradually. So if you’re dream-wedding day includes you being in
great shape, then include fitness as a “to-do” on your overall
wedding checklist. That way it will be a priority in your
wedding planning.
2. Setting unachievable goals.
Many women get engaged and begin imagining themselves
drastically thinner or more sculpted. Be realistic with
yourself. If you’ve never been a size 6 in your life, then it is
probably unrealistic to think you can magically transform just
because you are getting married. And, do you really want to look
so different on your wedding day that most people (including
your fiancé) hardly recognize you?
3. Radical diets or fitness programs.
Brides typically are short on time and long on to-do lists. This
leads many to try unhealthy fitness programs or starvation
diets. Don’t be tempted by diets that promise quick, drastic
results with little effort from you. You should avoid any
programs that suggest taking “diet” pills or eating unbalanced
meals (like eating only cabbage soup for a week). And, don’t be
lured into trying dangerous things, like laxatives.
4. Not exercising.
It’s very easy for brides to say “I don’t have time to exercise”
or “I’m too tired to exercise”. But diet and exercise should
always go hand in hand. Consider them to be like yin and yang.
Without activity your body can’t burn as many calories. If you
are very short on time, try to exercise in small 10-minute
bursts throughout the day. And, keep in mind that little things
help too, like taking the stairs or parking at the outer edge of
the mall parking lot. Plus, if you are tired from all of your
planning, exercise will help give you back some energy.
5. Skipping Meals
It’s not uncommon to get caught up in your planning and then
realize at 9 p.m. (as your head begins to ache) that you haven’t
eaten a thing all day. While it may not be an uncommon scenario,
it is unavoidable. Not only is skipping meals unhealthy, it can
lead to binge eating. That often means eating very fattening
foods and/or overeating all at once. To avoid this, try packing
light snacks to keep on hand throughout the day. Good examples
include carrot sticks, cheese strings, peanut butter on
crackers, etc.
Getting in shape doesn’t have to be complicated and it doesn’t
require a lot of time. If you are trying to lose weight or firm
up before your wedding, below are some sample plans to help you
get started. Keep in mind that the most important thing is for a
bride to feel good about herself. And no matter what size or
shape, all brides are beautiful on their wedding day!
Sample Exercise Workout:
20 – 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise (3 – 5 time per week)
Example: 2-5 minutes of brisk walking, 2-5 minutes of jumping
jacks (repeat for 20 – 30 minutes)
Sample Meal Plan:
Eat 5-7 small meals per day (meals should include protein,
grains, vegetables, etc. to meet the food pyramid daily
requirements)
Example: Small, grilled, skinless chicken breast
Slice of whole wheat bread
Slice of cheese
Mixed Vegetables
Glass of Water (2 or 3 would be even better)
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