Get Fit for Your Wedding Day
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 don't think you
look quite as good as you could? 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 FITscription:
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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