Getting Fit & Healthy in Preparation for the Big Day

Every bride wants to look fabulous in her gown, but some go a little overboard in trying to reach that goal. Fad diets, over-exercising, and even wired-shut jaws are not that uncommon. But in addition to the dangers of over- or under-doing anything to look slimmer for the big day, another problem exits: they don’t work

However, if you give yourself six months to shed some weight (depending on your current size), five or ten pounds is a reasonable goal to shoot for; you’ve got the time to do it safely and smartly. You might even have some fun. If you’re already in marathon form, this article isn’t for you; if it’s only a pound you need to lose, you can manage that with one less scoop of granola a week

Lean, mean, wedding machine.
Before hitting the treadmill, hit the refrigerator. Check out the calorie and fat intake of everything you eat, and get rid of what’s holding you up. Cereals high in fiber are great for keeping the cholesterol count down, but they are not all created equal. The oatmeal standard is a good scale to use—if your fave breakfast has more calories, drop it for something of equal value to oatmeal. Other potential threats: butter-flavored popcorn, cheese, frozen yogurt, peanut butter, and anything with processed flour (white bread, pasta, etc.). If you’re a midnight snacker, and there’s anything in your refrigerator that is too tempting, throw it out. (Ice cream, cake, cookies, soda, etc.) Out of sight, out of mind is good mantra to practice.

Be prepared.

One of the main reasons people gain weight when they’re busy—and planning your wedding qualifies—is that they don’t have time to prepare healthy meals. Instead, they run around starving all day, and then order a bucket of fried chicken at dinnertime. Head to the supermarket, and load up on “emergency food”: low-fat yogurt, cheeses, tuna, turkey slices, and, of course, fruits and vegetables. Make sure you eat something when you wake up to get the digestive system working, and have several small meals a day. 

Burning up for your love.       
The next step is to increase your amount of exercise. You’ve got to get a good 20 to 30 minutes of workout time four times a week to do any good. If you belong to a gym, start using the cardio machines, or take yoga, spin, or any aerobics classes. Figure out which works with both your schedule, and where you live.

Walk the Line: If you’re the type who drives to the corner deli, walk it. Better yet, find a path trail, and take your fiancé or close friend with you. While you strut, go over wedding details. If you live in a big city, ditch the subway and walk home from work. Walking is one the best cardiovascular exercise there is, and it’s extremely therapeutic.

Rope Burn: Wasn’t jumping rope as a kid fun? It still is, and you don’t need to leave the house. Pull out the old rope, or buy a new one at any sporting goods store, and try it for twenty minutes. Boxers don’t do it for show, ya know: it’s a workout.

Bicycle Race: Riding is another great cardio sport, and most fun with a buddy. Pull the old cycle out of the closet, make sure to get it “tuned-up” at a local bike shop, and race around a local park. You’ll have so much fun; you won’t realize you’ve burned 500 calories in an hour.

Lapping it Up: Swimming is great exercise for virtually every muscle, and it’s also a terrific toner. Find a public pool, or use that one you’ve neglected at the gym, and dive in.

Another factor to keep in mind: Never order a dress in a smaller size than what you actually are. If you don’t lose the intended weight, you’re in a (pardon the pun) huge amount of trouble. If you do lose the weight, you can always take in the gown.

Finally, don’t obsess, and don’t jump on the scale every twenty minutes. Body weight fluctuates daily, so find a good time to weigh yourself (about an hour after a meal or workout is most reliable), and stick to checking yourself once a day at the same time. Don’t worry about numbers, or falling short of your goal weight; just remember that what’s important is having fun and getting healthy.