How to Lose Weight for Your Wedding Day

Your wedding day is approaching and you want to look your best! You ask yourself, “What can I do to be my best for the day and the photos? Not sure if you need to do anything? Look at recent photos of yourself and then decide. Besides, it is always beneficial to exercise and eat right, no matter what shape you are in.

How can I lose weight?

Do you need to lose weight, tone up, or both?  If you do, you need to start now and not wait until the last minute. By waiting for the last minute to lose weight too quickly and over exercise, you may become ill or injure yourself, or in some cases…both. You owe it to yourself and your spouse to be to take it slowly and consistently.

Make a Weight Loss and Exercise Plan

Whenever you begin anything new, you need to make a plan which starts with a goal. The same goes for the self-improvement, weightloss plan you are about to launch.

The American Dietetic Association makes the following recommendations:

• Write down your attainable, measurable, and realistic goal
• research good nutrition (mypyramid.gov)
• exercise: body sculpting, weight training, and aerobics

By using mypyramid.gov, you can design a weightloss plan without spending any money beyond a good pair of cross training shoes. At mypyramid.com you can learn about nutrition and how to plan your meals balancing the healthy food groups including the amount nutrients you’re taking in.  You will also receive feedback as to the benefits of your exercise plan by learning about calories burned through specific exercises.

If you research each of the popular diet plans, you’ll all see they have two things in common…eat right and exercise!  Exercise increases your metabolism rate which in turn burns the calories and fat. Without an ongoing, consistent exercise program, you won’t be able to sustain your weightloss. That is why so many people lose weight and then gain it back. They stop their effort once they reach their goal.

Remember, you didn’t get this body you have now overnight…and you won’t get your new one overnight, either.  Once you get it, keep it. Exercise!

Exercise

If you watch the exercise gurus on TV, you hear them all stress working on the “core” which is the center of your torso. Working your core gives you that toned, flat front that enables us to be able to wear just about any style we want!  The core keeps your spine and body straight, preventing back injuries and giving you that “inner” strength to work the other muscles. Work the lower abs, then the middle abs, and ending with the upper abs because the upper abs fatique quicker than the lower ones.

The internet is loaded with free exercises for all parts of the body and if you can’t find them, there are books and plenty of videos to follow.  The trend for some brides and grooms are to hire a trainer at a local gym or spa.

Beginning a healthy lifestyle with your new spouse to be before the wedding is a great way to bond even closer. It is something you can do without cost by hiking or jogging through the parks or along the boardwalk where it is usually cooler. Biking on scenic routes can be an enjoyable pastime, too. Make it a day, go exploring, combine your choices of aerobic exercise. Take tennis lessons together or ballroom dancing to get ready for your first dance.

Don’t get fooled by all those who want to sell you their plan and take your money. You can do it on your own. But for some of us, we need someone to help us get started, for the structure, and help with the discipline. By having someone to answer to each week, it may keep you on target.

Here are some tips to help you reach your goal:

• keep a recent picture of yourself and a picture of what you want to look like, preferably a wedding couple
• keep a weightloss chart there, too
• keep a magnetic pad on the fridge and write down everything you eat and drink (it’s easy to forget)
• keep a small journal with you and jot down all food, beverage, and exercise
• plan and keep to an exercise schedule for you and your partner

You must have visual reminders and feedback to keep you conscious of your goal and the desired outcome.

After your wedding, make a pact to keep it up so you can be healthy through all your many years together.