Every bride wants to look and feel beautiful on her wedding day. By introducing some basics concepts and being consistent with them, this is something that can easily be accomplished. The key is planning ahead, committing to the plan, and being sure to incorporate both mental and physical aspects of self-care.
Determine Your Workout Goals and Make a Plan
The months leading up to your wedding can easily become very chaotic and overwhelming. On top of your everyday lives with work and regular commitments, you’re now having to fit in meetings with wedding planners, florists, and caterers, as well as shopping for your dress, the bridesmaid dresses, and so on. If you are serious about wanting to embrace a wellness plan, you need to plan for it and build time into your schedule so you can easily follow through. The first step is determining what your fitness goals are. Do you just want to maintain your weight heading into your wedding, or do you want to shed some unwanted pounds? Are you wanting to gain some muscle tone and definition to rock a bikini on your honeymoon? Is your focus on eating better and getting more sleep? Your specific goals will determine how far in advance you should start. Obviously, if you are just wanting to maintain your fitness level and eat healthier, you can begin at any time. If major weight loss is your focus, you will need to start several months in advance.
The more weight you want to lose, the more time you should allow. Do not wait until the month before the big day and engage in ineffective, expensive, false-claim practices like seaweed wraps and twelve day fasts. These are unhealthy, often have emotional side effects, and rarely have a lasting impact. Instead, take time and plan your workouts on your calendar weeks or months in advance. For optimal fitness, strive for at least three workouts a week to begin. As you get stronger, you can add additional days or crank up the intensity level. Be sure to incorporate both cardio and weightlifting to get the most benefit out of your workouts, and be sure to include plenty of stretching to keep everything limber, flexible, and strong.
The Workouts
Don’t be intimidated by the workouts. There is something for everyone. If you haven’t been working out regularly, start with something as simple as a thirty minute walk. This will elevate your heart rate and get your muscles working. As you get more comfortable, you can walk longer or pick up the pace, even turn it into a jog instead of a walk. If this isn’t your thing, go the gym instead. This doesn’t have to mean hitting the weights like a bodybuilder; it can be taking a class, doing light weights, or cruising on an elliptical or running machine. Talk to one of the fitness specialists, and they can guide you on which exercises can help you meet your goals. You do not need to invest in a personal trainer to reach them, unless you simply want to do so. Many brides want to tone up and lose some weight, but do not want to get bulky. With this in mind, some of the most popular workouts for brides in 2017 are pilates, yoga, and barre workouts. These all focus on developing strength, increasing flexibility, and creating definition and lean muscle tone. The added benefit of each is they also burn calories and can be effective for weight loss when combined with a healthy diet.
Beyond the Physical Workout
In addition to working on your physical appearance, be sure to give some attention to your internal care, as well, if you really want to glow on your wedding day. Much of this begins with your diet. To make sure you are getting the proper nutrition to nourish your body, clear your skin, and minimize unwanted belly bloat, up your levels of protein, omega-3s, and colorful fruits and veggies while decreasing carbohydrates and sodium. Increase your water intake, and avoid excess alcohol and caffeine. This combination of diet adjustments will have you looking and feeling your best on your wedding day.
Additionally, make sure you are getting enough sleep and allowing yourself some downtime to clear your mind every day. It’s easy to get so caught up in all the wedding details and demands of daily life that something has to give to fit it all in. Too often that is sleep. Being exhausted can lead to short tempers, high levels of emotionality, and feelings of being overwhelmed, none of which are beneficial for the bride and groom.
Your wedding is undoubtedly one of the biggest days of your life. You want everything to be just perfect, and that includes look and feeling beautiful on your big day. By following these simple workout guidelines, you will be radiant as you walk down the aisle to start your future.