Hey everybody!
I'm handing the blog over to Benny Bride Brooke, who's crazy fit and super smart. She is sharing tips for brides as they prepare their body for the big day. Read on!
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There are so many options for working out these days and changing it up will keep your mind challenged! There are traditional gym memberships that offer wonderful classes, Yoga, Pilates, running and biking the trails, Crossfit, circuit training, kickboxing, boot camps etc. Find something that makes you sweat and find a buddy to keep you accountable! Your current fitness level and your weight loss goals will determine how early you need to start. If you are on the side of the fence with achieving high weight loss and are currently inactive then start 9 months out and go 3 times a week. Ease your body into this mobility; you won’t regret it. The rest of the week take a couple walks around your neighborhood for 30 minutes. Three to five months out add in another gym day.
For those of you wanting to tone up and trim down just a bit, I would start changing your diet first. Then 5-6 months out is when I would recommend finding a workout activity that elevates your heart rate 3 times a week. Two months out was game time for me. Elevate your heart rate 5 times a week and meal prep away!
Whatever you do, don’t get caught up in the diet pill sales pitch. These are horrible for your metabolism and will emotionally YO-YO your results on the scale of usually only water weight. Start with feeding your body healthy supplements to aid your body as you put the hard work in at the gym.
Glucosamine helps support joint health and is always a great option if you are already regular about working out or are new to it.
Do you find yourself struggling to get through a full day without stopping and feeling inexplicably tired? Or maybe you need an extra boost before you hit the gym. If so, Vitamin B12 is a great option. It helps fight fatigue by aiding the production of red blood cells. These are only a few benefits of this vitamin.
Bioton or evening primrose are wonderful supplements for hair, nail and skin support.
One week prior to the wedding, practice restraint. Try to avoid salty foods, excessive carbohydrates, and limit alcohol consumption All of these things cause your body to retain water and can result in a puffy face and bloating.
The major thing I did that visibly showed the most results was Dandelion Root Tea. This is a natural way to lose water weight and detoxify the liver. Three weeks prior, I started doing 1 tea bag twice daily. The week of the wedding, I moved to 2 tea bags twice a day. Remember with this you should still drink water throughout the day. If you dehydrate yourself too much, headaches (and bridzilla) will come along too.
What you eat during this time period is going to be more important than what effort you put forth in the gym. You should be focused on 80% diet and 20% exercise. In order to see results you need to fuel your body with the adequate nutrition. It doesn’t have to be food that taste like cardboard either! You will find yourself craving this food as your body benefits from the nutrition. Don’t think of it as a diet. I can’t stand that word because I think it automatically makes me want to quit on day 1 and eat cookies. Think of it as a healthy lifestyle. Let’s start first with the NO NOs. Stay away from processed foods, artificial sugars (i.e. Diet coke, Splenda), sodium and starchy carbs. All processed foods and a lot of fast food restaurants are high in sodium which will bloat your body. When at the grocery store think of eating things from the earth. Leafy greens, apples with almond/peanut butter, veggies, grilled chicken, avocados, egg whites, almonds, steamed/grilled veggies with salt/pepper and lemon. You can always add flavor to dishes by using things like pesto and salsa. Personally I decided to take a gluten free and mostly dairy free route and have never felt better. My complexion has never been so clear in my life. I meal prep on Sunday for the entire week. That way when I get low blood sugar and cranky I immediately have a healthy go to snack that will sustain energy levels longer. It can be as simple as always having sliced deli meat (note: actually sliced from the deli, not pre-packaged), carrots with ranch, pre-cut celery with almond butter and raisins, or grab a healthy protein shake to satisfy your cravings. Protein shakes are great for me. You can drink them right after a workout or use them as an easy, on-the-go healthy meal replacement that fuels your body. You need to look for one with at least 20g of protein, low in sugar, and watch out for the artificial sweeteners in these (i.e. aspartame).
Lastly, minimize your alcohol consumption during this time. Womp Womp. I know, I know. Alcohol puts the brakes on fat burning while it’s being metabolized by your body. It takes 48 hours for your body to digest and you don’t burn any fat for those 48 hours.
My piece of advice:
With all the energy that goes into planning a wedding, it’s easy to lose sight of what it’s all about—give yourself gratitude for all your hard work. Love your body and be proud of all the effort you put forth. If you want a cheat meal... HAVE IT, but don’t have it 3 days a week. Putting aside the fact that you might miss your target by 5ish pounds or whatever. After all, this special day that gains so much pressure is ultimately about you and your soon-to-be husband and the covenant you are making with God….it’s just a bonus you look smokin’ in your beautiful dress.
Talk to you soon,
Dale