| Spring or early summer is the most | | | | for 30-minutes per day, six days per |
| popular time for weddings. But no matter | | | | week. Be sure to include both cardio and |
| when you're planning your wedding, the | | | | resistance training so you'll get some |
| stress can be overwhelming! The average | | | | muscle tone while you're burning fat. |
| cost of a wedding in the United States | | | | Second, banish all high-fat junk food |
| is over $22,000. About $7,630 of that is | | | | from the house. Be strong! You can do |
| spent on the wedding reception (source: | | | | this! No Twinkies, no bacon, no |
| American Wedding Study, 2002). From | | | | chocolate cream pie. Eat plenty of lean |
| increasing costs to angry relatives to | | | | protein (skinless chicken breast, fish, |
| the never-ending guest list, a wedding | | | | etc.) and absolutely pig out on fresh |
| brings stress and frustration for the | | | | vegetables! Drink plenty of water, and |
| bride. | | | | in all cases avoid the empty calories |
| Unfortunately, we often resort to binge | | | | found in soda, alcohol and that sweet |
| eating and 'comfort foods' during times | | | | kids juice. |
| of stress, which of course puts on the | | | | Finally, be wary of the weight-loss |
| pounds and creates even more stress! "I | | | | 'tricks' that you'll hear from your |
| bought what size wedding dress?!?!?" | | | | girlfriends. There is no magic pill that |
| Approximately 7 out of every 10 brides | | | | will make you a size 6 by the wedding, |
| crash diet or starve prior to their | | | | so don't experiment. Don't starve |
| wedding date (source: | | | | yourself because that will make you |
| fresnoweddings.net). Real health and | | | | grumpy, make you retain fat, eliminate |
| fitness experts will tell you that crash | | | | muscle tone, and set you up for failure. |
| diets and starvation diets are the worst | | | | Don't listen to the gossip about the |
| thing we can do! "If you crash-diet, you | | | | newest 'cabbage diet' or 'grapefruit |
| run the risk of comprising your health | | | | diet' or 'Hollywood diet'. Instead, |
| ... so that your hair, skin, nails don't | | | | stick with a balanced diet and |
| look good for your big day or in the | | | | exercise.....this is the only proven way |
| wedding pictures. If you want to lose | | | | to lose fat and look your best. |
| weight before your wedding, look for a | | | | Two more bits of advice for the bride: |
| balanced eating plan" (source: Suzanne | | | | Eat breakfast the morning of your |
| Henson, coordinator of the University of | | | | wedding day - 8 out of every 10 brides |
| Alabama-Birmingham's EatRight Weight | | | | don't eat breakfast (source: |
| Management Program). | | | | fresnoweddings.net) which will only make |
| So what's a blushing bride to do if she | | | | you miserable and weak during the |
| has only six weeks until her wedding, | | | | reception! Most importantly, remember |
| and the stress is building up faster | | | | that he knew exactly what you looked |
| than the potluck table at church? There | | | | like when he proposed to you, and he |
| is hope..... | | | | still proposed! He loves you the way you |
| First of all, start exercising now. It's | | | | are, and all these fears about size and |
| crunch time, and while the old | | | | weight are unfounded anyway! |
| 30-minutes per day, 3 times per week may | | | | Relax, enjoy yourself, and make the |
| work for the general public it's | | | | lifestyle changes that will bring |
| probably not enough for the bride. Shoot | | | | results. Have a great wedding! |