Wedding Weight Loss Tips

The invitations, the cake, the photographer - the stress of wedding planning can put a girl over the edge. Add to that, the stress of trying to fit into her dream gown, and it may send her off for more chocolate. So what’s a girl to do when she wants to look her best for the big day without losing her sanity? Put first things first and start slow.

It is unrealistic to think a girl can lose 50 pounds in three months just to fit into “the” bridal gown of her dreams. While crash dieting and other unnatural eating options can achieve this goal, it will ultimately take a hefty toll on the bride’s health – not to mention that the weight will simply pile back on as soon as you’ve reached your goal. This approach of setting up unrealistic expectations will only lead the bride to failure. So what is a healthy weight loss goal? About 1 – 2 pounds per week is realistic. Slow weight loss will actually help you in the long run to keep the weight off. Frantically starting a weight loss program right before the wedding is probably not the best idea. Instead, try long-term planning. Maybe six to eight months before the wedding, start to examine your current lifestyle to see how you can make changes.

There are three major components in weight loss that will help any girl achieve success. The first is a belief in yourself. If you believe that you are worth putting the effort into, you will succeed. Believe it or not, many women sabotage their own weight loss because they believe they are not important. Brides will use many excuses such as they are too busy, too tired, or their fiancé doesn’t like “rabbit” food. In reality, you are the most important person in your life. If you do not take care of yourself and put yourself first in terms of your health, you will suffer greatly for it as you age. The weight loss goal should not be simply to fit into the wedding dress or look good for the photographer. The goal should be to start your marriage off on a healthy foot, so that you and your new spouse can look forward to celebrating your 50th wedding anniversary without high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or other preventable health problems.

The second major component in weight loss is healthy eating. Does this mean a lifetime of salads and tofu? Absolutely not. Healthy eating is actually a two-part deal. The first is moderation. Moderation means that you can eat steak or have a slice of cake – some of the time – as long as you also fit in your fruits, vegetables, and grains as well. While any girl would love to live on chocolate alone, it simply is not practical. In the beginning, try looking for fruits and vegetables that you enjoy eating. Instead of grabbing a bag of chips as a snack, try an apple or an orange. If you want chocolate, go for a Hershey Kiss or two instead of a king sized Snickers bar. The second part of healthy eating is portion control. Try measuring your cereal in the morning in a measuring cup to see exactly how much you are eating. Compare this to the food label on the cereal box. What you think you are eating may actually be much more that what you should be eating. Try going with a 6 ounce steak instead of a 12 ounce steak and you will cut your calories and fat intake dramatically.

The third major component in weight loss is exercise. As we all collectively groan, some of you may be running for cover. Exercise is not necessarily the most fun aspect of your day. But ladies, it has to be done. Before you run out and buy an expensive gym membership, spandex and the latest footgear, take heart. Exercise can actually be as simple as walking during your lunch hour or riding your bike after work. You can also do small things like lifting hand weights (which can be purchased in any sporting goods section of a store for $5-10) for 20 minutes a day. Even small things like parking your car in the lot farthest from the grocery store or choosing the stairs instead of the elevator will help boost your weight loss.

While following this advice may not lead you to lose 100 pounds in 10 weeks, it will start you on your way to feeling better about yourself as you become healthier. The weight loss will come, even if it is slow, and ultimately will stay off. The result is a beautiful bride who glows on her wedding day.

Brenda Frezell is a freelance writer and avid travel buff. You can find her online at http://www.shoestringbrides.com or http://www.railtripper.com