You’re done planning your dream wedding. Wedding venues are booked, photographers are set, the dress has been chosen; congratulations! Now what?
It’s the most important thing and probably the scariest, getting into the right shape for the big day. I say it is scary because most grooms and brides poorly tackle this issue and end up having low confidence and last-minute havoc on their wedding day!
So, if you’re going to take one thing from this guide, take this: start preparing early! Don’t wait for the last moment. You should at least start the workout plan six months before the wedding.
A Step by Step Plan to get in Shape before your Wedding Day
Step 1: Start Early and Start Small
The first thing to do is make a workout plan, take too much pressure instantly, or start starving. Brides need to start working out at least 3-6 months before the wedding.
Start with walking for 20-30 minutes daily, mainly in the morning, but also try doing it after your dinner for some cardio (if you aren’t an evening person), as this promising form of exercise will help you burn all those extra calories. Try to walk at least 10,000 steps per day, as research suggests that walking is the simplest way to burn calories.
And try doing 3-4 days a week of resistance training which can be done at home without any special equipment. Start with exercises just for your arms and legs – pushups, squats, leg lifts, etc. And then move on to abs and back exercises.
Step 2: Focus on your Nutrition
The next step is to make a perfect diet plan, so you don’t lack nutrition. You can’t skip meals and think you’ll lose weight. An ideal body shape takes hard work and dedication, but most of all – your healthy diet is the key to keeping it off! Here is your perfect diet plan:
Breakfast: Oatmeal with 1 tbsp of peanut butter or fruit smoothies.
Snack: Natural apple sauce or hummus and veggie platter (carrots, snap peas, etc.)
Lunch: Quinoa with grilled chicken, soy sauce, or fat-free dressing + Side salad with vegetables.
Snack: 1/2 cup of berries or protein shake.
Dinner: Grilled protein (fish, soy, lean meat) with brown rice or grilled vegetable salad + Side steamed veggies.
Once you get the hang of it, try to make your healthy recipes.
Step 3: Know your priorities
You need to know which body parts you need to target and what you need to achieve before the day. Don’t get too caught up in your weight. It can fluctuate during the months before the wedding, so you need to focus on how good you feel and look at yourself.
If you need to reduce your belly fat, you need to eat less and start doing more exercise. You can try cutting down your carbohydrate intake or go for a run in the morning before breakfast every day.
Try not to overdo it, and don’t forget that muscle weighs more than fat, so if you’re building up some muscle, you might not see a dramatic change on the scales, but you’ll look amazing.
Exercise is pretty essential. You don’t need to spend hours in the gym (and nobody has time for that!) but try to do some resistance training like weights or Pilates two or three days a week. This will speed up your metabolism, so you burn more calories naturally without even trying!
Or if you need to work on your waistline – it’s all about doing lots of planks, side planks, leg raises and yoga. You can do the moves in front of the TV or go to an afternoon yoga class. And you could even ask your partner for some extra support! If both of you improve your fitness levels at the same rate, neither one of you will feel like the unfit one.
Step 4: Stick to the routine and gradually step up
You need to make a ‘practical’ routine and gradually step up every two to three weeks. For example, run for ten minutes every other day for the first two weeks. Then, for the next two weeks, run for fifteen minutes on each alternate day. The idea is that your body gets used to it over time instead of all at once.
You should try yoga or pilates as these concentrate more on core strength and flexibility, which are helpful for when you are doing the more strenuous activity of running.
The idea behind fitness routines is to build up your muscles slowly to make your body last longer, for example, by having a heart attack or blood clot later in life. It can be useful to exercise with your partner too because it is more motivating and if he or she pushes you too hard, you can push back.
In addition, try making a solid workout routine and make sure you’re not missing it for anything. You should try to do something for at least half an hour so take the bus or car instead of walking, or use a treadmill, it’s good exercise and saves time.
If you have been sedentary for a long time, it can be helpful to consult your GP, who may give you some short-term medication until you get yourself sorted out.
Step 5: be confident.
You don’t want to get overly worried about your body on the big day. I’m not saying you should ignore it entirely, but there are more important things that you need to focus on than just your body, which is being happy and confident.
Quick Tips for the Brides and Grooms
- Start ASAP
- Be patient with weight loss
- Focus on process goals instead of physical goals
- Get help.
- Make a proper diet chart.
- Try to exercise with your partner.
Conclusion
When it comes to wedding planning, the stress of your big day can sometimes get in the way. But don’t let that stop you from achieving your goals and living a healthy lifestyle! Start early with your workout routine so that when it’s time for dress shopping or cake tastings, you’re confident and happy on your own two feet.
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Whatever the result is, be confident and comfortable on your wedding day; after all, what matters most is how you feel about yourself.
