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Every bride wants to look
perfect on her wedding day. Selecting a dress
that will make you look and feel great is
an important first step. But what happens
when you look in the mirror and notice trouble
spots like saggy arms or unsightly folds in
your back? When this happens it's not uncommon
for brides to try quick-fix diets to help
them get in shape. Unfortunately, many dieting
brides make fitness mistakes that not only
prevent them from reaching their goals but
also cause unnecessary stress and sometimes
even illness. Those are two things no bride
needs! Here are five of the most common diet
mistakes as well as some tips to help you
avoid them.
1. Too much, too
late.
One of the most important
things to remember if you are trying to lose
weight is to start early. For example, don't
try to lose 20 pounds two months before the
big day. The key is to plan ahead so that
you can lose the weight (or just tone up)
gradually. So if you're dream-wedding day
includes you being in great shape, then include
fitness as a "to-do" on your overall
wedding checklist. That way it will be a priority
in your wedding planning.
2. Setting unachievable
goals.
Many women get engaged
and begin imagining themselves drastically
thinner or more sculpted. Be realistic with
yourself. If you've never been a size 6 in
your life, then it is probably unrealistic
to think you can magically transform just
because you are getting married. And, do you
really want to look so different on your wedding
day that most people (including your fiancé)
hardly recognize you?
3. Radical diets
or fitness programs.
Brides typically are short
on time and long on to-do lists. This leads
many to try unhealthy fitness programs or
starvation diets. Don't be tempted by diets
that promise quick, drastic results with little
effort from you. You should avoid any programs
that suggest taking "diet" pills
or eating unbalanced meals (like eating only
cabbage soup for a week). And, don't be lured
into trying dangerous things, like laxatives.
4.
Not exercising.
It's very easy for brides
to say "I don't have time to exercise"
or "I'm too tired to exercise".
But diet and exercise should always go hand
in hand. Consider them to be like yin and
yang. Without activity your body can't burn
as many calories. If you are very short on
time, try to exercise in small 10-minute bursts
throughout the day. And, keep in mind that
little things help too, like taking the stairs
or parking at the outer edge of the mall parking
lot. Plus, if you are tired from all of your
planning, exercise will help give you back
some energy.
5. Skipping Meals
It's not uncommon to get
caught up in your planning and then realize
at 9 p.m. (as your head begins to ache) that
you haven't eaten a thing all day. While it
may not be an uncommon scenario, it is unavoidable.
Not only is skipping meals unhealthy, it can
lead to binge eating. That often means eating
very fattening foods and/or overeating all
at once. To avoid this, try packing light
snacks to keep on hand throughout the day.
Good examples include carrot sticks, cheese
strings, peanut butter on crackers, etc.
Getting in shape doesn't
have to be complicated and it doesn't require
a lot of time. If you are trying to lose weight
or firm up before your wedding, below are
some sample plans to help you get started.
Keep in mind that the most important thing
is for a bride to feel good about herself.
And no matter what size or shape, all brides
are beautiful on their wedding day!
Sample
Exercise FITscription:
20-30 minutes of cardiovascular
exercise (3-5 time per week)
Example: 2-5 minutes of
brisk walking, 2-5 minutes of jumping jacks
(repeat for 20-30 minutes)
20-30 minutes of strength
training (2-3 times per week)
Example: Dumbbell exercises
for both the upper and lower body (like bicep
curls, tricep dips, squats, etc.)
Sample Meal Plan:
Eat 5-7 small meals per
day (meals should include protein, grains,
vegetables, etc. to meet the food pyramid
daily requirements)
Example: Small, grilled,
skinless chicken breast
Slice of whole wheat
bread
Slice of cheese
Mixed Vegetables
Glass of Water (2 or 3 would be even better)
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