Miss Simplee Sufficient

For many blushing new brides wedding season is also weight loss season, which can lead to poor health if not handled correctly. While it’s always a good idea to get rid of extra weight and become more fit, it’s also important to undertake the weight loss endeavor in as proactive and healthy a manner as possible. All brides-to-be with extra pounds to shed should be wary of the many quick loss schemes that are currently prevalent and instead get as early a start as possible and explore safe ways to boost overall health while losing a few dress sizes at the same time. If you’re getting ready to tie the knot but are unsure of how to accomplish your weight loss goals, check out the sections below for a few shots of healthy inspiration.

Start with Your Diet

Before you do anything else, get a handle on your eating habits. Weddings go hand-in-hand with exhausting timelines, endless preparations and stressful situations. Throughout the event, it seems harmless to hit the fast food drive-thru instead of eating a real meal or to indulge in a candy bar for a quick pick-me-up; however, this path can lead to disaster. For best results, make a concerted effort to reduce your sugar, fat and carbohydrate intake. Let your friends pamper you with home-cooked meals of lean protein, small portions of whole grain breads and loads of colorful vegetables. If you do succumb to the seductive convenience of drive-thru eating, limit your visits and choose salads or broiled chicken sandwiches instead of fatty cheeseburgers. Turn to fruits and yogurt for snacking with an occasional handful of whole grains like nuts or sunflower seeds. Take water with each meal and remember to save the coffee, cake, pastry and ice cream for the wedding reception and the honeymoon.

Turn Your Tasks into Fitness Opportunities

One of most effective yet overlooked ways to boost your health while losing weight is to use wedding preparations as fitness opportunities. As often as possible, try to walk or ride a bike to important events like dress fittings, caterer interviews and florist visits. Make it a social occasion by planning a healthy picnic and inviting your bridesmaids and other members of the wedding party to join you. It helps to schedule these events close together in both time and geography unless you have a lot of extra hours on your hands.

Exercise While You Plan Your Wedding

Even small weddings and receptions require a lot of planning in regard to elements like schedule coordination, meal selections, floral arrangements and seating plans. Heaven forbid you should put your wild and crazy Uncle Al next to your future husband’s minister grandfather, for example! When you get together with members of the wedding party to discuss how the wedding will unfold, choose your local gym as the setting. This way, you and your bridesmaids can get in a yoga session, some pilates and spinning or a few step-classes before or after a planning session. Another alternative is to brainstorm with your bridesmaids during a marathon bike excursion or a three mile jog in the country. Just remember to take note of the many adrenaline-inspired ideas you and your friends will produce. Although they may protest at first, your friends will also get a healthy boost of fitness with these types of planning sessions.

Attend to Your Basic Needs

One of the most important things to remember in a quest to lose weight before the big day is to take care of yourself in every way. It’s easy to lose oneself in the excitement and chaos of a wedding. Take steps to ensure proper sleep, appropriate physical activity and good mental health throughout all of your wedding planning endeavors. Forming good habits now may even carry over into your life as a new, and fashionably slender, bride.

Andrea Boley is a writer and blogger. She has been writing wedding related articles and blogging for over 10 years and is a freelance writer for Storkie.

Image Credit: Sleekmedspa.com