Get in Shape for Your Wedding

Gold’s Gym in Paramus, has been helping brides and their wedding parties and their families get ready for the big day since 1992. They offer these tips to help you become your best both “physically and mentally” as your wedding day approaches:

GET YOUR BODY MOVING

This may sound simple, and it is. However, most of us lead sedentary lives and just don’t have the time, or make the time, to move much anymore. To look and feel your best, you have to start getting physically active. If you are sitting at a desk all day at work or find yourself in a car, a chair or on a couch a lot, chances are you are just not moving enough. Any type of movement, from taking a brisk 30-40 minute walk every day to doing some cardiovascular exercise on a treadmill, a bike or an elliptical machine will work wonders for you. To get into the dress of your dreams, you will need to start doing cardio and burning some calories.

EAT A LITTLE LESS

Do you know how many calories a day you take in? Most people don’t. Chances are that with today’s busy lifestyle and the world of the “supersized meal,” you are taking in too many calories. If you take in too many calories and are not moving very much, it will be very difficult for you to lose weight or inches. Understanding how many calories you are taking in each day and how many you really need is the first step to setting up a sensible menu plan for yourself and maintaining a healthy weight and body mass index. 

SET REALISTIC GOALS

Always set smaller, obtainable goals for yourself and build upon your success. For instance, if your goal is to lose 20 total pounds start with focusing on losing two pounds a week and then go from there. It is much easier both mentally and physically to approach your larger goal by breaking it down into smaller ones so you do not get discouraged and have a series of positive experiences to help motivate you.

GET AN EXERCISE PARTNER

It is much more motivating and fun to exercise with someone. Whether it’s a member of your bridal or wedding party, a friend, family member or co-worker, training with someone who is also trying to achieve a goal will help you get to yours. It is also hard to miss an exercise session if you have someone else counting on you. Push each other and have fun! Your exercise partner (as well as your family members and friends) will support your efforts and basically become a “support group” for you that will provide you with the positive reinforcement you need to stick with it.

HIRE A TRAINER

A certified personal trainer can help you stay motivated, break through plateaus and will monitor and help you get to your goal. If you wanted to improve your golf swing you would take lessons from a golf pro, so it goes to reason that if you want to improve your body and your health you should take some lessons from a qualified trainer. A trainer will help develop your individual plan, including exactly how to exercise and how many calories to take in to help you get to your goal. A trainer will also help keep you motivated through the entire process. They become a very important member of your “support group.” Your trainer will become your best friend as your wedding day approaches.

BE CONSISTENT

For exercise to work, you need to stick with it and be consistent with your program. Of course, there will be times in your life when you are unable to exercise as often as you would like, but as long as you do keep exercising you will continue to reap the benefits that exercise has to offer. The most important thing you can do is to make sure you keep yourself motivated and that you make this a lifestyle change. Hopefully, you will continue to exercise long after your wedding day.

USE VISUALS TO MOTIVATE

While we all learn in different ways, the use of visual imagery is very powerful in helping us achieve our goals. Anything that motivates you may be helpful. A picture of yourself when you were in shape, a picture of someone else who motivates you or who you aspire to look like (remember, be realistic!), a picture of your wedding dress…whatever it takes to motivate, inspire and remind you of what you are trying to accomplish may be very helpful in keeping you psyched up.    

REMEMBER…YOU CONTROL YOUR DESTINY

It’s very empowering to know that you are in control of your body and you are responsible for it. While genetics certainly play an important role in our lives, by making some lifestyle changes and educated choices, you are ultimately in control of many of the factors that can improve your life, health, well being and your body. Take advantage of this and take responsibility for taking care of yourself.

JUST DO IT

With one of the most important days of your life approaching, now is the time to take action and make sure you are the best you can be on that special day. By developing an exercise program using some of the tips discussed, you will be able to not only get in shape for your big day, but you will be able to stick with it over the long term. It’s really up to you, so just do it!