Shaping up for the big day can be a challenge. Brides to-be are kept busy organising flowers, dresses, cars and honeymoon destinations. Who has the time to devote to a military-style training regime?
Weddings are so glamorous and it will be one of the most memorable days of your life. Why not have an easy to follow plan to get your body into tip-top shape for the big day?
Shaping up quickly requires key muscle toning exercises using your body weight and hand weights. In conjunction with a healthy eating plan you can get your body looking fabulous in next to no time.
The biggest muscle group we can exercise is our legs. Even though they will be hidden under your gown, you can still show off your shapely legs on your honeymoon. For toned and trim legs try squats and lunges. These exercises are great to increase metabolism and most of all tone up the thighs. Walking up hill or running for 30 minutes per day can also help burn off energy stores, give your skin a brilliant glow and shape up your lower legs.
The upper body needs to be carefully looked after. Often gowns are strapless leaving arms and shoulders in picture perfect view. Toning up the arms and shoulders will not only make them look firmer in photographs but will help create an illusion of a smaller waist line. Try exercises like shoulder presses with hand weights, pushups, tricep dips and bicep curls.
Most of all take it to the pool. Swimming is a great all round exercise it allows you to build muscle tone as well as burn energy and boost the metabolism. If you find swimming difficult using a rower or cross trainer at the gym will also work. Enlisting the help from health professionals and personal trainers will give you the extra motivation you need, along with a tailored exercise program to fast track your results.
Keeping active everyday for at least 30min doing specific exercises will get you the results you want without the military style training. Along with exercise your diet needs an over haul. Try to limit soft drinks, biscuits, cakes and coffee to once a week only. Start to introduce more vegetables and most of all drink more water.
Vegetables contain antioxidants, which helps slow down aging. They also contain vital nutrients, which will keep your energy levels boosted and your immune system working optimally. After all you need your energy to run around making plans and to exercise.
Choosing lean protein like meat, chicken, tuna or salmon will help you feel fuller for longer and provide the nutrition you need to build firmer muscles. The omega-3 fats in tuna and salmon are great for your memory, skin, hair and nails. In addition to this is may help you burn fat faster.
Small changes to your diet and following simple 30-minute exercise routine can give you that shapely body you need for the big day.
Gabrielle Maston is a Dietitian/Nutritionist, Exercise physiologist and Personal Trainer. For more information on her services
click here.