The true fit and healthy bride

Regardless of whether your wedding is six months or six weeks away you should aim to set goals to improve your health and fitness which are realistic and achievable. Not every bride will be able to fit into a size 10 wedding gown. Sometimes aiming for increased energy levels, improving self-confidence or reducing stress levels can be more important than just seeing your scale weight go down. Irrespective of your goals, you should try to incorporate changes to your lifestyle that can be maintained even after you are married.

Here are some tips:

1. Consult with your doctor prior to commencing any exercise regime in order to identify any restrictions or limitations that may apply.
   
   
2. If your goal is to lose weight and tone your body your program should incorporate at least two weight training sessions per week and some cardiovascular exercise 3-4 times per week for 30-40 minutes duration. In order to maximise results in minimum time consider hiring a personal trainer who will design a specific program for you taking into account your goals and level of fitness. Just as no one wedding dress size "fits all", there is no one exercise program that applies to everyone. Also, it is not recommended that you begin a weight-training program unsupervised. The last thing you need is to be walking down that aisle with an exercise induced injury.
   
   
3. With respect to your diet aim to eat smaller low-fat meals more often that will help to increase your metabolism, not to mention keep your blood sugar levels stable and thereby maintain your energy.
   
   
4. Drink at least 6-8 glasses of water per day - more if you are exercising. Proper hydration also assists your energy levels at this busy time, not to mention keeping you skin looking healthier.
   
   
5. Try to exercise before breakfast at which time your body utilises its fat stores to fuel your workout.
   
   
6. Remember, proper rest and recovery is crucial in any successful exercise program. As hectic as things may get, try to incorporate relaxation times in your schedule eg. check your local newspaper or telephone directory for Yoga classes, which are excellent in combating high levels of stress. Preparing for a wedding should, after all, be one of the happiest times of your life.