Secrets to Looking Good
and Feeling Great
When I began planning my wedding last
year, I also began planning some life changes that would help me
become as healthy and fit as I could be on my wedding day. I wanted
to feel good about my body and feel confident in my sleeveless gown
as I walked down the isle. I wanted to be able to spin and twirl
on the dance floor with my future husband without getting winded
or breathless. I decided, like many brides-to-be, to use my wedding
date as an initial goal for a healthy weight and better health.
Here is a guideline that may help you develop a healthy eating and
exercise plan so you can look great and feel great on your wedding
day.
What’s
a Healthy Weight for You?
Your first step should be to determine your body mass index and
set a weight-loss goal that will put you within a healthy range.
Your body mass index, or BMI, is a point value determined by measuring
the ratio of your weight and height. A healthy BMI is usually between
18-24 points. For example, if you were 5’ 4” and 160
pounds, your BMI would be 27 points. You may want to loose roughly
25 pounds to be within a healthy point range.
Keep a Food
Journal
Once you’ve determined your weight-loss goal (if you need
one) begin to journal everything that you eat—even little
bites and nibbles; these can add up! Don’t yet focus on cutting
calories, just try to get a sense of how much and what kinds of
foods you’re eating. For example, I noticed immediately that
I hardly ate vegetables or fruits and I was constantly snacking!
When you have a good picture of your eating habits, began to do
nutritional research to find out how many calories you need to eat
per day and what kinds of foods are better than others. One pound
is equal to 3500 calories. So, to loose two pounds a week, you would
need to cut 7000 calories out of your diet per week.
Web sites such as WebMD and the Mayo
Clinic are excellent nutritional and diet resources. In general,
try to eat low-calorie, high-fiber foods and at least five servings
of fruits and vegetables a day. Also, drink plenty of water—at
least six glasses a day. Water keeps things moving smoothly in your
body and also helps maintain a smooth, healthy complexion.
Build Muscle
and Exercise
Many women believe the myth that if a woman lifts weights, she’ll
develop big, bulky muscles like those of a professional body builder.
Because of this, many woman overlook the fact that the key to weight
loss and a toned body is to build muscle. Muscle tissue requires
more calories a day - just to stay alive - than fat does. Therefore,
if you were to build several pounds of muscle, you body would require
more calories and your metabolism will rise. If you’re uncomfortable
lifting weights at the gym or are not sure of proper form, a good
way to start is by using exercise videos that focus on toning. At
home, you can stop the tape whenever you need to check your form
or modify the sequence.
You should also do at least a half
hour of cardiovascular exercise every day. Think of all the fun
things you liked to do as a kid: did you love to run and jump? Did
you love to swim and play in the pool? Try to envision exercise
as “play” time for yourself, instead of a chore. Don’t
bother with exercise that you don’t enjoy.
Get Support
Finally, surround yourself with people who are supportive of your
efforts! Join an online fitness forum, or attend meetings such as
Weight Watchers. Making a life commitment to health won’t
happen overnight, and you may have some setbacks along the way.
However, with a positive attitude (and your wedding quickly approaching!)
you can only succeed.
You want to look great on your wedding
day, we show you how:
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