Low Calorie Treats

Dieting for the big day is great for a bride to be to lose some extra weight. But dieting doesn’t have to be a chore with these sweet treats, all fewer than 200 calories:

• Jell-O Pudding Snacks. Give yourself a daily dose of pure chocolaty indulgence with this sweet treat.
• Sliced strawberries sprinkled with a bit of Splenda. A small delightful dose of dessert reminiscent of strawberry shortcake.
• Apple slices drizzled with one tablespoon of caramel…need we say more?
• Jell-O Gelatin with a bit of non-fat whip cream on top. This is a tasty alternative to calorie laden pie.
• One half cup of non-fat frozen yogurt. With so many flavors to choose from, you can’t go wrong.
• One sugar-free Popsicle. This yummy frozen treat will bring back summer memories.
• One string cheese is only 80 calories and is a great choice for a saltier snack.

With all these great ideas, you can indulge a little without spoiling your diet.

Setting Goals

Set realistic goals. Don’t set yourself up for disappointment; you need to know what your ideal weight should be. For best results, you should give yourself adequate time to lose the weight as well. Healthy weight loss equates to about one to three pounds per week, which is only four to nine pounds per month. So if you need to lose about 25 pounds before the big day, give yourself a realistic goal of losing it over the course of a few months.

Guilt Free Dining

Being a bride to be means plenty of celebratory drinks, dinners and even cake tastings. It could be very easy to get off track with your diet and even gain a few pounds with all these temptations. Here are some great ways to enjoy eating out without the guilt.

• Order wine over margaritas or daiquiris. You’ll save yourself hundreds of calories and added sugar, plus you’ll get a dose of antioxidants.
• Choose to drink water with lemon over sodas and juice.
• Ask the waiter to take the bread basket away. White bread is just added sugar, starch and carbs.
• Instead of a typical fat loaded side dish such as French fries or buttery mashed potatoes, choose a side salad or vegetables.
• For the main course order lean proteins such as fish or chicken and order them grilled. Avoid cream sauces since they are the fattiest.
• When the waiter brings you your main course, cut it in half and only eat one half, take the other half home in a to-go box for tomorrow’s lunch or dinner.
• Skip dessert, you’ll be doing plenty of cake tasting later.

It isn’t too hard to stick to your diet with these easy ways to stay healthy while eating out.

Get on the Track to Training

Any bride to be knows the importance of working out, but how much is the right amount? It is recommended that you do at least 30 minutes three days a week. Remember that is the minimum and by doing the minimum, you will lose a minimal amount of weight. The more days you work out, the faster you will see results. Additionally, you should be doing strength training two to three times a week. Cardio will help burn off the fat and strength training will help to tone you up.

For the brides that are cardio challenged, start out by walking with your hubby to be three times a week until you get used to the regimen. After a few months of training, a bride might hit a plateau. This is when your weight stays the same for several weeks although you are doing the same workout. When this happens, it’s time to up the stakes. Increase your cardio time or the intensity of it, as well as your strength training routine. You need to re-challenge your body to get it working for you again. Brides, stay on track and keep active!

Enjoyable Exercise

Fitness phobia strikes many brides to be. It’s hardly a happy feeling when you have to break away from your everyday routine to do something monotonous like running on the treadmill for an hour or lifting weights at the gym in the morning. Sports or group activities are great ways to start enjoying exercise again. Jogging in a park with a few bridesmaids doesn’t seem like quite the work out anymore, when you can chat while you work. Tennis with your honey is another great way to get in your cardio and upper body strength training. An added bonus is extra time with your future husband. Another enjoyable activity is volleyball with the whole bridal party. Make it bridesmaids vs. groomsmen and play on a regular basis. You get your dose of exercise in as well as some bonding time with pals. Exercise doesn’t always have to be a chore, find your own way to make it fun!

Quick Energy Boosts

Extra energy is a must for a busy bride. Wedding planning can be quite exhausting and every extra bit of energy helps. Most brides will tend to grab something on the go from a vending machine or fast food restaurant. Snacks from these sources may give you a very temporary boost, but it won’t give you long-term energy or any nutritional value.


For morning meals that are quick and easy, grab a piece of fresh fruit such as an apple, banana or a pear. If you have a few extra minutes, blend yourself a healthy shake that includes fruit, yogurt and ice. Both of these options are great for a fast and healthy energy boost. Mid-day snacks should include nuts, dried fruits, lean protein or vegetables. These choices will fill you up for the long term so you won’t be reaching for candy or soda to perk you up later. So next time you are looking for a quick pick me up, try one of our suggestions so that you can have extra energy without the extra weight.

Fat as a Friend

Fat is not the enemy! Many brides believe that they need to cut out fat to lose weight before their big day. The truth is that all fats are not bad. There are unsaturated fats, saturated fats and trans fats. Unsaturated fats are the best fats for you. Types of unsaturated fats include: vegetable oils, olive oil, nuts and fish. Saturated fats are in many animal products like red meat, milk, cheese and some poultry. Saturated fats can be consumed with great moderation, especially if you stick to things like turkey, chicken, and fat-free milk. A bride to be wants to avoid trans fats at all costs. Trans fats are in donuts, cookies, cakes, chips, crackers and French fries. A diet that includes some fats such as unsaturated is a healthy way to lose weight, but remember to skin anything that has trans fats.

Limiting Sugar to Look Slender

Take a cue from celebrities and limit your intake of sugar and carbs in the weeks leading up to your big day. Sugar and carbs can often cause unwanted bloating and won’t fill you up like veggies and fiber can. So stay away from sugar and carbs to keep you looking slim and slender on your wedding day.

Magic Ingredient

Want to know the magical ingredient to healthy glowing skin? I’ll give you a hint, you can find it in your kitchen. It’s water! Water gives you a healthy glow, keeps your organs in tip top shape and also helps the body to metabolize fat. A bride-to-be only needs about eight glasses per day to get these incredible benefits. Drinking a glass first thing in the morning will give you a jump start on your day.

Big Bubbly Brides

Brides should avoid any bubbly beverages before their big day. Bubbly means bloated and bloated means bad news. Bubbly beverages include anything carbonated such as sodas, fizzy waters and champagne (except on your wedding day of course). Avoiding any carbonated drinks prior to the big day will help de-bloat you and will assist in making your stomach as flat as can be.

Looking Slim and Svelte Quick Fix

The best way to lose weight before your wedding is a workout and nutrition regimen started months before. Squeezing in three to four workouts per week is ideal along with healthy eating habits. For the brides who have done all that and still want to look slim and svelte for their wedding day, try Spanx and other body shapers to make you look slim, trim and flawless under that dress, no exercise required! Body shapers aren’t easy fixes for brides who never worked out, but they will help you to achieve that lean look. So for that extra pound, try a pair of Spanx.