You’ve set the date and the countdown is on.  You are about to choose your beautiful wedding dress and you want the confidence to know that you look your best on the day.  If you have a limited amount of months or even weeks and want to see the BEST possible results, then following a carefully and individually designed fitness and weight loss program will leave you feeling energised and looking great for your big day!  The earlier you start, the more results you will see.

From fat-burning exercises to the hassle-free ‘at home’ workout, you can finally lose the extra pounds and feel your best during this special time of your life!  At last you can achieve weight loss, tone your muscles and flatten your stomach!

Going on a restrictive ‘wedding dress diet’ will leave you feeling empty and will not stand you in good shape to cope with all of the exciting preparations.  Therefore, seeking advice from a qualified nutritional advisor on how to improve your diet is also highly recommended.  Without a correct healthy eating plan and having the knowledge to know which foods to eat, it will be difficult to shift the excess.

With the right guidance, support and planning, your vision can become reality. Follow our tried and tested techniques detailed below:

1) Your bridal exercise and weight loss program should include aerobic activities (cardiovascular otherwise known as CV), resistance (strength) training and flexibility sessions. The minimum amount recommended each week is at least 40 minutes sessions, 3 x weekly, combining all elements. Despite popular belief, CV training alone will not shift the excess!

2) In order to stimulate greater fat loss, your CV sessions should be at least 60% max heart rate to make a significant difference. Intensity is key to achieving results. Investing in, and using a heart rate monitor is a great way to monitor the exact activity of your heart during your aerobic training. Alternatively, you could use a simple method called the ‘Rate of Perceived Exertion’ (RPE Scale) – you monitor how hard you feel as though you are working by listening to your body and understanding your own effort.

3) 1lb of fat is equal to 3,500 calories. You should aim to reduce your calorie intake by 500 calories each day. Here’s how:
• exercising at the right intensity
• increasing your metabolic rate with strength training
• reducing your intake of junk food and alcohol
• eating a well-balanced, unprocessed diet

4) Avoid foods that give you that ‘bloated’ feeling:
• wheat and processed grains
• simple carbohydrates and refined sugar
• foods high on the glycaemic index

5) Schedule your training session into your diary and write it down! Without planning and preparation, it’s easy to find an excuse of why not to exercise, especially during all of the busy preparations in the countdown to your wedding.  If possible, training with a friend not only gives you support, but also makes you commit to the time that you have set aside. Take a few minutes to think about the time of day that is realistic for your training; you could get out of bed 30 minutes earlier and get your exercise session out of the way before breakfast! Alternatively, if you suffer from the ‘mid-afternoon slump’, why not make this the time to get active and create energy throughout your body?

6) Exercise by doing something that you enjoy. Motivation is vital for success. This may sound simple, but if you dislike an activity, you will not continue with it! Be creative but realistic.

7) Keep your body well-hydrated throughout the day with filtered water and caffeine-free tea. Aim for between 1.5 to 2 litres each day. Water is essential for health, carries vital nutrients around the body and flushes out the nasty toxins that your body might be nurturing. Thirst is a sign of 1% dehydration!

There is nothing better than having a goal to work towards!  By following a carefully detailed exercise and weight loss program in preparation for your wedding, the results will be noticeable much quicker!

Jacqui O’Shea manages the Surrey-based team of Total Personal Training, a group of Weight Management and Fat Loss Personal Trainers, with experience collectively spanning several decades. Offering nurturing, one-to-one support, TPT Personal Trainers put a friendly face on fitness and weight management.

Our job as Weight Management and Fat Loss Personal Trainers is to understand each person’s limitations and potential and work with them to achieve the best results possible. We’re realistic, but we’re also optimistic, and we believe what sets us apart from other personal trainers is a nurturing and encouraging approach that respects our clients’ individual comfort zones. We want you to feel good about choosing us.

Visit the website: www.londonweightmanagementtrainers.com

We live and breathe ways to improve health, fitness and nutrition on a daily basis, so it seems right to share our knowledge and ideas with others. You’ll find all sorts of tips on better living on our Total Personal Training Blog.

Visit the blog: www.londonpersonaltrainerblog.com

For more wedding tips and advice, as well as a full directory of wedding suppliers in Surrey, visit Surrey Weddings