I have come across very few brides who did not have some sort of pre-wedding diet or fitness goal. Most often it is to lose “X” number of pounds but it may also be to tone the body, or to clear up any skin problems. Here are a few Kadi Fit guidelines to looking your best on your wedding day (or any day):

1. START IMMEDIATELY: If you are looking to shed pounds and keep them off, it can’t be a quick process. Crash diets may work for now, but halfway through the honeymoon those pounds will be right back where they started. Believe me, you will want to splurge on your honeymoon, while also looking and feeling sexy. By starting on a plan early you can shed 1-2 pounds a week and it won’t creep back like Speedy Gonzales.

Also, you won’t want to add stress to a stressful time those last few weeks before the wedding. Having to shed more pounds are not something you will want to concentrate on. That should be the time you are relaxing and enjoying each other in all your anticipation.

I am going to be completely honest about my own experience: I felt pretty good about my body on our wedding day- about a 9 on a scale of 1-10… then we waited a week before going on our honeymoon, during which I ate horrible. By the time we were halfway through the vacation I could literally see and feel the extra pounds. But, honestly I don’t regret anything I ate during that time. I believe you should enjoy every morsel you put into your body and celebrate. So the moral of the story… the longer the pounds have been off the longer it takes them to creep back on. But above all else, enjoy this time together. I know people probably tell you that all the time… but it’s so true. We only have one life and, hopefully, one marriage.

2. SET SPECIFIC GOALS: If your goal is simply “eat better and workout more” then you won’t have something specific to attain. I reccomend 4-5 days of cardio (45 minutes to 1 hour) combined with 3 days of strength training (30 minutes) per week. Yes ladies, I said strength training. The fact is that women do NOT have the amount of testosterone that men do to really “bulk up.” But if lifting weights does not appeal to you, there are plenty of other ways to tone, such as Boga, Pilates, or Yoga. The most important thing to remember in cardio is to keep it fun! Do something you enjoy and you will be more likely to stick with it.

There will always be different diets telling you different things, but one thing that is proven time and time again is “calories in verses calories out.” Make a food diary to find out just how many calories a day you are eating now. Cut a few hundred calories out of your daily allotment and combine it with a great workout and you will shed the pounds. (Just make sure not to go under the recommended 1200 for women or 1500 for men).

3. CREATE ACCOUNTABILITY: Write down your goals AND share them with others. If no one else knows them you will be less likely to stick with it. An even better way is to have a workout partner. Why not workout with your fiance? It would be a great way to do something outside of planning together. It will take your mind off of the “to-do” list, relieve stress, and is great quality time shared together. Try finding a nearby hiking trail, or tennis courts. But remember it’s supposed to be fun (I tend to snap at Mike any time he puts spin on the ball… yeah, I’m a little competitive).

4. MAKE TIME: If you were busy before being engaged chances are you are up to your neck now. Don’t let your to-do list stop you from staying healthy, because when it comes down to it you’re going to care more about the way YOU look and feel on the big day and less about the color ribbon you used in the table arrangements… believe me. So please, no matter how busy you are, do not neglect your mind, body and soul.

Pictures Courtesy of Staton Carter Photography.