Getting Healthy & Fit Before the Wedding
You want to look and feel your best on your wedding day. To do this, brides (and grooms) should focus on healthy habits to nurture their bodies. This post isn’t about getting skinny before the day. It’s about getting healthy and fit before the wedding and staying fit and healthy too.
Healthy Foods = Healthy Body
Mother Nature created the most perfect foods; fruits and veggies are chock full of vitamins and minerals that a body needs to flourish. Aim for five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
Also, eat lean meats like poultry and fish. Want a burger, instead? Select a healthier choice like bison meat. Or top a beef patty with fresh avocado and pile it high with veggies. Choose a whole wheat bun, which contains more fiber than white flour-based breads. Or better yet no but at all. Get it lettuce wrapped.
Opt for diets rich in protein–the building block of muscles. While lean meats are excellent sources of protein, so are eggs, fish, and nuts.
Craft smoothies with almond milk, favourite fruit choices, a DF protein powder, and a ton spinach for a healthy and protein-packed morning breakfast or mid-day snack. Hard-boiled eggs are convenient protein-rich yummy on-the-go snack choices, too.
Thirsty? Water is the best option for a healthy body. Water is the ultimate hydrator; it helps flush toxins from the body and keeps skin looking great. Lemon, lime or orange wedges squeezed into a glass of ice-water provide a zingy hint of flavour.
Get Up and Move
Exercise tones the body and builds strength. Every woman has her own workout preference. Yoga is a great choice, as it promotes flexibility and offers a relaxation element. Many women love to pound the pavement with a good run—pop in some earbuds, load up an upbeat playlist and run out the stress. Other fun workouts include dance classes, hula hooping (yes, hula hooping!), bike riding or in-line skating.
Whatever workout a bride-to-be chooses, the goal is to move the body. If exercise classes seem intimidating, start slow. Go for walks each day. Use phone apps or a pedometer to track steps and set a step goal. Continuously increase the walking goal, and then add in a bit of running or introduce a new exercise after a walk.
Indulge the Skin
Healthy, radiant skin makes a bride shine on her wedding day. Skin is the body’s largest organ, so treat it well. Keep the skin supple by staying well hydrated. Skimp on alcohol, which dehydrates the body and causes the skin to look puffy. Always use a daily sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 to reduce the chance of sun damage, which can result in dark spots on the face and body…and, of course, skin cancer. Be sure to use a gentle face wash and make sure to remove all makeup before bed. Do not exfoliate the skin more than two to three times per week. Exfoliating too often can lead to acne and/or skin irritation. Natural exfoliants include honey, yogurt, sugar, papaya and lemon juice.
Relax
Stress takes a toll on a body, and nothing can be more stressful than planning a wedding. Take time to center the body and the mind. Meditation techniques can aid in quieting the running thoughts of a busy bride. Sitting quietly in a dark room and holding a word or positive thought in the mind helps relax the body and release stress. Yoga also offers relaxation techniques as it teaches mindful breathing. Indulge in a relaxing massage, go for a run or just listen to music…every woman can find one way to calm the mind and spirit.
The ultimate relaxation, however, is sleep. To ensure a healthy body, sleep must be a priority. Before bed, be sure to shut off all devices. Staring at a screen at night causes the body to have difficulty in falling asleep. Read a book, sip a relaxing cup of decaf chamomile tea and unwind the body in preparation for a good night of rest. Essential oils like lavender also can help aid in relaxation.
Following healthy habits to nourish the body and mind remains the real beauty secret for brides-to-be. Treat the body well, keep the mind at peace and experience the radiant results.
Feature image source
Co-written by Naomi Shaw
