Whether you’re one of the lucky soon-to-be newlyweds, a member of the wedding party, or a guest, most of us want to look and feel our best for weddings. If you have enough advance warning, it’s best to start getting fit for a wedding at least six months before the event, but there’s nothing wrong with prioritizing your health a few weeks out.
A quick word of caution, however: while it’s never too late to start taking care of your body, remember that extreme measures like crash diets or doing intense workouts without professional guidance can lead to more harm than good, and can even result in serious injury. Who wants to be hobbling around a wedding in an ankle brace?
That being said, there are several things you can do to start getting fit for a wedding no matter how far or close the date might be.
Clean Up Your Diet
This is always the first piece of advice you’ll hear from almost anyone who works in the fitness industry, and for a good reason. There’s a saying in the health and fitness world that you can’t out-train a poor diet.
If your version of getting fit for a wedding includes trimming down and developing some definition in your legs or shoulders, then you can’t skip this one.
The biggest misconception when it comes to dieting is that it needs to be restrictive and painful. We’re going to set the record straight on that.
Cleaning up your diet can be as simple as lowering your calories by a reasonable amount. Most health resources agree that the healthiest calorie deficit to be in is 500 calories below your daily calorie requirement. No 1,200-calorie diet here!
At the same time, skipping the processed stuff and drive-throughs, sticking to whole foods and complex carbs, and increasing your protein and water intake are all important for supporting any fitness or weight loss goals.
Getting Fit for a Wedding with Exercise
When it comes to exercise, most people new to it have visions of running marathons or pumping iron until their veins pop. But the truth is that exercise can look a little different for everyone.
As long as you’re moving your body, you’ll feel the benefits.
If running the track doesn’t sound like your thing, try cardio kickboxing or Zumba classes for your cardio instead.
If you’re looking to lose inches fast, almost nothing is better than strength training. Not only does resistance training burn more fat than cardio by itself, but it has also been linked with better health overall.
If you’re not into lifting weights, try resistance bands or calisthenics (bodyweight training).
The key to exercise is to approach it with a sense of flexibility. Focus on building a healthy habit that you enjoy and can sustain, rather than getting through a program with a fixed end date.
Consider Working with a Personal Trainer
Whether you’re getting fit for a wedding or just want to improve your health, handing the reins to someone else for the workout and nutrition plans can take a lot of the pressure off.
Personal trainers are certified, experienced fitness professionals who can help you find the right workout routines and eating habits to suit your goals and lifestyle.
Personal trainers are also ideal accountability partners. They will push and motivate you beyond what you might be able to do for yourself and give you the guidance you need to avoid injury or burnout and build healthy, sustainable lifestyle habits.
Ohio Personal Trainers is Here to Help You Get Wedding Ready
Getting fit for a wedding doesn’t have to be a difficult experience. With the right attitude and someone to cheer you on, reaching your fitness goals before the big day is completely doable.
At Ohio Personal Trainers, we offer 1-on-1 tailored personal training with workout and nutrition plans that are built for you.
If you suffer from gym anxiety, our private training rooms and sessions are excellent spaces for focusing on your own workout and getting the most out of your time with us.
We are also unique from other gyms in that we provide comprehensive nutritional coaching as well to help you make small, manageable changes to your eating habits for the best long-term results.
Ready to get started on your fitness journey? Get in touch today for a free fitness evaluation or stop by one of our locations in Chagrin Falls or Hudson for a tour of our facilities.