Food For The Bride To Be

Weddings are happy, joyous and momentous occasions that require some preparation from every bride and groom. The wedding is just the beginning of the many changes that you and your new spouse will be making. There are changes that are physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. It makes sense to bring yourself to the peak of health in order to be able to handle all these adjustments easily.

Aside from exercise and proper sleep, ones diet can go a long way to helping get ourselves in the best possible physical health. When we are getting the proper nutrition our body will have more energy. The food we eat can also help us avoid getting sick and yes, even help us lose weight.

Here is a list of food that any bride (and groom) may find useful in keeping their body in optimum condition:

• Apples - The saying an apple a day keeps the doctor away is very true. Apples are a great source of fiber which are important in keeping your body lean and clean. They also provide you with anti-oxidants which your body needs to prevent cell and tissue damage.
• Nuts are great to nibble on and great for adding flavor and texture to your meals. You can be totally nutty about nuts because they are cholesterol free and contain vitamins and mineral. Almonds, macadamias, brazil nuts, hazelnuts, pistachios, pecan nuts, walnuts and yes, peanuts are generally low in sodium (salt) which is a good thing.
• Greens are a must have in every meal you eat. If you aren’t used to it yet you probably feel like someone is handing you rabbit food. The simple truth is that the body processes vegetables more easily than it processes meat. Freshly picked vegetables give you vitamins and minerals and at the same time are less fattening than meat or bread, or pasta. Eating more greens can help you slim down without making you feel starved. Just think of it as eating an appetizer at every meal. Once you get used to it you’ll wonder why you didn’t eat it more often.
• Lean meat is the best kind to have if you are going to eat meat. They contain less fat than other parts of their source which means your body ends up with less cholesterol and fat as well.
• Red Rice is the best if you want to eat rice. This organic rice has more fiber and is easily digested. One very useful thing about this rice is that you don’t need to eat a lot of it to feel full. It is heavy in the tummy which is excellent for avoiding over eating.
• Fish is definitely a good item to have in your daily meal plan. Fish meat is much lighter than beef or pork and is very tasty. It provides a healthy alternative to your regular steak dinner. Fish and shellfish are also a good source of calcium. Omega3 is found in tuna and is excellent for the heart.
• Water is a must for the body! The body requires at least 8 glasses a day in order to be able to properly cleanse its systems. Drinking less than that means that your body doesn’t have enough to wash the toxins out of your kidneys or to cool the body with when it is hot. Drinking more water is also a great way to help slim down since we often mistake thirst for hunger. You’ll find that you’ll be less hungry if you just drink 8 glasses a day regularly.

Six Steps To The Wedding Body You Want

Okay, brides and grooms, it is time to get in shape. The time to start improving one’s figure for optimum fitness begins the moment you say yes to getting married. The sooner you get started, the better your results can be - and with less difficulty too.

Getting in the shape you want starts with a major act of will. You have to decide what kind of changes you want. None of the lackluster “I wish I was” ideas. You need to have steely resolve that you are going to make it happen, doing everything you should, and everything you can to achieve your dream body. This is often not easy for most people simply because they are easily tempted and easily distracted.

If you are serious about getting your body in better shape, here are some things that you should do for yourself. These steps make your transformation more than just a one time thing. It can keep you in shape for the rest of your life - if you let it.

The first thing you need to do is find yourself a coach. Most people insist that they can do it on their own but the truth is, left to our own devices we get lazy and find hundreds of excuses not to do what you know you need to, if you really want to slim down. Coaching is effective because you have someone who is an expert in their field showing you the proper techniques to help you achieve your goal. He or she can help you tailor a system that will suit you perfectly. Some gyms employ not just an exercise trainor, they’ll also have nutritionists to help you with your diet. They’ll be there to make sure that you have the full guidance you need, when you need it the most.

You also need to have a very clear reason to change your shape. Simply saying I want to look great isn’t enough. If your reasons are clear, you won’t be tempted as much because you know exactly what is on the line. For example, it could be because you want your wedding pictures to show a slim and fit bride without camera tricks. It can be because you want to be able to fit into a bikini during your honeymoon without any unsightly rolls of fat. It might be because some old friends are coming to your wedding and you want them to see that you haven’t let yourself go in spite of the fact that you are no longer teenagers.

Visualization is an important technique that you can use to make your goal happen. In your mind, see yourself with the body you want. You are walking down the aisle in your beautiful dress and your groom is amazed at your radiance. He easily sweeps you off your feet when the time comes to carry you over the threshhold. Some people draw themselves wearing their dream outfit so that they can see for themselves that it is achievable.

You have to choose a method that you will know will work for you. For example, choosing to go on the Atkins diet or South Beach diet can feel like torture for those who love to eat carbohydrates. Some never make it past the first week because they can’t stand being without their comfort foods. If you can’t give up the food, then find a workout that you do like and will achieve your results. If you don’t want to lift weights, go ahead and attend dance classes instead. The method you should use is the one that you will stick to and you know for a fact definitely achieves results.

A habit isn’t formed overnight. This is true of exercise and food as well. If you really want results, commit to 21 sessions of exercise and 21 days of your new diet. You’ll find it gets easier. On the 21st day, commit to another hundred even if that goes beyond your wedding. You’ll be amazed at how automatic it will be to practice good eating habits and exercise, even if you are on your honeymoon already because of it.

Once you’ve made up your mind, don’t wait. Take action immediately. The best time to start is when you are all fired up and momentum will do the rest.

Natural Beauty Brought Out

If you are like most women, you cannot help but think you aren’t beautiful enough. You don’t believe your fiance when he tells you that you look beautiful. You think he says that because he loves you. You are partly right.

The truth is nature granted you great beauty. You may just need to choose the style that brings it out best. You may not need any artificial assistance such as botox or surgery of any sort.

For example, ladies who have curly hair often complain about how unruly it can get. You might be surprised but that may be what your fiance likes about you. You yourself may actually like your curly hair, if it would just please behave for the big day. Instead of having your hair straightened, why not simply have your hair cut to suit your curls. You will look less messy if your hair is cut in layers and thinned out, without taking out the curls. Finding a stylist who truly knows how to work with curly hair may be the greatest gift you can give yourself for your wedding.

Speaking of hair, you may want to get rid of the unsightly facial hair over your lip. No, you don’t need to shave. You may however want to check out the option to bleach the hair so it seems invisible against your skin. The other option is to wax it off - have a professional do this as it can be painful to the uninitiated. They’ll make it as quick and painless as possible for you. Hair removal of the face is best trusted to professionals.

If you think that your face lacks that glow that every bride should have, don’t panic. The answer may be as simple as drinking multi-vitamins. Let’s face it, everyone gets stressed during the day. You are probably trying to do more than your usual work load which can put strain. Guess the first place that stress normally shows? If you answered your skin, give yourself a pat. Specifically, it normally shows on your face’s skin. Once your body gets the right amount of vitamins and minerals it needs, your skin will have that natural glow you’ve been looking for.

Ladies, we often reshape our eyebrows as we grow older. We are told that it looks better if we make it thinner and the arch higher. You may be surprised to learn that nature actually gave you the perfect eyebrows for your face. You just needed to clean it up a little. Allow your brows to grow back and then make them a bit neater. You’ll be amazed at how beautiful your natural arch is and you won’t have that surprised, too arched look that some ladies get n their pictures.

If you don’t smile much because you think you have bad teeth, go see a dentist and find out what you can do about it. Sometimes a beautiful smile can just a few hours away. Whitening your teeth for example can even be done gradually, simply by getting rid of your caffeine habit, stop smoking and use whitening toothpaste regularly. No fuss, no muss, just whiter teeth.

Beauty Tips for the Bride

Preparing for your wedding looks begins the moment you decide to get married. What you can do to enhance your beauty even more is now dependent on how much time is left between now and your wedding date. There is no time to waste so let’s get started.

First off, drink lots of water. Our body needs at least 8 glasses of water a day to cleanse and refresh our system. Drinking juices, teas or any other beverage does not count though your body appreciates the liquid. These drinks are laced with sugar and caffeine which do not do you much good. In fact for every cup of coffee you drink, you need 2 glasses of water to clean up the mess it leaves behind. For soft drinks (diet or otherwise) have 4 additional glasses of water. The sugar in those things are high and can make you bloated.

By simply increasing your water intake, you will feel less hungry so you slim down a little. With your system getting hydrated better, you’re system will be cleaner and your skin will be clearer. You’ll look even more radiant!

Second, lay off the fatty food and chips. You’re sitting in front of the TV or in the theater happily munching away. In the meantime those things add oil, lard, too much salt and trans fat into your body. They are what clogs up your arteries and increases your weight. Ease up on the junk food and oily stuff and you’ll notice your skin will also be less acne prone and oily.

Third, get at least eight hours of sleep everyday. Your body needs to rest and recharge. It requires sufficient time to recover from the stress that you put it through. Our skin, particularly around the eyes will show if you lack rest. The face becomes haggard and sags. Only proper and sufficient rest rounds it out again and removes the shadows under our eyes effectively.

Sleeping in the daytime really isn’t the same. Your body responds to the natural rhythm of the sun and the moon. Notice that you still feel loggy-headed even after 8 hours rest if you take it during the day? Your body shut down because it needs to recharge but by no means did you get sufficient rest.

Getting your proper beauty rest will also help you to avoid midnight snacking which is one of the biggest reasons people gain weight. Your body doesn’t process food well before it shuts down in sleep. What you eat doesn’t get digested properly and just becomes fat.

Lastly, learn to care for your skin properly. It is what everybody sees. No matter what makeup you use, nothing substitutes for beautiful skin, inside and out. Find out what skin products really work with you. Learn to use the correct facial soap, toner and moisturizer to keep your skin clean. You may not realize how deeply dirt can get into your pores.

Make these things a habit and see the results for yourself. You’ll be happily amazed at how these simple steps can turn you from gorgeous to glowing and naturally beautiful.

Get Physically Fit For Your Wedding

If you are serious about being trim and fit for your wedding, you need to keep in mind that it will not happen overnight. If anyone tells you that you will be model slim in just a couple of days run out of there as fast as you can and don’t look back. When it comes to fitness there is no magic pill or quick fix. The best solutions take time.

Now some brides are blessed to already have a good body that just needs toning or firming up. For the women, the most obvious area they want to improve is their tummy. Every bride wants to have that slim waist that looks so sexy. It will also look absolutely great when you get into your bikini on your honeymoon.

Thankfully, gone are they days when people would tell you that you need to do 300 sit ups, crunches and leg-lifts every day to get your belly flat. A sensible trainer will tell you the quality of your workout is more important. You can achieve good results doing ab work outs like in Pilates.

Another area is the triceps. Once you are out of your teens your triceps sag if you don’t exercise them. The last thing you want is to wave at your guests as you leave in your honeymoon car and have your triceps wagging byebye as well. Ladies, watch the “Princess Diaries” and learn to wave gracefully so as to minimize the wobbling above the elbow.

It will never hurt to exercise those arms. If you don’t want to use any weights, why not try doing some tricep dips? You can do this anywhere using a sturdy chair or your bed as a prop and your body weight for resistance. If you have dumbbells, you have more options. You can do tricep kickbacks, tricep extensions and the tricep press.

Now ladies, some of you aren’t comfortable with lifting weights. You don’t want to develop bulky muscles which is why you’re reluctant. The good news is developing bulky muscles is very hard for women. You really have to work out for a long time and life heavier weights to do that.

Seriously, you don’t have to lift weights if you don’t want to. A good pilates class will teach you how to develop a leaner, stronger body without the bulk. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Pilates, it is one of the favorite ways dancers keep fit and trim. It is fun to do and can be done anywhere. Why not check if there is a class in your gym and try it out?

It is always more fun to work out with a partner rather than alone. Why not ask your bridesmaids to work out with you? You can motivate each other to get into shape and have fun shaping up for your wedding. It will also be a great memory of friendship between you.

Don’t wait until the wedding is almost upon you before starting. The more time you give yourself, the easier it will be. Exercising may even become a habit and you’ll stay fit and trim long after the wedding is done.

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