Let’s Get Physical!

You picked your wedding dress; the perfect combination of lace and organza, a plunging neckline and spaghetti straps, elegantly fitted to the floor, with a slight trumpet skirt. Now, all you need to do is fit into it!

Okay, while this is not the best advice, all brides want to be body beautiful when they walk down the aisle. More than any other occasion, nothing beats the motivation to look great on your wedding day. In fact, this is the only occasion where it’s possible to look so great, your partner doesn’t recognise you.

So, while you are out there, picking flowers, tasting cakes and the making guests list, do not forget to take the time to concentrate on yourself, because, truth be told, your wedding photos will last a lifetime and who doesn’t want to look their best?

To help you get the ultimate bridal body, Vows pulled trainer Kenny Allen on board to help lay out the ultimate programme that with dedication, commitment and consistency promises results.

6 months to go: Kenny insists that to have positive results, you must be brutally honest with yourself from the beginning. Decide what results you want, whether you need to lose weight or just tone up. You must also decide whether you have the willpower to do it alone, or whether you need the extra push of a trainer.

While a trainer will add additional expenses, it may help to think of your wedding day as an investment, therefore help from a trainer can only provide better results. Once you have decided whether to go it alone or with help, sit down and set your goals. Aim to go to the gym about four or five times a week, with a mixture of cardio and strength training. Also set goals for how much weight you want to lose (or inches), and then set out how you will achieve this. It is essential that you change your eating habits from now, as you will find that this may be a harder change to implement than the exercise.

5 months to go: By now you should’ve started working out, either with or without a trainer. Have you reached your first target? If so, it’s time to celebrate, but not for too long. Double, or even triple your target for next month, and keep doing whatever it is that you are doing. If you haven’t reached your goal, it’s time to review your plan. Is your workout programme too hard?

If so, this could make you dread going to the gym, leading to missed sessions. Or perhaps it is not hard enough, and you are not pushing your body out of its comfort zone. Also review your eating habits. Have you been truthful to your diet? Whatever it is, do not give up, stay focused. You will get there.

4 months to go: If you have reached your target again, keep it going! You may feel like you can slack off because you’ve reached your target, but keep going! It’s always great to exceed your expectations. If you haven’t reached your target again, take things back to the drawing board. Perhaps visit a dietician to help organise a healthy eating plan. Also revisit your workout programme. You may want to find a workout partner. We all have a competitive edge; so working out with a partner will push you to keep up.

3 months to go: Are you still losing weight? If you are, you should be cruising now. Continue to stay focused, and remain honest to yourself with your workout and eating. Still not seeing the results you want? It’s time to invest in a trainer.

They will not only help you to focus, but also encourage and lead you in the right direction. At this point some people may hit a plateau. This means that you may not be losing weight so readily. If so, it may help to take a week off, reassess and revamp your programme. Just remember to keep kicking it up a notch.

2 months to go: Everyone should be seeing results now! Don’t stop now, keep it going, you’re so close!

1 month to go: You will probably be very busy now in the run-up to the wedding, and you may have to cut down on your workout days. Still try and dedicate at least three days to a workout.

But you should have that beautiful body, so enjoy it, you deserve it – you worked hard for it! It is essential that you continue to watch your diet now, especially as you will be working out less. Remember you can celebrate at your wedding, so be strict with yourself until then. Also remember that this new plan and new body is the new you, keep it up and continue living a healthy life.just make sure to cheat – with chocolate cake – every now and then!

These Loving Arms of Mine

While your workout should touch upon the main problem areas – stomach, legs, and arms – your arms are perhaps the most important target area. No matter what dress you wear, your arms will be on show. When it comes to your arms, your chest, shoulders and back are also important in achieving all around tone. Some of these exercises use a weight, but do not worry; you will not bulk up as a result.

The weights merely push your workout to the next level by offering some resistance.

Chest: A great exercise for strengthening the chest and arms, are push ups. They not only work the chest, but also strengthen the arms.

Back: Jump on the rowing machine and mix in some cardio with toning exercises to strengthen your back. Alternatively, try a bent over fly. With both feet parallel on the floor, bend over so that your back is at a right angle, parallel to the floor. Keeping your back flat, raise your weights to the side, before pulling them together into your chest. At the top (when your arms are open) make sure to squeeze your shoulder blades together.

Triceps: The ‘jiggly’ part of your arm, this is the hardest part to tighten. Try tricep dips and tricep overhead extensions to work this part of the arm. For the dips, start seated on a bench with your hands next to you. Move your body out but keep your arms on the bench. Try and ensure that your bottom is as close to the bench as possible, and lower yourself up and down. For overhead extensions, stay seated with your hands together and drop the weight behind your head. Drop your hands back as far as possible. Raise them straight and then repeat.