Is your wedding coming up, but your dress isn’t fitting quite comfortably and you want to shed a few pounds? It’s possible to safely lose weight before a wedding and still manage to have energy to focus on other wedding preparations. The key is to be prioritize your weight loss exercise and diet regimen so that it doesn’t fall by the wayside.
There are two main factors involved in losing weight: diet and exercise. In order to lose one pound, you have to create a 3500 calorie deficit (3500 calories = 1 pound). This means that over the course of one week, cutting 200-500 calories from your daily diet will lead to losing one pound per week.
Contrary to what most diet plans would have you believe, losing weight doesn’t have to be all about carrot sticks and yogurt and working out two hours a day. You can actually lose weight while still eating the foods you enjoy; the trick is to know how much you regularly eat, how many pounds you want to lose, and setting realistic goals for yourself based on those number. For example, if you need to consume 1500 calories every day to maintain your current weight, cutting down to 1300 calories per day (by eliminating one dessert, snack, alcoholic beverage, or sugary soft drink), you can easily create a deficit that will allow you to lose one pound per week.
Exercise comes into play in this equation, too. By adding on a workout of 30 minutes that lets you burn about 200 calories, you’ll create a deficit of 400 calories total, which can easily result in 1 pound (or more) of fat loss per week. Instead of focusing too much on numbers, try instead to find a healthy balance of eating moderately and trying to get 20-30 minutes of physical activity every day. Thinking too much in terms of calorie counting or how many calories you’re burning on the treadmill can set you up for failure, as you’ll feel like you’re failing if you don’t meet those goals. Try instead to get up to a brisk walk or run for about 5-10 minutes, then alternate by going a little slower on the treadmill (or cycling machine, rowing machine, or whatever other piece of exercise equipment you’re using). Interval training is excellent for fat burning, as it forces your body to use energy that’s already stored (like fat).
Above all, don’t force yourself into any diet or exercise program that’s only adding more stress to your life. Preparing for a wedding is a very difficult and trying time, and adding weight loss on top of the other burdens can make it feel impossible. Just focus on staying healthy and leading a balanced lifestyle; you’ll look much better on your wedding day if you’re happy and healthy than if you’re starved and lacking energy.