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Fit and Healthy
I do not think I have ever come across one single bride who had not wanted to change something, no matter how small, about her self. She simply wants to look beautiful on her wedding day; whether it is simply a matter of committing to plucking her eyebrows once a week for the next five months, running an extra 10 minutes every day, or completely restructuring their her entire life in order to transform themselves. Every bride will make a commitment to look beautiful. And … it does not have to cost you much, in fact, time and mental effort will be the two most important elements you will need to sacrifice!
You can lose weight, tone up, freshen the skin, soften and colour the hair, and even manicure your nails, all without having to spend more than $50 (approximately). The key is to be smart and sensible.
There is one rule that definitely stipulates whether you will succeed, however. Regardless of how much time you have and how much you can spend, you do require commitment. The answer to success, no matter how simple your objective, will be in your commitment to an established goal. This will usually mean you have to commit to a routine, as well.
You must determine how to achieve your objective. Clearly, you must be realistic. There is no point in aiming to lose 9 kilos in the span of two weeks if you are going to starve yourself and drop dead on the floor of the emergency ward, or, perhaps attempt to grow long silky hair in a period of three months if your current hairstyle is short and simple. You would be better off buying a wig!
Having been a bride twice myself, I know that you will hear this following statement SO many times you will want to knock people on the head every time the repeat it. But it is so true….
You must accept the body that god gave you!
Unless you are wealthy (and insane) enough to seek out a plastic surgeon who is capable of working miracles, your pretty much stuck with what you have.
There are ways to manage those parts of you that you just don’t like and which you simply can’t change. You can adapt. Select styles that accentuate the positive features, not the negative. For example, if you are concerned about having an unusually oversized bust, do not go for a full and fancy top, draw attention away from the bust, not to it.
Those brides who successfully lose weight and trim up are those who research, plan their time well, and adhere to their routine(s). The hardest thing about any challenge is being able to maintain the mental commitment to stick to it. There will be ups, and yes, there will also be downs. For some people the ‘downs’ are having to take twenty minutes away from something they would rather be doing to jog the block. For others, its having to avoid chocolate and sweets at all costs. Everyone has differing weaknesses.
It is the ability to overcome these weaknesses that makes the outcome so much more rewarding. And sometimes we all give in once or twice, we are allowed to. What is more important is that we make sure we know it is only momentary weakness. If deviation is risky for you then simply DON’T do it. Stick to your routine, and do not let yourself give in at all. For some people this is the best approach. And believe it or not, it might sound hard, but once you get the ball rolling, it can actually be quite rewarding.
Once you start noticing a difference, incentive increases because you are actually seeing and feeling results and differences. The first couple of kilos may seem trivial and pointless, however if you lose 1.5 to 2 kilos in one week, just keep focused on the fact that in five weeks it will be 10 kilos, and that is just over the span of a month!
Of course, when you start to notice that your skin is looking really clear and fresh, and your skirts and bras are all down one whole size, you have made significant progress. Be positive and do not looking backward. Continue to think about how much more progress you will have made in another month. It will be most inspiring and exciting.
You can do it, and you have the right to want to try and improve yourself. We are all biological creatures. Being subjected to a healthy diet and sensible exercise routine can only prove positive. At the very least, your muscles will tone, your skin will glow, and your nails and hair will be healthy and strong.
Mental conviction to get your bum off that chair and get outside to work up a sweat can be the biggest hurdle of all.
How to start:
There is absolutely NO need to spend vast sums of money on gyms or weightloss programs.
1. Put yourself on a healthy eating plan – there is no such thing as a diet anymore. All (sensible) health and nutrition consultants will advise that you need to eat well, not less. And its REALLY easy. You simply need to read up on what the body needs. And again, that’s not a very hard task.
We all know the body does not need fats, sugars. And we know the body needs fruit and vegies, fibre and water. The rest is up to you; simply work out what sort of foods you like and eat them!
But remember … there is no point in exercising or eating a healthy breakfast and lunch if you are going to sit down and have a chocolate bar and half a litre of coke when you get home from work.
2. Exercise can be done anywhere, any time. And you don’t need to do much. You simply need to do it OFTEN. Go for a good hard walk at least four times a week, for at least half an hour. Run if you want to, but don’t burn yourself out because then you won’t want to do anything the following day! Drive to the beach and take a walk or jog on the sand. Walk around the block ten times; whatever it takes. The body burns as many calories walking as it does running; you just suffer less joint and muscle trauma! That is a hard concept to grasp, particularly when you have been brought up with the philosophy of ‘the more you sweat the more you lose’.
Borrow the neighbour’s dog. Wash the neighbour’s horse. As long as you use your muscles and work hard, you will see a change.
Some people have bad joints, so swimming works well, particularly for those who are overweight and can’t walk or run distances.
If you have children, purchase a couple of exercise videos (including yoga or pilates); exercise at home without having to put the kids in day care. In fact, if your kids are old enough, you will have nothing but fun because they join in!
3. The body needs water, and lots of it. Keep a cold bottle in the fridge and get yourself a water bottle you can freeze and take with you during the day. During winter, you must make no exception to this rule. Water is vital. It not only keeps you fully hydrated, it flushes the toxins and waste from your system.
No matter how you chose to lose weight, it can be fun and it can be free. It DOES work. Commit to a plan and don’t give up, you will notice significant benefit, and you really won’t have to wait too long to see the changes.
Remember, you may not lose weight where you want to. The body will burn weight as required, where needed. One week people might say your face has lost weight, the next, your back and bum. But it will come off.
Patience and Persistence are the key!
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