To Diet or not to Diet?

To Diet or not to Diet?

That is the REAL question....

I know that all brides want to look and feel their best for their special day and most will go the extra mile to look slim and trim for those wedding photos. A study conducted in 2009 by the website theknot.com found that about 84 % of all brides-to-be reported going on some type of diet before their wedding, each wanting to lose an average of 10-25 pounds. With all this emphasis on looking your best on your big day, is dieting always the answer? There are many advertisements, books and diet plans for just brides and all this type of information can make a bride feel pressured to “diet”.  Marketers know that brides have high motivation to get rid of their unwanted pounds and are willing to pay and put forth the effort but don’t get sucked into their manipulation. We know that you want to look your best on your big day but don’t go overboard and lose focus of the real reason you are getting married.

                If you do insist on dieting before you wedding, I have a few tips on what to remember. 1.  You are fitting your dress to fit you, not the other way around. Some people feel that if they buy their dress their “goal size” that it will make them work harder to reach that goal. It may work for some but you don’t want to run the risk of it still not fitting a week before your wedding. It is easier to alter the dress a little smaller than it is to extend it. 2. Don’t deprive yourself of some things you crave. I have seen some of my friends try to shed pounds by only eating salads and vegetables when I know they were craving ice cream and chocolate. Big mistake. The more you deny yourself that craving, the more likely you are to binge; that will cause you to set yourself back. Don’t cut out everything you enjoy. Indulge a little and give into your sweet tooth every once in a while. 3. Remember you fiancé loves you for you. He wants to marry you for the way you look now so don’t try and overwork yourself to look good for your significant other; he already thinks you’re perfect. 4. And lastly don’t think of it as a diet; view it as a life style change. Cut back on a few unnecessary calorie intakes or take a walk outside with your fiancé after dinner. Do things that make you happy while staying active and healthy.  You want to feel and look healthy on the inside and out and if you feel good it will show through in your pictures no matter what number is on the tag of your dress.  

Xoxo Kathryn