Wedding Tip of the Week: Bridal Fitness & Health

It's no secret that many (ok, most) brides want to look their absolute best on their wedding day - and why not?  All eyes are on you all day AND you are most likely wearing all white, a pristine, but often unforgiving color. Even with motivation like that, it is not always easy to watch what you eat and remember to work out regularly. To help you along, Lisa Goldenberg, owner and trainer of Mad About Crossfit in Madison, is here to share some tips for how to  live an overall healthier life both before and after the wedding!

Top 5 Tips 

1.  Understand that what you do and don't do in your life can greatly affect your libido. A poor diet, alcohol consumption and lack of exercise can leave you feeling bloated and lethargic and less than amorous!  You want to feel beautiful inside and out on your wedding day so eat right and take a walk! It will do wonders for the big day.

2. Did you know that a weak heart muscle can determine the intensity of your special time with your mate? Ladies don't let this happen to you! Keep your eating and workout habits in check to enjoy a happy and healthy love life.

3.   Make fitness a priority before you get comfortable and start "nesting." A toned body will help give you the confidence and motivation to live your best life.  Knowing you are in the best shape of your life is one of the biggest turn ons you can give yourself and in turn your husband-to-be!

4. Avoid stress-eating habits. When you feel the need to binge, try to get in touch with the emotion you might be feeling at the time.  Are you angry, sad, anxious? These are all normal feelings for soon-to-be brides! Sometimes just the awareness of these feelings can help bring about better decisions to help deal with the emotions.  Most times we eat or drink because we are in denial of our feelings and we use food and alcohol to stuff our emotions.  We also use the past as permission for determining our futures. Its time to grow up and take responsibility for what you are putting in your mouth.  After you reach your desirable lean muscle to fat ratio, (notice I did not say weight) choose two days out of the month when you will splurge on something you really want.

5. And lastly a couple who exercises together......stays together!

With a background in dance, yoga, strength training, and pilates Lisa discovered CrossFit in September 2009 and describes it as "OMG empowering, exhilarating, exciting and so much more!"

So what differentiates CrossFit?  Lisa explains: What differentiates the man you chose to marry versus the one you left behind? Excitement and variety comes to mind. When you are with him you feel great about yourself! This man supports you and sometimes he gets the best of you, but you keep going back for more. These same reasons are why I married the man I did and why I CrossFit. Aim high and never settle for less! If your man or workout regimen is leaving you feeling less than fabulous, unmotivated and bored its time to make a change!

Bottom line, don't make these changes just to get in shape for your wedding–create healthy habits to get in shape for the rest of your life.  Go check out one of Lisa's workouts at Mad about Crossfit in Madison, and Branford brides there is also a Crossfit gym right in town too–check them out at Shoreline Crossfit.

So what are you doing to get in shape for your wedding? Share your get-in-shape tips!

Newly married or engaged?  Share your news in the Announcements!

Author Erin Ethier is a shoreline CT resident who writes a daily wedding blog Sparkle & Hay: Inspirations for a Rustic Chic Wedding