Congratulations! You are engaged! Now what?
Our bodies are stressed daily – by the environment, work, family, exercise - some good, some not so good. Leading up to the big day we want you to have some solid habits in place to keep your mind and body healthy. Added stress is not only an instant weight gainer, too much is simply not good for your heart.
Here are some habits you can start now to help you ease into a successful stressLESS wedding prep!
First take a deep breath…
Not just in through the nose out through the mouth. A really deep breath. One where your belly expands and you force the air out of your body. Did you know that proper breathing could visually remove 5 lbs off your body? It’s true! I learned a TON about breathing when I attended Girls Gone Strong Summit a couple years ago. “Keep your ribs down!” was heard all weekend. As a benefit, my posture is better, resulting in a leaner look. Handling stressful situations with proper breathing = instant anxiety reducer!
Clean up your nutrition!
Maybe you would like to lose a few post-Labor Day pounds or tone your upper body for that amazing strapless gown? Start now and start with small changes. The best place to get a baseline of how you are currently eating is to start by tracking your food. My clients all use My Fitness Pal app – it’s free! Changes can’t be made until you know what you are working with. Clients are shocked at the amount they are actually eating when they first start. Love mayonnaise on your sandwiches? Try swapping with avocado for a heart healthier benefit. Not enough color in your diet? Try stuffing mini bell peppers with brown rice and chicken! Tracking your food can be time consuming at first - don’t get overwhelmed.
If you are new to exercising – start small and keep it simple. Check out my blog for at home do anywhere workouts using just your bodyweight. Set a timer for 10 minutes and keep increasing as you get stronger and build your endurance. If you are already a seasoned gym-goer, take a good look at your program and make sure you are seeing the changes that you want.
Practice that deep breathing – time for pictures!
Pictures are the best way to measure your progress if you are trying to lose weight or attain a certain look. So when you go dress shopping don’t be discouraged if your dress is a size or two bigger than you typically wear. Just like the scale, don’t rely on the size of your dress to determine if your health and fitness changes are paying off! Before, during and after pictures will help you see the difference in body composition and likely the increased natural glow you’ll have from taking great care of yourself!
Homework!
-Practice belly breathing
-Start tracking your food
-Take a 'Now' picture for a baseline for progress
-Begin with 10 minutes of physical exercise
For more healthy living tips and fitness motivation connect with Jen on Facebook or at fitgirlsnw.com
