Ok, so you have decided to have a destination wedding. Well now you not only want to feel & look great in your wedding dress, you will want to look your best in your bathing suit as well. Here are a few tips to help you feel your best in both.
One month before-
Commit to 10 minutes a day, three times a week. David Kirsch, Heidi Klum's trainer, says this is the bare minimum you can do to see results in 30 days. His wedding dress/bikini short circuit: 10 squats, 10 sumo lunges (picture a crab walking), 10 push-ups (the real kind). "This covers the entire body-everything you want to get jiggle-free", says Kirsch.
Mix up your routine-Many people plateau when they do the exact same routine again and again. Varying your exercises, "you force your body's muscles to stay challenged," explains London trainer James Duigan, who works with Elle Macpherson. "Elle switches between the Versa Climber, the exercise bike, running and boxing."
Learn your ABC's-The big three diet no-no's?Alcohol, bread and processed carbs. "By eliminating these, my clients have dropped 5 to 10 pounds in a month", says Kirsch. Duigan also advocates a "whiteout": "Eighty-five percent of my clients see immediate results when thay cut out bread and pasta."
Trade in your office chair for an exercise ball. "To stabilize yourself on the ball, you have to sit up straight and tall, which engages your abdominal muscles," says Jay Wright, co-owner of N.Y.C.'s Peak Performance gym.
Sit tight. Here's a new way to multitask: Clenching your butt muscles during the day as you sit at your desk, checking e-mails. "If you do this 50 times in row, four times a day, you will definitely see results," says celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson, the motivating force behind Jennifer Lopez's power tush.
Sleep it off. Studies show that people who get 8 hours a night eat less-just ask anyone who has ever dipped into a pint of dulce de leche at 2 A.M.
7 Days to Go...
One week before...
Double your cardio. If you jog 20 minutes three times a week, do twice that, says L.A. trainer Teddy Bass, who works with Cameron Diaz and Lucy Lui. Not only will this burn extra calories, it will also help you shed water weight.
Up your intake of olive oil. It may help ward off belly fat, says L.A. nutritionist Christine Bybee. In the short term it can also satiate you. "Eating more fat and protein helps you stay fuller longer," says Bybee, who recommends drizzling it over salads.
Watch your portions. While it's good to eat protein and fat, you shouldn't be swallowing a side of fatty beef, says Bybee. "Have a palm-size portion of lean filet mignon."
Two days before...
Drink more water and eat water-rich foods like lettuce, celery, watermelon, oranges and grapes. They'll help flush out your system and banish bloat, says L.A. nutritionist Carrie Watt. At this point, you should also start avoiding fiber-heavy choices like broccoli and cauliflower, which can distend your stomach.
Apply self-tanner. To avoid streaks, start with one light coat of tanner. "By doing it a couple of days in advance, you give yourself wiggle room in case you wan to add another coat to deepen the tan," says Linda Hay, lead makeup artist for Victoria's Secret. When applying tanner to tricky areas like knees, elbows, wrists and hands, dilute it 50-50 with lotion to prevent color from looking splotchy.
The day before...
Stop swallowing air. Sure, they have no calories, but all those air bubbles you take in when chewing gum or drinking carbonated beverages take up valuable room in your tummy. "And forget anything with artificial sweeteners," says Wiatt. "Sorbitol, mannitol-they all cause stomach upset and bloating."
Steer clear of sneaky salt traps. Ever wonder why mixed greens taste so good at a restaurant? Before dousing them with a sodium-rich dressing, many chefs salt the leaves. From a bloat perspective, you might as well be eating chicken noodle soup or salted edamame.
Get a body wrap. Though temporary (results last 24 to 48 hours), wraps can shrink inches from your body by eliminating excess fluids, says spa expert June Jacobs.
The night before...
Dine on grilled salmon and zucchini. "You don't want to eat any vegetables that are to gassy," says Wiatt, noting that this high-protein, low-calorie combo is "mellow on your stomach and easy to digest." Instead of mixing yourself a calorie-laden cocktail, brew up some dandelion tea, a natural diuretic, advises Bybee.
The morning of...
Don't starve yourself! It could backfire in a bagel frenzy. Instead, eat a wedding dress/bikini-friendly breakfast of non-fat yogurt topped with banana slices and walnuts, suggests Bybee. Still feeling nervous about your figure? When facing anyone you want to impress, "square your shoulders, turn your hips to one side and -bam!-a waist appears," says Bass. This pose is especially important during you wedding picture session.
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