Relating: In Fitness and In Health

Eat well, and often.

Even though you may feel as though you’re constantly rushing around, don’t skip meals. “That will slow down your metabolism and leave you feeling grumpy and irritable,” stresses Maura Manzo, managing director and health counselor at Ryah Yoga and Health in Conshohocken. To guard against fast-food regrets, schedule a weekly cooking session:  “I would cut up fruits and veggies on Sundays and prepackage them so I could grab them as I was running out the door,” says Lisa Blackwood Callahan, who recently got married in Manayunk.

Ditch the word “diet.”
“Fad diets and calorie restriction may show results quickly, but they backfire because they aren’t manageable,” says Manzo. Boggi recommends brides fill up on lean protein, lots of fruits and veggies, and watch portion sizes. Cutting 500 calories a day from what you’re currently consuming—aim to lose about 100 to 200 through smart food tweaks, and pick up the other 300 to 400 through increased exercise—will cause those pounds to drop off at a healthy rate of about one per week. Just make sure to take short breaks from calorie counting. “You need a day or two off each week so you won’t feel restricted and miserable,” advises Boggi.

Mix cardio with strength training.
Yep, you need to do both. “Overall, cardio is more efficient at burning calories, while resistance training sculpts the body and increases strength,” says Boggi. Aim for three to six workouts per week, alternating calorie-burners like running and Spinning with strength training like power yoga or weights. Just make sure that you’re keeping that heart rate up, to maximize weight loss. “You’ll burn more calories during a weighted workout by doing a circuit-style routine where you insert cardio intervals, such as jumping jacks, in between strength exercises,” says Boggi.

Make sleep a priority.
When you’re planning a wedding, catching enough Z’s is often the first thing to get ignored on the never-ending to-do list. “I had trouble sleeping because I felt like there was always something I could be working on,” says Rothwell. “I would feel sluggish and unable to fully concentrate the next day, and I lacked the energy I needed to get through my workouts.”
Getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night will also amp up the calorie burn of your sweat sessions and even help keep you on track diet-wise. “Adequate sleep keeps the body in tiptop shape and ready for its next workout,” says Waters. “When you’re tired, your body also craves all the wrong foods,” warns Manzo. To safeguard your sleep, Manzo recommends creating a half hour-to-hour-long pre-bedtime ritual: “Turn your TV, computer and phone off, brew a pot of chamomile tea, and escape into a book to let your mind slowly unwind and let go of the day’s tasks.”

Come up with a pre-stress plan.                                                                  Wedding planning is inherently stressful. But having a daily routine in place to keep stress levels at bay can help you have fewer Bridezilla moments. “Whether it’s exercise, a weekly massage or meditation, preventative measures help keep stress from snowballing into a massive explosion,” says Manzo. She advises finding healthy ways to handle those moments when you know you’re about to lose it. “Maybe it’s screaming at the top of your lungs in the car, thinking of something super-funny, or taking a walk.” Whatever it is, it will be better than yelling at the ones you love—or eating a carton of ice cream.