5 Easy Tips to Lose Weight for Your Wedding

Now that Christmas is over it’s time to get real about fitting into that wedding dress and honeymoon bikini.  Look and feel your best with these quick and easy tips to boost your metabolism and shed a few pounds just in time for your wedding.  Small changes will make a big difference.

1 – WATER.  Just drink a little extra water -  it’s that simple.  Don’t worry about counting ounces and carrying around a gallon jug all day.  Try adding a full glass of water first thing in the morning.  Shot gun it while you are waiting for the coffee and boom  -you’ve already jump started your metabolism for the day.  Even if you aren’t ready to give up soda or the high calorie coffee drinks, adding extra water throughout your day will help burn extra calories, flush out those bad calories you had at lunch and reduce any bloating from several days of unhealthy eating or drinking.  Your body retains fluid after you have fast food or too many cocktails – the quickest way to get rid of the excess fluids is with more water.

2 – MOVE.  Just move a little more than you did yesterday.  You don’t need to start training for a marathon but whatever you normally do for exercise – do a little more.  Add an extra 10 minutes of cardio three times a week and it will add up.  Even if you are diligent about your workouts and never skip try adding a second easy workout later in the day, like a short walk.  Just adding a brisk walk for 20 minutes while your talking on the phone will let your body know you are serious.  Wedding planning is like another full time job, it’s going to be hard to stick to your normal routine when you have less time everyday than usual.  If you know you don’t have time for a full workout -don’t skip!  Even 10 minutes of jogging is better than 10 minutes on the couch with a bag of chips.  You know I’m right.

3 - Add some color.  Eat your normal foods, just add some healthy colors.  Frozen blueberries thaw easily and are a great addition to cold cereal.  Having a Lean Cuisine for dinner?  Edamame steams quickly in the microwave, just toss a few in to your entree or cook them first and snack on them while waiting for the microwave to ding.

Super foods
Broccoli
Berries
Spinach
Salmon
Edamame
Cantaloupe
Beans

4 - Change just one part of your normal meal.  When eating out if you normally order a burger and fries try holding the fries and adding the steamed veggies.  You can enjoy that burger knowing that you skipped all those empty calories.  Have whole grain pasta instead of the normal enriched white pasta.  Better yet…  skip the white rice or potatoes that you normally include in a meal and have a double of veggies.  Add whole grain whenever you have the option – this is easiest at home.  Whole grain toast with peanut butter is a quick and healthy snack or breakfast.

5 - Be careful of salads and “wheat” bread.  Salads seem like the obvious choice when you are eating out and watching your weight but they are usually loaded down with more fat and calories than the food you probably want anyway.  Try reading through a few online menus that offer nutritional info about their food.  A grilled chicken sandwich is almost always a better choice than a fast food salad, it depends on how they serve it obviously.  Oh, and by all means avoid the tuna salad sub!  It’s all mayo.  You are better off getting just about anything else on the sandwich menu and just skipping the chips.

What about ordering wheat bread you say?  Honestly, unless they call it “whole grain” or “whole wheat” bread it really isn’t going to be that much different than white bread.  Restaurants need it to taste good to get you to keep ordering their “wheat” bread so it might look like it has a few grains of wheat in it but anything called honey wheat or white wheat is not the real thing.

Healthy Snacks ( protein and fiber)
-a hand full of nuts with a fruit, fresh or dried
-low fat cheese and grapes
-hummus and carrots (or whole wheat crackers)
-whole wheat toast and peanut butter
-plain yogurt with honey (add berries if you can)
-lettuce wraps with turkey and cheese

Rules of Engagement: The Do’s and Don’ts before you Pop the Question

If you’re thinking about popping the question soon, maybe even New Year’s Eve, do yourself a favor and read through the “rules of engagement.”  No matter how beautiful the ring, people are always going to ask…  “How did he do it?”  and  “Was it a surprise?”  Looking for some ideas for new ways to pop the question?  You need to put some thought into your proposal because there are some very specific do’s and don’ts.  It’s not about how much money you spend…  It’s about how much time you put into planning it.

3 Critical Rules:
1 - Ask her dad.  In person if at all possible.
2 - Get down on one knee.  This is necessary for two reasons:  First, this is what triggers our tear reflex.  Seriously – I can’t explain it.  Second, her girlfriends are going to ask if you did and they will feel the need to console her if you didn’t.
3 - Make it a surprise.  You can do it.

Here is a list of simple Do’s and Don’ts:

DO
- Ask her dad
- Get down on one knee
- Make it a surprise
- Involve champagne, candles and/or roses.  More is better.  If you think you have enough candles, double it and add 50.
- Rose petals are also acceptable.  They are not cheesy during a marriage proposal.
- Plan it.  You will be judged by your fiance’ (hopefully) and all of your friends, forever for the amount of forethought you demonstrate.

DON’T
- Ask her on her birthday, Valentine’s Day or Christmas.  Big no-no!
- Ask her when she’s looking scrubby or wearing a bikini if you are videoing.
- Put it in a cake.  The icing gets all stuck in the diamond.
- Fake an accident  (there was that guy who faked a skydiving accident – I would have said, “NO, you are a sadistic crazy person!”)
- Don’t start a fight the day of.  Getting engaged is stressful, you will be acting like a moron all day because you’re nervous and she will be irritated with you.  Just say you’re sorry for anything and everything all day.
- Ask her any way other than in person.  Not on the radio, not on the internet, not in a note, not in a video.  SAY IT.
- Don’t give her an empty box so she can pick it out later.  If she wants to pick it out herself – she will have already told you.  If she didn’t make it 100% clear what she wants in a ring then do her a solid and get her the biggest solitaire your wallet can afford.  No gold, no little decorative diamonds, nothing pear shaped.  This is not the time to show her you are original and creative.

When picking out the ring…  you will narrow it down to two rings at the end.  One will be a higher quality diamond but slightly smaller karat.  The other will be slightly larger but of less quality (says the jeweler).  Go Big!  Both rings are amazing and expensive.  Go for the big one!

FYI, if you are already planning your wedding and even know the venue or date you are getting married…  you are already engaged.  You can pretend to pop the question for appearances sake but basically you blew it.

25 Creative Ways to Pop the Question

1 – Take her to the place where you first knew you wanted to spend the rest of your life with her.

2 – Create a personalized fortune cookie for her.  There are all kinds of ways to swap cookies and end up on bended knee with this one.

3 – Send her on a treasure hunt.  Not too long – but leave her love notes along the way and at the end she finds you down on one knee.

4 – At Tiffany’s.  No one really gets this done in real life.  It would be SO great.  You don’t have to buy her the priciest ring in the store but with a little planning you could have a counter set up with only rings in your price range.  It would be amazing.

5 – At the airport on the way to a romantic getaway.  Talk to someone at the airline ahead of time and get some help – they love a reason to get on the PA and get attention.  Plus think about the upgrade possibilities!  (Please wait until you are past security – those TSA people seem to enjoy ruining a good day.)

6 – Ask the hotel to help, they can set up the room in advance for you.  Again, think upgrades!

7 – Flash mob and choreographed lip syncing songs are cool if you have those kind of friends.

8 – Ask her at one of the really cool places you went at the beginning of your relationship.  Where you met or had your first date are always good choices, we love remembering those details and it tells us you have been paying attention.

9 – Make it grand, but don’t make it take too long.  Including a crowd of your friends or family at a party always ups the ante and guarantees crying women if you are trying to get this on video.

10 – Someplace cool that you actually go on occasions will help keep it a surprise.  A Pro game, a winery, seeing your favorite band.

11 – If you both love camping try hiding the ring box in the bottom of your sleeping bag.  Just before you turn out the light complain about something strange being inside your sleeping bag and make a big fuss about getting it out and suddenly produce a ring box.

12 – Pop the question in front of Cinderella’s castle in the Magic Kingdom of Disney World.

13 – Dress up as Santa and have a friend convince her to sit in his lap and take a picture.  When Santa gets down on one knee everyone will go nuts!

14 – Accidentally spill some wine,  grab a handy napkin to clean it up and you are right beside her on bended knee before she has a chance to see it coming.

15 – If you’ve planned a romantic getaway to pop the question but you think she’s on to you…  Print out some pictures of ring styles and hand them to her on the plane on the way out of town.  Tell her you’ve been looking at rings and it’s just too big of a decision to make without her help.  She will be very deflated and unhappy so produce the the real thing soon so you can get the romance back on track.

Private Proposals

16 – If you want a private proposal at home but want it to be grand you will need massive amounts of candles.  Trust me, if you think you have enough, double it and add fifty more.  Absurd quantities of flowers and rose petals are a respectable alternative.

17 – In bed, lights out.   See how long she can wait before turning on the lights to see the rock.

18 – Upload a video of your proposal to youtube.  Video her watching the proposal and then you can edit her response into the new video.

19 – If she’s into her horoscope have a special one written that becomes extremely specific and ends with her accepting a marriage proposal in the next 60 seconds.

20 – Have a friend get her out of her house for a few hours while you secretly decorate it for Christmas, tree and all.  Have some Christmas music playing in the background and when she arrives tell her, “all I want for Christmas is you.”  You can do this one any time of the year!

New Year’s Eve Proposals

21 – Champagne is already flowing, you are both dressed up – this is a perfect night to reflect on your year together about good times and bad.  Tell her your only regret is that you didn’t ask her to be your wife sooner.

22 – If you are going to be at a big party for New Year’s Eve, ask the DJ in advance to give you some help.  Have him start one of her favorite songs and set you up with a romantic intro and then hand over the microphone.

23 – At a party with your friends have someone start a list of New Year’s resolutions.  As he’s reading the list of resolutions you drop down on one knee when he gets to you.

24 – As the countdown starts and the crowd gets loud whisper in her ear how much she has changed your life.  When the clock strikes midnight and the crowd goes wild, drop to one knee and hand her the box with a small fancy tag that simply says, “Will You Marry Me?”

25 – If you prefer a quiet New Year’s Eve celebration watching the ball drop on TV, put on your jammies and have a fancy celebration at home.  Pour the champagne and just as the countdown reaches the end… pause the TV and tell her you can’t start the new year until you know you are starting it together, forever.

What to Look for in a Bridal Exercise Program

So, you want to drop a few of those freshmen 15 or just get in shape (run up a flight of stairs without getting winded)? The six to 12 months before your wedding is a great time start a bridal exercise program because you’re motivated and have an end date for your goal.

However, you may find the number of options daunting. So, we’re here to offer a few tips on what to look for in a bridal exercise program.

1. Be realistic in your goals.

If you only have three months until the big day, you’ll need to be realistic about how much you can accomplish in 12 weeks. Sure, you can make some major changes in your diet and exercise, but realize that real fitness takes time. Consider talking to a professional trainer about your goals and ask them for honest feedback on what you can achieve in your allotted time frame. Also consider any injuries or limitations before embarking on any bridal shape-up plan.

2. Consider how much time you can dedicate to fitness.

Most experts recommend that you do three to five 20 to 60-minute cardio sessions per week and at least two strength training workouts per week. You’ll need to look at your calendar and see where you can fit all this in. You’re adding an extra two to five hours of well-worth-it commitments to your schedule each week. But be realistic in how much you can do.

3. Consider the costs involved.

A home workout (walking or running shoes and a couple of workout DVDs) will cost you less, but a gym membership with instructor-led classes can be more motivational and may help you work harder. A personal trainer help you tailor your bridal exercise program to your specific goals and give you motivation. However, this often comes with a hefty price tag and a contract.

Bridal Exercise Program Options

Okay, so you have your considerations list – goals, time and money. Now, it’s time to select an option. Here are a few ideas on what’s out there. This list is far from extensive and we highly encourage that you check with your doctor before starting any bridal exercise program.

• DIY workout at home - If you’re super motivated, this can be a way to balance time, budget and goals. You can design your workout from numerous online sources. Women’s Health and Shape Magazine have lots of free workouts and even apps for you tablet or smart phone. A couple of notes on these – you may need some equipment and many of them are centered on gym equipment. Women’s Health offers a monthly subscription for a diet and workout plan for a low cost. However, we recommend you check out their free trial and see if you stick with it before you buy.
• DVD workouts at home - This is another option for the bride who needs help designing a workout on a budget. A quick Google search will return a number of bridal workouts on DVD. While the cost is low, it’s hard to know what a DVD workout is like until you try it. Be sure you do your research before you press the buy button.
• Group fitness and group training - Boot camps and team training groups are everywhere and they can offer one of the best workouts in the shortest amount of time for a lower cost than traditional personal training. This is a great option for brides looking to get in shape fast. An advantage is that you can often try a workout or the first week for free. This way, you’re not locked in and out of pocket if it’s not for you. Research also shows that when you participate in the group mentality, it’s hard to ditch the workout.
• Specialized gyms - Many gyms are now focused on helping you get a great workout in just 30 minutes. These gyms offer you a bridal exercise program tailored to your goals in the shortest time possible. This is an option to consider for brides looking to maximize their time at a lower cost than personal training or brides who shy away from the group fitness options.
• Personal training - If you’re serious about your goals and need lots of motivation, a personal trainer may be well worth your money. The most expensive option out there, a trainer can give you individual attention and work around a crazy schedule and injuries or limitations. While the price may seem steep, the fact that you have an appointment you are paying for is much more motivating than the optional 5:30 cycling class.

We hope this guide gives you some guidance and a place to start in the search for your best body for your wedding day. Tell us how you plan to get in shape for your big day in the comments below.

photo credit: Austin Yoder via photo pin cc

When Mother Nature Rains on Your Big Day

Here in the land mass between New Orleans and Mobile, we’re starting to experience the beginnings of Hurricane Isaac, just seven years after Hurricane Katrina pummeled the Gulf Coast. And this got us to thinking, if you have a wedding planned for this weekend, what do you do? Read More

The Rules of Planning Your Wedding Around Football Season

Before your guests head over to FallWeddingsSuck.com to “get some online therapy for pissed off football fans,” we have a few tips on planning your Southern wedding around football season. Read More

5 Wedding Planning Tips to Keep You Organized (and Sane)

Now that you’ve said “YES,” your post-proposal glow is probably beginning to fade as you flip through that overwhelming, 500-page wedding idea guide. It’s true that planning a wedding is no small task but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy it. So, take a deep breath and read on for some simple tips on planning the most important (wink, wink) day of your life.

photo via Southern Event Planners

1. Have a Vision

If you have a clear picture of what you want your wedding to look like, it’ll be that much easier to make it a reality. Do you envision getting married in an intimate garden setting or in a grand ballroom? Is your dream reception made up of close family and friends or is it a 500-plus event? Before you make any appointments or pay a single deposit, get your creative juices flowing. Scan bridal magazines and then jot down details of what your perfect day would look like. Knowing the big picture of what you want will prevent you from becoming overwhelmed by details during the planning process.

Read More

The Next Big Decision: Where to Live in Married Bliss?

You’ve survived the stresses of planning a wedding and getting down the aisle, you’ve enjoyed the bliss and romance of a honeymoon and now you’re overwhelmed with the excitement of officially beginning a new life together.  You’re finally entering into this new, fairytale life of being a newlywed.

Congratulations! Now, enters the real world.

One of the most important and least discussed details of newlywed life is determining the location where you and your lawfully wedded spouse will nurture your marriage.  As newlyweds, there are numerous questions to ask before embarking on this quest for the perfect home.  Are you and your husband in the market to purchase a home? Or, is renting a home something with which the two of you are more comfortable?  Renovation is also a very common move among newlyweds.  Many couples choose renovation so that they can make their new home their “own” without the stress of a huge financial purchase.

Though there are many options to choose from, finding or creating the perfect home for you and your spouse can be stressful and is important.  So, before you throw yourselves into the excitement, be sure to ask yourself some of these questions:

1. Do you want to buy a new home or redecorate one of your existing living spaces?
2. Whose apartment do you redecorate?
3. Can you afford to purchase a new home, or is renting your better option?
4. Is proximity to family important to you or your spouse?
5. Career! Is the commute doable?
6. Children – Now or in the future? Are you in a nice neighborhood with a good school system?

Even under the best of circumstances finding a home is one of the top-five stress producers. Now try adding on the combination of two households and your moving into the top-three!

And, if this is your second wedding and you are preparing to have a stepfamily, learn how to blend a family under the perfect roof from our friends at www.RemarriageWorks.com!

Advice for Choosing Your Champagne Flutes

The Bride and Groom’s toast is a great wedding tradition, which got me thinking about the choice for the champagne flute.  I’m very happy with our champagne flutes even now, so my advice for the bride to be:  keep them simple and keep them generic (i.e., not engraved with your names, wedding date, etc.).

This is just my opinion, but I’m happy with my choice all these years later.  The main reason — I still use them.  If they were engraved with our names, wedding dates, etc. they just wouldn’t be practical for everyday use (haha — like I really have “everyday” uses for champagne flutes…. but I digress).

I chose a very simple but elegant trumpet-shaped design like the one above from Crate & Barrel.  I think they look great, and after the wedding you can buy more if you’d like extras to have on hand for that New Year’s Eve party or special celebration with friends.

Tips to Ensure Your Wedding Dress Still Fits On The Big Day

Frankly my dear, you need to lose some of that water weight!

The week of your wedding is so busy with parties, errands and last minute changes that it is is nearly impossible to eat sensibly every meal.  You’re going to catch yourself wanting to grab some french fries in the car, candy bars for the stress and a glass of wine at each of the extra parties.  Your body isn’t going to react well to the additional sugars and salts (it can pack on three pounds of water weight OVER NIGHT).

So, here are some tips to help ensure that you still easily fit into your wedding dress on the big day.

First, it is important to realize that water weight is almost always a result of excess sodium intake.  Too much salt, excess sugar and dehydration can all cause the body’s cells to act like a sponge and hold on to every drop of water they can find.  Water weight can make you feel bloated and swollen and make usually comfortable clothes too tight.  To lose (or avoid putting on) water weight, try some of the following strategies:

• Aim to eat small amounts of starchy carbohydrates (such as breads, rice, etc)
• Avoid salt and salty food products
• Drink plenty of water and herbal teas
• Avoid sugary foods
• Eat fruit and vegetables

Also, beverages containing caffeine have a diuretic effect (that is, they remove excess water from the body). And there are several other foods including eggplant, asparagus, watermelon, celery, and artichokes that have a diuretic effect as well.

Be careful with what you eat and drink leading up to your wedding day, and you’ll ensure that your dress still fits you like it did the day you bought it.