Many women have had a picture of their perfect wedding day that has evolved since they were little girls. For many women, that picture has also included an image of their ideal selves on their wedding day. Every woman should feel beautiful and loved exactly as she is, but if she has a personal goal of getting closer to her ideal size in time for the wedding photos, there are a lot of popular ways to try to lose weight in a hurry. Should dieting before your wedding be a priority, and if so, what are the safe ways to do it, and which dieting fads should be avoided?
Is Dieting Before Your Wedding Really Worth It?
How Dieting Affects Your Mood
When you’re deciding whether you want to go on a diet for your wedding, it’s important to note how a specific diet may affect your mood. Simply starving yourself is dangerous and harmful to your body. Being in a caloric deficit has many adverse effects on your brain and your emotions. An NBC article shows that as you lose fat, the hormones in your blood that regulate hunger also decrease. You might find yourself preoccupied with food more than you’re used to which can be very distracting. We all know that stress inhibits weight loss. Worrying about your weight might actually be counterproductive to losing it! Instead, it’s important to talk with your doctor about what a good calorie count your diet should have in order to lose the desired amount of weight. Many diets are designed to help keep you feeling full, provide the calorie and nutritional requirements that your body needs, and help reduce fluctuations in mood.
A Diet Might Affect Your Relationship
An important thing to consider when you are deciding whether to go on a diet is how that decision will affect your partner. Focusing on your own weight loss might make your partner feel self-conscious about their own body in a way you would never intend. Additionally, even a successful diet can be very stressful. The hormonal imbalances caused by dieting might have an effect on you that bleeds into your relationship in unexpected ways. The decision to start a diet before your wedding should be talked about and weighed with your partner. Perhaps your courage to start the diet will help them decide to start it too. The start of this new chapter in both of your lives could also be the start of a new, healthy lifestyle.
If You’re Already Thinking About Losing Weight, This is the Perfect Opportunity
If you are currently overweight, your upcoming wedding may be just the motivation you need to shed that extra fat and get healthier. A clean bill of health and a fresh new lifestyle isn’t the only motivator here, however — for example, most people take out life insurance after getting married, and one of the requirements for life insurance is getting a medical exam. Being overweight is considered a risk factor, so if you get in shape in time for the exam, you can save a lot of money on your policy. Getting healthier is like giving a gift to your spouse because you’ll be able to live longer and healthier with them than otherwise.
The Gown-Fitting Nightmare
Another factor when considering a diet that many women don’t remember is that the process of fitting your wedding gown may be much more difficult when you have to figure out which parts of the body are actually losing the weight. Many soon-to-be brides buy a dress that they’ll torture themselves to fit, only to discover that we never lose weight the way we expect, and it’s not a linear process. Weight loss is never the same for every single person. It may be more beneficial to either purchase the desired dress after the diet has had time to create a change, or to purchase a size larger and alter it once after finishing the diet.
What Are the Best Ways to Diet to Lose Weight for Your Wedding?
Fad Diets to Avoid
If you are determined to lose weight for your wedding, there are some fad diets that might help you lose weight but have negative effects on your health that might make you think twice. Severely limiting your caloric intake could leave you short on essential vitamins and minerals, and could even put a strain on your heart. Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The grapefruit diet, the cabbage soup diet, and many other crash diets should be looked at with skepticism. Before you start any fad diet, make sure you are informed about the possible health consequences.
Healthy Ways to Lose Weight
Fortunately, there are many ways to diet that actually improve your health while you are getting into the shape of your dreams; cutting out sugars from your diet and limiting meat consumption are two. Much of our diets are composed of calorie dense yet nutritionally empty foods. By focusing on eating a diet that is heavy on vegetables and minerals, it’s possible to cut the calories while still getting the essential vitamins your body needs to be strong and your brain needs to regulate itself. Adding vitamin supplements to your diet will help ensure your body functions at its peak.
Two great options to cut out the calories while still getting the nutrition you need are the keto diet and vegan or vegetarian diets. The ketogenic diet has been shown to help you lose weight while improving your diet. There are many versions of keto, including cyclical, high protein, standard, and targeted versions. You should definitely do your research and consult with your doctor or nutritionist about which version would be the best for you. The same is true of taking meat out of the equation. While it can be an effective way to lose weight, regulating your intake of essential amino acids can be challenging for vegans especially. The HCG diet is a popular way for brides to lose weight relatively quickly while keeping trips to the gym to a minimum. HGH injections reduce the feeling of hunger you may experience while you’re on a low-calorie diet. Regardless of the program, your weight should be carefully monitored to make sure it doesn’t affect your health.
You’re Not Alone!
Remember, you don’t have to face this challenge alone. Reaching out for help and advice from people who have been through it before, or joining a fitness club catering to women getting ready for their wedding day can give you the support you need to meet your goals.
If you have been struggling with the idea of fitting the image you have in your mind for your wedding, just remember that you’re not alone. It’s something so many women have been through and are going through with you. In the end, it’s a personal decision. Whether you’re happy with yourself as you are, or the sacrifices you have to make will give you that feeling of accomplishment, make the whole ceremony seem more powerful. Just remember to be safe and enjoy the experience. Best wishes, and good luck on your journey!
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