Dr. Samir Chakur

Most brides go to great lengths to look their best on their wedding day, but a few get it wrong. They fall in the trap of quick fixes such as extreme diets and exercise regimes that end up harming their health, sometimes permanently, before their D-day. The fact is that short term changes made in the hope of losing weight quickly are always harmful and useless.

Here are a few healthy and effective tips for brides wanting to get in shape for their wedding day.

1. Eat five to six small meals per day: This is a great way to feel full the whole day. This helps you to stay away from mindless snacking, increase your metabolism and decrease consumption of empty calories. You can go for a portion of lean meat, whole grain carbohydrate and a fruit or vegetable every three to four hours a day. You must also consume dairy products regularly for calcium. It’s also good to design and fix your diet plan in advance as you’ll get busier as your wedding day approaches. If you are a working woman, you can cook your meals and freeze them beforehand. This will prevent you from ordering food in. Skipping a meal is a complete no-no as this will make you hungrier later on and promotes bingeing.
2. Hydrate well: Keep drinking small quantities of water throughout the day. This will keep you hydrated and make you feel full. Experts say that hunger pangs could actually be a sign that you are thirsty. You should drink eight to 10 glasses of water daily. If you exercise regularly, you need more water. Also if you are overweight, you need to drink more water. Drinking soda or even diet soda does not count as water. These drinks actually dehydrate you.
3. Engage in smart snacking to keep yourself energized: Snack right on food items containing proteins, iron, vitamins and whole grains to keep your energy up on days before your wedding. Nutritionists recommend 10 grams of protein and 5 grams of fibre with each meal. Healthy snack options can be oats, sprouts, fruits and cheese. Keep these healthy snacks around you so that you reach for them and not chocolates and pasta when you’re hungry.
4. Avoid bloat-causing food items: Bloating makes your stomach look fat. You certainly can’t afford to get a bloated stomach during your wedding. So stay off sugary food items like desserts, candy, juices, cokes and refined sugar found in white breads, rice and pasta. This way you will fit into your wedding dress and feel energized and fit to enjoy your wedding festivities. Opt for natural sweeteners like honey instead and drink more water, soup and fruit to decrease bloating.