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ON THE COVER
BY RICH THOMASELLI
Every bride thinks it: "Gotta get in shape; gotta
fit into that dress; gotta get in shape..." Well,
good. A little gym time each week will not
only help you lose weight, it's one of the best
things you can do to relieve the stress that
comes with planning your wedding.
"Most people fall off the fitness wheel
because they get bored," says Sue Fleming,
a personal trainer in New York City and
the author of Buff Brides ($15.95; www.barnesandnoble.com), which inspired
the Buff Brides exercise program at New
York Sports Clubs across the Tri-State
area (www.nysc.com). "There are a variety
of things you can do, at minimal cost,
to stay fresh."
According to fitness experts, most brides
are looking to lose an average of 15 to 20
pounds, and that's a very realistic goal if you
have at least six months. Why so long? After
the initial rapid weight loss, pounds come off
at an average of about two pounds a week.The earlier you start and the longer
you do it
gives your body a chance to adapt and gives
you a good chance at keeping the weight off
permanently.
"We want you in here and we want to start
you gradually, but then we're going to build
you up so that you're frequenting the gym
more as you get closer to the wedding date.Six months is good because you just
don't
want to move into an extreme situation that
you won't end up being able to handle," says
Sandy Sessa, owner of Exerwise Woman (45
Raritan Crossing, Suite 6; Raritan, NJ; 908-
218-1155; www.exerwisewoman.com).
While there certainly will be a variety of
cardio exercises involved in any workout,
experts agree that a complete workout-and
great results-is only achieved in concert
with weight training and a healthy diet. Most women seem to fear the words "weight
training," but there's nothing to be afraid of. "The phrase 'buff ' is a bit misleading because
women think they're going to get gargantuan
muscles," Fleming says. "It doesn't work like
that and there's nothing wrong with toning
by picking up a dumbbell."
At Ultimate Fitness (760 Bridgeport Ave.;
Shelton, CT; 203-225-7570; www.ultfitness.com) general manager Tony Salamanca
says
he incorporates five principles into every
workout, whether it's a complete routine or
just targeting certain areas in order to wear a
certain dress.
"It's cardio-vascular; it's resistance
(weight) training; proper nutrition;
supplementation, which is having a metric
shake, for example, if you miss a meal; and
it's professional assistance from people
like us," he says. "That's the core of it right
there. If somebody comes in and says to
us that their body fat is fine, their weight
is fine, but they want to tone their arms
to wear that strapless wedding gown, we'll
target those muscles." Even toning for a certain area can't be
done everyday, Salamanca says. "You can't
do your arms everyday," he says.
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Just for you • New York Sports Clubs(in NY, NJ, and CT; www.nysc.com) |
"When you're working a muscle, you have to let it rest."
Fleming says that no matter what the workout, the exercise is often a means to an end. "For many women, if the wedding is the excuse to get you started, that's great," she says. "Because in many instances, if you start it and stick to it before the wedding date, you'll end up sticking to it after the wedding."
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Target Practice Since planning a wedding is almost like having a second job, there is often little time to devote to full-blown workouts. No worries. With most gowns, you may only need to target certain areas of the body with a defined workout. For the most popular wedding gowns, Fleming suggests the following: A-Line: These dresses are usually cut tight on the waist, so focus on the lower back and abdominals. Since the A-line is sleeker, exercising the gluteus maximus doesn't hurt, either. To break up the repetition of the simple sit-up, Fleming suggests incorporating a large fitness ball into your abdominal routine. Strapless: Obviously, it's all about the arms and upper back. The overhead press, alternating arm raises with five- to eightpound dumbbells will refine the shoulders and arms. Dropped Waist: Most brides forget that people will be staring at their backs- something drop-waist gowns accentuate- during the majority of the ceremony. To define this area use the pull-down weights: Sit at the machine, grasp the pulley attached to the weights and pull down behind your head. Mermaid: While you can hide the lower body in a mermaid dress, it's usually fitted around most women's "problem areas." Do cardio (running on the treadmill, spinning on an exercise bike, or climbing an elliptical) for an hour five times a week to slim down. Add squats or lunges to tone up. Sheath: For this very thin, very close-to-thebody style, women are hitting all the majormuscle groups to simply tone. Try push-ups and swimming, which tone the whole body, and do cardio several times a week for an overall slimming effect. |
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In
This Issue:
Your Relationship
What living together before the big day means for your marriage
Beach & Quiet
Take cover at these secluded island hideaways.
Bridal Bucks
Who, When, and how much to tip.
Wedding Wellness
Get in shape for the big day.
The Jealous Bridesmaid
What to do if your bridesmaid is a green-eyed monster?
In season
It may be too cold for an outdoor wedding, but you can always bring the outdoors inside.
Peace Talks
Five things to discuss before you get married.
Classic Redo
Wedding cakes are taking a new shape for fall and winter.
So you want to be a wedding planner...
An inside look at the career many brides dream about.
Groom's Corner
Today's bachelor parties are happening someplace else - the barbershop.
Your Registry
Linen tips that help give you sweet dreams.
Highways to heaven
Six honeymoon destinations you can get to by car.
"The Bridal Book" is an advertising service of The Journal News.
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