Brides, Burpees and Being Active
Are you preparing for your big day and asking yourself: “How can I look and feel my best?” There’s a little 80/20 rule for results that applies to workouts and nutrition. If 80% is nutrition, how do you maximize results with the 20% that comes with exercise? That will look different for each bride, but there are several questions to ask yourself and tips to help you:
What type of exercise do you enjoy?
How much time do you have (months before wedding and available time per week)?
Do you have any injuries or limitations that you must consider?
What is your budget?
What type of exercise do you enjoy?
If you’re like me, you love to hate burpees! This is just one of the many full body exercises that can be incorporated in your workouts. If you’re trying to figure out the best workout for you, focus on what you enjoy and what motivates you. Is it Yoga, Barre classes, HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training), Running, Swimming, Cycling, Weight Training? Decide your favorites and incorporate a variety into your weekly routine.
How much time do you have before your big day?
Next up comes considering how much time you have before your wedding. If you have several months, working out 3-5 times a week is excellent. Make sure you do both cardio and weight training so you get the calorie burn from cardio and long-term metabolic impact from the weight training. If you’re only a month or 2 from your big day, you may want to increase the intensity and number of workouts per week to 5-6 days so you can get lean and fit as quick as possible. Always take at least one rest day each week to allow for recovery time.
Do you have any injuries or limitations that you must consider?
You should also consider any limitations you have due to injuries or extra body weight. If you’re just starting out, it’s wise to start small and work up. This may mean starting with body weight exercises and gradually adding more of a challenge with additional resistance (free weights or machines) or speed as you get stronger and faster. It’s always better to build a strong foundation and build up from there. If you have knee, hip or back injuries, you may want to hire a personal trainer that can pay close attention and give you personalized coaching based on your abilities.
What is your budget?
Depending on your budget, the workout possibilities are endless! If you’re self-motivated and low on funds, home workouts may be ideal for you. If you need extra accountability like me, it’s best to sign up for classes at a local gym or boutique studio. Having the classes paid for and on your schedule can be excellent accountability. If you need the most accountability and have the funds, a personal trainer is always a great way to go because they will personalize the workout for you!
One last tip I wish I had known much earlier in my life is the tremendous benefit of strength and weight training. You will burn calories for hours, long after your workout because your body is rebuilding the muscle and will continue to burn calories in the process. While doing cardio such as running or cycling, you burn high calories while actually doing the activity. However, strength training will not only give you lean and toned muscle you want, it will keep you burning calories for hours.
So, the key is that you get active and figure out what will keep you motivated. Find your favorite type of exercise and get to work. Your bridal body is dependent on YOU working hard and doing your best until the big day!