Shaping up for your big day

Brides-to-be across the land have a to-do list as long as their arm and it’s very possible that somewhere on it will be a nagging reminder to lose weight and shape up in time for the big day.

It’s natural that every woman would prefer to walk down the aisle enjoying the admiring glances of her guests rather than worrying whether her zip is about to burst, and the last thing she wants to be fretting about during the run-up to the wedding is whether her beautiful dress will fit.

We talked to personal trainer Katherine Bray, who’s based in North Yorkshire, about how to trim a few pounds and bring a healthy glow to your skin whether you’ve got six months or six weeks to play with.

Where to start?

According to Katherine, with a bit of dedication you can make a difference to your body shape and size in four weeks: “It is doable to make noticeable changes in a short period of time, but I’d recommend allowing 12 weeks to really get to grips with your diet and exercise programme,” she said.

The words ‘diet and exercise’ might strike fear into the heart of anyone who is used to eating whatever they like or for whom an occasional walk around the supermarket is the closest they come to a workout! However, worry not – Katherine is confident that it doesn’t really take all that much to make a huge difference and what’s most important is commitment and self-belief.

“Part of the battle with losing weight is psychological. If you have the mental focus and discipline, and support from those closest to you, there’s nothing to stop you achieving your goals,” she said. “Once you’ve done the hard work and have rebooted your metabolism, it becomes easier as then you’re just maintaining your shape.”

Rebooting your metabolism isn’t as scary (or painful!) as it might sound. Katherine explained: “Our bodies like refined carbohydrates because they are an easy fuel to use so we need to change this and make it easier for our bodies to burn its store of fat as a source of energy by reducing the amount of refined carbs we feed it.

“Instead of eating what I call heavy or white carbs, such as bread, pasta, white rice, biscuits, cakes and crisps, aim to increase your protein and vegetable consumption. Halve the amount of potatoes you’d usually put on your plate and fill it with colourful veggies. There’s no need to go hungry, with plenty of nutrient-rich vegetables and proteins in your diet you’ll still feel pleasantly full and will be getting all the vitamins and minerals your body needs without having to take supplements.”

Fruit can of course be good for you, but Katherine warns against eating too much as the natural sugars in fruit can turn to fat if they’re not consumed for energy.

Planning ahead

Another key to shedding pounds is to be as organised as possible with your meal planning. Katherine said: “If you plan your meals for the week and know what you’ll be eating each day, you won’t fail. Packing up with plenty of the right food saves time and money, it will help prevent you looking for naughty snacks and also means you can keep track of your calorie intake and metabolic rate. Starving yourself is not an option, with a bit of planning you can eat foods that suit your lifestyle and are tasty and filling and still help you lose weight.”

One of the services Katherine offers her clients is the 90-day bespoke healthy meal planner, which is completely personalised to the individual and can be tailored to cater for any intolerances or allergies. “This includes analysis of your metabolic rate, height, weight and lifestyle. I work out how many calories you should consume each day and give you a list of foods to buy and a daily meal guide to get you where you want to be,” explained Katherine. “Every four weeks I’ll review your progress and amend your eating programme accordingly.”

Something that people often overlook that’s really easy to remedy is hydration. Katherine said: “Are you drinking enough water? Your body needs lots of water to flush out toxins and it might also mistake thirst for hunger. On average, most women ought to aim for about two litres of water a day, not including caffeinated drinks. Start and end the day with a glass of water, and if you feel a hunger pang reach for a drink of water rather than a bite to eat. If it’s too cold, try using an unrefrigerated filter jug so the water is at room temperature and is easier to get down.”

Working out for a new-look you

Many brides-to-be wish to tone up before their wedding, especially any areas that are going to be on show during their special day such as the arms, shoulders and back. “Two or three one-hour sessions a week using light weights and a few body weight exercises such as press ups, planks, squats and lunges will all help form the toned shape you’re aiming for. You don’t need to worry about building big muscles, these workouts will just help create streamlined shoulders and arms, a firm bottom and a flat tummy.”

There are lots of free workouts online that people can follow, You Tube hosts a huge array of fitness channels from yoga to HIIT (high intensity interval training) and everything inbetween. Katherine’s personal training service offers a huge boost of support and motivation for anyone looking for one-to-one fitness training, whether it’s on a short-term basis for a specific goal or a longer-term more regular routine.

Katherine added: “Whether you want to lose weight and shape up for your wedding day or another reason, it all comes down to self-belief and having the confidence in yourself to achieve your goal. I always have faith in the people I work with; if they can commit to their diet and exercise programme and stay focused, there’s no reason why they won’t get the body they’re dreaming of.”

To find out more about Katherine’s personal trainer services and her 90-day plan, visit www.katherinebray.com , email info@katherinebray.com or ring 07942 89723.

For more information about our marquee hire and event planning services, please get in touch via info@villagefarmmarquees.co.uk or (01262) 468160.