Thursday, July 31, 2008

Why You Should Be a Bridezilla
Say "no" to parties, dinners... everything

As strange as it might sound, learning to be negative may be the most positive thing you can do to stave off stress. Just say no to parties you’d rather not attend, to people you don’t want to be with, to the constantly ringing cell phone, or to activities that zap your energy.

By doing this, you’re saying yes to yourself and making time for things you want to do.

Like making time for the gym.

Along those same lines, announce your fitness plans to your fiancé, family, and friends. It may help you lose weight, tone trouble spots and feel great as you achieve your goals.

Not only that, but by broadcasting your goals and resolutions, you’re accountable to someone other than yourself, making you more likely to stick to your plan and less likely to skip a workout.

Another tactic to guarantee you get to the gym--use the buddy system.

Do you have a friend or bridesmaid who’s also made a commitment to getting in shape and feeling great? Recruit them to go to the gym with you, or, if that’s not possible, do a daily check-in with him or her to tell each other how it’s going.

To step up the commitment factor just a notch, consider working with a personal trainer. Or, you can get the same results you’d get by working with a fitness coach by checking out WeddingShape.

You'll learn body-sculpting workouts that are designed to get you in the best shape of your life for the biggest day of your life.

Thursday, July 24, 2008

Mood Music
The right tunes help you kick arse in the gym or unwind before bed

What’s in your iPod or mp3 player?

Turns out that the music you listen to during a workout can impact how you feel about your fitness routine.

Studies show that people who listen to fast-tempo music exercise longer before tiring. And, they feel as though the exercise is easier even when the intensity stays the same.

Some gym-jamming tunes to try? Artists like Beyoncé, Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, the Rolling Stones, and AC/DC are perfect for keeping up your stamina during your sessions.

On the other hand, music also plays a role in de-stressing. Quiet, calming tunes with slower rhythms have a relaxing effect on the brain.

After a super-hectic day, find a comfortable place to sit or lie down and listen to your favorite mood music. Try to pay close attention to the physical sensation of breathing out and breathing in for a totally relaxing and transporting effect.

Some artists to check out to help you unwind are Enigma, John Legend, Earth, Wind & Fire, or Maxwell. Anything classical may also work for you.

Bonus play? You can also turn on the calming mood music during your workout cool down.

If you’re ready to get in the best shape of your life for the biggest day of your life, check out my step-by-step body-sculpting blueprint.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Can Junk Food Burn Fat?
How once-a-week splurges keep you lean and focused


Hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, onion dip, cake. Go ahead… indulge!

Of course, there is a catch.

And that’s to save these forbidden foods for special occasions like the 4th of July, birthdays and big game days.

Unless, that is, it’s your weekly free day.

Once a week, give yourself a food free-for-all day where you allow yourself to splurge on things you’ve avoided all week. Order a pizza, have a soda or finish dinner with a dessert.

Just make sure you get back on track the next day or you’ll be on a diet downward spiral that’ll be hard to bounce back from.

Here are some more stay-on-track nutrition tips to keep in mind:

1. Keep a food journal or log. Spending lots of time thinking about food, calories, the scale, your butt or gut can be stressful. And that raises cortisol hormone levels, which makes you fat. To break the food freak-out cycle, keep a log of everything that goes down the hatch. That’ll make you more aware. And awareness puts you in control.

2. Fuel your body before workouts. Make sure that you’ve eaten enough to get through your daily workout or you’ll run out of gas and be unproductive. What to eat? Try a portion each of protein and carbs, like chicken breast and an orange, an hour before gym time and you’ll be golden.

3. Shun fast food. Ensure you maintain your shape-up goals by never being caught unprepared. Stock your kitchen cabinets and freezer with quick, healthy meal-worthy foods like chicken noodle soup, frozen veggies and low fat dinners. If you’ve got quick-to-prepare food at home, you’ll be less likely to stop at a forbidden
and fatty drive-throughs.

4. Dine in. Whenever possible, eat a healthy dinner at home. If a hectic schedule has you dining out more than usual, don’t snack on the before-entrée bread, don’t have a pre-dinner cocktail and don’t order dessert.

5. Just say no to drinks. Alcohol is fat-free, but loaded with calories. What’s more, it interferes with sleep, which has negative health implications all its own. Instead, go for the water. And, if you’re a juice-drinker, mix half a glass of juice with half a glass of still or sparkling water, which will save you about 85 calories per glass.

Now that you’ve got that under control and you’ve decided on your weekly cheat day, make sure your healthy eating habits are reinforced with a regular workout schedule.

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

No gym? No problem!
Body-shaping moves that require no equipment at all


You don’t need a fancy gym or expensive equipment to lose inches, boost energy and get in top shape for your wedding day.

Check out these fat-melting moves that require nothing but your own body weight.

If you want fitness tips and nutrition tricks to get you in the best shape of your life (on the biggest day of your life) click here.