Trying to lose that last kilogram before your wedding? These tricks will help you nudge that stubborn scale.
1 Ditch the cocktails
Between the bachelorette bashes and shower toasts, brides have endless opportunities to imbibe. Alcohols’s empty kilojoules are a killer, so abstaining can make a big difference, says Lauren Slayton, a nutritionist in New York City and author of The Little Book of Thin. “I recently worked with a bride who cut out alcohol three weeks before her wedding, and she lost 2.5kg,” she says. If you can’t bear to quit the booze entirely, alternate each drink with a glass of water, and choose white-wine spritzers over beer or sugary cocktails. You’ll slash those kilojoules and hydrate at the same time.
2 Keep snacks simple
“You want something rich in either protein or fibre so you feel fuller longer,” says Lisa Young, a professor of nutrition at New York University. That means choosing fail-safe options like white cheese, fruit, biltong, or preportioned nuts or hummus. Whatever you munch on between meals, pick two or three favourites and stick to them religiously. “The more variety we have when it comes to snacks, the more we eat,” says Lauren.
3 Get creative with your veggies
As you know, they’re filled with fibre and loaded with vitamins and antioxidants. “And if you’re eating them, you’re not eating something else – like cookies!” says Lisa. Aim for two cups a couple of times a day. Jazz them up with hot sauce, turmeric, or ginger; toss them into smoothies and soups; or try “spiralizing” aka using a special tool that creates “noodles” out of veggies like zucchini or squash to take the place of pasta.
4 Make a plan
You’re mapping out your #reception to perfection, so why not your meals? “Planning is everything,” says Lisa. “When you don’t have anything lined up, you end up grabbing whatever’s available.” take five minutes each morning to picture exactly what you’re going to eat for your meals and snacks. If you’re going to be at work or running errands, pack your purse with healthy stuff so you’re not tempted by the the siren song of donuts. Apples, pears and individual packets of nut butter are great options.
5 Supercharge your workouts
Going through the same motions on the elliptical every time? Congratulations: You’ve likely hit a plateau. Shock your system by adding a weekly “double session” workout. Think: indoor cycling in the morning and weight lifting that night or a prework run followed by an after-work barre class. You should also up your general activity. “You need to move. The more you sit, the fewer kilojoules you burn,” says New York City trainer David Kirsch, who suggests quick sessions of squats, stretches or push-ups throughout the day. “These little things add up and help keep you mindful of your end goal.”
