I know many of you are either extremely busy bride-to-be’s or just extremely busy people. How can you stay healthy when you are overwhelmed with a to-do list and not enough time in the day to think about staying healthy?
I’m going to speak to my brides, but everyone can benefit from what I’m going to say! I’m going to give you three easy tips to help you stay healthy and fit while preparing for your wedding day. Though I’ll apply it to preparing for a wedding, my tips apply to anyone!
So, first…why should you trust my tips? I’m by no means an expert, nor did I receive a college degree in this field. But, I do constant research on how I can keep my own body mentally, physically, and emotionally fit by reading books, articles, watching documentaries and videos, and listening podcasts. Links are below with my favorite advice on how to stay healthy, especially while preparing for your wedding.
Eat Right.
My first tip is to eat right. In order to stay healthy while preparing for your wedding, you must eat right to feel right. And to look right. And to do everything right! It is SO crucial to your success and your energy levels.
If you cannot do these other tips I beg you to please maintain a healthy diet. No matter how much you exercise or do everything right, if your diet is crap, you will feel like crap too. All around your body will deteriorate and you can’t perform at your peak with a poor diet.
- Learn how to calculate the amount of calories you need each day. Follow a diet based off of that so you don’t under or overeat. Clean Simple Eats (her name is Erica) has some of my favorite healthy recipes (some of them are expensive to follow so I adjust each as needed based upon what I have at home or not). Every season she sends her email subscribers a free recipe book. You can also buy Erica’s full recipe book but I’m cheap and opt-in for the freebie every time. They give me so many good ideas and I don’t have to stress about finding new recipes every few months. She also has an app for calorie counting based upon your height, weight, etc. Download that here. Erica’s blog post about finding your Total Daily Energy Expenditure is here.
- Learn what foods sit best in your gut. Many of us have intolerances to foods (I am the queen of this…that’s a story for another day). Learn what makes you feel good and bad when you eat or drink it. Pay attention to your bodies cravings. Eat when you’re hungry. Don’t eat when you’re not. My husband is the best at this. He loves to live in a moderation based diet (this is subjective to everyone, too). But, basically he eats sugar/sweets when his body craves it – and just until he knows his body is satisfied. He doesn’t binge. He eats savory when his body tells him it wants savory foods. He listens to what his body needs when it’s asking him. If you have enough control like he does, this mentality will work wonders for you.
- Limit sugar. Not just sweets. Limit soda, diet soda, sugary/processed foods, etc. These cause head
- DRINK WATER EVERYDAY. Bring a water bottle with you everywhere. Keep yourself hydrated in your body and your mind.
Exercise Regularly
Exercising is crucial to maintain a balance in your life. This is the second tip on staying healthy. Not only does working out keep your physical body fit, it keeps your mind and emotions fit and strong, too! It’s proven that working out for 30 minutes a day for 5 days a week will add six years to your life!
While preparing for your wedding, you have an extra good excuse to want to look AMAZING for your groom, and for your guests. Working out will help you feel confident putting on the dress and interacting with tons of people on your wedding day. You will glow knowing you’ve put in the hard work to look amazing day of!
Working out gives me energy, motivation, it keeps my skin clean, my brain alert and attentive, and my body fit. Some days are freaking hard to get myself out to workout, even though I workout 5-6 days per week. I have lots of ups and down. But the overall benefit to body is amazing that I push through the hard days.
I’ve learned that I do really well when I have other people around me working out. So, I opt-in for open gyms, working out with my husband or a friend, or I use workout videos. I love being motivated by others around me because it inspires me. I’ve finally found what keeps me working out. You should make sure you know what works best for you, too!
If you hate exercising, I’m guessing that’s because you haven’t found a routine that fits with your body and your schedule. Let me give you some ideas of how you can fit in at least 30 minutes of workouts for at least 4-5 days/week.
Make sure you have cute workout clothes! Then you’ll want to wear them. Once you’re wearing them you’ll feel more motivated to exercise. I love Bare Bones Clothing, RBX leggings, and Victoria’s Secret Total Knockout leggings.
Intense HIIT Workouts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Cd0eIKXcSs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMO_XC9w7Lw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cZnsLVArIt8
HIIT & Dance Workouts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EV9GYSWij84
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5Xyb2h_KHo&t=1260s
Cardio
Run
Bike
Swim
High Fit (dancing)
Zumba
Stair Stepper
Strength
Sleep Enough.
The third and final tip to stay healthy. Without this you can’t do anything else.
Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep a day. But, you know your body best. Maybe you survive and function off of 5 hours of sleep (bless your soul). You may need 10 hours of sleep. Either way, make this a priority. If you are stressed out take time to think about how much sleep you get each night. If you feel cranky or exhausted, are you getting enough sleep?
What if you’re getting enough sleep but you seem can’t fall asleep once in bed? Yeah, I’ve definitely faced this problem. And it happens to me when I don’t focus on the time I prepare to sleep. I try to have a nightly routine before I go to bed.
First, I shower or wash my face. I make sure I’m well fed so I’m not hungry during the night. Then, I brush my teeth. I either read a book or get into bed and cuddle with my husband. We talk about our days, our hopes and dreams, we joke about things. Then, we hit the lights and say our nightly prayer together. Focusing on a nighttime routine prepares my mind to sleep.
When I still can’t sleep after that – it’s usually because I’m very anxious for something. So, I write down everything my brain is thinking of in a small notebook by my bed. Then I know I won’t forget about the running to-do list that’s keeping me from my precious sleep. I can usually sleep soundly after doing that.
Want to learn more? Read or watch my favorites:
Anna’s Pinterest Health & Food Board
Netflix Health Documentaries
Anna’s Pinterest Workout Board
What A Good Night’s Sleep Does to the Brain
Jordan Peterson – 12 Rules for Life (Health Tips)
Anna Loader is not an expert or medical professional and this should not be considered professional advice. You should seek appropriate counsel for your own situation. Anna Loader assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions in the content of this site. The information contained in this site is provided on an “as is” basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness.
