To the girls who pretended to be brides by wearing pillowcases on their heads when they were young, summertime means one thing and one thing only: wedding season! If you’re one of the lucky ladies who’s getting hitched in the next few months, you’ve probably already thought about ramping up your workout routine to get wedding dress ready. There are tons of fitness regimens out there, and the one you choose will depend on the type of dress you plan to wear – just remember these tips:
1. Give yourself plenty of time
Getting wedding dress ready doesn’t happen instantly, so you’ll want to give yourself plenty of time to get fit in between all the phone calls you need to make about vendors and venues for your big day. It takes at least six weeks to see results from strength training, so let that be your minimum time frame. Think of exercise as an easy way to blow off steam when the stress of wedding planning starts to get to you.
2. Don’t forget about cardio
While strength training is an important part of any wedding workout, your fitness routine will be more effective if you don’t neglect the cardio. Run on your home treadmill or elliptical four to five days per week, and sprinkle in strength training throughout. The TRUE Fitness ES700 elliptical is perfect for soon-to-be brides because it delivers a natural, stable workout and makes it possible to concentrate on your upper-body, lower-body or core through its unique Cardio 360â„¢ program.
3. Keep the cut of your dress in mind
Let’s be honest: When it comes to your wedding day, it’s all about the dress. You’ll want to keep this in mind as you decide what workout regimen is right for you. Your weight and strength training should focus on the areas of your body that will be exposed, so search for moves that target your shoulders, arms and back.
4. Circuit training is effective
No matter what combination of moves you choose, circuit training can be effective. This involves doing short resistance exercises in a quick, successive order that targets different muscle groups. It’s a great way to keep your heart rate up and firm and tone your body. Combine with a healthy amount of cardio throughout the week and you’ll be looking your best when it’s time to walk down the aisle!