Keeping Healthy for the Big Day
Hi! I’m Jemma and I write a blog over at Celery and Cupcakes. Over the years I have had a bit of an odd relationship with food and have been on quite a journey, resulting in a complete transformation on the way I view food and the way that I eat.
November 1st 2011 as I remember it was a beautiful autumnal day and at the time my boyfriend and I were on a romantic getaway in Bath. Unbeknown to me, my jittering and nervous boyfriend was working up the courage to propose on the bridge in Priory Gardens.
Of course I said YES! And ever since that day I have been full of excitement and fully embracing all things matrimonial with planning for our wedding later this year.
Of course a deep sense of apprehension is instilled in all us brides-to-be over the way we will look on the big day, with much emphasis on being able to fit in to our wedding dresses. I think it is easy to say that every expectant bride has been here – especially after buying their wedding dress - and then embark on an ensue of crash diets and unhealthy eating regimes in a bid to lose a few pounds.
Reading healthy living blogs and then starting my own blog has inspired my own interest in fitness and nutrition. As such I have come to the huge realisation that you can eat healthy food that is full of flavour, nourishing, satisfying and most importantly just makes me feel great.
I think the best thing that I have learned from making the transition from my old eating habits to eating a more plant based diet is that feeling great and full of life comes from within and a healthy and balanced lifestyle is a major way to achieve that. So with my wedding day pending I wanted to share my own personal tips for staying healthy for the big day.
Find exercises that you enjoy
For some working out is a struggle and can seem like a chore, but you don’t need me to tell you that being healthy lifestyle involves diet and fitness. However, exercise comes in many forms and it doesn’t mean that you have to be running on the dread mill for hours at a time. There is so much out there such as swimming, walking, Pilates, yoga, running, aerobics, sports and dance.
For me I really enjoy working out and the way it makes me feel afterwards. This is all helped by taking part in classes and doing workouts which I know I will be fun.
I think the best thing is to go at your own pace and just have fun with it.
A healthy balance
Over the years as my eating habits have changed and one of the main things that I have learned is that carbs are not the enemy. They are all part of a healthy and nutritious diet. I think it is important to get a balance between all of the food groups and to include a mix of healthy fats, whole grains, protein, legumes, vegetables, fruit and carbohydrates.
Being restrictive with the way that you eat can, in more cases than most, cause more damage than good. It can also be counter intuitive, leading to overeating on all the foods that you have been trying to avoid in the future. Other than money, balance is definitely what makes the world go around and eating a healthy nutritious diet with treats thrown in is great. If you want that glass of wine or some of that chocolate that you have hidden in the cupboard then go for it!
Being happy and healthy rather chasing skinny is definitely far more enjoyable!
Snack between meals
Snacking is always viewed as a negative thing between meals, but for me it is a God send. I usually have 2 snacks: 1 between breakfast and dinner and another one between lunch and dinner and also a dessert if I feel that I need it too. Whether it be fruit, raw veggies with hummus, a snack bar or even some chocolate, stopping the energy levels from waning throughout the day can be very important as part of a busy lifestyle.
I don’t know about you but eating just 3 square meals would never work for me and having at least 5 meals a day just means more delicious food to enjoy, and who would say no to that?
Eat breakfast like a King
Breakfast like a King indeed! This is by far my most favourite meal of the day and one that shouldn’t be skipped. Starting your day the right way with a bowl of oats, fresh fruit and yoghurt, muesli or cereal will give you the energy you need to kick start your day.
Smoothies also make perfect breakfasts and snacks. They are a delicious and convenient way to add more fruit, fibre and nutrients into your diet. It is really a simple case of just blitzing up some fresh fruit or frozen with milk, water and/or yoghurt. You can even make them having more staying power by adding some protein powder. My current favourite is a strawberry and orange fruit smoothie:
1 frozen banana, fresh strawberries, 1 peeled orange, soya milk, ice and strawberry hemp protein powder.
You can even get even more experimental by making your smoothies green by adding leafy greens such as spinach and kale. To be honest the world is is your oyster with smoothies as anything goes, adding nut butters and toppings is another way to make them that extra special!
Don’t sweat the small stuff
Preparing for the big can be very tiring and stressful. Instead of fretting over small things and trying to be in control of everything delegate tasks to your friends. Try and make it fun by making a girly night of making your invites or save the dates, rather than increasing your stress levels by trying to do everything yourself.
Most importantly, try not to make losing a few pounds your main focus on the run up to your wedding. Instead embrace and enjoy the planning and all of those special moments along the way.
Remember that the man of your dreams that is going to meet you at the end of that aisle loves you for you, because in his eyes you are perfect.
I wish you all the luck in the world with your impending nuptials and I hope your day is all that you dreamed it would be.
