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Engaged = Stress? It Doesn't Have To

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:30:00 -0700

For most of us, we dream about the day when our favorite person, our lover, and best friend in the world will get down on one knee, profess his love, and ask for our hand in marriage. It's all dreamy and wonderful in our minds, but when it actually happens, it's a happy time but filled with stress.

The questions start flying...

"Who's going to be in your wedding party?"
"When are you getting married?"
"Did you pick out your color scheme?"
"Are the groomsmen going to wear tuxes or suits?"
"Where are you going to have the wedding?"
"Will my kids be invited?"
"What's your dress going to look like?"
"Are you going to wear your hair up or down?"
"Are you going to have roses in the bouquets because you know I'm deathly allergic?"

AHHHH!!!! Seriously. What do people think you've been doing for your entire life, planning a wedding? For most of us, we were so concerned with getting engaged, that we never thought much past that.

Just because you are engaged does NOT mean you know every last detail about your future wedding. So enjoy this extraordinary time and don't let other people's nosiness get in the way.

Want to know how to ditch the stress? Then read more

Politely tell people that you haven't made any decisions yet, that you and your fiancé (awww, you can call him that now) are just enjoying the incredible feeling of being in love. When people start handing you advice, you can always be the nice sweet bride and say "Thanks for your suggestion. I'll think about that when we start planning."
To relax, instead of doing something like a gentle yoga class, choose an hour of pumped up cardio instead. It'll distract you from wedding thoughts.
Get advice from other recent brides. Learn from their mistakes and get tips from someone who knows what you're going through.
Sick of the unsolicited and crazy advice from everyone? Just say "Interesting. I'll have to think about that." It is polite and wonderfully non committal. You committed to your finacé, so you can blow off those silly suggestions that keep coming your way.
Take a trip to the bookstore. Pick up some bride magazines and books about planning a wedding so you'll feel more prepared about making decisions.
Definitely celebrate, but at the same time continue taking care of yourself. As tempting as it is to go out every night toasting your joy with oodles of champagne and brownie sundaes, you still want to eat healthy and stay active. Remember to celebrate in moderation.
When you are ready to start making some decisions about the big day, check out Dear's Wedding Time Line.

Are You Stressed Out Because Your Significant Other Hasn't Proposed Yet?

FitSugar — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 04:00:00 -0700

Being in a relationship with someone you love is a wonderful thing. The love you feel is so powerful, and the unconditional support you share helps you to be better people. When you're in a relationship for a long time, and you feel strongly about that person, you're bound to think "When will we get engaged?"

Others are bound to think that too, especially your close friends and family. You can feel a lot of pressure when people are constantly asking, "So...When are you two going to get engaged?" It doesn't really help the situation and can make you extremely anxious.

Are you totally in love with your significant other, and are anxious because he hasn't popped the question yet? Here are some tips to help you relax.

Tell your friends and family to back off - Politely tell them that you feel strongly about where your relationship is going, and if anything happens, they'll be the first to know.
Talk to your significant other - If you really are doubting how he's feeling about you, and whether he wants to spend the rest of his life with you, chatting about it will set your mind at ease.
Exercise - Releasing all that energy will help release stress and tension, not to mention, it'll keep you in shape so when you do get engaged, you'll feel good about trying on wedding gowns.

Want to see the other tips? Then read more

Go away for the weekend with some girlfriends - There's nothing like a little female bonding time. Plus, a new place will give you a new perspective, and we all know that distance makes the hard grow fonder.
Get a massage - Treat yourself to some hands-on relief. A massage will relax your muscles and your mind, and get the issue of an engagement out of your head.
Talk to a Therapist - They are professional listeners, and they don't know you or your history, so they won't make any judgments. Sometimes it's just nice to get your feelings out, and for someone to hear what you're going through.

Fit's Tips: These are just some ideas to help you de-stress. Whatever you do, don't lose hope. A secret proposal could be in your not-to-distant future, so if you know in your heart that someday you'll get engaged, enjoy the time you have together, and be excited for what's to come. Plus, dealing with all this stress now will be great practice for when you're married, and people start pressuring you with "So...When are you going to have kids?"

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Speak Up: Your Favorite Fit Engagement Stories?

FitSugar — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 13:00:00 -0700

I like hearing other people's engagement stories, especially when they involve fitness. Lately, a lot of people I know have gotten engaged on outdoor hikes or camping trips. Of course, there's always the sports stadium Jumbotron method, and I have one friend who asked his wife to marry him on their way home from the gym!

So, have you heard any good stories of couples getting engaged while getting physical? Or perhaps it's you who got engaged that way. Share your stories in the comments.

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Fit and Fun Engagement Parties

FitSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 03:00:00 -0700

Weddings call for many celebrations, but all those parties don't need to be formal affairs. There are many fun ways for you to celebrate your engagement and bring guests together without having to stress about seating arrangements. Here are a few of my ideas for healthy and fun engagement parties.

Garden party: In my mind, a garden party is just a little more formal than a BBQ, but games are a featured activity nonetheless. You can play badminton and croquet. The Italian lawn game bocce ball is a fun way to engage (pun intended) guests of all ages. I also like that the Italian word for kiss, bacio, sounds a lot like bocce - it adds a romantic twist to the game.

Healthy cooking class: Many chefs, restaurants, and catering companies offer hands-on cooking classes, where every guest gets to play chef. Guests are placed into small groups to prepare different dishes. At the end of the class, you all sit down to eat the feast you created. Many of these schools allow you to participate in planning the menu, so you can opt for healthier fare.

See my third idea when you read more.

Square dance: How long has it been since you have been to a square dance? Not only does a square dance offer the perfect opportunity to wear your fave cowboy boots, but you will also burn some serious calories while you do-si-do. This is a great way for everyone to mingle.

Need more wedding inspiration? Check out all of the Sugar network’s wedding coverage here.

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Engagement Party: How to Avoid (or Deal) with Your Champagne Hangover

FitSugar — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 10:15:00 -0700

Parties are fun and no doubt if you are throwing one to celebrate the arrival of spring or your engagement, you might just over imbibe. Champagne the celebratory drink of the masses is just a devil. It is easy to drink, hard to say no to, and you can leave you with one hell of a hangover.

So in case you don't stick to drinking PartySugar's fruit juice mock champagne, you might end up a wee bit hungover. In fact, it is believed that women are more likely to experience hangovers than men. Here are a few tips on avoiding as well as dealing with them (hangovers - not men).

At the Party

Don't eat sweets, since champagne is already high in sugar. So the less sugar you eat, the less intense the hangover should be.
Once you have started drinking champagne, stick with champagne (or wine). Remember - Bubble before liquor, never sicker.
Eat!!!! Food in your stomach slows down the body's absorption of alcohol.
Take it slow. Try to drink one glass of champagne an hour.
Drink water throughout the party. Just fill that glass with "bubble" water and alternate with champagne.

To find out what you can do before going to bed read more

Before Bed

Drink water!!!! Dehydration is a major component of the hangover.
Take 2 ibuprofen tablets, to help diminish the headache and body aches that accompany a hangover.

The Morning After

Once again drink water and take some more pain relief.
Drink juice - fructose, such as honey or fruit juice, may help your body burn the alcohol faster.
Take a nap with your fiancé...your hangover just might be gone when you wake up (time is really the only true cure).
Physical activity (wink - wink, nudge nudge) can help your body burn through the excess alcohol by eliminating the toxins by sweating.

I sure do hope these help and I sure do hope you had some fun.

Stats on the Health of the Union

FitSugar — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 03:00:29 -0700

The National Center For Health Statistics, a branch of the Centers For Disease Control, released its latest batch of numbers on the behavior of American adults, and in my opinion, the numbers don't paint a pretty picture. After surveying over 79,000 Americans age 18 or older, the center compiled some interesting stats on the state of our healthy and not-so-healthy habits.

Six out of 10 adults drink alcohol, while nearly 25 percent responded that they were lifetime abstainers. Men are more likely to list themselves as current drinkers than women.
Around 20 percent of US adults answered that they smoke, and 42 percent of them tried to quit unsuccessfully in the past year. Under 20 percent of the current smokers average 17 cigarettes a day.
Only around 30 percent of adults responded that they exercise regularly, but close to 60 percent say they engage in at least some physical activity during their leisure time.
Forty percent of adults maintain a healthy weight, but 60 percent are considered overweight or obese.

The information for this report was gathered between 2005 and 2007. Do any of the numbers surprise you?

Pilates Images For Everyday Moves

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 08:00:45 -0800

I am a firm believer that Pilates makes everything better. And when I say firm, I also mean that literally. Pilates is a body/mind method of fitness, or as the very Germanic founder Joe Pilates believed, mind over body. I have found mental images help clients understand the details of basic moves. Here are three images that I have found helpful both inside and outside the Pilates studio.

String bikini abs: To feel your low abdominals engage, mentally draw a line from the top of your right pelvis (the ASIS) to the top of the left. This imaginary line will be about two to three inches below your belly button. Pull that line, your string bikini bottoms, gently toward your spine. This is a great image to help feel your low abs engage while running, walking, or riding.
Balloon head: A tense neck can lead to headaches and upper back problems. If you find your neck tense from holding up your heavy head, imagine that your neck is a string attached to helium balloon. The string can can move easily and the skull is light and floating. This is a great image to relieve neck tension when stuck in traffic.
Soapy shoulder blades: This image comes straight from body/mind guru Eric Franklin and is great for keeping tense shoulders relaxed. Images your shoulder blades are bars of soap that slip easily up and down your back as you shrug your shoulders. If your shoulders are super tense, raise your shoulders to your ears on an inhale and let them drop on the exhale while imagining the soapy shoulder blades sudsing up your back.

Hey Miley, Stand Up Straight!

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 07:00:43 -0800

Did you catch Miley Cyrus on the red carpet during this year's Oscars? Her gorgeous Jenny Packham gown was overshadowed by her hunched-over posture. She was joined by repeat slouching offender Kristen Stewart, who stood slightly taller than usual on the red carpet. Besides not looking so hot, slouching can erase all of the hard work you've done at the gym and affect future workouts.

Here, a few tips on checking and improving your posture:

Did you know standing just a little bit taller can make you look 10 pounds lighter? That's right, it's that simple. To instantly drop the pounds, try this posture checklist.
Consider trying a Pilates class, even just once. Pilates focuses on your all-important core and encourages great posture by engaging your deep ab muscles and keeping your spine neutral.
Perform a quick posture check during the day. Get into the habit of checking your posture each time you do a repetitive activity like going to the ATM, standing in line for your morning coffee, or waiting for a traffic light to turn green.
Bad posture can even cause back pain. If you don't notice an improvement simply sitting and standing a little bit straighter, try the Alexander Technique, which teaches basic body mechanics while improving posture.

Not only will improved posture make you look taller and thinner, it'll help your running and walking workouts

Get Lifted: Swinging Kettlebell Squat Lunge

FitSugar — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:00:07 -0800

I'm all jazzed about kettlebells lately, and if you're looking for an exercise to use this unique piece of equipment, here's one to try. It's sure to tone your thighs and tush and give you sculpted shoulders.

For tips on how to do this move keep reading.

Engagement Party: Garden Games

FitSugar — Wed, 14 May 2008 09:00:00 -0700

There are so many parties leading up to a wedding, but they all need not be formal, sit-down affairs. I propose (pun intended!) a garden party to celebrate your upcoming marriage. This way you can play games instead of just standing around drinking glass of champagne after glass of champagne trying to make small talk with your future aunt-in-law's third husband.

These simple lawn games are a great way for guests from the different parts of both of your lives to mix and mingle.

Bocce Ball: Lawn bowling fits in perfectly at a garden party. You can hone your aim and skill as you try to hit the pallina. Here are the rules to bocce ball, so you can be prepared for your next match.
Badminton: Anyone can play badminton and it is sure to cause a bunch of belly laughs as folks hop around trying to hit the slow floating birdie.
Croquet: One thing I love about croquet is that you can easily play the game wearing a skirt. Remember Heathers? Here are the rules of croquet if you need a refresher course.
Volleyball: Kick the action up a notch or two with a volleyball game or tournament. Since volleyball is more athletic than the other games mentioned, you should definitely include information on your invites that the game will be played and the guests interested in playing should bring appropriate attire.

Do you have a favorite garden party game? Share it in the comments section below.

Head to IDoSugar for more wedding coverage.

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