FitSugar

Get in Shape While Planning Your Wedding

FitSugar — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Being a bride-to-be is joyful and exciting, but there's no denying that planning for the big day can be really stressful. You have so much to think about: flowers, the ceremony, invitations, your dress, the cake, and the honeymoon. Planning the wedding can be as much work as a full-time job! In order to prevent feeling overwhelmed with your enormous to-do list, you're going to have to make multitasking a part of your planning process.

So kill two birds with one stone by researching wedding info while working out. You can download wedding podcasts from iTunes and burn calories and tone up while you listen. Here are a few for you to try:

For free, download The Wedding Planning Audiocast, which is the Internet's number one wedding show heard around the world.
Also at no cost, download 70 of the most recent podcasts from Wedding Podcast Network.

To see what else you can listen to while hitting the gym, read more.

Download free episodes of Wedding Workout from the Wedding Podcast Network to help you get bridal-gown ready.
If you need more wedding exercise ideas, check out five free episodes of The Healthy Bride Podcast Workouts.
If a green wedding is important to you, check out two free episodes of Your Guide to Green and Eco-Chic Wedding.
Brides Magazine has four free podcasts that discuss the latest trends, style tips, and cost-saving strategies in planning your wedding.
If you don't mind paying a little, the audiobook called Wedding Planning ($12.95) gives insights from wedding planner Susannah Richardson, so you can have as little stress as possible when planning for your big day.
Or download season six of Whose Wedding Is It Anyway? for $17.99. It shows how wedding planners help real couples get through the hectic planning process, and have the wedding they always imagined.

If these don't float your boat, there are tons of other wedding-related podcasts from iTunes, so you're bound to find something that will help make planning your wedding a little easier.

For more wedding tips, check out all of the Sugar Network’s wedding coverage here.

Dos and Don'ts of Healthy Wedding Planning

FitSugar — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 08:00:00 -0700

Let's face it: planning a wedding is stressful. Depending on how big your wedding is, it could be one of the most stressful projects you've ever taken on. So amid all the excitement, it's important to keep yourself fit, healthy, centered, and sane. Here's what do to (and what not to do) when planning a wedding the fit and healthy way.

Do make a plan. It sounds basic, but start by planning out your timeline, then go down the list one by one. Otherwise, you'll easily feel overwhelmed.
Don't be shy about accepting help. People have gotten married many times before, so why start from scratch? Registry checklists, like our downloadable registry, will save you serious time. You'll also have people offering to help you left and right, so let them!
Do come up with a fitness plan. If part of your plan includes getting fit for the big day, map out a workout schedule - with the help of online programs or a trainer - to keep yourself on track.

For a few other ideas for how to stay sane while planning your wedding, read more.

Don't overdo it. Getting in shape shouldn't mean setting unrealistic goals that require crash-dieting and unsafe lifestyle changes. Losing a maximum of two pounds a week is considered reasonable.
Do make time for yourself. You'll be bombarded by people and questions right through the wedding day, so set aside some alone time for yoga, massages, walks - whatever.
Don't neglect your workouts. Make sure your exercise routine doesn't get lost in the shuffle. Put workouts on your calendar, alongside all your wedding appointments. If you want, recruit a special wedding workout buddy.
Do control your party-food intake. You're likely to attend some engagement and bachelorette parties before the big day, but if you're trying to stay slim, keep your indulging in check. Have a bite of something you're craving, then move on.

Any of you recent brides out there have anything to add? If so, share them in the comments!
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Print It: Arm Plan

FitSugar — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0700

You all know that I think it's important to have a game plan when headed to the gym. Why not use my Arm Plan? It will certainly work your arms and there is now a printable version so you can take it to the gym or use at home!

Click here to download the PDF and print. It looks best printed in color and fits on one page.

Print it. Take it to the gym. Work your arms. Get strong. Look great in the sleeveless fashions of the season!

Get Your Back Ready To Bare: Exercise Edition

FitSugar — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 03:30:00 -0700

Planning on wearing backless fashions this Spring or Summer? Here's a great series of exercises to tone and work your entire back. Perfect for getting you ready for your wedding or the beach!

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Get Your Back Ready To Bare: Skin Edition

FitSugar — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 03:00:00 -0700

Plunging necklines are giving way to backless dresses. Spring and Summer both promise many backless fashions for showing off your toned back, and wedding dresses are not excluded from this trend.

If you are working out vigorously to get a toned back for you wedding, I say more power to you! Don't be dissuaded from sweating by the unfortunate side effect of working out – breaking out in places you would never think of and rarely see yourself. I am talking about the back. There are ways to avoid this dreadful side effect of shaping up.

Here are my suggestions:

Make sure your bra and your shirt are made of fabric that wicks the sweat away from your body. Cotton, in this instance, is not your friend. I like the Trilogy Bra by Title Nine Sports.
If your routine includes cardio followed by strength training, change your shirt and bra in between. This might seem like a pain, but can seriously help prevent blemishes. Wipe or rinse (much more complicated mid workout) your back before putting on your fresh clothes.

There are a few other things you can do so just read more.

Shower post workout and use Cetaphil or some other antibacterial cleanser. Use a back scrubber so you can reach all parts of your back. Do not scrub aggressively as that will only irritate the area even more.
Try over the counter acne medication. The skin on your back is tougher than the skin on your face. After showering try glycolic or alpha hydroxy lotion of about 8 or 10 percent strength. Or try 10 percent benzoyl peroxide. Remember, benzoyl peroxide will bleach your clothes.
Stop carrying a heavy backpack, especially if you are applying acne medication to your back. Backpacks can irritate the skin on your back and promote sweating.
If you're really at a loss, make an appointment with a dermatologist and hopefully they will clear things up for you (literally and figuratively). Also many spas offer facials for the back and this treatment might help. Be sure to try this weeks, not days before your wedding.

Fit's Tip: Don't stop working out to avoid working out. You need it as a stress release because planning a wedding is no piece of cake. Just take precautions and your back will look lovely on your big day.

Be sure to check out all our exclusive wedding coverage on IDoSugar.com!

Stay tuned for the Get Your Back Ready To Bare: Exercise Edition – it's coming soon.

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DVD Review: The Wedding Workout

FitSugar — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:00:00 -0700

If you're going to be walking down the aisle you're probably in serious planning mode. One DVD that will fit right into your frame of mind is The Wedding Workout from Women's Health. Not only does it provide a great workout, but it's one DVD that lets you plan exactly how you want to do your workouts and when.

The DVD is divided into several sections by body parts: upper body, abs and core, lower body, and cardio. You can do the workout in a prebuilt schedule, which separates parts of the body each day of the week with one rest day, or you can create your own workout. You can also decide how heavily you want to focus on the upper or lower body (i.e. strapless dress versus hip-hugging dress). I just tried the prebuilt schedule and feel like I got a good workout. I didn't realize until I finished working out that all the exercise routines are the same, and you simply repeat the same moves on different days. This means if you're doing lower body on Monday and Wednesday those workouts will be exactly the same and this might increase the boredom factor of working out with a DVD. Furthermore, all warmups and cooldowns are the same each day of the week, making this part my least favorite aspect of the DVD. But if you can mentally get over the repetition, you will get a good physical workout.

You do need a pair of light dumbbells for the upper body, core, and abs portion and an exercise mat would make the whole thing a little more comfortable. The lower-body portion is heavy in squats and lunges - my legs were literally shaking - so if you have bad knees you should be careful or opt out. And as with all DVDs, I feel like the cardio is not sufficient enough so I would supplement with jogs outside and sessions on the elliptical.

Fit's Tip: The bonus segments that teach how to walk in heels, nutrition, and stripping 101 were unnecessary - I'd skip them altogether.

Be sure to check out all our exclusive wedding coverage on IDoSugar.com!

Wedding Planning Frenzy: Plan Time For Yourself Too

FitSugar — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 13:00:00 -0700

The details of planning your wedding can become overwhelming. While you are planning all your meetings with the various parties involved, from caterers to future in-laws, make sure to schedule some time for yourself. And make some of that precious time workout time. All forms of exercise, from lifting weights, to running, to yoga, requires deep breathing and deep breathing will help you relax and burn off some of the tension induced by all those wedding details.

I think it is important to take care of yourself while taking care of the business at hand. You can even ask your soon-to-be-spouse to partake in some fun fitness activity with you. You can spend time together that doesn't involve seating charts or china patterns.

Take out your calendar now and pencil in your workouts. Better yet, write them ink and think of them as meetings you just cannot cancel. After all, isn’t the bride the most important member of the wedding?

Be sure to check out iDoSugar for more wedding-related ideas.

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Happily Married, Happily Healthy

FitSugar — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 08:00:00 -0700

If you're looking to lower your blood pressure then you just may want to tie the knot. Just make sure, though, that he's the right one.

Overall, research has found that happily married people scored four points lower on the blood pressure readings than single adults. The study also found that blood pressure among married people - especially those in happy marriages - dipped more during sleep than in single people. Here's the kicker though. The study also found that unhappily married adults have higher blood pressure than both happily married and single adults.

So if you're walking down the aisle in the near future (or if you're already married), keep your marriage healthy by encouraging eating a healthy diet and having regular doctors visits for you and your spouse.

For more wedding planning fun, check out IDoSugar.

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Wedding Countdown: Arm Plan

FitSugar — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 05:00:00 -0700

Bridal gowns are so lovely and flattering, but most show off your arms. Here's a slew of arm exercises to help you tone your arms for the big day (and beyond). Not getting married anytime soon, or are already betrothed? This workout will get your arms ready for tank top season as well. Source

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iDo: iPod – Wedding Podcasts for Your Workouts

FitSugar — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 02:30:00 -0700

Planning for the big day can be really stressful. Working women/brides-to-be have so much to think about: flowers, the ceremony, invitations, bridesmaids, the cake, and the honeymoon. Planning the wedding is almost a full time job!

So you don't become too overwhelmed, you're going to have to make multitasking a part of your planning process. Here's a great way to kill two birds with one stone - research wedding info while working out. Download wedding podcasts from iTunes to your iPod and work out while you listen to your research. Here are a few for you to try:

Wedding Planning Talk Radio (52 free episodes)
Queer Eye (has a 9-episode wedding series)
4 free podcasts from Bride Magazine
Subscribe to the Wedding Planning Talk Radio podcasts (94 free episodes).
If you don't mind paying, you can download an entire season of the reality TV show, Whose Wedding Is This Anyway? for $18.

Is there a wedding planning podcast that you love? Tell me about it in the comments section below.

To see all of our wedding season coverage, check out IDoSugar.