You’ve started to tackle your never ending to-do list, and realize that you haven’t yet prioritized the weight loss goal you had for your wedding day. But don’t worry! I am here to guide you to lose weight for your wedding.
As a registered dietitian nutritionist with over 20 years of experience I’ve seen it all. And when it comes time to lose weight for a wedding, you’d be surprised how many people are just starting their weight loss efforts a few weeks before their big day.
The first and most important thing I’m going to tell you is that trying to lose 10-15 pounds weeks before your wedding day isn’t smart. The key with weight loss for this big event (and really any event) is having a plan well in advance – just as you do with your wedding venue, and all of your vendors!
So let’s dive into the do’s and don’ts when it comes time to lose weight for your wedding.
When to Start Losing Weight for Your Wedding
This will greatly depend on how much weight you’re looking to lose. If you’re aiming for about 10-15 pounds, giving yourself 4-5 months is appropriate. If your goal is more than 15 pounds, aiming for 6 months and over is most appropriate.
How Much Weight do People Lose for Their Wedding?
This completely depends on what your starting point is. Some people only want to lose 5 pounds, where others come to me looking to drop 10-15. Some even more. So, the key is that you have your goal weight in mind early on so that you give yourself a healthy and appropriate time to lose the weight.
When Should You Stop Losing Weight for Your Wedding?
So now that you know when you should start losing the weight for your wedding, when should you plan to reach your goal and stop with your weight loss efforts?
You should plan to reach your target weight about a month before the wedding. This allows you to choose clothes for the events that will fit you appropriately and will decrease the chance of costly and unnecessary last-minute alterations for your wedding dress.
When to Buy Your Wedding Dress if You’re Losing Weight
This is a very important question! When it comes to purchasing the dress, you can buy it as soon as possible. While each store is different, usually you don’t have your first fitting until about three months out. The month before the wedding you should be at or very close to your goal weight so that when they take all of your final measurements there are minor modifications needed in those final weeks.
Top 5 Tips to Lose Weight for Your Wedding
With these timing principles in mind, it’s time to dive into my top 5 tips to follow.
- Eat breakfast within 90 minutes of waking up.
- Eat protein at every meal and snack and aim for 25-30 grams for each meal.
- I’ve seen that a lot of females don’t tend to add enough protein to meals, but this is key! For example, beans contain protein and are a great protein source, but you need more protein per meal that a serving of beans can provide. It all comes down to meeting the level of protein you need to look thin and fit, not thin and flabby! Meeting your target protein needs allows you to maintain lean muscle mass while allowing your body to target fat burning.
- Include fiber at every meal and snack.
- Fiber is your friend – this includes fruits, veggies, and whole grains.
- Prioritize stress reduction and your sleep
- Deep breathing, yoga, etc.
- Do your dress sizing after you lose most of the weight.
What Kind of Workouts Should You Do?
How you workout matters. Please don’t think that just by going on the treadmill for an hour every day you’ll fit in your dress! Stop the long elliptical or running sessions and focus on weight/strength training and high intensity interval training.
Schedule Your Free 20 Minute Call
If you’re at the part of the wedding process where you know you’d like to start on your weight loss journey, I would love to help you. While these tips can get you to where you’d like to be, when I work with clients I provide a more customized program tailored to their specific weight, weight goals, and lifestyle.
Contact me today to schedule your free 20 minute weight loss consultation so we can discuss how I can help you reach your wedding weight loss goals!
