Marital Weight Gain | Keep the Pounds Off

How to Keep The Pounds Off After Your Wedding

1) Plan a regular exercise routine before or after work with your spouse instead of slouching on the sofa to watch television.

2) Make it a priority to wake up early to enjoy a substantial breakfast to avoid snacking in between meals.



3) For a few days each week, plan and cook wholesome meals together.

4) Don't stock up on high-calorie snacks at home.

5) Wash dishes together, or go for a walk after meals. Doing activities together can also help strengthen your relationship.

Does Your Wedding Ring Make You Fat??

Married Couple Put on Weight Soon After The Wedding!

Did you know that being married can actually make you fat? Well, researchers have found out that married people tend to put on weight soon after their weddings. According to a study dated late last year, The US Obesity Society, found that married people and singles in their late teens and early 20s gain a significant amount of weight - an average of 6.8 kg to 13.6 kg - over five years.

However, newly married men and women in that age group pack on 2.7 kg to 4 kg more than their peers who are single and dating, with women gaining as much as 11kg and men gaining 13.6 kg in a five year period.

For instance, take married couple John and Sarah. Sarah weighed 75 kg before they married two years ago, but has since gained seven extra kilos. Her husband has put on 5 kg since his wedding - he weights 75 kg now.

John said that after his marriage, the newly weds tended to go out to eat together often. And when they stayed at home, they'd order delivery. He thinks that their lifestyle change of living together contributed to their weight gain.

Indeed, one of the major factors in weight gain after marriage, is the couple's ability to adjust to their new lifestyle. Also, those who are married may feel that staying slim is no longer as important as when they were single. After all, they are already married and do not have to look great all the time to attract the opposite sex.

Singles may be more motivated to watch their weight, if they are looking to impress or please the one they hope to marry.

Big mistake!!! Married couples can gradually lose attraction for each other, even if they do love each other, if they do not take the trouble to maintain themselves in good shape. The lack of desire to look good can be indicative of a lack of interest in the marital relationship; an attitude of taking each other for granted.

Another factor for marital weight gain could be a more sedantary lifestyle. With new responsibilities of setting up a new home and family, there may be less time for exercise or it may be neglected entirely. Women also tend to gain weight significantly after several pregnancies.

But since weight gain is not something that happens out of the blue, you can take steps to prevent it from happening. Remember that if you eat more calories than you need, or can burn, then you will put on weight.

Married people need not put on weight if they continue to watch themselves and are careful to exercise regularly and to eat healthfully.

Click here to read how you can keep those marital pounds off.

Buff Bridal Tips | Weight Loss Plateau

Wedding Weight Loss Tips | Combat Weight Loss Plateau

What is weight loss plateau?

A weight loss plateau is when there the difference between the energy intake and the energy expenditure eventually starts to balance out. The body has to restore energy balance in order to survive. If we all just continued to lose weight, then we would not be able to continue to survive as we would not have the energy to do much of anything!

Our body needs these natural physiological mechanisms to help maintain energy balance relatively quickly. That's why at a certain point in your diet and exercise regime, you will notice that you have stopped losing weight.

How A Weight Loss Plateau is Reached

In order to lose weight, you will need to create a negative energy balance (that is a calorie deficit). Simply put, you need to cut the number of calories from your intake. So if you begin a new diet by cutting your calorie intake by about 500 cal per day you will lose weight over the course of a week or two.

During a calorie deficit our body still requires the same amount of energy thus, it starts using up the protein energy stores to make up for this 500 calorie deficit. However, as our body inevitably uses up extra proteins for energy AND to maintain normal protein synthesis, we end up with a net loss of total protein. This results in a gradual loss of lean muscle, and this is the start of a lowered metabolism.

In fact, protein (muscle) loss may go unnoticed when looking in the mirror because the body will take it from other, less priority areas and not just from our skeletal muscles. The stomach is a classic area where protein is broken down for use, as there's less need for a large stomach capacity because we have lowered our food intake. So it seems you have a slimmer abdomen area.

That sounds good, doesn't it? But not really. Read on what a decreased metabolic rate does to you.

A Decreased Metabolic Rate

The initial weight loss slows down as the body progressively loses further lean mass, this continues until the point where a calorie deficit is so minute that it no longer has any effect on fat loss. Our metabolism has decreased and we have reached that dreaded weight loss plateau. What it means is our body has gradually adapted to match our new energy intake, and we now require less energy to maintain the new weight. And we cannot seem to lose any more weight.

Second Effect of Weight Loss Plateau: We Burn Less Calories

As the body becomes lighter, less calories are burned during exercise so the overall energy expenditure also reduces.

The reduction in lean mass and the lowered energy expenditure both help restore energy balance from any initial reduction in calorie intake, and can even slow progress from the extra exercise sessions often undertaken when attempting to lose weight.

The bottom line is the initial 500 calories per day reduction, no longer continues to be effective for losing further weight because the body no longer recognizes that there is a calorie deficit. There will always be an adaptation to match any lowered calorie intake simply because the body needs to conserve energy for survival.

So What Can You Do About Weight Loss Plateau?

The facts above means it is vital that dieters begin by reducing calorie intake slowly. This will help limit the loss of muscles and helps keep metabolism high during dieting. Also, any exercise done within the first 10 - 15 minutes needs to be light and for longer durations to enable the energy system to adapt to the change by "switching its gear" into fat burning mode!

If calories are cut too much too soon the body is forced to burn more and more protein especially when glycogen (carbohydrate) stores run low. This seriously lowers the metabolism and dieters hit a period where they just cannot lose any more weight "the weight loss plateau", then when they give up and go back to the old eating habits the body shoots back into a positive energy balance, which causes many dieters to regain more weight!

Dieters can also break away from a diet, maybe for a week, in order to re-stimulate the metabolism by providing essential proteins and energy to build back. Once hormonal influences are stabilized, a calorie deficit can be reintroduced in order to shock the body into fat burning mode.

It will obviously mean no fat loss during the "break" period, but doing so can help increase fat loss when you go back to the calorie deficit diet plan.

Seven Ways to Trim Your Waistline in Time for Your Wedding

Are you a bride-to-be in your late twenties or early thirties? If you are, you may have noticed that your slim waistline is getting a tad bit bigger. That is normal, it's just your hormones and metabolism rate slowing down. As women age, they will start to get a bit bigger. But this can be avoided with proper nutrition and exercise.

So you are planning for your wedding, and you know you want to look your best. If you are an older bride-to-be, then please pay attention to the following seven tips that will help you trim your waistline in no time at all, and keep it slim for a very long time!

1)You think you feel hungry, and you reach for a bag of potato chips, or your favorite snack. But don't do that! You may be confusing thirst for hunger. So when you feel that pang, drink a glass of water first. And if you are still hungry after, then reach for a handful of nuts (like walnuts, or almonds) that will fill you up, and provide you with nutritional value. This is unlike a bag of chips that only fill you up with calories and has no additional nutritional value.

2)It is preferable that you do not eat again after your dinner. In fact, it is said that you should not eat at least two-three hours before your bedtime. But if you are a late sleeper, and remain awake many hours after dinner, then you can treat yourself to a healthy snack. Choose snacks such as low-fat yogurt or multigrain snacks.

3)It is said that French women stay slim because they don't restrict what they eat, that is, they eat everything, including rich desserts, but they do reduce their portion size. So instead of cutting out your favorite food, eat smaller portions of it. A small bar of chocolate instead of the whole, or one gourmet cookie instead of the whole bag.

4)We have been drilled into thinking that 3 square meals a day is the healthy option. But research have shown that people who eat four to five meals or snacks a day are better able to control their appetite and weight. It is recommended to divide your daily calorie intake into smaller meals or snacks and enjoy most of them earlier in the day. Dinner should be the last time you eat.

5)Incorporate healthy proteins like lean meat, yogurt, cheese, nuts or beans into your meals and snacks because they keep you feeling full longer than carbs and fat.

6)Add spices or herbs so that your food will be loaded with flavor. Such foods will stimulate your taste buds and be more satisfying so that you won't have to eat as much to feel satiated.

7)This tip is by far the best, so even if you cannot do all the other 6 tips. At least work on this last one! Reduce your portion of pasta, bread or rice and replace it with more servings of vegetables. If you do this, you will consume 100-200 less calories.

Refresh Yourself With a Ginger Tea Drink

You must be wondering what ginger tea has to do in a blog about diet, nurition and exercise tips for brides-to-be. Well, a whole lot really, and I will tell you why.

Recently, I went to a spa that specializes in Eastern remedies for skin rejuvenation. A lot of what they did was particularly refreshing, but that was only external remedies. At the end of the treatments, I was given a warm tea drink. I was already feeling very relaxed and rested, but drinking the tea made me feel cool, calm and energized.

I asked the attendant what the drink was - she told me it was the ginger tea. I had always thought that ginger tea would taste somewhat like the pungent way it smelled. But no! It tasted really good. I obtained the recipe for the ginger tea drink, which is at the end of the article.

It turns out that the ginger tea drink has nutritional value that aids in its ability to stimulate the circulatory system. The ginger tea drink also helps in bringing an increased flow of blood to the surface of the skin, which helps us attain a healthy and radiant glow on our faces. It also has many other health benefits from warding off colds to energizing your body.

How cool is that? A drink that not only makes you feel good, but that is actually also good for your health!

So instead of those high-priced energy drinks, I have switched to drinking ginger tea after my workouts. It has certainly made a difference since the ginger tea drink also boosts the energy levels, and this rise in energy levels has kept me motivated on maintaining my workout routine. I do not feel so fatigued by the end of the day that I would intentionally skip my trip to the gym.

I do not know if there is any research studies that have proven this or not, but I feel that my drinking ginger tea after my workouts have helped me lose weight and maintain it too.

Ginger Tea Drink Recipe

Ginger Root, sliced thinly
Honey to taste
Lemon to Taste

Place ginger slices into a pot with water, and bring to boil. Make sure that you brew it long enough for the ginger essence to seep into the water. Drain the ginger slices and pour the drink into a cup. Mix in some honey to taste. If you like a zesty taste, add lemon drops into the drink.

I prefer my drink without lemon, but it is up to individual tastes.

Enjoy :)

Note: You can brew the drink in advance, and place it in the refrigerator. That way instead of a hot ginger tea drink, you have an iced one!

Bridal Exercise Tips | Firm That Butt

How to Firm Your Butt Before Your Wedding Day

Everyone wants to have a nice butt - it makes our clothes fit and look better. If you are bride-to-be, you have all the more reason to want a perfect butt. But how do you achieve it?

Well, part of it boils down to genetics. Our genes determine some things about our butts - whether it is big, small, low, high, flat, or rounded. But lack of exercise will make it look bad whatever shape it is because it is the defintion of the muscles in the butt that make all the difference.

Here are some easy tips that will help you get started on firming your butt soon!


Increase the Incline on the Treadmill

Walking is definitely one of the best cardiovascular exercises you can do. However, we tend to get lazy working out at the gym on the treadmill. In order to pump up their workout routine, people increase the speed on the treadmill - they switch from walking to running for shorter durations. Well, instead of doing that, you can tay walking on an incline. Mix it up every few minutes, increasing the incline from the lowest to the highest. Walking on an incline gives the muscles in your butt a good workout. It makes it look firmer over time. Another option is to use the elliptical machine, and set the option to target only the muscles in your butt, and increase the incline on that. The key is to vary between machines by using the incline option more than the speed incline.

Walk, walk and walk.

Now that gas prices have almost doubled since last year, you may want to leave your car at home on short errands to the convenience store or the grocery store. Try doing this especially during the weekends, when you are less stressed for time. You can make the walk to the store and back a time for a short workout. Research have shown that walking burns calories at an amazing rate. Anther option is to use your bicyle! It's big in Europe, you might as well give it a try.


Take the Stairs

Simply put, take the stairs over the elevator whenever you can! I walk up and down to my apartment six flights of stairs everyday. If you are just starting, do it a couple days a week until you build up your stamina to do it everyday. Once you have built your stamina, try to skip every other step. Footing the higher step will put your leg at, or near, a 90 degree angle, forcing you to push off of your front heel onto the next step. This movement targets the muscles in the butt, and ends up toning the muscles in your legs as well.

Bridal Exercise Tips | Look Great in Off Shoulder Wedding Gown

How to Look Great in an Off-Shoulder Wedding Gown

The popular trend in wedding gown designs these days are fitted, form fitting dresses. Most of these dresses are also off-shoulder designs. To look good in them, one has to have toned arms, defined shoulders and obliques.

Here is one exercise that will help you define your arms, shoulders and obliques.



WOOD CHOP

The Start:
Begin by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart. Next, hold a light dumbbell with both hands, holding it outside and above your right shoulder. Flex your knees slightly and pull in your abs.

The Movement:
As you keep your elbows bent slightly, you pull the dumbbell diagonally across your body until it is beside your left hip. Reverse direction, return to the start.

Repeat for 10 reps, and then switch sides. Do 3 sets of 10 reps.