If you’re a woman and have gone on a crash diet you know the roller coaster of emotions, hunger pains, sheer misery and utter anger over the lack of desired results, you are not alone. Thousands of women struggle every day to become the “perfect size 6” in an effort to feel and look like a runway model. A new segment of women – brides - just recently caught my attention because of the rising number of reality shows on weddings and marriage.
Let’s face it, almost every bride-to-be wants to look exactly like the model she sees wearing her dream wedding dress. Nine times out of ten the model is a size 2-4. The average woman wears between sizes 8-10. Hence, we have another growing segment of women who want to look like the svelte model on her wedding day.
I caught up with Nutrisystem to get some expert advice and tips on how brides-to-be should approach losing weight:
What is the average amount of weight a bride wants to lose before her wedding? What about the groom?
According to a recent survey, conducted online in the U.S. on behalf of Nutrisystem by Harris Poll, nearly 1 in 3 U.S. adults who are married, engaged or who plan to get engaged in the next 2 years (29%) say they want/wanted to lose weight before their wedding day, reporting a desire to lose an average of 39 pounds. What’s more, close to 1 in 5 (17%) of those who want/wanted to lose weight said they are/were willing to go to extreme measures (i.e., drastic calorie reduction, crash dieting, cleanses) to lose the weight.
As for men, nearly 1 in 4 men who are married, engaged or who plan to get engaged in the next 2 years (25%) say they want/wanted to lose weight before their wedding day, reporting a desire to lose an average of 43.8 pounds.
Why has Pnina Tornai partnered with Nutrisystem?
Nutrisystem recently partnered with Pnina Tornai, lifestyle and fashion expert and star of “Say Yes to the Dress” in order to help brides feel and look their best on their big day with a healthy weight loss plan that is achievable through portion control and balanced nutrition. In her daily interactions with brides, Tornai says she witnesses countless brides with a desire to lose weight before their wedding day, who, as a result, order their dresses two or three sizes too small. This, in turn, often leads the brides to take drastic and unhealthy measures in order to fit into their dress.
Pnina Tornai says, “When I am working with brides, I always speak with them about their weight loss goals. I see so many brides with tears in their eyes struggling with the way they look and wanting to fit perfectly into their dream dress. They tell me they have turned to unhealthy solutions to lose weight. In fact, I have had brides faint from weakness during fittings. I’m so happy to be able to offer my brides a healthy and smart way that can help them love their body.”
Doesn't trying to lose weight add more stress to planning a wedding?
Losing weight doesn’t have to be stressful! Brides are often time-crunched from planning all of the details for their upcoming nuptials and find it difficult to keep up with their health goals. With plans, like Nutrisystem, losing weight is easy and convenient. Nutrisystem takes the guesswork out of dieting through portion control and meals delivered right to your door.
Also, when you stop thinking about what you're eating and you have a set plan, it helps reduce a very known phenomenon within the bridal world called bridal anxiety. The less things a bride needs to focus on the better. Dieting can be stressful, but on the Nutrisystem plan, it really isn't.
What are 5 tips/rules brides-to-be should follow before, during and after their weight loss journey?
As you prepare for your wedding day, first say “I do” to these simple tips to be on your way to happy and healthy ever after.
Eat five to six small meals a day. Eating smaller, balanced meals throughout the day promotes greater weight loss and maintenance.
Fill your plate with vegetables: Adding vegetables to your plate is a filling, calorie-saving way to eat. Plus, many vegetables are full of fiber, which makes you feel full faster, and controls the speed of your digestion so that you stay feeling full longer.
Don’t skip a meal. Skipping meals hurts your progress. When you starve or severely restrict calories, your metabolism slows down causing your weight loss to slow as well.
Drink your water: Staying well hydrated will help you feel full, aid digestion and circulation and help your body eliminate waste and toxins aiding in weight loss.
Manage stress. Mental health is as important as physical health, so don’t neglect it. Wedding stress is normal, but find ways to decompress, including having a glass of wine with friends, trying a yoga class, or taking a spa day.
Finally, remember long-term weight loss is a marathon, not a sprint. In order to look and feel your best on your wedding day, don’t crash diet, as those results never last, but rather take steps to change your lifestyle overall.
(This post was sponsored by Nutrisystem)