Fitness Archives - Bridebook

How to Manage Wedding Stress and Anxiety

Congratulations, you’re getting married!

As the planning stage kicks in and you realise the size of the task ahead of you, amidst all the excitement, anxiety can often kick in.

Some of us worry more than others, and with weddings people worry about all sorts of things: the size of the task, the cost, being the centre of attention, how they will look, making a speech, feeling judged, wanting the day to be perfect, and so on. All absolutely understandable, for this is the biggest day of your life, right?

Mind Marriage is here to remind you that while it’s perfectly natural to feel some elevated stress, there is still a lot you can do to help you manage it and ensure you keep in sight the most important thing – that you’re getting married to your life partner and celebrating your relationship.

How does anxiety affect us?

A surprising amount of people experience anxiety without even realising it. Some of the ways it might manifest itself is by experiencing some of the following:

Lack of enjoyment of the process
Making rash or poor decisions
Not doing things as well as you normally would
Having negative thoughts
Catastrophizing
Feel irritable and/ or short tempered

People who are calm and relaxed generally enjoy the process much more; furthermore they perform better on the day, and have much better memories of the day. Three very good reasons to address those nerves!

You are what you think! Your mind is a very powerful thing and most of us believe that we aren’t in control of our thoughts. But you ARE in control, and you become what you think about. Your mind actually does exactly what it thinks you want it to, and it responds to the words you say and the pictures you make.

So, if you are saying ‘I can’t do this, it’s too much for me, I’m not good at it, I can’t make decisions… .’ your mind will believe this to be the case. It becomes a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy.

However, you can create an image in your mind of how you want to be and tell your mind this is what you want. Tell yourself:

I can do this

I am so good at it

It excites me

I make excellent decisions

I’m loving this

Simply by thinking the right thoughts, you can change the way you feel.

Start imagining your wedding and the planning process the way you want it. Create a picture in your mind and think about that picture. Believe in it.

Try this:

Pick your favourite ‘uplifting’ song, one with positive messages, something like Simply the Best by Tina Turner, We are the Champions, or Don’t Stop Me Now by Queen.

Now pin those positive thoughts to your song, and listen to that song every day.

Your mind loves what is familiar! The old negative thoughts and images will become unfamiliar and your mind will banish them! The new, positive thoughts and images will become familiar and your mind will take you towards your goal.

Comment below with any tips or tricks you’ve learnt along the way of how to best manage your stress or anxiety during your planning and big day. Unfortunately, this topic is not nearly addressed enough even though the majority of brides suffer from it. With careful planning, support and the right approaches, your wedding planning and big day can be as enjoyable an experience as you want it to be!

Good luck and have a wonderful wedding!

Lazy Sunday Morning Workout

The essence of this morning workout is working on exercises that are fundamental to how we move in everyday life and will help you move more effectively. We will work the whole body as a unit rather than working body segments separately. The end result is a more effective workout with a bigger result for your time and effort.

HOW SHE DOES IT

Perform each move for 60 seconds, rest for 30 seconds between each exercise.

Take two mins rest and repeat the circuit.

GLUTE BRIDGE

Why she does it

This is a fantastic exercise to activate your glutes and improve butt strength as well as teaching you how to extend your hips whilst keeping your core braced.

Strong glutes can help reduce risk of injury by taking the stress off of the lower back and helping with hip function.

The position

Lie on your mat, arms by your sides and legs bent at a 90-degree angle. Your feet are hip width apart and heels rooted to the ground.

How she does it

Engage your abdominals and push down through your heels. Squeeze your glutes to extend the hips so your pelvis comes into one straight line.

Hold at the top for a count of two keeping the glutes engaged before releasing and lowering back to the ground.

Be mindful

Don’t just throw yourself up as this will simply send you into excessive lumbar extension, move through the movement carefully.

SQUAT

Why she does it

The squat is a fundamental exercise that everyone should be doing and is able to do. They challenge strength, mobility, balance, and flexibility in your hips and ankles which all translates into helping your body move more effectively. You will primarily be working your butt, legs and abdominals.

The Position

Stand with feet firmly planted on the floor about shoulder width apart, toes slightly turned out. With your hands clasped in front of your chest, gaze forwards, back straight, chest proud.

How she does it

Ground down through you’re heels as you sit your hips backwards allowing your knees to push outwards in line with your toes as your butt lowers just below parallel.

Be Mindful

Do not let your knees collapse inwards. You can always reduce your range of movement as you work on your technique.

PRESS UP

Why she does it

If you thought the press up was just a chest, shoulder and arms exercise, then think again. Done properly, the butt, abdominals, back and legs play a key part to the press up and developing coordinated strength.

The position

In full plank position, shoulders are in line with wrists and feet together. Firm your thighs, locking out the knees, and drawing your legs together. Squeeze your butt tight and draw your abdominal in creating a strong, solid body.

How she does it

Keeping your body solid from head to toe in the plank position, slowly lower your body all the way to the floor. Once your chest is on the ground you have two options.

Keeping the thighs firm, buttocks tight and abdominals engaged, push down through your feet and hands and return to plank position.
If you can’t push yourself up from the bottom of the pushup, that is okay, just return to the top with your knees on the ground.

Be Mindful

If the lowering phase in full plank is difficult then it’s perfectly ok to perform the movement on your knees, slowly lower and return.

CRAWLS

Why she does it

This exercise integrates your whole body whilst challenges the nervous system to learn new movement patterns and proprioception (awareness of your body in space). From an aesthetic point of view this one really works your core and is great for working the upper body too.

The Position

Come onto all fours with your knees just forwards of your hips. Your knees hover 2 inches max off the floor. Spine is neutral and gaze down.

How she does it

Purposefully crawl your left hand and right foot forwards working in unison (lifting and placing the hand and foot at the same time). As your crawl, keep the movement purposeful and try not to extend the gap between the hands and feet.

Take 4 steps forwards and 4 steps backwards, repeat x 10

Be Mindful

Keep your knees close to the floor throughout the movement.

PLANK TOUCHES

Why she does it

I love this variation on the plank as it’ really focusing on body awareness, engaging the mind and physical body. You will work your core whilst challenging co-ordination and balance.

The Postion

Come into a full plank position on your hands and feet. Your gaze is down and abdominals engaged.

How she does it

Focus on rooting down through the non-moving hand and foot. Engage your abdominals as you move opposite elbow to knee and return under control

Be mindful

As you move, focus on keeping your hips as still as you can and keep the movement precise and controlled.

STEP UP WITH KNEE LIFT

Why she does it

This exercise is excellent for strengthening the glutes and legs whilst boosting your metabolism.

The Position

Stand in front of a step/bench, with the left foot firmly on top. Your spine is straight and hands clasped in front of your chest.

How she does it

Root down through your left heel and focus on “firing” the left glut as you step yourself up to stand tall, bringing the right knee towards the chest.

Return the right leg slowly to the start position, keeping the movement slow and controlled.

Be Mindful

If you’re struggling with balance, then step the right foot onto the bench rather than taking the knee to the chest.

8 Essential Appointments To Schedule Before Your Big Day

Tanning

There’s a fine line between looking pasty against your white dress and sporting the fake-baked look on your wedding day. Always try out a tanning salon well in advance of your wedding and know what shade of tan you like. That way, you won’t be looking overly bronze unexpectedly on the eve of your big day!

Skin

See a dermatologist several months before your wedding to find a recommended skincare routine suited to you. If acne is a problem, see your doctor to get your skin on track well in advance and get you glowing again. For a pre-wedding treat, you could also have a soothing facial on the week leading up to your special day to make you look and feel vibrant!

Nails

Get a manicure 1-2 days before your wedding so your nails look perfect in your ring shots! Don’t leave it too late though, otherwise there’ll be no time to rectify mistakes if there’s a problem. Remember that all important pedicure too!

Cut & Colour

Start early with hair appointments as you will want to maintain strength throughout your length! Get your tresses trimmed regularly to stop split-ends and weakened locks, and make sure you share your vision of hair colour with your colourist.

Hair Stylist

The important question – up or down? Again, make an appointment with your stylist well in advance so you can try out a few different options and choose your favourite. Make sure you bring along any accessories that you’re planning to wear in your hair, like a tiara or veil, so your stylist can incorporate it into your finished look.

Teeth

Booking an appointment with your dentist is an essential one. Getting your teeth deep-cleaned will ensure you have a sparkling smile to show-off on your big day. Also consider teeth-whitening, and also Invisalign (an invisible alternative to braces) if you want to correct any wonky teeth.

Make-up

Be open to ideas and try out lots of different looks in your make-up trials, as you may really like a style that you hadn’t previously thought would suit you! Really listen to your make-up artist as they will know what colours go with your skin to compliment your complete look. It will take time to get this right, so don’t leave it until the last few weeks!

Laser Hair Removal

If you think you’ve had enough of shaving, laser hair removal will do the trick for long-lasting smooth skin. However, you will have to prepare for it in advance as it can take up to 6 treatments to take full effect. In the end though, you’ll feel great knowing you won’t have to worry about stray hairs on your honeymoon!

Happy Pampering!

Bridal Workout Part 1 by That Girl

As promised, we bring you part 1 of our That Girl’s bridal workout series. This workout is based on moves to help define and tone your legs and butt whilst getting your heart rate up . Each week we will bring you extracts from www.thatgirllondon.com, a fun intelligently designed workout series to help you feel better , look better and perform better.

Hot Tip! Receive 20% off your That Girl membership with discount code : bridebook20

How to do this routine: There are four moves in this workout , each 60 seconds long with 20 secs rest between each exercise . Aim to repeat the circuit 3 times through with 1 min – 2mins rest between circuits

TRAVELLING BOOTY SQUATS

Why she does it: For a strong butt, great legs and the hip mobility you need to squat. We ass a little co-ordination challenge in this one too. Repeat 6 in one direction and then travel back the way you came

Position: Feet are flat on the floor and a little wider than hip width with toes slightly turned outwards. Your arms are by your sides.

How she does it: With a straight spine, hinge at your hips to sit your butt back and downwards until your hips lower just below your knees and swing your arms forwards. Pulse in the squat for 2 counts and as you return to standing take a half turn to face the other direction . Repeat 6 in one direction and then travel back the way you came.

Hot tip: As you squat you really want to root down through your heels to send the work into your butt.

SQUAT KICKS

Why she does it: This one maybe low impact but it will still get your heart rate up, whilst working your butt, legs and abdominals.

Position: Feet are flat on the floor and a little wider than hip width with toes slightly turned outwards. Your hands are clasped in front of your chest.

How she does it: With a straight spine hinge at your hips to sit your butt back and downwards until your hips lower just below your knees, your weight is in your heels. Immediately return to standing kicking the right leg out to the side, a little above hip level if you can. Repeat on the left side.

Top Tip: I like to keep my hands clasped so I really work on balance and focus on my legs.

SINGLE LEG SIT-DOWNS

Why she does it: This unilateral movement challenges the difference between both legs. You will work on balance, co-ordination and strength

Position: You will need a study chair or bench. Standing tall, right heel close to the prop whilst your left leg is held out low and straight in front of you with the toes gently pointed. Both arms are stretched out at shoulder level.

How she does it: Hinge your hips backwards to lower your sit bones to touch the prop without actually sitting down. To return really focus on rooting down through the right heel as you come back to standing. Split your 60 secs into 30 secs each leg.

Hot tip: The right knee should track inline with your toes rather than caving inwards or buckling outwards.

SQUAT JUMPS

REPEAT 15-20

Why she does it: Great cardio boost to rev up your leg workout up whilst still maintaining muscle tone.

Position: Feet are a little wider than hip width with toes slightly turned outwards. Your hands are together in front of your chest. Gaze is forwards.

How she does it: Keeping your spine in neutral hinge your hips backwards as if to sit on a chair keeping your hands clasped in front of your chest. From your lowest point root down through your heels to return yourself back to the start position using your arms to assist the movement.

Repeat the squat but this time from your lowest point explosively jump up vertically as high as you can. Land back into the squat position to complete one rep.

Hot tip: Be mindful to use your whole foot to jump and not just your toes.

Happy Exercising!

Meet That Girl, London’s Favourite Fitness Programme!

Here at Bridebook we are super lucky to have teamed up with the amazing ‘That Girl‘ to provide you with exclusive exercises to help achieve that dream wedding body. Before we get started let’s meet Christina Howells, one of the UK’s leading female trainers and co-founder of That Girl with Charli Cohen, London’s favourite fitness program.

Hot Tip! Receive 20% off your That Girl membership with discount code : bridebook20

Tell us about That Girl and how is it different from other fitness programs?

That Girl is different, and we are proud of our brand and what we offer. That Girl is of course great workouts all designed by me but we are more than just great workouts! That Girl is a holistic lifestyle approach addressing physical, mental and spiritual health. Sometime good training and nutrition isn’t enough to help someone make the changes they want but most plans don’t look at what else might be happening such as hormonal imbalances, excessive stress and low body confidence. That Girl is a community and we work alongside some of the best globally renowned experts in the wellbeing industry including London’s leading Life Coach, Jacqueline Hurst and nutritionist Robert Hobson. This enables us to meet more of our customers needs than ever.

When you join That Girl community or train with us in person we want it be one of the best deacons of your life and the best part is you will have finished your workout in the time it takes you to get to the gym and back.

You’re “the fashion industry’s favourite trainer” – what do you think it is about your training style that appeals to so many?

There are a number of things that I think appeal to my clients, certainly my intense passion to help both women and men achieve their results, my knowledge and experience and my ability to emphasise with each individuals world and work with their unique person they are. I remind my clients they are more than their measurements and together we focus on their health and well-being as well as body aesthetic. I help them to see “they can” by regressing an exercise to progress them to where they want to be.

One rule though, when you work with me exercise is a non-notable part of their day, it does not have to be the gym but it has to be movement and hopefully my enthusiasm becomes so infectious this becomes more of an enjoyable habit to my clients.

Do brides-to-be have to secure a personal trainer to get their dream body or can they have just as much success following online plans like yours?

There are so many free workouts on the web you certainly need to find a good structure if you want to get results. On line training is now far more advanced and some of the most sought after trainers in the industry offer online programmes, which allows you to train with the best at a fraction of the cost. Of course having a one to one trainer is still the ultimate but with plans like that girl that have supported systems such as our Facebook page and options to email for help you can get closer than ever to a one to one session. If you have the budget then yes a trainer is a fantastic experience and of course will always be more individualised.

What’s your favourite thing about your job, and in particular working with brides-to-be?

The best part about my job is I don’t feel like I go to work, as I love what I do and its part of my life. Brides usually have clear goals, which are a great start, but as a trainer it’s very important to help the bride to be to also focus on her health, stress reduction, eating nutritious food rather than extreme dieting and exercise. It’s about making long-term changes that last way beyond your wedding – they are for life.

What parts of the body do you get the most requests for help with by brides-to-be?

That depends a lot on the dress, at first the bride will come with her areas she is most concerned about which gives me a starting point and of course are important as this is hopefully the start of the new them. Once the dress is chosen I do adjust the training to ensure she looks the best she can on her big day.

If there was just one piece of advice you could give to brides-to-be looking to get fit and healthy for their wedding, what would it be?

Don’t focus on others and what they are doing or not doing but rather focus on you and what you need and want to achieve for you.

What is your favourite go to move you can do anywhere, anytime?

Lunges as you can do so many variations that you really do get to work the entire leg musculature and butt.

Don’t Forget! All Bridebook users receive a 20% discount with the code bridebook20

How to: Avoid Being a Hangry Bride

With an overwhelming feeling of excitement on your big day, food may be the last thing on your mind. Avoid becoming a hangry bride by making sure to eat when you can. Knowing what to eat (and not to eat) can be tricky though. Here is our go to guide…

What TO eat:

1. Start the day by having a light breakfast, making sure to include a mixture of wholegrains and healthy fats to help beat the bloat. As long as you remember to eat, your day has got off to a great start.

2. Depending on the time of our wedding ceremony, it might be long time coming until your next meal so make sure you enlist a bridesmaid to keep some healthy, high protein snacks close by such as almonds.

3. For most brides, dinner will be at the wedding. When it comes to choosing your wedding meal, make sure to choose a mixture of lean proteins and vegetables, which will give you that energy to dance the night away.

4. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. Aim to drink at least 8 glasses of water during the day.

What NOT to eat:

1. If you want to stay dry in your wedding dress avoid caffeinated drinks and spicy foods on the lead up to the big day! These two stimulants can activate your central nervous system which triggers you to sweat.

2. Skip the pre- dinner champagne. Especially, if it’s been a while since you ate. The bubbles will fill your stomach with air making you feel bloated.

3. Avoid milk and dairy products. These should be fine in moderation, but can lead to an irritated stomach if you are already feeling anxious.

4. It’s easy to reach for the sugary snacks for an extra boost of energy but this can easily backfire and lead to a blood sugar crash! #weddingvibekill

With everything going on it will be easy to forget or simply not have time to eat, but don’t make this the case. Fuel up when you can!

Happy Planning!

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How to: Get Enough Sleep Before Your Wedding

5 Steps To Your Dream Bridal Body

Do you want to kick start your exercise routine ahead of your big day? Want to break free from the sweaty, smelly gym environment? Well, we have just the thing! Introducing…BARREtoned which will (literally) “shake” you in to that dress you’ve been dreaming of. We had the chance to speak with the owner of BARREtoned to find out her top 5 tips to achieving that dream bridal body:

Get the Guns Out

Reverse push-ups and bicep curls are a great way to sculpt those arms in preparation for the big day! Don’t fret, you won’t “bulk up”…just create long, lean, beautiful muscles.

Work for a Peachy Booty

“Folder-over” at the barre, is one of the best exercises to get that heart pumping and calories burning as well as creating a lifted booty and stronger thighs!

Hour Glass Silhouette

Trim your waist with our infamous “pretzel” (not the one you eat). You’ll definitely feel this one the next day!

Long Lean Thighs

Forget standing around and discussing your latest tutu… we’ve got shaking to do! Burn through a ton of calories with about 5-7 minutes of shaking per class.

Flat abs for the Honeymoon After?

Not a problem! At the end of each class we have a 15 minute concentrated core workout. After as little as 8 sessions you’ll really start noticing a difference in your body. You’ll feel re-energised, stronger and leaner.

More about BARREtoned:

BARREtoned is one of London’s finest ballet barre studios, located in Notting Hill. BARREtoned offers a full body workout using small controlled movements to work each muscle group to exhaustion. They cater for total beginners as well as seasoned gym-goers. It’s super fun (we promise), time passes quickly AND it actually works.

BARREtoned are kindly offering all Bridebook brides:

50% off the first month of BARREtoned’s “Bridal Special” making it only £85 and £170 thereafter (6 month contract).

FREE BARREtoned tank top, grippy socks and a BARREtoned tote bag.

A complimentary private “Hen Do” class for up to 11 of your friends.

Don’t live in London? BARREtoned provide online classes too so you can take their class from wherever you like. Contact the studio to claim your discount code.

Contact their studio:

|| contact@barretoned.com || 0207 229 8668 ||

Happy Shaking!

How To: Get Enough Sleep Before Your Wedding

So your wedding is one of the biggest events in your life meaning you’re unlikely to get a ton of sleep on the night before the big day. Bridebook is here to help with our top 5 tips to help get those zzzzzs.

Avoid the Booze

Although having a glass (or two) of wine before bed sounds like a great idea at the time, it can actually effect your quality of sleep. Opt for mug of de-caffeinated herbal tea instead.

Lace Up Your Trainers

Exercise is the best way to ‘de-stress’ and take your mind off things. Try going for a run or a light stroll an hour or so before bedtime.

No More Phones

Take advantage of your ‘Do Not Disturb’ setting on your phone so you’re not distracted or woken up in the middle of the night.

Hydrate

Drinking plenty of water is really important to aid a good night’s sleep. It also helps keep your skin plump and well hydrated.

Don’t Dwell On It

Accept and embrace the fact you may not get the best night’s sleep before your wedding, but don’t be hard on yourself about it! Try creating a ‘sleep’ playlist on Spotify to help calm all your emotions you may be feeling.

Happy Planning!

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The Real Bride Column: Bridal Bootcamp with Bodyism

The fourth and final part of our Real Bride column exploring Bodyism’s fitness and health classes for pre-wedding grooming is here! Our wonderful real bride, Rosie, is back to give the final verdict on her experience with Bodyism. If you’ve read the last 3 columns on this series it will likely come as no surprise that Rosie only has good things to say about her Bodyism experience and is feeling refreshed, healthy and slim for her big day! Read on to find out exactly how Bodyism has Rosie looking and feeling fabulous for when she walks down the aisle.

Bridebook.co.uk Bodyism workout — Our amazing Real Bride columnist superman-ing her way to her dream bridal body!

“The biggest news from the past few weeks with Bodyism is that it has totally worked! And in all the right ways too. My goal was to loose 6lbs, tighten my flabby tummy, firm up my arms (bingo wing syndrome) and reduce inflammation in my face (which has tendency to be chipmunky) caused by fluctuation of sugar levels. Not only have all of those things happened, but I feel like I have gained a whole new approach to my health and fitness. This has left me feeling like I have undergone more of a lifestyle change than a bootcamp.

My favourite part of my experience at Bodyism was the signature group class called ‘Clean and Lean’. This was a frightfully civilised affair with only 2 other people (who literally looked like Victoria Secret models!!). Pilates meets Yoga meets ballet style combination, all with the aim to tone and sculpt into a beautiful body.

This style of exercise could not be more different to my usual rough as ready circuit training and I leave the studio feeling refreshed, rather than retched. If you think you can only see results with intensive cardio bursts you’re wrong! Remember the flabby tummy and puffy face I’ve been trying to battle? Well it turns out that a big reason for this is stress and increased levels of Cortisol. And what could be more relaxing than planning a wedding!?! Said no one ever. This is why most of Bodyism experience – be if training or Pilates or classes is gentle exercises, ensuring that You don’t produce additional cortisol often creates with excess intensity in exercise.

So with me and my scale happy, as well as my overall feeling of glowing health it is fair to say that I am officially hooked to the Bodyism experience and I can now understand why it’s all the top models’ fitness go to. Though I won’t be walking down a catwalk any time soon, I can’t wait for my own big moment down the aisle!”

Bridebook.co.uk Bodyism pilates workout — What happy and refreshing workouts should feel like!

Be sure to read Rosie’s past three articles in our Real Bride column here!

Take advantage of all of Bridebook’s amazing free wedding planning tools today!

Shortlist and book all of your favourite suppliers in one place

Stay on track with our live checklist

Keep your wallet happy with our state of the art budgeting tool

Add your nearest and dearest to your guestlist

The Real Bride Column: Bridal Bootcamp with Bodyism

Welcome back brides! Part III of the Real Bride Bootcamp with Bodyism will take an in-depth look at the gym and exercise regime – AKA the one part of shaping up that everyone dreads. Why is it that being told to cut out sweets seems relatively manageable, but 20 burpees and running? Actual physical exertion? Even the thought has us running to the snack cupboard. So when Rosie, our wonderful real bride, couldn’t stop gushing about her incredible workout experiences at Bodyism, we had to learn more. Could this really be the bootcamp to end all bootcamps and have us actually enjoy getting fit? Read on to find out!

“And so to the gym! Or the very swanky private studio designed purely for 1-2-1 personal training. Instructor number one, Berti, was firstly so good looking, I considered calling off the wedding right there and then! (Sorry Hamish!)

Bridebook.co.uk Bodyism fitness instructor Berti — The one and only ‘Gorgeous Bertie’

We started with an extended warm up called Movement Preparation designed to prevent injury. To my surprise, this took around 25 minutes of rolling out muscles using foam rollers, stretching as you would usually when cooling down, and some Pilates style postures- all really quite relaxing!

We then jumped into circuits covering 30 seconds each of intense training- squats, lunges, mountain climbers and planks with a two minute rest in between- less relaxing. Gorgeous Bertie then introduced me to a piece of apparatus called The Climber- a sort of suspended step machine meets ladder. The never ending 30 seconds felt like I was fighting for my life.

Bridebook.co.uk Real bride Rosie at Bodyism — Real Bride Rosie in action in the gorgeous Bodyism studio.

This meant two things. Firstly, that I started turning pink, red and finally purple and secondly, my light glow turned into a full on deluge of sweat. Gorgeous Berti was very encouraging, standing over me like a living billboard for this lifestyle, but the marriage is certainly back on- Berti will never have me!

But in regards to the workout? Despite the not-so-pretty-picture that was me by the end, I really felt like this was a workout I could get behind. The commitment to loosening and prepping my muscles at the beginning of the session made sure that I didn’t injure myself in the strenuous portion of the workout, as well as helped me with my form. This in turn ensured I got the most out of each exercise so therefore an even better work out! The sets themselves, though exhausting, really felt like I was targeting, blasting and tightening all of my problem bits (tummy, bum and arms). So all in all, the perfect combination of therapeutic warm ups and real hard work that are sure to get my body aisle worthy in no time!”

Up Next in the Real Bride Guide series:

Bodyism’s amazing ‘Clean and Lean’ classes and the final verdict!

Be sure to read Rosie’s past three articles in our Real Bride column here!

Take advantage of all of Bridebook’s amazing free wedding planning tools today!

Shortlist and book all of your favourite suppliers in one place

Stay on track with our live checklist

Keep your wallet happy with our state of the art budgeting tool

Add your nearest and dearest to your guestlist

The Real Bride Column: Bridal Bootcamp with Bodyism

Welcome back! For Part II of our Real Bride Bootcamp with Bodyism, our Rosie will be dishing the deets on what it’s really like to undergo a complete menu revamp in the weeks running up to your wedding. Our favourite part? You won’t find any completely ridiculous or unrealistic crash diets here. Both Rosie and Bodyism prefer the “lifestyle change” route, with a particular focus on de-stressing. A perfect formula for a bride-to-be who wants to relax amid flurries of wedding planning while also making sure that they look glorious long after the big day!

Bridebook.co.uk healthy food spread — Our favourite part of the Bodyism studio? This glorious and deliciously healthy spread of course!

“Bodyism wouldn’t be the full, pampering, celeb-worthy experience without a head to toe nutritional guide included in your body blitz. Though I walked into my nutrition session fully bracing myself for a meal plan of carrot sticks and cottage cheese, I was very pleasantly surprised! My prescribed diet, although not hugely exciting, is very do-able and I will certainly not be hungry. Fish, vegetables, eggs, lean meats- turkey or chicken, avocado, nuts, blueberries, humour. And repeat. In different variations each week.

Beyond just the menu, my nutrition session also gave me a lot of insight into how you can read your body to know exactly how to change your diet for a healthier you. My goal was to loose 7lb, tighten my flabby tummy, firm up my arms (chicken wing syndrome) and reduce inflammation in my face (which has tendency to be chipmunky). It was explained to me that you can read a lot about the body from where your body deposits fats. A fat tummy indicated emotional stress (and I thought it was the Kitkats!) whilst fat on the arm can indicate toxicity from metals, plastics or poor food choices. I am also told that my double chin and often puffy face can be directly down directly to insulin spikes in the body as a result of eating too much sugar (this IS from the Kitkats). It’s actually fascinating.

So combining my bridal body goals with a thorough reading of my fat deposits (such a flattering term), I was set on a strict clean and lean diet plan.

And so to the kitchen!”

Bridebook.co.uk mountain top yoga meditation — Straight from Bodyism’s nutrition experts: channel your inner zen to cut out that tummy flab.

Up Next in the Real Bride Guide series:

Gym Time! Bodyism’s Banging Workouts. Keep your eye out for our next Real Bride article.

Take advantage of all of Bridebook’s amazing free wedding planning tools today!

Shortlist and book all of your favourite suppliers in one place

Stay on track with our live checklist

Keep your wallet happy with our state of the art budgeting tool

Add your nearest and dearest to your guestlist

The Real Bride Column: Bridal Bootcamp with Bodyism

While we all appreciate our Mum, Sis and BFF’s well-meaning tips and suggestions through wedding planning, sometimes they just don’t cut it (we still love you though!). Sometimes what a bride-to-be really needs is another bride-to-be to hash things out with. Someone who really gets what you’re going through. So if you’re not lucky enough to be going through engagement bliss (and stress) with your best friend, we have our own bridal hero here to help. Introducing the lovely Rosie, a real-life bride to be, here to walk us through what it’s really like to experience a model-worthy workout and diet like Bodyism in her final 4 week count down to the altar. Follow this 4-part series to share your muscle aches and sugar craving battles with someone who gets it – and learn a couple of tips and tricks too!

Bridebook.co.uk Rosire in Greece — Introducing our Real Bride columnist, Rosie, ready and raring to go!

“The wedding diet – three simple words that excite fear, dread, excitement and a uncharacteristic determination. I am getting married in just 4 weeks and I really did think by now that I would be at Personal Best, Optimum, Rosie Model 101 – the best possible version of myself. I have talked a LOT about the wedding diet, and thought even more about it, and yet there has always been a reason to put it off until next week. On top of that there is of course the cake tastings, seemingly endless champagne (still working through the engagement stash), the DELICIOUS bread basket (carbs are a girl’s best friend, am I right?), all of which have until now seemed FAR more exciting!

So here I am determined to lose 8lbs in 4 short weeks. Luckily for me I have the amazing team at Bodyism, a London based studio that promote ‘Clean and Lean’ living to try and beat the clock and whip me into shape in time for the big day. The Bodyism lifestyle, favoured by celebrities such as Rosie Huntington Whiteley, Elle McPherson and Lara Stone (…er yes please!) focuses on cutting out bad carbs and processed foods (bye sugar and flour) and eating as organically as much as possible.

My first day with Bodyism was visiting their (very swanky and gorgeously pristine) Westbourne Park studio. I felt “cleaner and leaner” just stepping into the place! Goes to show, just getting yourself to the gym can be a huge motivator. Once there, a member of Bodyism’s team of top performance coaches and fat loss specialists then had a go at prodding, poking, weighing and measuring me using their ‘Body Oracle’ system. This system is a great way to kick-start the Bodyism program. It gave me a ‘body blueprint’ identifying key focus area for me specifically so that every effort going forward would benefit me and my problem areas. This will cover both eating and exercise regimes twice a week.

Now I really have NO excuse!

Wish me luck….”

Bridebook.co.uk fitness inspiration pre-wedding — Bodyism Founder, James Duigan, working out with his wife Christiane. We all wish we looked that good in the gym….

Up Next in the Real Bride Guide series:

Hunger and the Bodyism Bridal Diet.

6 Steps to Achieving Your Dream Bridal Body

Here at Bridebook, the world’s leading free online wedding planner, we firmly believe that every bride is gorgeous and that every love story starts from the inside out. But we also believe in the power of feeling your absolute best as you walk down the aisle – and on that front James Duigan has got you covered. The brawn and brains behind Bodyism, the go-to fitness program of supermodels Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Elle Macpherson, Duigan knows exactly how to get you down that aisle – aka catwalk – feeling your absolute best!

bridebook.co.uk james duigan portrait by the sea — The brains and brawn behind Bodyism, James Duigan

Bridebook prides itself in working with the best of the best to give our brides-to-be advice they need from experts they want. See for yourself by checking out Bridebook’s Q & A with legendary dress designer Phillipa Lepley for all the best dress tips, or Jo Malone’s guide to scenting your wedding – Bridebook has every detail covered!

1. Set Realistic Goals

Please allow yourself plenty of time to achieve realistic and safe goals. Many brides tend to panic a couple of months before the wedding leading to unnecessary stress. They hardly eat and over-train and when the big day arrives they just look tired and worn out. It’s important to plan ahead, and really think about what you realistically want to achieve before the big day. There’s no use putting your body through immense stress because you think you are going to drastically change the size or your arms or the shape of your waist.

bridebook.co.uk bride walking in a field in a two piece wedding outfit — Photo by Jana Williams Photography

Did you know the average bride spends 300 hours planning their wedding while at work? Now with Bridebook’s amazing, free planning tools you won’t be able to resist either!

2. Move Every Day

Our bodies are designed to move, so move every day! It doesn’t have to be strenuous, but look to get variety into your week such as a yoga class, a brisk walk, a pilates class etc. You will be surprised how quickly you will start to see results. This will keep you motivated and you are more likely to reach your goal!

3. Work Your Whole Body

Some brides-to-be find it tempting to jump on the cardio train and spend hours slogging it out on the treadmill, which is a huge strain on your body and to be honest, not as effective as you may think. Cardio is a form of aerobic training which will burn fat while doing it, but as soon as you stop, the fat burning stops too. Just doing cardio alone is extremely unlikely to get you a flat tummy! The fastest way to burn that ‘stubborn fat’ is with resistance circuits using AMG movements (working all muscle groups). For example, combining squats, lunges and press-ups to strengthen your core and target all areas of the body. This will increase metabolism, switching the body into a fat burner for up to 72 hours after the workout!

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4. Eat Clean and Lean

I always tell my clients to eat ‘Clean and Lean’ which means to cut the C-R-A-P: that being caffeine, refined sugar, alcohol and processed food. These are the four main toxins that cause our bodies to cling to fat. If you are wanting to safely get in top shape for your wedding, try to eat five healthy meals a day, two of which should be smaller snacks. I would recommend having the snacks in-between breakfast and lunch and then again between lunch and dinner. Healthy snacking ensures you don’t overeat when you have main meals and will also help you to speed up your metabolism. When choosing snacks make sure you avoid the sugar packed treats; muffins, croissants and sugary smoothies are a no-no! Excellent snacks would be raw nuts, turkey slices, berries and sliced vegetables.

5. Don’t Stress!

It sounds simple and is easier said than done, but the most effective way to get a flat tummy is to stress less. The stress hormone cortisol can cause your body to store stubborn fat around the belly button. Get proper sleep, it will reduce your stress and make you a nicer person in general!

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6. Be Kind To Yourself

We live in a world of ever growing body image pressures, sometimes promoting unrealistic body ideals. It may sound simple, but keeping oneself motivated is about positivity and listening and accepting your body. Do not see fad diets as a ‘quick fix’ to fitting into a wedding dress. I always recommend living a healthy lifestyle and embracing this as part of your life and who you are. Being confident shows in your posture and body language, so accepting yourself and having confidence in your body will definitely show on the big day!

bridebook.co.uk young woman doing yoga in the mountains — Check out @bodyism on Instagram for even more inspiration!

Check out all of the best bridal boutiques in your area using Bridebook’s innovative new supplier search!

Bonus Q&A with Bodyism’s James Duigan!

What was your favourite memory of your wedding?

Chrissy and I actually had four weddings. Two of my favourite memories from these include the one on a island with just me and her which was completely romantic and beautiful. The other favourite memory was at our one big wedding with our family in Australia and that moment of watching her with her dad and the love and pride he had for her was such a touching moment to witness. I also loved watching my dad speak because it was so heartfelt. Overall it is the feeling of love which is the most important memory to take away.

What is the one thing you wish someone had told you about planning a wedding?

If I am completely honest we didn’t really plan our weddings because we had already taken advice from friends who advised us to remember that all that matters is that you end up married and everyone has fun. It was the best advice we got as we took a step back and enjoyed the moment.

bridebook.co.uk-james-and-christiane-duigan — The happy couple, James and Chrissy Duigan

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