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This is it… The final countdown to your big day. And along with settling those last few details — figuring out where to seat your eccentric Uncle Carl, firming up the flowers — you’re likely also making one last push to make sure the body that will be wearing that gorgeous white gown looks as good as it possibly can. You and nearly every other woman with an engagement ring on her finger. In fact, research shows that an overwhelming 91 percent of brides-to-be are anxious about their weight. But from here on out, you won’t have to be!
Whether you want to drop those last few pounds or look more toned — or both — we’ve got a month’s worth of daily tips (none of which require starving yourself or working out nonstop!) that will help you feel stunning and confident when you walk down that aisle. You know where to send the thank-you card. Let’s get started!
Day 15: Drop Sets
Never heard of drop sets before? It’s a super effective weight training technique where you lift a fairly heavy amount of weight and do as many reps as you can until the point of fatigue (where you physically can’t do another rep).
Take a quick rest, then drop the amount of weight you use — say, going from 10-pound weights to eight pounders — and do another set until fatigue.
The idea is to continue this way, dropping the amount of weight until you simply can’t do another rep, period. “It’s my favorite thing to do with brides during the last few weeks before their wedding,” says Pete McCall, an exercise physiologist and personal trainer in San Diego.
See More: The Arm Workout to Do If You Absolutely Hate Push-Ups
“It’s a great way to create a little more definition because it stress the muscles (in a good way!) that promotes growth — and I’m talking about lean muscle growth, not the bulky bodybuilder look you might be imagining.”
Try this genius technique for at least one of your weekly toning sessions. It works with any type of strength move — from woodchops to weighted crunches.
Just getting started on our 30 Day Wedding Shape-Up? Kick off your journey from Day One, here.