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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 17: Recheck Your Caloric Needs
If you’ve lost a bunch of weight since you started your Wedding Shape-Up Challenge, it’s worth going back to whatever handy dandy online calculator you used, plugging in your current weight and re-running the numbers. (Be sure to pick one that takes activity level and age into account.)
That’s because as you get smaller, so do your caloric requirements. Thinner bodies require less energy. So if you’re still eating like a 150-pound person at your current 140, you might see your weight loss stall — or even begin creeping in the other direction, notes Rachel Beller, R.D., of Beller Nutritional Institute in Beverly Hills and author of Power Souping.
See More: How to Work Out Even When You’re Busy As Hell
Once you have your new daily caloric requirements, you can start shaving off here and there to keep losing weight — if that’s your plan. Rather than making it all about eating less (you’ll be hungry!) or exercise (you’ll be exhausted!) it’s best to marry the two and do a little of each.
Shave 250 calories from your diet each day and burn off 250 calories through exercise and you’ll lose a pound a week. And remember: Being generally more active counts! Even if it’s not a workout day, you can easily burn those 250 calories just by walking here and there — it all adds up.
Just getting started on our 30 Day Wedding Shape-Up? Kick off your journey from Day One, here.