Confetti

Every bride wants to look her best on her wedding day and for most of us, that means shedding a few pounds to fit comfortably into the dress. Broadcaster and nutritionist Emma Buckley has devised a simple yet effective plan to help you loose weight intelligently and should make it feasible to tone up, and lose up to 24 pounds in 12 weeks.

To maximise your efforts, think in terms of fat loss - not weight loss. Aim for no more than two pounds a week. If your scales are telling you that you’ve lost more, then you’ve just lost water and muscle. Try to restrict your use of the scales and instead focus on losing inches.

If we don’t get all the calories we need our metabolism will slow down - we don’t want this to happen. So eat regularly, don’t skip meals, especially not breakfast. To work out your BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate), add a zero to your weight in pounds, for example, a ten stone woman is 140lbs therefore her BMR is 1400. You should be consuming no less than this amount in calories.

Water is the key to fat loss, so drink lots of water - it’s recommended at least two to three litres per day. Don't substitute water with tea, coffee, fizzy drinks or alcohol as they all contain diuretics which make you lose water. Sometimes we confuse the signals for hunger with thirst. If you feel hungry and you know you shouldn’t be, try drinking a glass of water and waiting ten minutes. If you’re still hungry then eat, but the majority of the time you’ll find yourself sated.

Alcohol also makes your metabolism slow down and increases your desire to eat. Hangovers also whet your appetite for junk such as chips, crisps and chocolate. Try to avoid excessive amounts of alcohol and if you must drink, have a white wine spritzer.

Exercise is key to fat loss. It increases lean muscle mass, speeds up metabolism and stabilises your weight. In reality, you should be aiming to get in four to six sessions per week, which should include three weight-training sessions. Remember, if you don't break a sweat you won't see results. If you need a bit more exercise inspiration, check out Paul Hurley's workout tips for slimming down and firming up in the run up to the big day.

We eat more than we think we do. A food diary is a great way of illustrating your food habits. It will really demonstrate what you are eating and highlight emerging patterns, which you can then address.

Read low-fat cooking books to get an idea, or even just modify the traditional recipes so that they have less fat. Educate yourself about fat-fighting foods and those which you should avoid (we've already written some basics of dieting, which would be a good place to start). It’s okay to snack throughout the day as long as it’s on healthy snacks and not fatty or sugary ones. Good snacks include all vegetables, carrot sticks, cucumber, cauliflower, celery but hold the mayonnaise dip. Plain popcorn is perfect but avoid the cheesy or butter types.

Size matters

What size is average?

The majority of brides surveyed are a size twelve. While 34% of you fit that category a further 18% of brides-to-be are either a size 14 or 16. 6% of you are a size 10 and another 6% a size 8. The average weight of the Irish bride-to-be is 10 stone, 3lb.

Less is more

How many of you want to lose weight?

A whopping 84% of you want to lose weight for their wedding day. A 42% majority would like to lose more then a stone, with 20% hoping to lose over a stone, as the weight loss goals go up the percentages drop leaving just a really determined 4% who aim to shed over 4 stone in preparation for their wedding day. In case you’re wondering 38% of brides-to-be think that their groom-to-be needs to do likewise.

Breast or leg

Is your fiancé a leg or a breast man?

According to 28% of brides-to-be surveyed Irish men believe breast is best. Bottoms are also up, with 20% of you claiming your own derrière to be your fiancés favorite.

Strict regimes

Despite the popularity of diets such as Atkins, 38% of brides-to-be still choose Weight Watchers’ flexibility when choosing a weight loss programme.  A further 28% prefer good old-fashioned sensible eating to celebrity diet fads. The importance of exercise to ensure realistic weight loss is very significant with 54% of you considering joining a gym in an effort to tone up for the big day.

Nip or tuck

Despite the recent boom in cosmetic surgery, and the fact that you can have some of the treatments at lunchtime, 100% of brides-to-be surveyed were adamant that they would not go under the knife before they get married.

Bare all or landing strip

52% of brides-to-be will opt for some form of pubic styling in preparation for their wedding night. A traditional 28% will play safe and choose a bikini wax, while a further 18% will go for glory and endure the pain of a Brazilian. A bold 8% of you will dare to opt for a totally nude look.

Body Doubles

Given the choice, Irish brides-to-be would most like to have the body of Jennifer Aniston, with 18% agreeing that she’s number one in the figure department.  Following close behind is Catherine Zeta Jones with 8% of you preferring her curves while bring up the rear is Jennifer Lopez with a mere 6% of brides-to-be wanting her body. While you’re absolutely happy with your groom-to-be, this year’s perfect male for Irish brides-to-be is the happily married Brad Pitt. David Beckham, another married man won 10% of your choices, while self-professed bachelor, George Clooney, was the celebrity of choice for a mere 4% you.

Pampering principles

Pampering and total luxury are key to every bride’s pre-wedding beauty regime. 32% of brides-to-be plan a spa day in preparation for their wedding day. 82% of will invest in a professional manicure, 88% will have your hair done by a professional hair stylist on the day and 62% will ensure their skin glows with the help of a little fake-tan.

Final Thoughts 

Cosmetic Acupuncture: in use by Chinese royalty since 960AD to reverse the aging process cosmetic acupuncture stimulates internal organs, encouraging the body to perform at an optimal level and maintain the production of hormones that ward off the ageing process.

It involves the insertion of hair-thin needles into particular areas of the face, ears, neck, hands, trunk, and legs along channels or meridians of energy called Qi. Specific points are chosen to manipulate the Qi in the body according to the individual’s needs. Many meridians begin or end on the face while some have internal branches that go to the face. Therefore, treatments specifically affect the face while simultaneously treating underlying factors that contribute to the aging process.

Benefits include the elimination of fine lines and wrinkles, facial re-contouring to reduce or eliminate jowls and, the redefinition of the eye contour to banish puffiness and dark circles. The treatment can also lift eyelids, enhance eyes and re-balance oil production in the skin, helping treat dryness and eliminate excess sebum production. Most importantly increased skin oxygen consumption and toxin elimination for added radiance and advanced skin health.

Colonic Irrigation has its origins in 19th Century European spas, but was reputedly used in ancient Egypt, China and India. Recently, it's become more and more popular and is seen as a great treatment for bloating and constipation, as well as a brilliant pick-me-up detox that gets rid of feelings of sluggishness and tiredness. Benefits include clearer skin, higher energy levels, a general feeling of well being, oh, and loss of a few inches around the waistline!

Warm, purified water is introduced into the colon via the rectum. Special massage techniques are used to release stored up toxins and gases. The whole process takes about an hour, and you are advised to take it easy, drink lots of water and avoid alcohol for a few days after.

Although one treatment is better than none, brides to be are advised to get between 2-3 treatments, starting at least six weeks before the big day.

While relatively risk-free, it is not recommended for people suffering from Crohn’s disease, ulcers, colitis or high blood pressure.

1. Sit yourself on the edge of your step
2. Keep your knees bent and hands either side of you with your fingers pointing forward.
3. Now lift your bottom off the step as you bend and straighten through the elbow. Repeat this 10-20 times.

Great for those who dare to bear, but what should a gal who plans to wear a more figure-hugging design aim for? “I have some great news,” Jackie reveals, “you actually have a natural corset! A great way to activate it is to do an exercise called the Plank.” Right so! Here are the steps required:

1. Lie on your stomach
2. Elbows on the floor and shoulder width apart
3. Push your knees into the floor and lift your hip bones up off of the floor
4. Now all you need to do is pull in through your belly button, breathe and hold for 10-30 seconds

Lastly, what to do if you’re wearing a backless or corset-style dress? “Upper back, bra line and that crease between chest and upper arm areas are often a concern,” Jackie acknowledges. “Think about your posture and make sure that you do plenty of cardio to start burning unwanted body fat. Power walking while holding two water bottles is a great way to burn calories and tone up fast,” she advises.

Jackie Diss is a highly experienced personal trainer, and recommends Gym Bunny Essential Gym Mixes, to guarantee non-stop motivation for every music-loving exerciser.

She says it'll completely banish your boredom while exercising! The range is available through Power Music and iTunes.