Working out doesn’t have to cost an arm and a leg.

You are busy, so I have shown you ways to get quick workouts. Now, I want to share how you can make a small investment in equipment and use your home environment to be an inexpensive gym.

Many brides are fortunate to have their family pay for the wedding, but in many cases couples are taking on the expense.  If this is you, here are some tips and ideas on creating your own home gym.

If you are really cutting corners, things like milk jugs with sand in them can create great hand weights.  Dumbbells can be purchased inexpensively at some of my favorite stores like TJ Maxx or Marshalls. 

CLICK HERE for the full article AND latest fitness video from our trainer Chante.

In our most recent issue of WED, Trainer Chante Pemberton shares her latest video workout and tips for fitting in that crucial fitness routine to help you Get Ready for the Gown.  Be sure to consult a doctor before starting any kind of exercise routine.

Work Outs Here, There or Anywhere…

Working out to Get Ready for the Gown while taking care of your seemingly never-ending wedding to- do list tasks can be daunting. So instead of stressing over how you’re going to fit in your workouts, try my simple plan of action which is based on these two important principles:

1. Plan your day around your workout. Treat exercise like an appointment on your calendar. If you work a 9 to 5 job, then fill an empty slot either before or after work. If you spend your day running from appointment to appointment, then find a hole in your day and “book” your exercise. It doesn’t have to be more complex than this.

2. Exercising doesn’t have to be a 2 hour event to be effective. There are so many great moves you can fit in at the gym, on your lunch break or even at home. If you make the commitment to work out consistently, even for a few minutes at a time, you will stay on track for your big day.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN WED HERE

Check out Chante’s latest video.  Be sure to consult your doctor before starting an exercise routine. 

Cleaning Up Your Food Act-Yet Again? by Linda Shapiro the Meal Planning Maven

Finally, warmer weather is coming! Many of you have endured a long cold winter and are probably more than ready to peel off some of those layers! For those that have made yet another list of New Year’s resolutions, how many have you kept? If one of those resolutions was to make a commitment to clean up your food act, how are you doing? Did you start out like gangbusters, only to fall prey to too many doughnuts at the office for breakfast, too many trips through the fast food lane for lunch and one too many happy hours after work with your friends?  And how many of you are still looking in the mirror with despair wondering if you’ll ever lose that tummy before your next bridal gown fitting?

To be honest, Meal Planning Maven’s spin on New Year’s diet resolutions is this:

Don’t make them, cuz’ ten to one you’ll break them!

Let MPM share a little of her wisdom here… It’s what you do most days of the year that matters most. So instead of declaring on every January 1st an all-out war against going out to lunch, never having a bite of birthday cake with your office mates or swearing off margaritas for the rest of your life, why not take MPM’s more practical lifestyle approach? Ya gotta admit, it’s a lot more fun!

READ THE FULL ARTICLE IN WED HERE

Marriage and Fitness: a Partnership to Last a Lifetime

In my experience, the partnership of marriage is a work in progress. Being married for thirteen years, made me realize just how much my husband and I have grown and strengthened our relationship which gave me the inspiration for this article.  This thought came to me as we sat in church together, thinking about just how far we have come. Working on our core issues over the years gave us the opportunity to strengthen our understanding of who each other is by allowing us to communicate and continue to build a strong and healthy life together.

You’re getting ready to build a life with your future husband, forming a wonderful partnership that will continue to grow and strengthen as the years go by.   Working out together is a great way to achieve and maintain the bodies you want while building on the foundation you’ve already begun to create. Working out as a team is also a fabulous way to spend more time with each other while having fun.

Let’s see how we can weave these components into these simple exercises …

View the full article with exercise descriptions HERE along with the video {in WED the Magazine}

Hi, I’m Linda Shapiro, your Personal Meal Planning Maven….

Hmmmm….you might say- what is this about personal meal planning? I’m already trying to juggle work while planning a wedding, do I really need to worry about what to eat too?

Well…here’s the scoop: you already know you want to feel fabulous in your gown on your special day….and what about “from this day forward?” Even if you’re a work out junkie, you may not be looking your very best if your eating and cooking habits need a makeover! As a Personal Meal Planner, I can help you feel beautiful on your wedding day, as well as also show you how weaving simple planning, shopping and cooking tricks into your daily routine can help you feel wonderful year after year.

 READ the full article HERE

See an exerpt and video below:

I Can Motivate Because I Can Relate.

On your wedding day and “from this day forward” you can have success in your health and fitness.  I am here to help you to succeed in getting ready for the gown and create a “toolbox” that helps you stay on track after your wedding day.  With the built in motivation of your wedding day, my knowledge and passion, we are sure to succeed!

In November of 1987, I was thirty pounds overweight and engaged to be married with a wedding date set for August 8, 1988.   I started working with a trainer and was guided on how to change my eating habits and train with a combination of weight training and cardiovascular training.  I am happy to say that by my wedding day, I had lost the thirty pounds and gained the priceless knowledge that I now am so blessed to share with you.  I can motivate because I can relate.

I have been in the fitness industry for over 20 years and look forward to helping you get in shape, gain understanding and knowledge of how important it is to stay physically active.  With the “Get Ready For The Gown” FIT Tips you will have all the energy you need to keep up with your busy schedule and will be able to manage the stress with grace and dignity.  No Bridezillas Allowed!  A happy, healthier you is one of the best wedding gifts you can give yourself and your future husband. 

This is one of the most important times in your life.  It’s time to get totally committed to creating a plan of action that will work “from this day forward.”  So let’s get started!

Getting Your Arms Ready for Your Strapless Gown

One of the most popular wedding gown designs is the strapless gown.  We all want nice shoulders and toned arms for our strapless gown and our honeymoon wardrobe!  A strong upper body is essential to all of us to get through life upright and functional.  The exercise that anyone can do, just about anywhere, is a pushup.  “I can’t do a pushup!” is what I hear over and over again when I first tell my clients we are going to pushups.  My clients, whose ages range from 18-72yrs old, all do pushups!  There are different ways to modify a push up so that you can build enough strength to eventually do a push up on your toes.  Here are some tips on how to do a modified pushup and some fun ways to get those pushups in just about anywhere.

Read the full article and Get Ready for the Gown Section HERE.  View the Get Ready for the Gown fitness tips (PLEASE NOTE: consult with a doctor before starting any fitness regime):



We’re looking for a few brides located in Southwest Florida to work with our trainer and personal meal planning coach to get in shape for their wedding (and/or honeymoon) and who will let us track and publish your progress in our magazine and on this blog.

Interested?  Email us at: getready@wedbizmedia.com