Getting in Shape for Your Wedding
John P. Bradley, PT
The big day is approaching! Amidst all of the necessary tasks
you must accomplish, you realize that you may be “baring”
more of you than usual in that awesome wedding gown. Will
you be ready? Do you need to begin a fitness “boot camp”
to get yourself in shape for the wedding day? Guys, we cannot
forget about you either. Will you have to get an extender
on that cummerbund?
Usually these realizations come awfully close to the actual
wedding date. You are simply too distracted to be thinking
about working out when flowers and the DJ must be chosen.
Unfortunately, thinking that you can whip yourself into a
hardbody in a month is not only unrealistic, it may also be
dangerous. John Bradley, PT from Performance Physical Therapy
and Fitness Center has seen too many cases of well intentioned
brides and grooms push too hard, too fast without proper preparation.
Despite the results that the participants on television shows
like “The Biggest Loser” seem to get, the risks
are high. When you have not been physically active or regularly
exercising, your body will be less tolerant of intense exercise,
and this could lead to injuries that land you in Bradley’s
office. This is the last thing you need before your wedding
day.
The whole concept of rapid weight loss and instant muscle
toning is a dangerous fallacy. The diets and exercise programs
people utilize to accomplish this generally have no scientific
foundation. They are also never sustainable. Even Olympic
level athletes plan their training to cycle through intense
and then less intense periods to avoid overtraining and potential
injury. The choice to begin exercise should be made based
on a desire to change to a healthy lifestyle that you will
follow over a long period of time (basically for as long as
you plan on living!). There is perhaps no better time to make
this choice than when you are choosing to live the rest of
your life with the person you love. Committing to exercise
together is a wonderful way to stay motivated.
How you get started is critical. Just walking into a gym
or popping in an exercise video is not the way to do it. Even
if you feel well, it pays to get evaluated by an expert in
exercise and fitness who is formally educated and credentialed.
They are equipped to assess your strength and weaknesses and
plan a program that will safely help you accomplish your goals,
be they weight loss, muscle toning or sports performance.
These individuals must be available to follow your progress
regularly and make changes in your program to keep you motivated
and working toward your goals. There is a science to fitness,
and the “trial and error” method has no place
in your fitness plans.
So if you are worried about how you look in that tux or gown-good!
It may just be the thing you need to make a lifetime commitment
to a healthier lifestyle with your beloved mate.
|
Member of
IDEA
Delaware Physical Therapy Association
National Safety Council
American Fitness Association
|
|
| |
Recognized
Outstanding Companies in Delaware
"BEST PLACE
TO WORK"
-News Journal's Best in the Business Awards |
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
|
