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.