Got engaged?

Nineteen percent of couples who decide to get married get engaged over the holidays. If you became one of them this past holiday season, congratulations!

Now comes one of the most important wedding day questions you'll make...

What are you going to wear?!

There's no question that you'll want "the perfect dress" to further enchant your groom. If your New Year's goals also include getting in shape and looking fabulous on your wedding day, however, there's no time to lose in getting started on your "buff bride" fitness program.
Let's go!

Prepare to succeed:

Write down your goal(s) and be precise. Ask yourself the following questions.

1. How much time do you have to shape up before your wedding day? This is very important because it will determine the amount of progress you'll be able to make. The more time you allow yourself, the better your results. While your wedding is your "D-day", you ideally need to learn and create habits that will make you a "buff wife" as well as well as a buff bride. Starving yourself and exercising endlessly, or worse incorrectly, can not only wreak havoc on your health, you could likely rebound at the end electing instead to glue yourself to the couch with your face stuck in a bowl of chips and salsa. Not good!

2. How much effort and focus on your goal(s) are you willing to commit to in order to make the figure-shaping changes you desire? Outside of general fitness, the volume of workout time necessary during the week may be directly related to the look you are trying to achieve. You may also need to create new lifestyle habits that include modifying how you eat to help your body burn away excess fat. Don't bite off more than you can chew, however (no pun intended). Be sure to take into account the time you'll need to plan your wedding creating your fitness plan so you don't become a ball of stress as the day draws closer. Have fun and create memories along the way!

3. What dress size can you realistically fit into at the end of your alloted time-frame and fitness effort? Some brides order their dream gown in their "dream size" in hopes of slimming down and firming up by their wedding day. To say this can add loads of stress is an understatement! Be wise. While losing 20 pounds or dropping 2 dress sizes in two months may be possible, for instance, the short period of time leaves little room for error. As a general point of reference, the healthy recommendation for sustainable weight loss is 2-3 pounds per week. Order your dress in a reasonable size, give yourself time to shape up, cut down on the stress.

4. Will your dress be strapless, or fitted? Showing your arms and back means you may want to focus some of your training effort on firming (aka building) some muscle in those areas. And don't think that just because you resistance train that you'll end up looking like Arnold in "Conan, the Barbarian". In most cases, you don't have the genetics and even if you do tend to "bulk", smart training will help you look like a hottie, not a hulk.

Get started and train smart.
The best is yet to come!