Portland Bridal Fitness: BRIDAL FITNESS | HOW TO EAT LIKE A FIT BRIDE

"Exercise is king, nutrition is queen, put them together and you've got a kingdom." - Jack LaLanne

Now that you've set your goals and gotten yourself an accountability partner or two*, it's time to talk food.

There are quite probably as many ways to eat in the world as there are people. Because of that fact, the exact details of what and how YOU should eat can't be offered via a simple blog post. Why? Because you are beautifully individual, Fit Bride!

As individuals, our eating styles and practices vary from person to person; by individual physiology and health/medical needs; by region country and ethnicity; by economic status; by personal and social beliefs... the list goes on and on. Even if we tried to assign you a label, you can be a vegan, a lacto-vegetarian or a locavore. You can eat clean or raw or paleo. You can be a flexitarian, pescetarian or even a fruitarian. You can even do intermittent fasting, juicing or "detoxing". And these are certainly not all!

The list of types of eating styles and diets, quite literally, seems endless. BUT, as humans, there are certain physiological baselines that are constant no matter who you are. We are all omnivores, for instance, meaning that as humans we are all more or less capable of eating both plants and animal-based foods. We also all require some combination of micronutrients (usually referred to as vitamins and minerals like iron and potassium) and macronutrients (protein, carbs and fat). And we all need both calories and water to perform and to live.

We all need micronutrients and macronutrients to live.

Beyond that, there are also certain facts that, as a trainer, I have observed to work for everyone when they're striving for success in achieving their fitness related goals, whether it be fat loss, weight management, training for special events or sports, etc. The goal of this post is to help you consider your own situation, learn some key facts and then make choices based on your personal needs and desires to achieve the success YOU want, no matter what type of eating you prefer.

Eat according to your goals.

It's suggested by some that what you eat is as much as 80% of your success. While the exact percentage actually varies from person to person there's no doubt that your food choices and your relationship with what you eat are all super important. At it's most basic level, your relationship with food and the habits you've formed around them will either bring you closer to your goals... or further away.

Does that next snack or meal fit in line with the overall outcome or goal you're trying to achieve? While an occasional treat is perfectly fine for most brides-to-be, your overall wedding fitness goal is to encourage your body to burn excess fat while fueling your workouts so that you can sculpt the body you want to see in your DRESS and beyond. You also need to make sure you have the energy and stamina to go through your day while nourishing your body so that you can have the best health possible.

Don't starve yourself.

Drastically changing how you eat might sound like a good idea, especially when you have a dress fitting coming up because yes, you can indeed lose weight, but that's just it... You'll lose weight! That means body fat AND valuable water and precious muscle. And, not only will the calorie deficit likely effect your mood (aka bridezilla, anyone?), it will also keep you from looking, feeling and being healthy long term.

No, what you really want is to lose body fat and to build or keep muscle. That will also help to boost your metabolism and your stamina so your results can last so you look and feel fantastic!

Don't diet. Dieting typically means adopting a way of eating for a certain time. And if you go on a diet, sooner or later you're going to slip back into your old habits. Why? Because whatever you're doing is uncomfortable and typically never becomes normal for you.
Eat lean protein, vegetables, and water. These 3 make up your foundation. Protein helps you build lean muscle, which in turn burns more calories. Protein also digests slowly so you'll feel fuller longer. Vegetables provide vital nutrients and antioxidants along with fiber and water, which also helps you to feel full longer. Drinking water can you manage your appetite and it also helps to boost your metabolism. Start with a glass first thing in the morning and keep going. Aim for at least two liters every day. That's a little over eight cups.
Choose whole foods. Strive to get your food as straight from the farm as much as possible. Whole foods have names like chicken, egg, broccoli, orange. This includes fruit, vegetables, whole grains, wild-caught fish, grass-fed and free-range animal products.

Limit or avoid highly processed and refined foods. Most foods we eat have some degree of processing for them to arrive from the field or farm to us, but highly processed foods tend to have a label and lots of ingredients. The more ingredients on that label, the more likely the food has been highly refined. Strive for 5 or fewer label ingredients and if you can’t pronounce the ingredients, don’t eat it.

Know your portions. Even if you eat healthy if you overeat it can still impact not only your waistline, but your health as well. Learn how to eye your portions so that you can make wise food choices no matter the circumstance.

Ultimately, "eating fit" means that what you eat supports the lifestyle you want to live. Just as athletes eat to boost their performance, you're eating to support your Fit Bride goals, as well as the lifestyle you want to live after the wedding. So if you want to look better and feel better as a sexy bride, eat better and make better food choices!

These recommendations work for all people regardless of their eating style and their overall goals. Your food habits and the choices you make are absolutely vital to getting the results you want. We'll be posting more info on how to Eat Like a Fit Bride soon so stay tuned.

In the meantime, Get Started by taking a look at your current eating habits and begin incorporating these healthy habits today! Remember, making small changes that you can live with, one at a time can lead to BIG RESULTS!

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What's next? Time to get moving!

Check out 4 FIT MOVES EVERY BRIDE SHOULD MASTER and learn the foundation for getting your bridal sexy on!

Missed the previous PROJECT FIT BRIDE articles on how to get started on your wedding fitness journey?

BRIDAL FITNESS: THE NUMBER ONE THING YOU NEED TO DO TO GET FIT FOR YOUR WEDDING.

BRIDAL FITNESS: WHO'S ON YOUR #TEAMFITBRIDE?

Want more help putting together your plan for your Fit Bride journey? Download our new eBook PROJECT FIT BRIDE. I've put together this starter guide to give you more strategies and simple steps you can implement now.

If you need individual guidance creating your own wedding fitness success plan, CONTACT US at Wildfire Fitness to schedule your own brief complimentary phone consultation.

And remember, the sooner you start you bridal fitness countdown, the better!

To your success!