Quick Guide for Brides to Lose Weight & Get a Glowing Skin!

You deserve to look and feel your most gorgeous self on your wedding day. All eyes are going to be on you and you want to shine! So, getting ready to fit into that wedding outfit and shine with that magical glow is going to be your number one priority during the pre-wedding days. Following a healthy diet and lifestyle will help you achieve the picture-perfect wedding look you desire. While both the bride and the groom aspire to look their best on their wedding day, the girls tend to stress more about it!

It is but natural that the stress of wedding planning can take a lot out of a girl. It can affect her hormonal balance, leading to pesky breakouts, rashes and overly dry or oily skin. Fear not – regardless of the stage you’re at in your wedding preparations, if you follow a healthy lifestyle and eat the right food, you can look radiant on your big day.

At Health Total, we recommend a six-month countdown to make sure you look as radiant and healthy as possible on your wedding day. In case you have only a couple of weeks to go for the BIG DAY, you can still see some stunning results by following Health Total’s weight loss and skincare programmes.

You can take the first step towards becoming a fit, healthy and glowing bride by following a nutritious and natural diet plan, a regular cleansing routine and by making some lifestyle modifications. These changes to your lifestyle and routine will help you to lose weight and give you a healthy and glowing skin. They are also great habits to get into as you begin this new journey.

Here are some tips on how to lose weight and get a healthy mind and body as you gear up for the D-day!

Weight Loss Diet & Lifestyle Tips

Get good sleep

Although easier said than done, sleep does wonders for high stress levels. It is also important for getting a health body and mind. The stress caused by the last-minute wedding preparations might be more manageable by sleeping for at least 7 hours each night.

Eat more superfoods

Include more of greens such as kale and spinach in your weight loss diet. This will help you to feel better while you’re busy planning your wedding.

Drink lots of water

Water is the best thing for your body and skin as it flushes out toxins and bi-products. Don’t forget to drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water in a day. Upon waking up, you can also drink a glass of lukewarm water mixed with lemon juice or a cup of green tea.

Eat a healthy breakfast

A heavy breakfast is necessary. Include low-fat milk products in your breakfast and avoid sweets to lose weight. Make sure to eat at least one good source of protein for breakfast, 1-2 cup servings of multigrain cereal, sprouts and sliced fruits.

Limit calorie intake

Avoiding junk and fatty foods, sugar, ice cream, cake and pastries to limit your calorie intake if you want to lose weight. If your daily calorie intake is 1,600 or more, try and reduce it. Each time you feel hungry and want to indulge in binge eating, go for a fruit or homemade vegetable soup (no packaged soups). Avoid caffeine, alcohol, dairy and processed foods as well.

Workout regularly

Exercise is a great stress reliever and helps you to lose weight. Whether you run, hit the gym, partake in yoga or aerobics you are generating stress-busting endorphins, which can help put stressful situations back into perspective.

Follow a meal routine

Remember to eat three main meals and two snacks during the day. You can have snacks such as roasted nuts, fruits and steamed /fermented food in short intervals. Make your lunch and dinner healthy by including wholegrain cereals, pulses or grilled fish, one piece of chicken, low-fat probiotic curd, salad and green vegetables. Drink freshly squeezed, organic juices as they make you feel full, which helps you to lose weight.

Relax, pamper yourself

Many brides work hard on their bodies and forget about keeping their minds in shape. Take some time off from the wedding preparations to sit back and just relax. Go for a spa session, get your hair or nails done, get a relaxing massage or spend a few minutes in a sauna. Remember, relaxation is the key to keeping a positive attitude and managing the stress of planning a wedding.

Skin & Hair Care Regime

There are several skin and hair treatments available in salons for brides-to-be. Here are some therapies that you can do on your own in the comfort of your home! They are painless and easy to do!

Tips for Glowing Skin

Every bride dreams of a glowing skin. After all, who likes pimples, dark spots, baggy eyes and dark circles? Before you try out any expensive therapies, try out some of these home remedies for glowing skin. They’re effective and easy!

Cleansing & moisturising

Cleansing and moisturising your skin every day helps to get rid of impurities. Facials are recommended only if you have a few months before the wedding. The last thing you need is to try out any new facial two days before your big day to find out that you’re allergic to its ingredients.

Homemade facial masks

The best natural remedy for glowing face is honey facial. Simply place a clean cloth in warm water and gently wash your face to open the pores up and remove surface impurities. Then, smear on the honey in a thin, even layer and leave it on for 15-30 minutes. Take another clean cloth, dip it in warm water and gently wipe the mask off. You can also mix a teaspoon of lemon juice with 50 ml tomato juice and prepare an amazing face pack.

Scrubbing

If you have an oily and acne-prone skin, it is best to scrub your face at least twice a week. This will not only remove excess oil from your face, but scrubbing will also help you to get rid of blackheads and whiteheads. Prepare a scrub using two tablespoons of orange juice and one tablespoon of turmeric powder. Leave it on your face for 15-20 minutes then wash it and feel the difference.

Steam

It is important for the pores to open so that your skin can breathe. One of the best home remedies for opening the pores to get a glowing skin is to soak a clean towel in lukewarm water and apply it on your face. Keep the towel on your face for 3-5 minutes and repeat the procedure at least four times. This will help open the pores to nourishment.

Foods that Make your Skin Glow

Wrinkles are inevitable and cannot be stopped completely, but you can delay their appearance by eating a diet rich in vitamins and minerals. Here are some nutrient-rich foods for glowing skin that can also slow down the aging process –

Vitamin A

Lack of vitamin A makes the skin lose moisture easily. It starts peeling off and the rate of cell renewal declines with age. Broccoli, mangoes, papayas, carrots, yam, parsley, leafy vegetables, pumpkin, cherries and egg yolk are rich in vitamin A.

Vitamin C

Vitamin C is the first line of defence against free radical damage. It aids in the production of skin proteins – elastin and collagen. Adequate supply of vitamin C repairs damaged skin proteins and prevents the cell damage induced by free radicals. Guavas, blackcurrants, kiwi, strawberries, spinach, oranges, cabbage, papaya and bean sprouts are good sources of vitamin C.

B-complex vitamins

Deficiency of B-complex vitamins induces the formation of fine lines, wrinkles and makes the skin rough, dry and scaly. Eating more of whole grains, nuts and sprouts can help replenish vitamin B complex in your body.

Vitamin E

It is present in wheat germ, safflower seeds, sesame oil, sunflower seeds, walnuts, extra virgin olive oil and soy. Vitamin E prevents stress-induced wrinkles and protects the cell membrane against free radical damage, thus maintaining a youthful skin.

Zinc

Zinc is must for production of new healthy cells. Nuts and seeds are a good source of zinc that help you to lose weight and make your skin glow.

Gama Linoleic Acid (GLA)

GLA is an essential fatty acid that is responsible for making the skin smooth and supple. As the body ages, its ability to synthesise GLA decreases and the skin gets drier and undernourished. So, it is wise to take GLA supplements once you’re 40. It is found in evening primrose oil.

Water

It hydrates the body and eliminates toxins from the system. Ideally, one must drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water daily, which excludes water ingested through soups, juices and drinks.

Easy-to-follow Tips for a Glowing Face

• Drink at least one glass of vegetable juice daily. A mixture of carrot, tomato and beetroot is a great cleanser of skin and liver toxins
• Avoid smoking as it leaches out vitamin C and builds up toxins in the system
• Avoid fried and spicy food as they contribute to toxin load
• Restrict fat intake, instead incorporate foods rich in healthy fats, especially omega-3 fatty acids such as fish, olive and canola oils, and walnuts
• Increase intake of fibre and complex carbohydrates by having fruits, vegetables and whole grains, which provide roughage and detoxify the system
• Minimise the intake of processed foods containing high amounts of additives and preservatives; opt for fresh home-cooked foods instead

Simple Remedies for Healthy Hair

Getting your hair in shape doesn’t take much effort, and is something that you’ll want to continue even after your wedding. Health Total experts suggest –

Wash & deep condition

Wash your hair only when it feels dirty (usually about ever 2-3 days), and deep condition once a month. Deep conditioning is where an oil or conditioner is combed through your hair and left on for at least 10 minutes before it is fully rinsed out.

Scalp massage

Massaging your scalp with shampoo while you wash stimulates blood flow and encourages the growth of healthy hair. When dry, brushing your hair well again stimulates the scalp and helps you to get rid of dead hair. If you plan on having it cut, make sure it’s done a week before your wedding functions. This way, your style will keep its shape but has had time to settle.

Cleaning

Cleaning of hair should be done regularly. When hair is shampooed it opens the cuticles of the hair. It is easier to wash off the excess sebum, dirt and grime with shampoo if the hair cuticles are open. You should use shampoos that are made of a mild cleansing base, are gentle in action and do not contain any harmful chemicals.

Herbal treatment

Give a proper herbal nourishment to your hair. Do it while you are using shampoo, as it is more effective and easier to transfer the effects of the herbs to the hair.

Special hair treatments

Special treatments like an oil massage, overnight oil application or hot oil treatments help rejuvenate the health of the scalp and hair.

If you have a few months left for your wedding and want to start the new chapter of your life with a fit, healthy body and glowing skin, then the Health Total Skin Improvement and Weight Loss plan is for you. This plan is easy to follow and requires no starving, dieting, or expensive procedures. Just a wholesome, holistic way of eating and living that will keep that ‘what’s your secret to a beautiful skin and fitter body?’ question coming for years.

ANJALI MUKERJEE, Nutritionist, Founder Director-Health Total, having health centers
in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Pune -manages obesity & other health related disorders.
Contact numbers: 96506 84061/+91 86575 61727
For further information, Visit www.health-total.com