Drop a Dress Size!

     Toddler Satin Rose Wedding Shoes

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Feeling as though some remodelling is needed before you stun your guests with your wedding day beauty? Well, you may be losing a few pounds due to bridal nerves - or they might be having the opposite effect as you nibble to calm your jitters! Whichever, now is not the time to go on a crash diet and add to your stress levels. If a fitness and diet regime is called for, think carefully and plan sensibly.

Small changes in your lifestyle can add up to a big difference. Swap buttered toast and sugary cereal for fresh berries and porridge at breakfast; skip the lunchtime sandwich and have a wrap, some sushi or a big salad instead. Try to eat dinner before 8pm, and stick to lean meat and protein-rich fish with a good helping of veg. Reduce your intake of pasta, rice, bread and potatoes - keeping the carbs down does seem to kickstart the metabolism and keep you leaner. And if you crave chocolate, ditch the sweet milky variety and go for dense, dark organic slabs of 85% plus - it's delicious and actively good for you.

Diet changes won't help knock the pounds off unless you adjust your exercise levels - but you don't have to spend sweaty hours in the gym. Just incorporate more walking into your life. Don't take the car to the station - walk! Or get off the bus two stops before you usually do, and stroll home the rest of the way. Borrow a friendly dog for a regular walkies, run up and down the stairs a few times a day, just get more active. It's stealth exercise that will get results without you even noticing. Or make time to go swimming twice a week - it's the best total body workout of all, and it's fun!

While you're eating healthily and taking more exercise, remember to drink at least 2 litres of water per day. Keep a bottle handy and keep on sipping. It's a great way to clear the system of toxins and plump up the skin, and it's the best of all appetite-suppressants. No need to eat only grapefruit or drink only carrot juice - a few tweaks to your life and you'll be well on the way to dropping a dress size for the wedding. Don't buy your dress too early, though!

For more hints and tips that will help take some of the stress out of organising your big day, check out our wedding information pages.

And if this has whet your appetite for all things beautiful, click here to browse Henry Kaye's complete range of stunning bridal and bridesmaid shoes, gorgeous bridesmaid dresses, and exquisite wedding bags and accessories.