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Ok, ok, so I appreciate that I have been somewhat of a cake facilitator over the past few weeks, what with my Great Brides Up North Birthday Bakeaway (you can find all the links to the giveaways here) and all that, but at least I am keeping things in equilibrium! 

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This morning on the wedding blog, personal trainer Jenny Cromack of Motive 8 North (and the lady behind that Bridal Bootcamp that recently saw me lose 18 inches all over plus nearly a stone in weight! Oh yeeeah!) talks us through her top tips for looking trim on your wedding day.

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1. Interval Training
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Forget pounding the treadmill for hours on end, research shows that performing interval training within your workouts is a more effective way of burning fat and boosts your metabolism for longer following a workout. Try this intense interval session during your next workout. Sprint for 60 seconds as fast as you can, walk or jog for 60 seconds. Repeat this sequence 10 times. If you don’t like running then do your intervals on a bike or rowing machine. Include interval training in your workout 2-3 times per week.

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1. Weight Training
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Many women often skip doing weights in the gym, for fear of bulking up. However, women don’t have enough testosterone to bulk up from moderate weight lifting. Increasing your lean muscle mass will speed up your metabolism and burn more body fat. Perform exercises which use big muscle groups like press ups, squats, rows and lunges.

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1. Banish the Bingo Wings
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Every bride wants to have nice shapely arms for her big day. Try performing the following workout 3 times per week. 12-15 x Press Ups (on the knees is ok!), 12-15 x Seated Rows, 12-15 x Tricep Dips, 12-15 x Bicep Curls.  Repeat this circuit x 2.

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1. Don’t Forget the Legs
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Although your legs might be hidden under your wedding dress, you’ll want nice pins for your honeymoon bikini!  Include exercises such as squats and lunges in your workouts to hit the legs. As the legs are big muscle groups they will also use more energy so if you want to lose weight they are an important part of your workout.

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1. Ditch the Booze
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A glass of wine contains around 180 calories, so if you have 1-2 glasses of wine per night it’s easy to see why it’s hard to lose weight!  Additionally, the calories in alcohol provide no nutritional value, hence the reason they are often known as ‘empty calories’ . The liver is responsible for breaking down alcohol and fat, but perhaps because of alcohol’s toxicity, the liver prioritises breaking down alcohol first rather than metabolizing fat which can lead to weight gain.

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Don’t Crash Diet

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Although you need to reduce your calorie intake to see a change in your weight, drastically cutting calories will cause your body to go into starvation mode which will actually cause your body to hold onto body fat and making it harder for you to lose weight. If you are drastically restricting your food intake, you will be more tempted to binge on the foods you like so stick to a healthy eating plan instead based around slow release, wholegrain carbohydrates, lean proteins and lots of veggies.

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Eat Little & Often

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Eating little and often keeps the metabolism revved up, meaning you will burn energy at a higher rate, plus you’ll also be less likely to snack on unhealthy food.  Aim to have 5-6 healthy, small meals per day or 3 healthy meals, with 2 small snacks in between.

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Don’t Get Stressed!

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Easier said than done in the lead up to your big day, but being constantly stressed causes an increase in a hormone called cortisol. Cortisol stimulates the appetite and induces cravings for sugar and fat and if this is not bad enough cortisol also signals the body to store fat around the abdominal area.

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1. Lacking Motivation?
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Find it hard to motivate yourself to workout? Get your bridesmaids or ushers together and make a pact to workout on a regular basis.  You can encourage each other when one of you is having an ‘off-day’…give each other a forfeit for any missed sessions! Alternatively, find an activity you really enjoy doing, since you’re more likely to stick to it if you enjoy it!

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1. Prioritise Your Workouts
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We know you have a million and one things going on in the lead up to your big day, but if you want to look good then you must prioritise healthy eating and exercise and make both become a part of your daily routine. Schedule your workouts into your diary like you would an important meeting and don’t let anything interrupt you from doing it!

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If you would like more information about looking great on your wedding day then please contact Motive 8 North. Motive 8 North are a personal training company, working with clients in Leeds and the surrounding areas. We have a qualified team of staff with a great reputation of getting the results people want.

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Would you like to try out the Brides Up North Bootcamp?  Check out the Brides Up North Bootcamp pages for everything you need to know including the weekly fitness plans right from the start, the eating plan, hints and tips, handy food and exercise diaries, the exercises explained and my progress.

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IMPORTANT: Remember to consult your GP before starting any fitness or diet plan.  This eating and exercise plan is provided for guideline purposes only.  Brides Up North and/or Motivate 8 North will not be held responsible in the event of illness or injury.  Brides Up North Bootcamp is entered into completely at your own risk. 

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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Image © 2011 Rainbow Club

Motive 8 North is a Brides Up North Featured Supplier

Contact Brides Up North to submit your business as a Featured Supplier

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