- Many people want to look and feel their best on their wedding day.
- For some, that means losing a few pounds.
- Crash diets can leave you will little energy and harm your health.
- Eating whole grains, protein, and vegetables can help you feel full and energized while you work toward your goal.
There is no rule saying you have to go on a wedding diet. But for some people, shedding a few pounds makes them feel their best in their dress or suit. Unfortunately, that goal might get pushed to the back burner between planning the day and attending a number of appointments. Suddenly, you find yourself a month away from your wedding and the number on the scale is the same.
Crash diets such as juice fasts or cleanses can be tempting "quick fixes" but they won't help you reach your goal safely. "They're going to rob you of the calories and energy that you need to feel good and function properly," registered dietitian-nutritionist Karen Ansel told INSIDER.
Restrictive diets can also take a toll on your hair, skin, and nails, registered dietitian-nutritionist Brigitte Zeitlin told INSIDER.
"You want to go into it feeling your absolute sexiest, your absolute best, your absolute most confident, energized self," Zeitlin told INSIDER. "The best way to do that is to really make sure you focus on what you're adding to your diet and not what you're eliminating."
Rather than focusing on what you shouldn't be eating, focus on what will help you reach your goals. Here are some of the main things you should eat the month before your wedding in order to lose weight.
Protein-rich foods will help you stay full and energized.
Ansel told INSIDER that "protein helps you stay full longer," which can prevent you from snacking throughout the day.
Additionally, as Zeitlin said, protein will also help you stay energized, which is critical in the month leading up to your wedding. The amino acids found in protein can also help you maintain healthy skin, as INSIDER previously reported.
Zeitlin recommended eating eggs, chicken, and turkey. She also said that seafood is a great option and suggested adding salmon, shrimp, clams, and mussels to your diet. If you're a vegetarian, she said Greek yogurt, lentils, and chickpeas can help you get your protein.
Vegetables will also help you stay full and provide you with essential nutrients.
Vegetables are full of fiber, which helps your digestive system run smoothly and keeps you full, according to Ansel. "It will be easier for you to not snack mid-meal and also feel satiated and not like your hungry or starving or depriving yourself," she told INSIDER.
Zeitlin added that vegetables can help you push out salt, so you might want to consider eating more close to your wedding if you're worried about looking or feeling bloated. They're also low in calories and easy to incorporate with any meal.
For breakfast, Zeitlin suggested having a veggie and egg scramble or a spinach omelet. For lunch, she suggested a salad topped with lean protein, like chicken. For an afternoon snack, she suggested carrots or peppers with a little bit of hummus. And for dinner, she said a piece of salmon with stir-fried veggies or roasted vegetables.
Whole grains will also keep you energized.
"Whole grains have B vitamins which are really great for our energy and our focus," Ansel told INSIDER.
Zeitlin agreed and told INSIDER that you should aim for two servings of whole grains a day. She recommended having a piece of whole wheat toast with some nut butter and a banana, which contains potassium to help push out sodium.
"Vary it up and make sure you have enough room in your day to get in extra vegetables," Zeitlin told INSIDER.
Eating three meals a day and drinking water will keep you from overeating.
"Skipping meals practically guarantees you're going to overeat later, which is going to combat your attempts at weight loss and stress you out more," Ansel told INSIDER.
Having three meals and a snack can help keep you full and make you less likely to snack on unhealthy foods, Ansel said.
Zeitlin added that skipping meals can make you irritable and cranky and it could contribute to your stress. "As a bride-to-be, you're already pretty stressed out so we don't want to contribute to that," Zeitlin told INSIDER.
It's also important to drink water throughout the day. "Our bodies frequently confuse hunger for thirst," Ansel told INSIDER. "That's excess calories, excess food that you're putting into yourself that your body isn't really asking for."
Regardless of what your goals are, it's important to remember that your weight shouldn't determine your happiness on the day of your wedding. What matters most is that you're comfortable with who you are.
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SEE ALSO: This bride lost 113 pounds before her wedding and has kept the weight off for 2 years — here's how
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