Your wedding will probably be the most photographed day of your life, coming a close second to your first high school dance. Ten years from now, you don't want to look back on your wedding photos and feel bad about how you looked. We know you look amazing as is, but most brides want to kick it in to high gear and shed a few pounds to look their very best on the big day. Adding a gym membership to your wedding budget can make all the difference. Check out the 7 best exercises for looking like a skinny minny in your wedding dress.
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Your dress essentially covers every part of your body except your arms (unless you go the long sleeve route), so make those the main center of attention. Weights need to become your new best friend. According to Brides, a lateral shouder raise with weights perfectly targets that stubborn armpit muffin top that shows up when you wear a strapless dress. To conquer this move, grab your weights and lift your arms out straight to make a "T" shape with your body. Gently bring your arms back down and start to feel the burn.
Your dress probably emphasizes your shoulders, too, so start pumping even more iron! To tone your shoulders, use a move similar to the lateral raise. For this variation, raise your arms to about shoulder length directly in front of you while holding weights. If you're not yet strong enough to lift the weights past your chest, just raise them as high as you can and work your way up the more you practice.
Whether your dress is form-fitting or ball-gown style, it's bound to emphasize your stomach. To get your abs in tip-top shape, you can't go wrong with plain old crunches. To take it one step further, throw a medicine ball into the mix. Lie down on your back and hold your arms above your head while holding the ball. Lift your arms and legs at the same time and position the medicine ball between your feet. Lower your limbs and then repeat, alternating holding the ball with your hads and feet. Your abs will be on fire, and you'll look ah-mazing in your swimsuit on your honeymoon.
Even though your stems won't be getting much attention under your dress, you still want to incorporate leg workouts into your wedding routine for an even, full-body balance. Your legs will also be on display if your dress has a tight skirt. Plus, you want them to look good in photographs showing off your shoes. Make your legs look like a Victoria's Secret model's by doing mountain climbers, alternating bringing your knees into your chest, or calf raises.
Don't forget about your derrière! A lot of moves can target both your legs and your butt, so save time and energy with 2-in-1 exercises. To tone both areas, do several reps of squats, lunges, and wall sits. Your behind will look pristine in your wedding dress, which is extra important if you have a backless dress since all eyes will be on your backside.
Many brides sign up for workout classes in a last minute attempt to shed some pounds. If you go this route, don't wait until right before the wedding. The trendy barre phenomenon offers perfect full-body workout classes for any bride-to-be. The moves combine ballet and pilates for a totally doable workout that actually gives you results. Some locations even offer special packages exclusively for brides.
Going on a morning run is one of the best ways to burn quick cals. If you don't consider yourself a runner by any means, start out small on the treadmill. You can set your own pace and build up your stamina. Adding cardio is crucial to any workout regimen, so make sure you alternate between crunches and runs to see results in time for your wedding.
