bellissimafisica - Personal health, fitness and wellness Brisbane Australia

Fitness Tips For Looking Your Best On Your Wedding Day!

admin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:05:40 +0000

Every bride wants to look perfect on her wedding day. Selecting a dress that will make you look and feel great is an important first step. But what happens when you look in the mirror and don’t think you look quite as good as you could? When this happens it’s not uncommon for brides to try quick-fix diets to help them get in shape. Unfortunately, many dieting brides make fitness mistakes that not only prevent them from reaching their goals but also cause unnecessary stress and sometimes even illness. Those are two things no bride needs! Here are five of the most common diet mistakes as well as some tips to help you avoid them.
1. Too much, too late.
One of the most important things to remember if you are trying to lose weight is to start early. For example, don’t try to lose 10 kilos two months before the big day. The key is to plan ahead so that you can lose the weight (or just tone up) gradually. So if you’re dream-wedding day includes you being in great shape, then include fitness as a “to-do” on your overall wedding checklist. That way it will be a priority in your wedding planning.
2. Setting unachievable goals.
Many women get engaged and begin imagining themselves drastically thinner or more sculpted. Be realistic with yourself. If you’ve never been a size 6 in your life, then it is probably unrealistic to think you can magically transform just because you are getting married. And, do you really want to look so different on your wedding day that most people (including your fiancé) hardly recognize you?
3. Radical diets or fitness programs.
Brides typically are short on time and long on to-do lists. This leads many to try unhealthy fitness programs or starvation diets. Don’t be tempted by diets that promise quick, drastic results with little effort from you. You should avoid any programs that suggest taking “diet” pills or eating unbalanced meals (like eating only cabbage soup for a week). And, don’t be lured into trying dangerous things, like laxatives.
What you eat before the wedding is just as important as how much your exercise. You should aim to eat healthily, rather than simply cutting portion sizes. When you eat very little you can actually gain weight because your metabolism will slow down. Don’t eat less than 1,200 calories a day and don’t force yourself to feel ‘hungry’ all the time. Remember that how much you need to cut your calorie intake depends on your age, size and current eating habits.

4. Not exercising.
It’s very easy for brides to say “I don’t have time to exercise” or “I’m too tired to exercise”. But diet and exercise should always go hand in hand. Consider them to be like yin and yang. Without activity your body can’t burn as many calories. If you are very short on time, try to exercise in small 10-minute bursts throughout the day. And, keep in mind that little things help too, like taking the stairs or parking at the outer edge of the mall parking lot. Plus, if you are tired from all of your planning, exercise will help give you back some energy.
Regular exercise is an essential part of your weight-loss program. The benefit of exercise is that it increases your heart rate, oxygen intake and ultimately your metabolism. Running, aerobics, swimming and even brisk walking are all great ways to get your heart pumping and shed excess kilos. It’s important to remember that you can’t target any ‘problem’ areas with specific stretches or exercises, so an aerobic work-out is the best approach.

If you’re not used to exercising or have trouble finding motivation, join a gym or consider hiring a personal trainer who can tailor a plan to suit your fitness level and weight-loss goals for you wedding day. Regular appointments with a personal trainer before the wedding will force you to get motivated. Furthermore, you might like to start an exercise program with your partner or a friend. You can plan to go for a daily walk together before breakfast or after work. Having someone else with you will help encourage you to exercise consistently.

And don’t forget to pamper yourself. Reward yourself for sticking to your exercise plan with a professional massage, manicure, hot bubble-bath or whatever you consider a treat!

5. Skipping Meals
It’s not uncommon to get caught up in your planning and then realize at 9 p.m. (as your head begins to ache) that you haven’t eaten a thing all day. While it may not be an uncommon scenario, it is unavoidable. Not only is skipping meals unhealthy, it can lead to binge eating. That often means eating very fattening foods and/or overeating all at once. To avoid this, try packing light snacks to keep on hand throughout the day. Good examples include carrot sticks, cheese strings, peanut butter on crackers, etc.
Getting in shape doesn’t have to be complicated and it doesn’t require a lot of time. If you are trying to lose weight or firm up before your wedding, below are some sample plans to help you get started. Keep in mind that the most important thing is for a bride to feel good about herself. And no matter what size or shape, all brides are beautiful on their wedding day!
Every bride wants to look her best on her big day. When you look good, you feel good, and your confidence and happiness are important on your wedding day. The best time to start a weight-loss program for wedding is early-on, so get into healthy exercise and eating habits as soon as possible!
For more information visit our Website www.bellissimafisica.com or Call me on 0417 771 367 and book a consultation so that we can start making things happen for you and you will feel a lot better with yourself.

After Saying “I Do”.

admin — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:03:51 +0000

After saying, “I do” comes a lot of “to do”! Wedding planning can be crazy and if you are doing all the work yourself it can be very stressful. You may have been picturing yourself walking down the aisle, and you want everything to be perfect, including your body weight! Now that you have a wedding date set, let’s talk about what you can do to look your best when the big day comes.
1. Nutrition-
Eating healthy can be complicated with all these diet programs in your face everywhere you look. I’m going to try and make this very simple. In order to lose a pound of fat, you must burn 3500 calories of fat. If you create a defect of 500 calories a day, this would amount to a 1 pound loss per week. Think about the bad habits you may have as far as eating goes. Stop drinking that can of soda you have at lunch or switch to lemon juice instead of ranch dressing on your salad. Eat complete balanced meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If you get hungry in between meals, snack on healthy foods such as fruit, or nuts. Drink water throughout the day as this will help your body absorb your food better and keep your system running properly. Changing what you eat rather than the amount you eat is far more important. Not eating enough can put your body into starvation mode slow down your metabolism, and deprive your body of vital nutrients. Whole foods are the way to go. If it came in a box and you have to microwave it, don’t eat it.
2. Exercise-
Exercise is going to make your body work better. We as humans were never meant to sit behind a desk for 8 hours per day. At least an hour of physical activity is recommended for losing weight and building muscle. Exercise has way more benefits to overall health besides fat loss, and looking good for that wedding day. The objective here is to increase your metabolism so your body uses the food you eat rather than storing it as fat. Choose activities that get your entire body involved. Sitting on a stationary bike reading a book is NOT going to get you anywhere but farther along in that book your reading. 3-5 days of cardio and weight training per week is sufficient for seeing results.
Getting back into that body you had when you were in high school is not impossible but it will take some consistency with eating healthy and exercising on a regular basis. As we get older, our metabolism starts to slow down. There are several ways to increase metabolism, from getting enough sleep to keeping stress levels low in your life. By making health, and fitness a lifestyle, we will enjoy life the way it was meant to be. Your marriage will be that much stronger and there is no better role model for children than parents who live a healthy lifestyle, so don’t let the healthy lifestyle fade away after the honeymoon. For more questions or comments pertaining to this article, e-mail me at rita@bellissimafisica.com or phone me on 0417 771 367 and book a consultation so that we can start making things happen for you and you will feel a lot better with yourself.
As a Health & Wellbeing Trainer, I focus on more than just the workout. You will learn proper nutrition and the best way to go about your recovery process after each session. I keep it fun and new and my workouts are always changing. Again, there is no quick fix to weight loss or getting in shape. Ever wonder why some people can eat whatever they want and never gain a pound and some look at a doughnut and instantly gain 5? Or what about the ones that appear to be dedicated to a workout program and never miss a day at the gym, but can’t seem to lose those last 10 pounds!

Weight Loss, Memory Gain

admin — Mon, 09 May 2011 03:14:01 +0000

Did you watch this year’s finale of The Biggest Loser? Did you think that as well as looking a whole lot trimmer by series end, contestants seemed mentally sharper as well? If new research findings are anything to go by, that may well be the case.

A recent study carried out by researchers from Kent State University’s Department of Psychology found a link between weight loss and improved memory and concentration.

Lead study author and associate professor at Kent State, John Gunstad, said, ‘The initial idea came from our clinical work. I was working at Brown Medical School in Rhode Island at the time and had the chance to work with a large number of people who were looking to lose weight through either behavioral means or weight loss surgery’.

Gunstad noticed that these patients would make similar cognitive mistakes; ‘As a neuropsychologist who is focused on how the brain functions, I look for these little mental errors all the time’ he said.

For the study, 109 bariatric surgery patients and 41 obese control subjects were observed. A large number of the bariatric surgery patients displayed impaired performance on cognitive testing. However, 12 weeks after the weight loss surgery, their memory and concentration had improved from ‘slightly impaired’ to ‘normal’ range.

‘The primary motivation for looking at surgery patients is that we know they lose a lot of weight in a short amount of time, so it was a good group to study. This is the first evidence to show that by going through this surgery, individuals might improve their memory, concentration and problem solving’ said Gunstad.

Of course, this study related to the cognitive changes in surgical weight loss patients, rather than individuals who have gone about losing weight through exercise and dietary means. Gunstad aims for the next stage of the research to focus on this group, and he is optimistic that results will follow a similar trajectory.

‘One of the things we know is that as individuals become more cardiovascular fit and their heart health gets better, their brain health also improves. Even if we take young adults and put them through an exercise program, their memory and their concentration get better by the end of the program’ Gunstad added.

Source: Surgery for Obesity and Related Diseases

Getting Back in Shape after Easter!

admin — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 10:49:00 +0000

For dieters, Easter is full of temptation. Only Christmas causes more damage in terms of calories. So what should you do if you have succumbed to chocolate? Here is some advice to help you get back on track.

Once the last crème egg has disappeared it’s time to get back to your usual routine. Drinking lots of water will help. Over the next few days after Easter try to eat lighter by cutting down on carbs like pasta and bread. Top up on fruit and vegetables after all, spring is a great time to enjoy nature’s harvest.

Exercise Can Help Control Stress

admin — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 01:13:43 +0000

People who exercise regularly will tell you they feel better. Some will say it’s because chemicals called neurotransmitters, produced in the brain, are stimulated during exercise. Since it’s believed that neurotransmitters mediate our moods and emotions, they can make us feel better and less stressed.
While there’s no scientific evidence to conclusively support the neurotransmitter theory, there is plenty to show that exercise provides stress-relieving benefits.

Getting Your Best Body – Lifting Weights

admin — Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:37:18 +0000

Do you have your best body? By that, I don’t just mean how it looks, but how it works. Does it take on your daily activities with energy and ease or does get in the way? Getting your best body doesn’t necessarily mean being the smallest size or having the buffest body. It means having a body that does what you need it to do without aches and pains. The good news is, it doesn’t take much to get your best body.

Our new website

admin — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 03:51:20 +0000

Welcome to the new bellissimafisica.com!