Gleaming locks, radiant complexion and a healthy feel-good glow — while we don’t all need a Barbie doll waist there are a few basics on every gal’s list for her wedding day.
If you want to look your best you’ve got to feel your best too. In anticipation of the big event, what do you need to do to achieve that ‘fresh from the inside out’ feeling?
You’ve guessed it. We’re back to the four old favourites — diet, exercise, sleep and relaxation. Start now and within weeks you’ll begin to see results. Intensify coming up to the day, and your sterling efforts will have been worth every puff, pant and pastry denial.
You are what you eat
Water is amongst your best pre-wedding buddies, with hydration being the magic ingredient in a clear complexion. But do you rise in the morning craving endless glasses of water to drain during the hours ahead? Eh… no. So find ways to make it more appealing, even if you have to drink from a cocktail glass with fruit and an umbrella stuck in the top. Make sure there’s always a jug of water with mint and squeezed lemons in the fridge, or pour a super-small dash of juice and add a large amount of cool sparkling water.
A few key things that will keep you in the healthy-eating camp:
• Throw away the bread basket and buy fibre crackers instead. If this is just too boring, choose an alternative like wholemeal pitta over the hyper-carb glossy, white, bagel option
• Eat a low GI (glycemic index) diet, rich in whole grains with plenty of fruit and vegetables link-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-glycemic_diet
• Choose fresh fish over heavy red meat
• Eat food rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs), such as avocados, olive oil, kidney beans and flax seed
• Detox regularly — a green smoothie packed with the right vitamins and minerals at lunch is a surefire way to keep your system healthy (with a juice bar on every second corner these days it’s no tall order to fulfil)
• Zinc is king when it comes to a good complexion. Find it in pumpkin or sesame seeds (delicious on a salad), chickpeas (you can find these in humous) and lentils (so good in soup)
• Portion control is where it’s at — eat smaller amounts, at regular intervals
• When your sweet tooth refuses to budge, graze on organic dark chocolate with a high percentage of cocoa — just be thrifty with your intake
There’s magic in motion
Exercise reduces stress levels and keeps both our minds and bodies in gear.
So whether it’s a 30 minute brisk walk, a gentle yoga workout, a crazy game of squash or a languid game of golf, find an activity that you enjoy, and make it a regular part of your week.
If life is just too hectic to put aside an hour at a time, there are lots of videos available on 20 minute workouts that you can do at home.
Sleep like a baby
Winding down at the end of a manic day is often easier said than done. But a regular sleep pattern is central to optimal health:
• Back away from the iPad! A couple of hours before turning in, put your digital paraphernalia to bed and let your mind relax, unfettered by the perilous pitfalls of social media
• Lock up the fridge and clamp up the cupboards — if you can avoid eating after 8 or 9pm, your digestive system is less likely to interfere with your slumber requirements
• Dim the lights, run a bath, read a book or listen to some gentle music — the switch off routine is on.
