Let’s face it, most men and women will go to great strides to look picture-perfect for their wedding day. After all, they’ll be captured on film for all of eternity, be the talk of friends and family for years to come – and if headed for a tropical vacation in the sun and sand, they may even have to show some skin.

During this memorable and ultra-romantic occasion, the last thing a bride or groom wants to worry about is holding in their gut while striking a pose, or whether their gown or tux is going to burst at the seams during that important first dance. And with all eyes on them, looking great at every angle for prying eyes and the camera lens is of the uttermost importance.

If you’re getting hitched, sure any plan could involve healthy eating, some exercise or maybe that CoolSculpting thing I keep talking about.

In any case, say ‘I do’ to these 4 tips that will have you slim and trim for your big day.

1. Get Married to Motivation

When it comes to getting motivated to get in tip-top shape before walking down the aisle, there’s nothing like an engagement room to fuel the fat-burning fire.

A wedding deadline can inspire both the bride and groom-to-be to take action and slim down before suiting up or stripping down. Before you go signing up for a costly gym membership or dive into the latest fad diet, try a few visualization tricks.

First, imagine how you want to look on your wedding day, and be specific. If your goal is to lose weight, establish the amount. If you’re looking to get fit, what will your measure of fitness be? Will it be determined by how your arms look in a strapless wedding dress?

If there are numerous self-improvements on your to-do list, prioritize your goals and choose one to start with. What is the most pressing item to target now? By tackling one goal at a time, you will feel less overwhelmed and be more likely to see each one through to the end

Another way to get started is to flip through bridal magazines.

Is there a dress or tuxedo that catches your eye? If so, imagine yourself as the model in that photograph. How amazing will it feel to have all eyes on you when your friends and family see you sporting that dream outfit? If you imagine it feeling tight and shudder at the thought of how you’d look in a form-fitted number, cut out that picture and tape it to your bathroom mirror.

Now, repeat after me…

Brides-to-be: “I will wear this dress, I will look amazing and I will feel great.”

Grooms-to-be: “I will wear this tuxedo/suit, I will look amazing and I will feel great.”

Repeat this mantra, daily, before starting your morning routine. It will soon be embedded into your subconscious for the rest of the day – a sentiment that will help you make ‘good’ choices when it comes the food you consume.

2. Set a Deadline

Establishing a timeline is the second key step in your goal-setting experience. How long are you willing to give yourself to reach that end result? Do you want to drop a size before you say yes to the dress?

It’s important to be realistic about timing and not pressure yourself to complete a challenging task in an impossible amount of time, such as developing washboard abs in a mere few weeks.

Wedding planning can be stressful enough on its own. Why throw impossible expectations about the way you look into the mix?

3. Divorce the Word ‘Diet’

Have you dieted in the past only to gain all of the weight back and more? Don’t worry, you’re not alone.

These days, there are a plethora of diets, meal plans, pills and shakes that promise results – fast. However, in most cases, people who lose weight gain all of the weight back in three to five years.

If you’re sick of dieting– the restrictions, the rules and the constant stress of when and what to eat – perhaps it’s time to rethink the word ‘diet.’ After all, the last thing you want is to slim down and then yo-yo back to your former weight right before you tie the knot.

Nowadays, clean eating is a ‘buzz worthy’ word that is being praised by dieticians– and for good reason. Unlike a diet, clean eating is about a lifestyle change that incorporates regular physical activity and real food recipes that use fresh, unprocessed foods that are seasonal and nutrient-dense.

Diane Welland, author of The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Eating Clean,’ lists the following 7 principles of clean eating in a recent article for Cooking Light magazine:

  1. Choose whole, natural foods and seek to eliminate or minimize processed foods.
  2. Choose unrefined over refined foods.
  3. Include some protein, carbohydrate and fat at every meal.
  4. Watch out for fat, salt, and sugar.
  5. Eat five to six small meals throughout the day.
  6. Don’t drink your calories.
  7. Get moving.

With the Clean Eating philosophy, you can forget about counting points or calories and focus on more important things like wedding planning instead.

4. Get Moving Together

Have you heard the old adage of ‘the couple who plays together, stays together?’ Working out with your significant other won’t just make you both fitter, you’ll fit better together. Your significant other can give you the drive you need when feeling inclined to grab your pajamas over your jogging pants.

There will be little room for excuses when it’s your spouse shooing you off the couch and out the door. If the encouragement is starting to feel more irritating than motivating, try a role-reversal. Be your spouse’s cheerleader by pulling him or her out the door with you the next time you’re presented with your running shoes.

With these 4 tips in mind, you and yours truly will be on the right road to a happy, healthy and beautiful future together. Sure, normally I’d prefer to add a 5th tip that includes motivating you to try the super safe and surgery-free CoolSculpting procedure because I know it works. But I’ll let you use the 4 tips you’ve read above to take you to the big day.

And don’t let your motivation dwindle after walking down the aisle. Vow to encourage, motivate and support each other, even after the wedding festivities are long over.

About Dr. Kumar Shivdasani

Dr. Kumar Shivdasani is a medical practitioner with 25 years experience. He began his career in emergency at Vancouver General Hospital and addiction medicine – later branching into cosmetic medicine. He is the owner of CüR Laser and Skin in Vancouver, BC. Education, good lifestyle and diet changes lay the foundation for developing overall health and wellness, helping Kumar’s clients achieve and maintain their target goals. Dr. Kumar is also dedicated to helping others as shown by his support for Summits of Hope and Turning Point Recovery