Get in Shape!

Get in Shape!
According to a study by Modern Bride, 61% of engaged women start a new exercise routine. Chances are that after a bride has experienced trying on dresses the first time, she vows to go on a diet, whether she needs to or not! It doesn’t matter what size you are there is something about trying on form fitting, tight and restrictive dresses that hoist up most of your upper body for the free world to see, that spurs these weight awareness feelings. We are not medical professionals, but I don’t think you have to be one to dissuade people from crash diets or to persuade people to take a healthy approach to losing weight.

Since most brides-to-be will start a new diet, we have reviewed the most popular ones for you.

Popular Diets Reviewed
How much weight can you expect to lose on one of today’s “fad diets?” A recent study done by the American Medical Association predicts that number is about 7 pounds per year if you follow Atkins, Ornish, Weight Watchers, or the Zone diets.

The Atkins Diet
With the Atkins diet you drastically decrease the amount of carbohydrates you take in per day to only 20 grams. By doing this, the body has less consumed calories to use as energy and must turn to fat reserves for energy. Your intake of carbs is slowly increased to 50 grams per day. This is considered a high protein, high fat, low carb diet that can result in quick short-term weight loss, but many nutritionists debate the long-term health affects of a diet low in fruits and healthy carbs and high in meat and dairy.

Cabbage Soup Diet
If you like eating unlimited amounts of a tomato-based soup with cabbage, onions, carrots, pepper and celery, then this is the diet for you. It does result in quick weight loss, but the moment you eat a piece of bread you’ll feel the difference. If you want to detox and drop a few pounds to fit into a dress better this is a quick solution, but for the long-term it is probably not your best bet.

eDiets.com
If you like to prepare your own meals, but are in need of recipes that fit your likes and dislikes and are healthy and low-fat, then this is a good option for you. The eDiets dieticians personalize menus for you according to your goals.

GI Diet
If you want a low carb diet that is not restrictive like Atkins, this is a good option for you. The GI diets revolves around foods rates on a Glycemic Index scale. The lower the GI number the slower that particular food releases sugar into the bloodstream thus reducing cravings and making you feel fuller longer. The higher the GI number the more of a sugar rush and crash that food will give you resulting in binges and cravings.

NutriSystem
With NutriSystem you choose a calorie plan then buy pre-package foods. You have the freedom to choose from a wide array of food types. The nice thing about this diet is that you can mix and match. You have many different types of breakfast, lunch and dinner meals and you can combine them any way you like. Hey, when you’re on a diet you feel limited as it is, so every little bit of variety helps, right? If you are a chronic muncher you can buy their low calorie snacks separately without signing up for the program.

Ornish Diet
This is a vegetarian, low-fat diet. Only 10% of your calories come from fat with the Ornish diet.

The South Beach Diet
Everybody loves the South Beach Diet, except of course people from North Beach (just kidding.) This is another low-carb diet, but you have less freedom than with Atkins, which allows for more fat intake. This is considered one of the better low-carb diets.

Weight Watchers
This program is popular, and liked by many nutritionists, because it is more of a lifestyle change rather than a diet. Plus Weight Watchers has meetings among users nationwide which adds to the support and positive feedback you need on diets. With this program you use a point system. You can eat anything you want, but are limited to a certain number of points. And you can raise that limit by working out.

The Zone Diet
If you are in the zone is means you are balancing carbs, protein and fats. You want about 40 grams of carbs and 30 grams each of protein and fat each day. This is considered a healthy diet.