How to Lose Weight in 30 Days for a Wedding

Whether you're a guest or in the bridal party, with the amount of pictures being snapped at a wedding, you want to look your best. While 30 days isn't much to drop major weight, it's still possible to make a difference in your appearance in a short amount of time. By combining good habits -- in terms of choosing healthy foods and exercising -- with the right motivation, you can drop the weight in time for the nuptials.

Calculate your caloric needs for the next month. The healthiest rate of weight loss is 1 to 2 lbs. per week, meaning you could potentially lose 8 lbs. by the wedding. To accomplish this rate of weight loss, you need to create a daily deficit of 1,000 calories between the calories you consume and the calories you burn. For instance, if you normally consume 2,000 calories per day, plan for eating 1,500 calories per day and burning 500 calories via exercise on a daily basis to reach your goal.

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Snack smart and eat foods that are nutritionally dense yet low in fat in calories. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein and complex carbohydrates should make up the bulk of your diet. By planning in advance, you'll have the proper foods on hand and won't be tempted by the vending machine or a quick trip through the fast food line. Temporarily avoid sweets, fried and fatty foods. If you must indulge, measure treats out in advance to avoid overeating.

Exercise for at least 30 minutes on a daily basis. Every calorie you burn helps you lose weight on a regular and healthy basis. Variety is an excellent way to avoid a weight-loss plateau, so participate in a number of calorie-busting workouts, such as swimming, running, an aerobics class, kickboxing and cycling. Do strength training workouts two or three times a week, making sure you hit every major muscle group. If you're wearing a dress that exposes a certain area of the body, pay special attention to that area through isolated weight training. This will help tone the muscles there, although you can't spot reduce weight from one area of the body by exercising that area.

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Enlist the help of other wedding-goers, the wedding party or the bride and groom. It's likely that all of those included in the wedding will want to look their best on the big day, so organizing a weight-loss competition or working out together helps to increase motivation and make losing weight more of a special event.

Hang pictures for motivation near your fridge, by your gym equipment and even in your car as a constant reminder of your end goal. If you're a bride, hang a picture of your wedding dress somewhere prominent. If you're a groomsman, a picture of a man in a tux could serve as motivation. A picture of a wedding party or hanging your actual outfit in your room helps to give a reminder of the importance of losing weight before the big day.

Tips

If you plan on losing a certain amount of weight before the wedding, notify the tailor or seamstress in charge of your wedding wear, because you may need to have your outfit taken in at the end of your 30-day plan.