Wedding Diets: Take Them off Your Checklist (But Be Prepared To Do One Anyway)

One thing I was very determined not to do when I got engaged was go on the 'wedding diet'.

But as I sit here nibbling on radishes and planning a lunchtime swim (true story) it's clear that this most cliche and irritating of wedding prep activities has totally got to me too.

And I speak as someone whose dress already fits.

Wedding website The Knot has changed its wedding checklist to include a whole section on making a 'fitness plan'. And by fitness, we all know it means a 'slimness' plan.

It's garnered a smattering of criticism.

Jessica Coen writes on Jezebel: "This might seem like a minor change, but let's not overlook the messaging here, which is strong: Getting in tip-top shape isn't part of your beauty strategy, it's a project unto itself. It is of standalone importance; you are forced to at least acknowledge that The Knot thinks your figure is Something to Be Addressed."

It's true, there is no getting round it - the big wedding shred is a massive thing that I'm guessing at least 90 per cent of brides will get sucked into.

It is not in any way essential. Presumably your partner loves you just the way you were when you decided to unite for life, and you'll look beautiful on your big day because you're HAPPY, right?

But realistically you'll look back on those wedding pictures with a lot more fondness if you're not fixated on your double chin.

Anecdotally, I don't know anyone who didn't try to shape up a bit before their wedding. After all, most of us would try to give our bods a bit of a spruce before a holiday, so why not before the day when everyone you know and love is going to be staring at and judging/not judging you?

A friend who got married last year is beatifully super slim and toned by nature, yet she was getting up at 6am to hit the gym every morning in the weeks before her wedding. For no real reason. She told me: "I definitely wouldn't be doing this without the wedding. I just thought it would be nice to have a totally flat stomach on the honeymoon."

She already has a totally flat stomach. Apart from, perhaps momentarily, when she breathes out.

See, it gets to everyone. It's just the way it is.

The old pre-engaged me would say 'no way, don't go trying to fit into pre-conceived bridal stereotypes, just buy a dress that fits and carry on as normal. Stay strong!'. The new me, with my big-day-approaching wisdom is a bit more realistic.

Do The Diet Right

There are some good reasons to go on a 'wedding diet'. (Though, don't call it that.)

And there's a right way to go about it.

There is nothing like having a real goal that you genuinely care about to give you the impetus to actually get on with achieving it.

Since my youthful metabolism fell off a cliff (at the age of 27 if you're interested), despite being fairly active my wine-guzzling, carb-loving lifestyle has seen my figure go rather off the boil. But until the wedding began to approach, I just didn't have the drive to do anything about it. I simply settled into being ever so slightly dissatisfied with myself.

But in the past eight weeks I've finally put in the work to do something about it.

I might only be a couple of months into healthy eating and scheduled workouts but I can feel - and see - the difference. And it's such a confidence boost - exactly what you need ahead of 100 pairs of eyes on you for a whole day.

So while I don't think 'getting in shape' should be on any kind of essentials list when it comes to weddings, I think if it's something you want to do anyway, that will make you feel better, working a shape-up schedule into your wedding planning doesn't hurt - and it might actually help you follow through on what you've been wanting for a while.

Just make sure you do it the right way.

Give yourself enough time - a three week crash before the wedding is absolutely not worth doing and will make the run up to the day unbearable.

My personal trainer Scott Laidler says: "The last thing you want to do in the run up to your wedding is go on a drastic diet. It's stressful enough without the added ache of hunger pangs. You need good, healthy food and enough of it to get you through."

Three months is enough time to make a difference healthily. Though if you've more weight you'd like to lose you may want to start earlier.

DON'Ts

Don't starve yourself, don't crash diet, don't do any juice cleanses and don't take any miracle diet pills you find on the internet. All these things don't work and may have side effect you really don't want on your wedding day.

The way I've done it is to do three combined weights and HIIT sessions a week, with two or three swims or runs, plus walking up the stairs at work and wherever possible and generally keeping active. And healthy eating - nothing processed, loads of veg, lean proteins, good fats and no (OK, fewer) cakes, biscuits and white carbs. I've also reduced my wine-guzzling to fewer glasses and mostly at weekends.

Sure it's not the most fun I've ever had with food, but it's totally do-able, non faddy and I have never felt better (waking up without a tiny wine hangover every day is really quite wonderful).

So, with four weeks to go to my wedding this is my advice: If you want to shape up for the day, the honeymoon and beyond, give yourself time, exercise, eat clean and give yourself a break at the weekends. You're only human and you'll look and feel great. Don't feel bad that you're acting out a wedding cliche. It happens to the best of us.

And if you are perfectly happy with how you are and know you look and feel great in your dress, totally ignore The Knot's reminders.

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