So you’re getting married…or standing up for a friend as a bridesmaid or simply preparing for a season full of weddings. You may have prepped for weeks or months to look your best, but what about how you want to feel the day of?
Long-time TCM contributor and top LA nutritionist, Kelly LeVeque, has helped many a bride prep for their wedding day, including actress Emmy Rossum, and relies on a simple formula of gut health-inducing, glow-boosting protocols for the big day.
You’ve seen the wedding prep workout calendars and count-downs — and it’s true that most of us go to great lengths to look our very best for such a special occasion. We love that LeVeque has crafted wellness tips for those crucial twenty-four hours surrounding the wedding — including a few things that are rarely discussed in those bridal health guides!
According to Kelly, two or three months before their weddings, most clients – including Emmy – use her ‘fab four’ smoothies to prevent blood sugar spikes, balance the appetite, and keep bloating at bay. For 21 to 30 days, the fruit-free smoothies nourish for breakfast and dinner with lunch being fish and veggies with avocado or olive oil.
Whether you’re looking to get svelte and strong with an intense smoothie plan like Emmy Rossum’s or not, we love Kelly’s tips for the day of the wedding below. Share these tips with your bridesmaids and stay physically and emotionally balanced on your big day…
How to Look + Feel Amazing The Day Of Your Wedding
Curtail The Coffee. Limit caffeine! When nerves and adrenaline are high, one comforting cup of coffee is enough. Instead, focus on hydrating with water throughout the morning while you get ready.
Drink Lemon Water. Hydrate with enzyme-rich water! Adding cucumber and/or lemon to your water will help your body to stay hydrated and encourage urination to prevent water retention and swelling on the day of your wedding and leading up.
Avoid Foods That Bloat. Steer clear of cheese, gluten and any white or empty carbohydrates for ten days before your wedding; all of these will make you bloat. For breakfast on the big day, go for a fructose-free smoothie made of protein, fat and fiber to balance blood sugar and turning down hunger hormones. Why fructose-free? Fructose feeds gut bacteria that can contribute to bloat. Not to mention, fructose is metabolized in the liver and if you plan to drink alcohol it’s best to give your liver a break. Added fiber from chia or flax helps ensure you have a BM before you slip into your dress and slows the absorption of glucose to prevent a blood-sugar roller coaster.
Take Your Enzymes. Take an enzyme supplement before your #bewellsmoothie and #bwbkfab4 lunch to support your body in breaking down the macronutrients in your meal and to help easily convert your food to energy. An added bonus: Taking enzymes can reduce bloating!
Don’t Forget To (Actually) Eat. With so much going on, it’s easy to forget food all together and you might end up more frazzled – or tipsier – than you want. Nourishing your body with essential omega-3 fatty acids and protein prior to a night of drinking can help slow the absorption of ethanol into the circulatory system to avoid being a super tipsy bride. Choose a fatty fish like salmon over easy-to-digest greens like spinach or mixed greens, with ½ of an avocado and lemon juice or avocado oil for dressing. A high-protein high-fat lunch will keep your blood sugar balanced and help prevent a hangover.
stick to Low-Sugar Cocktails. If you want to toast/drink alcohol while you are getting ready, consider low-sugar options such as vodka or silver tequila with double soda water instead of champagne.
