DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 4
Well, here I am! Even though this Fit Bride journey has been amazing, I am so ready to walk down that aisle.

Here are my final numbers…drum roll, please…

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photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 8

With the wedding extremely close, I am putting the final touches on my bridal body! My wedding gown—like most—is strapless, so getting sexy arms and a beautiful bridal back have definitely been on my to-do list. Thanks to my training at Equinox, I have learned the best arm exercises and have braved through the toughest (most effective) back workouts. My arms and back have never looked better, and I am excited to show them off on the big day!

These are a few of my favorite (read: effective) moves…

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photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 11

This morning’s training was TOUGH. I got so upset when I needed to take a little break during some walking pushups—very frustrating. My trainer, sensing my negative attitude, reminded me how I could only do eight pushups (regular pushups—not walking pushups) when I started this Fit Bride journey.

To give myself a little boost, I decided to focus on some fitness victories!

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photo: Hemera/Thinkstock

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 15

I’ve been working so hard to get wedding fit…the last thing I want is to come back from our honeymoon, step on the scale, and cry!

Don’t get me wrong: our honeymoon will be relaxing, decadent, and all that fun stuff, but I don’t want to be lazy. To make sure we don’t just lay around on our honeymoon, we’re staying at Sandals La Toc in Saint Lucia, which offers water sports, golf, and many other get-moving activities.

To make extra sure that Brian and I keep moving, we’re adding some excursions to our already fabulous trip!

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photo: Photos.com/Thinkstock

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 18
I just finished writing my wedding vows. As I wrote about how I promise to love, respect, and care for Brian, I cried…big time. Then, it hit me—while sifting through the waterproof mascara at the drugstore—that I should make some vows for myself: healthy goals. By making a vow to be the best me, I know it will help me be the best wife and—eventually—mother.

I vow to…

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A piece of pie used to satisfy our annual appetities for pumpkin. Then the Pumpkin Spice Latte came along and shook things up, sending us into a fall flavor frenzy when we’ve barely stepped out of flip flops and sundresses. Now, pumpkin has found its way into everything from soft serve to spa facials. We’re certainly not complaining, but let’s not forget to enjoy the squash straight-up, too.

Pumpkin is a nutritional powerhouse (you know, until it’s mixed with sugar and evaporated milk and plopped into a buttery pie shell). A quarter-cup packs 80 percent of your daily needs of vitamin A, which keeps eyes and skin healthy and boosts your immune system. The seeds aren’t too shabby either. Each ounce contains 150 mg of magnesium, nearly half of your daily target of 310 mg. The mineral aids nerve and muscle function and helps fight off fatigue.

So don’t just carve a jack o’ lantern this fall—add some pumpkin to your diet and set aside the seeds, too.

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photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 22

During this Fit Bride process, I’ve learned a lot about fitness, nutrition, and all around healthy living, which I expected. The unexpected takeaway? Feeling like a sexy bride while wearing nothing but a smile. Yep…a sexy, naked bride!

Going from an “I’ll only be naked with the lights off” kind of girl to “sure, let’s eat dinner naked,” is one of my favorite—and Brian’s favorite!—outcomes from this experience. While losing weight definitely has something to do with it, it’s so not the only factor.

It’s time for you to feel liberated! Strip down—it will only be scary for a second…

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DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 25

With only 25 days until the wedding (!), I have now entered Phase Three of my 3-cycle personal training plan. This system, according to Equinox trainer David Manzalaoui, is a “system of non-linear periodization. Periodization,” he says, “consists of specific methods of manipulating training variables to provide variation in volume of intensity.” David switches up my routine by mixing up exercise order and choice, sets, reps [see chart: right], intensity, and rest periods. Right now, in phase three, it’s an all-around challenge!

Want to go through your own 3-cycle system? Check it out!

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photo: Hemera/Thinkstock

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 29

Well…it’s happened. Bridal stress has kicked in. Brian was sick this past week, I’ve been fighting whatever illness he has, my skin is breaking out, bills are piling up, etc…Then, there’s the fact that being stressed makes you gain weight—that just makes me more stressed! TIMEOUT. Deep breath. Better.

Understanding your enemy allows you to better destroy them. Read on to find out what stress does to your body…and then crush it…

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photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

Don’t eat carbs, don’t eat fat, don’t eat egg yolks, oh, and no dairy…UGH. Okay, I have to admit that when I first started this Fit Bride journey, I called on a nutritionist, who lived by those food lies (plus: she told me to not eat fruit! It actually makes me angry now). Despite my better judgement, I followed her plan for about three weeks, and…I was miserable. I couldn’t make it through my training sessions, and I actually became ill (not to mention I didn’t lose any weight during that period). Learn from my awful dieting mistakes, and stop listening to these silly food myths!

Carbs, fat, egg yolks, and dairy…setting the record straight…

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DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 36

I have a bump on my nose, wide hips, and thick thighs. Wait, let’s try that again: I love the unique bump on my nose, which I inherited from my beautiful grandmother…I love how it feels when my fiancé wraps his arms around my hips…I love that my thighs are strong…There, that feels better.

“Look at your body in terms of what it can do, rather than just the appearance of it,” says body image expert Dr. Robyn Silverman, author of the book Good Girls Don’t Get Fat: How Weight Obsession Is Messing Up Our Girls and How We Can Help Them Thrive Despite It. Rather than critiquing ourselves, we should be motivating each other. So much of my wedding planning has been centered around how I will look on the big day, but what about how I feel? Light bulb!

Learn how to love your body…Plus: read what our Facebook fans said they love most about their bodies!

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DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 39

Tick tock…tick tock…wedding chaos is in full swing! Organza, floral arrangements, table charts, etc. are swirling around me, and I find my workouts to be a therapeutic escape. Instead of allowing the clock to control my life, my trainer at Equinox has been making it work for me. Let me explain…rather than counting the number of reps during each exercise, each move is timed. With each set, I’m trying to complete more and more reps within the allotted time frame (in the first set I might do 15 reps, and in the second set, I might do 22 reps). Another plus: this workout method is actually a huge time-saver.
Only have five minutes to work out? This quick routine is for you…

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DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 74
Wake up, work out, eat, sleep…wake up, work out, eat, sleep…ever feel like a workout robot? I do. The second I start to feel like I’m coasting through my routine, I switch it up. My latest venture: Pilates! I’ve dabbled in Pilates before, but never with the Magic Circle [pictured above]. This amazing Pilates accessory is used for stretching, form and provides even more intensity during core exercises. A plus: Equinox offers some great lunchtime mat classes that incorporate this workout tool—not too much sweat…just enough burn. Like any exercise I’ve recently tackled (hello, running bride!), I’m focusing on form.

Here are some form tips from Danielle Havasy, instructor at Pilates Movement…

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Did I get enough exercise today? How many calories did I burn? Am I getting quality rest? So many questions, and sometimes I have no clue what the answers are. I’m busy enough planning a wedding…I don’t have time to track calories and sleep patterns! That’s where the new Fitbit Ultra comes in. It tracks your daily activity (walking, running, cycling, weight lifting, flights of stairs, etc.) and your nightly rest. Some cool new features include an online community where you can track your progress, motivate your friends, and reach your goal.

Want to try it out? Enter for your chance to win the new Fitbit Ultra!

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photo: Quentin Bacon

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 43

Sometimes, my sweet tooth gets the best of me. I can be 100 percent on track with my healthy eating goals during the day and then—BAM!—my evening post-dinner sugar craving hits…hard. Now, I feel like I can give myself a pat on the back because lately I have had a cup of tea with honey and called it a night. But…I did just get new bakeware as a bridal shower gift, so I figured I had to try it out. The result: chocolatey, peanut butter, gooey, melt-in-your-mouth ecstasy. I told you…I have a sweet tooth.

Allow yourself a little nibble of heaven. Here is the recipe…

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photo: Photodisc/Thinkstock

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 46

This past weekend, after Brian and I took a run, I felt a burst of energy and started to do some workout moves from my personal training sessions at Equinox. At first glance, Brian said, “Pshh…that looks easy!” To which I replied, “WHAT? You try it!” Brian accepted my challenge and tried some carefully selected (read: difficult!) exercises, and…yep…he admitted they aren’t easy.

Looks can be deceiving. At first glance, you may not think these exercises look tough. Try ‘em out, and I bet you’ll be singing a different tune.

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photo: Hemera/Thinkstock

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 50
With the wedding quickly approaching (!), my schedule is getting tighter and my wedding dress is getting looser. Between wedding planning, work, working out, spending time with Brian, etc…sometimes I feel like I’m in that new movie with Sarah Jessica Parker, I Don’t Know How She Does It. Ah!
To remain in a zen-like bridal state, here are some tips/tricks I find extremely helpful…sneak peek, there’s a chance for you to win some new workout clothes—retail therapy is the best…

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photo: Beth Bischoff

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 53

When I started this Fit Bride crusade, I could only do eight pushups. Now—after my training at Equinox— I can do 30! Pushups, even though I’ve gotten stronger, continue to be challenging. I grin and bear through them because I’m convinced pushup variations—making them harder—have helped sculpt my arms. But…Before I even thought of attempting the more difficult moves, I made sure I knew how to do a pushup—the “easy” kind—properly.
Follow these guidelines…then, check out the advanced moves!

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DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 57
A cardiologist at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore measured subjects’ blood flow as they watched There’s Something About Mary and concluded that laughter increases circulation about as much as a treadmill session. If that’s true, then I was super circulated (technical term) while watching the Bridesmaids movie! HILARIOUS.

I’m super psyched to give the Women’s Health readers a chance to win a copy of one of the funniest movies of all time, and…BONUS: we’re throwing in a four-pack of Orly Beauty nail polish! Reap the benefits of laughter and have gorgeous nails!

Here is how to enter…

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photo: liquidlibraryThinkstock

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 60
Like any close couple, Brian and I enjoy sharing as many moments together as possible: catching an awesome band, people watching in the park, having a great meal…and maybe some dessert…and maybe a bottle of champagne…sometimes we can get out of hand.

Normally it works out so one of us is in control—limiting sweets and other naughty food to a minimum—but there are those few times when we become a couple of bad-food bandits eating everything in sight.

With the wedding only 60 days away (!), we can’t let our alter (eating) egos get the best of us…time for some food therapy to stop overeating…

To keep on track, we need a plan…here it is:

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DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 64

I’ve been toning my arms and tightening my tush…Now, time to get beautiful! As a money-conscious bride-to-be, I can’t afford to purchase expensive spa treatments and book high-end salon visits, but that doesn’t mean I can’t have perfect skin and hair…

I’ve never been good at DIY projects—especially when it comes to beauty—but after mixing up some incredibly easy and effective beauty treatments, I’m hooked. These amazingly affordable “recipes” are from Pretty Delicious, which has become my go-to for many of our Fiancé Feast recipes (yum!). Grab some olive oil, brown sugar, oats, cinnamon, nutmeg, eggs and yogurt…these treatments will exfoliate your face, smooth cracked feet, and deep condition your hair.

Try them out…

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photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 67

Brides tend to worry about arm flab and back fat, but what about a jiggly booty? I get it…backsides are normally not on display in bride photos, but they are in honeymoon photos! Since my prominent bridal booty has been on my mind recently, I thought I would share with you the three butt exercises I love to hate at my Equinox playground.
Here are the moves…

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DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 72

Women’s Health readers rock! We recently asked our married Facebook fans to post pics of themselves in their wedding gowns with an explanation of how they became wedding fit. Thank you, to the ladies who shared their pics—I’m so motivated by your hard work!

Take a look at these bride photos!

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photo: Quentin Bacon

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 78
Last week was all about Italian—Brian’s favorite—when I made Scallops Fra Diavolo (YUM!). This week, it’s my favorite cuisine: Mexican food. This slow-roasted pork recipe is leaner than the traditional taco truck pork shoulder—only 4 grams of fat for 3 ounces compared to the normal 13.5 grams. Since the northeast is expecting some intense weather from Hurricane Irene, I’m making a big batch of these and have a cooler on hand just in case we lose power. Gotta love a healthy Mexican recipe during a hurricane!

Here is the recipe…

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photo: Photos.com/Thinkstock

DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 81
No bride—including this bride(!)—wants to have back fat pouring out of the top of their strapless wedding gown. Chin up, it’ll be okay…no, literally…chinups are one of the best back workouts! This exercise will not only give you a sexy back, it will give you sexy arms! With the help of my trainer from Equinox, I am working my way up to conquering this exercise move.

How to do a chinup…baby steps…

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DAYS UNTIL THE WEDDING: 85
I’m hungry! My personal training sessions have gotten more intense and I’m now a running bride (clarification: just running for exercise…not away from Brian!), so I’m in desperate need of protein. Recently, I came across some info about scallops, a favorite of mine…turns out they’re a pretty great source of protein! These mollusks are composed almost entirely of protein, according to the book Look Better Naked. In fact, a 3-ounce serving provides 18 grams of the nutrient and just 93 calories. So, it’s a delicious and seemingly indulgent way to pack more protein into your diet. I’m sold—I’m working them in to a Fiancé Feast dish.

Here is a the best scallop recipe…

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