The Wedding Weight Loss and Exercise Plan You'll Actually Stick With

We've all looked in the mirror at some point and thought, "my butt looks huge in this," then tried to remedy the unwanted bulges with the latest diet or exercise craze. Recent bride, Valerie Bertinelli is no exception. (She tied the knot with her beau, Tom Vitale on 1/1/11 at their home in Malibu.) She's said she's been obsessed about her weight in one way or another all her life, and after becoming the spokesperson for Jenny Craig, she was able to reach -- and maintain -- her target weight through diet and exercise.

Even though Bertinelli's weight loss wasn't specifically for her wedding, most women do kick their weight loss program into high gear pre-wedding. If you don't want to go the Jenny Craig route, how can you drop a dress size (or just tone up) on your own? We spoke to experts from Exhale Spa, executive VP of movement Elisabeth Halfpapp and nutritionist Catherine Hesse to find out.

How to Kick Start Your Wedding Weight Loss and Exercise Program:

"Just start to move consistently, even if it's only once a week," says Halfpapp. "Walk or [do] a fitness/movement class that you love," or start a ballroom dance class with your husband-to-be -- you'll be exercising together while learning your first dance, she says. Increase the frequency and intensity from there.

Know what you're eating. "Not all calories are created equal," says Hesse. "Calories from whole, natural foods [that] are rich in nutrients will keep your energy up for longer periods of time, your blood sugar stable, your metabolism raging and your stomach full longer. You'll have the mental, physical and emotional energy to feel your best and stay on track [from] both workouts and nutrition," she says. "Limit bread, booze and refined sugar and ban processed foods. Eat breakfast within an hour of waking up and eat every few hours so you never get too hungry." (You'll be less likely to binge later.) "Stop eating three hours before bed [when possible] and make sure all of your meals combine protein, complex carbohydrates (like whole grains, fruits, and veggies), and healthy fat. Drink tons of water too. If you incorporate these tips you'll feel awesome and see results quickly," she says.

Also, keep your expectations realistic. With diet and exercise, you can safely expect to lose one to two pounds each week, says Halfpapp. "It takes a deficiency of 3,500 calories a week to lose one pound. That's 500 calories a day," says Hesse. "It depends on how many calories you are consuming and what type [they are]. If you combine diet and exercise, you should easily be able to burn an extra 500 calories a day. It is always wise to check with your doctor or nutrition expert to find the calorie number that is best for you," says Hesse.


Exercise Ideas:

The best way to lose weight and tone is to switch things up, says Halfpapp. "This surprises the muscles, so they work harder and reshape quicker." Classes are a great option, and Halfpapp recommends Core Fusion, a workout program she co-founded with her husband. (Celebs like Heidi Klum and Cameron Diaz are devotees, and we know how awesome their bodies are.) It's based on core strengthening and stretching principles like Pilates and yoga with the added benefit of interval cardio, so your body creates muscle while remaining long, lean and flexible, she says. End result? Trim, tight body with no jiggly bits.


Prefer activities to classes? Walking whenever you can, especially uphill, is great for all around toning and slimming, says Halfpapp -- perfect if you live in San Francisco. If you're somewhere snowy like Vermont, cross country skiing is an awesome full body workout, she says. Or try ice skating to work your butt, ballet for your legs, and good 'ol push-ups for enviable arms.


The number of calories you burn during exercise obviously depends on the intensity level and your weight, but according to the Mayo Clinic, a person weighing 160 lbs will burn roughly 511 calories per hour cross country skiing and ice skating, 219 calories ballroom dancing and 438 calories while hiking.


"The most important thing to keep you motivated is to do something that's fun," says Halfpapp, and "think about how great you will feel mentally and physically after your workout is over. Work out with a friend or your husband-to-be, or take a class [where] you like the teacher, music and movements."


Want more wedding weight loss tips? Steal Anna Paquin's secrets.