5 tips to lose weight for your wedding

Lack of sleep 

If it's well over midnight and you're still working on DIY wedding favours, it's time to hit the sack. "When you're sleep deprived, it's easy to reach for cup of joe or sugar-laden give you a burst of energy, but this ups your calorie intake. Excessive caffeine can dehydrate you, which slows down your metabolism as your organs are unable to function properly. Sleep deprivation also causes more production of ghrelin, a hormone that tells your body when to eat," says Jaclyn Reutens, a clinical and sports dietitian and the founder of APTIMA Nutrition & Sports Consultants.

"Besides, a tired bride will probably not have any energy for exercise, which can lead to weight gain or no weight loss."

Stress

Besides the possibility of turning into a bridezilla, stress also results in more cortisol being produced by your body. "This stress hormone triggers an increase in appetite, and can lead to extra pounds."

Alcohol

Along with a wedding comes all the pre-wedding parties - think bachelorette and engagement parties or bridal showers- and of course, the booze. "A glass of wine can contain anywhere from 90-120 calories while an average cocktail like a bloody mary, mojito or lychee martini can have up to 120-160 calories per serving. The amount of sugar can reach as high as 15g per drink. So if you have 5 alcoholic drinks over the course of your party, that is already 600 calories or more from liquids," Jaclyn explains.

So if you really have to drink, stick to red wine. "No one downs red wine, so you can space it out through the night."

Working Out

Before you raise those eyebrows, yes, hitting the gym can a reason why you aren't shedding the weight. Many people tend to overcompensate for the amount of calories actually lost during exercise, and indulge in a big meal afterwards, thinking they probably 'burnt it all off."

"You need to know how many calories you have consumed then decide on how much exercise and the level of intensity you need to do to create a calorie deficit. It is tedious and more often than not, inaccurate. It’s better to eat sensibly and work out regularly," says Jaclyn. "And if you do overeat, stick to your normal routine but do it for another 10 more minutes. Going on a guilt trip is unhealthy for the mind and can result in undesirable eating behaviours."

The best food to have after a workout?

"You need to replenish fluids, sodium, potassium and carbohydrates, and a sports drink will be able to meet those needs. If you need to something solid, consider a slice of wholemeal bread with one slice of cheese. If you've lifted light weights, you will need protein to repair muscle fibres - either the cheese sandwich or 150g of low fat yoghurt with 2 tablespoons of fruit is ideal."

Tastings

From the canapes to the small bites of cake that you sample, it's easy to gloss over these hidden calories but they add up. Limit your portions to a mouthful or two per dish, and if you are consuming a large variety of food in one day, cut back on sugary or fatty food for the next few days.

Check out Aptima Nutrition & Sports Consultants at http://www.aptima-nsc.com/.