The Fashion-Focused Fitness Regimen
Wedding dresses don’t just highlight the bride. Depending on the style of gown, it also will highlight some of the bride’s best features.
Here, two fitness experts, Jennipher Walters, a certified personal trainer and author of the book “The Fit Bottomed Girls Anti-Diet” (Harmony, 2014) and Tommy Europe, founder of Tommy Europe Fitness and a host on WETV’s “Bulging Brides,” guide you to tone up body areas that will take a starring role in four hot dress silhouettes.
Gown: Strapless
Target Area: Arms
Push-ups & Planks: Start off with pushups. Do one to three sets of 10 to 16 reps. To get into the plank, lie face down, lower your forearms to the floor and rise up your toes. Keep your back flat in a straight line from head to heels. Hold for 20 to 60 seconds until the burning begins, lower and repeat three to five times Do this workout a few times a week.
Triceps dips: Work the back of those arms by doing triceps dips off the side of a chair. Position your hands on chair behind your hips and lowly straighten and bend your arms. Do 10 to 15 reps two to three times a week.
Gown: Low Back
Target Area: Back
Your strong back will be highlighted with a low-back wedding dress. Here are two moves to strengthen and tone your back:
Pull-ups: Pull-ups are great for toning your entire back. Aim to do two to three sets of 10 reps three times a week, either on a bar or on an assisted pull-up machine.
Back rows: Hold a pair of dumbbells (10 pounds to 15 pounds each) and bend over at the waist at 45-degree angle. Lift the elbows close to the body, hold for a second to keep tense on your back and extend them. Remember to keep your shoulders away from your ears and really draw your shoulder blades together. Aim to do two to three sets of 10 reps three times a week.
Gown: Short
Target Area: Legs
Try these moves if you plan on showing off your gams on your wedding day.
Lunges: There’s nothing better than lunges to get your legs toned and strong. Step forward with your left foot forward and leave right foot back about two or three feet apart. Then, lower the body toward the floor. Aim for 15 reps on each side for two to three sets about three times a week. Just be sure to not let your front knee go past that toe for proper form, and keep your upper body straight up with your core engaged.
Calf Raises: Get calves of steel by simply doing calf raises off of a stair or step. Do as many as you can for one minute. As you get stronger and you increase the number of reps you’re able to complete, increase the time of each set.
Gown: Fit ‘n’ Flare
Target Area: Hips and Thighs
Check out two moves to boast strong hips and great thighs in a fit ‘n’ flare gown.
Squats: Nothing gives you a good booty like squats. Grab a set of dumbbells (10 to 20 pounds). Begin with your feet shoulder width apart. Slowly lower your torso down by bending the knees and continue until your tights are parallel to the ground. If performed correctly, you might feel burning on your legs. Do two to three sets of 15 reps three times a week.
Hip bridges: These are great for working the backside and hamstrings. Lie on your back with your knees bent and your arms to your side. Raise your butt off the floor so that you form a straight line from your knees to your shoulders. Hold for 1 second, then lower. Do two to three sets of 15 to 20 reps three times a week.
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