How important is it for a bride and groom to be fit for their wedding day?
It is very important for a bride and groom to be fit not only physically but also mentally. Physical training is beneficial to keep your body in shape and also to keep our inner body mechanisms as healthy as possible. This, in turn, transfers its good energy to a healthy state of mind.
Since wedding dresses are measured and ordered months before the actual wedding day, it’s important for a bride and groom to keep in shape – a suit or a dress can be easily adjusted if you get thinner, but not if you put on weight.
How physically demanding is a wedding day?
A wedding day is the end of a long, busy and stressful journey – apart from continuing with normal, everyday life, a bride and groom also have to plan their wedding, run around the island to choose the church and venue and book the transport, dresses, and run an endless list of errands.
Our body and mind can only take so much – therefore, if a bride and groom want to stay strong and focused and actually enjoy their big day, it’s important that they work out as often as possible. They should also concentrate on their stamina and legs – they need stamina to stay focused and, given all the running and standing around, leg muscles are important.
For brides and grooms who do not have a good level of fitness, from when do they need to start their fitness regime so that they achieve optimum levels for the big day?
Ideally everybody should maintain a reasonable level of fitness throughout their life. Beyond the wedding day, I urge couples to continue working out – this benefits their health, future offspring and also relationship.
However, should they wish to start a fitness programme as a build up for their wedding day, it all depends on how much weight they want to lose or whether they just want to tone up a bit.
Nutrition also plays a huge role in our fitness – we need to be careful about what we eat. A client of mine wanted to lose eight kilogrammes and worked very hard twice a week for nine months. However, she was unwilling to control her sweet tooth and ended up missing her target by four kilogrammes.
My suggestion is for couples to contact a personal trainer who can lead them forward with the best nutritional programme for them and who can push them to their capabilities.
This man will make you fit
Mark Galea Pace, 43, played waterpolo for Sliema ASC from 1983 to 2005. He has also played football and tennis and practised sailing, skiing and athletics.
“Waterpolo has given me so much and helped me develop both mentally and physically,” he says. “I’ve won a lot of honours, had great experiences and made good friends, but the biggest reward that waterpolo has given me is my good health.
“After retiring in 2005, I started coaching children in waterpolo. I then decided to sell off my business and become a full time personal trainer and fitness coach,” he says.
“Nowadays, I specialise in outdoor fitness – it is healthier and gives you a great opportunity to use street furniture as your gym. This is why it never gets boring.”
An exercise in fitness
Depending on your needs, start from at least six months before your wedding day and train for three to four times every week.
Start with a 10-minute jog, preferably somewhere outdoors. After resting, stretch your whole body for one to two minutes.
Follow up with these exercises
• 30 jumping jacks. Rest for 15 seconds and do 15 push ups. Repeat for three to five times. These are good cardio workouts and help you tone your back, shoulders and arms.
• 10 berpees. Rest for 20 to 30 seconds and do 12 to 15 sit-ups. Repeat for three to five times. These cardio workouts are good for practically all the body.
• 20-30 speed skaters. Rest for 20 to 30 seconds and lift your knees sideways 20 to 30 times. Repeat for three to five times. These are good all-rounder exercises, especially for your thighs and hips.
• These exercises may be varied according to individual fitness levels and time availability.