Springtime sees many brides choosing their dream dress and formalising their wedding plans. It also happens to be the biggest time of year for dieting. For those doing both, getting married and trying to slim down for that dress, it can be an overwhelmingly stressful time.
According to a recent survey, a staggering 85 per cent of would-be brides will be slimming down in order to fit their gown. So to help in the fight to lose pounds and minimise stress, Britain's first online bridal boot camp has been launched.
Don't Sweat It - Plan A Healthy Wedding is the brainchild of wedding planner Tamryn Kirby.
Kirby, wedding planner of the year in 2006 and managing director of TK Weddings, says, "We want to help brides have a great wedding without adding to the pressure of what can be a difficult time. I've seen brides fainting at the altar because of their diet or in tears because they've found planning so exhausting."
Kirby has teamed up with nutritional therapist Sian Ryan to help brides plan their perfect day and shed those pounds without piling on the pressure. Ryan warns would-be brides that getting stress levels under control is vital for achieving healthy weight loss.
She says, "A weddings is one of the most important events in our lives. We're in the spotlight for friends and family and also under a great deal of stress. The problem is that stress and weight loss don't always go hand in hand.
"Stress factors, both internal and external, influence the production of hormones in our bodies. High levels of stress hormones can cause changes that make it harder to lose weight, promote fat storage around our waists and leave us feeling tired all the time."
Ryan has formulated the Don't Sweat It eating plan, primarily to regulate blood sugar levels. Whole grains including oats, rye, barley, beans, pulses and brown rice get the thumbs up because they are digested slowly and keep energy levels even.
She says, "They also have the added benefit of good levels of the B group of vitamins, which are a key component of stress hormones, so provide the raw ingredients our bodies need in order to cope in the run up to the wedding.
"Dramatic dieting and high stress levels go hand in hand and won't help a bride to be at her best come the big day."
She adds, "Eating well, especially in the run up to such an important occasion, can help us stay free from colds and infections, sleep well at night, give us clear, smooth skin, sparkling eyes, great nails and shining hair."
The plan breaks everything down into bite-sized piece and encourages brides to take on one task at a time to avoid setting unreachable goals. An online forum and regular emails full of tips and tricks will keep brides in touch with each other and provide them with a support mechanism without taking up lots of time or requiring attendance at endless meetings.
For details, visit TK Weddings' website, www.tkweddings.com.
Springtime sees many brides choosing their dream dress and formalising their wedding plans. It also happens to be the biggest time of year for dieting. For those doing both, getting married and trying to slim down for that dress, it can be an overwhelmingly stressful time. 
