Fitness Tip

Gym Dandy

You'll see them at the bridal shower. At the rehearsal dinner. As you're walking down the aisle. So why not see them at the gym?

Your bridesmaids are the perfect gym buddies. You know you can rely on them (otherwise they wouldn't be in your wedding party), and pre-wedding bonding with them will strengthen those friendships for years to come. Plus, it'll be so much easier to get your butt to the gym when you know your maid of honor is already there ahead of you, cooling her satin-pump heels!

There's no one more motivational in your life than people who know you well. They know when to stand by and be supportive, and they know when — and how hard — to push you. What better motivation than having them along on your workouts? The more the merrier!

But don't get too merry. This isn't a laid-back gabfest; it's serious business. It's your job to keep everyone focused on the workout, guided by the same sense of purpose and military strategy as when you go over the intricate plans for your wedding.

This is win-win for everybody. First, you get to spend more time with your platoon. Second, you'll be carving out a new opportunity for brainstorming. Third, one of the classic signs that you are in the correct heart-rate zone is when you can just barely hold up your end of a conversation, so you'll be checking your heart-rate without any extra equipment!

What if some of your group are not gym-dwellers or are plus-sized? You can gently test the waters to see if there is some interest, but do not consider making workouts mandatory and, whatever you do, don't begin to make demands about how much you want them to weigh on your big day – that's out of line, soldier. You may be happy with the way your bootcamp is proceeding, but you got here in your own time and they will, too. Do you really base your friendships on physical appearance? It's what's inside that truly counts.

www.bridalbootcamponline.com