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Looking great for your wedding can become an all consuming project for many brides, but it doesn't have to be. With the right attitude and a little planning, Brian Sutton, of Lifestyle Integrated Fitness Training in Rye, NY, says you can accomplish your fitness goals.

Setting Smart Goals

"Get a realistic view of what your body is like at the start," says Sutton. "Take a picture of your body from different angles and get your measurements done. This can have a great impact on your motivation." Most importantly, he suggests staying on the planet Earth, i.e. maintain some realistic goals. If you're a curvy 5' 3" for example no amount of working out and dieting will make you look like Nicole Kidman. "Embrace your body type," he says, "You'll be the happiest if you get YOUR best body, not failing to get someone else's."

Train with Time

Consider hiring a personal trainer, suggests Sutton. "A trainer can have a huge positive impact on your motivation and the efficiency of your workouts," he says. There's also an added bonus: "If you have an appointment with a trainer you're much less likely to miss that, as opposed to just a planned workout on your own." He does offer a caveat: "Make sure that your trainer has proper credentials; either a college degree in exercise science or accreditation from a respected organization."

Trainers can be expensive but since your wedding day body is very important to you, Sutton suggests adding a trainer into your wedding budget. "Your shape is as important as the flowers or caterer, so treat it the same way."

A Shapely, Toned You!

"Don't be afraid to move some iron," Sutton says. "A classic mistake is using tiny weights for high-reps and augmenting that with endless cardio. You won't get any results that way." Women simply don't have the testosterone required to build massive muscles through weight training, so don't be afraid to use weights heavier weights at eight to fifteen reps. "Challenging the muscles like this is the key to quick results," Sutton says.

Another way to shape up is with pilates. "Pilates is great," Sutton says, but "it's impossible to 'lengthen' muscles. You can increase your range of motion but you can't elongate a muscle." So if you're going for flexibility, add in some pilates, but they're not a magic route to a ballerina body.

Tummy Tips

"Thousands of crunches a week will give you strong abs," he says, "but they won't flatten your stomach. There is no spot reducing. Tons of crunches won't burn the fat that's sitting on top of your abs and the same goes for those specialized leg and hip machines." In order to flatten your tummy and thin your thighs, you're going to need to pay attention to your nutrition in addition to exercise. Watch the snacking, especially what you drink, and increase your fiber intake. It'll help keep you feeling full, while you're eating less.

To-Do Before Saying "I Do"

"Cross-training, which is using a variety of exercises, is a great way to get in shape while avoiding boredom or burnout," Sutton says. He recommends classes such as yoga, pilates and others either at the gym or at home. Additionally, Sutton says, "Yoga or meditation help alleviate stress as the wedding day draws near."

He recommends circuit and cross training, which both keep your heart rate up. "Keeping your heart at a high rate maximizes the calorie burn," he says. He suggests buying a heart rate monitor and wearing it during your weight work, as well as during your cardio. Be mindful of what you're doing and you'll get the most out of the time you put in.

If you're running short on time, Sutton recommends compound, or multi-joint movements, such as those involved using free weights, rather than a machine. "By using groups of muscles instead of just one, you burn more calories per exercise," he says. So shy away from isolation exercises such as bicep curls and hip abduction machines if time is a factor.

Where cardio is concerned, Sutton warns to "stay away from long, steady-state things, such as running or biking at the same speed for a long distance. Interval training burns a much higher amount of calories per session. Besides, who wants to look like a marathon runner? If you train like one, you'll look like one."

If the terms "compound exercise," "isolation exercise" and "interval training" mystify you, Sutton suggests biting the financial bullet and hiring a trainer. Still have no money for it? Fitness websites such as www.go2lift.com can provide professional help and advice for a low fee.

Cardio Classes

"Cardio classes are a great way to get a quality workout in," Sutton says, but heed this advice: "Take a guest class or watch a class," he says. He strongly suggests evaluating the instructor and talking to him before you take the class. "Tell them your goals and any special needs such as injuries," he says, "How they respond to you will say a lot about their quality and training."

Luckily, most gyms offer a variety of classes, which is good for preventing boredom and providing different challenges to your body. "Some good ones are spin classes, boot camps and even ones with a boxing, kickboxing or martial art emphasis," says Sutton. Make sure to talk to the instructor of any martial art class before taking it, to help make it safer for you.

And...Relax

Finally, Sutton recommends massage therapy "not only for relaxation but massage can help your recovery between workouts and help maximize your results." If you're too sore to keep up your workouts, you're not going to see the results you're hoping for. "Ultimately," says Sutton, try to "have the same discipline for your exercise that you have for planning the wedding itself." The work you put in on your body will pay off when it comes to looking great on your wedding day, and, if you keep up with it, for many years to follow!