Hair & Makeup

Banishing Prebridal Bloat

Who wants to be waterlogged puff-ball at the altar? Follow these tips to get rid of the excess.

Nothing like a looming wedding date to get a girl to come to grips with her eating habits, right? You’ve likely been thinking of little else since you tried on that first white gown.

But the parties and celebrations that surround your wedding week almost seem designed to trip you up. As you’ve had a hand in planning most of these events, you are bound to be tempted by some of your favorite foods.

Well, don’t let the hors d’oeuvres tray and open bar be an open call to prebridal bloat. Here’s what you can do in that week or two before your big day.

Drink Up! Bloating is caused primarily by dehydration. So, though it seems counterintuitive, anything that causes the body to eliminate water—to dehydrate—actually contributes to fluid retention, while taking in plenty of H20 can keep puffiness at bay. if water supply dwindles, you may experience constipation as a result of missing a few bowel movements. And that can show up as tummy bulge.

Skip the diuretics or laxatives. Diuretics and laxatives are a nutritional disaster, flushing your body of beneficial vitamins and minerals that balance body fluids. And laxatives cause the intestines to go into overdrive. Do you really want to be constantly searching for a bathroom while a professional photographer is documenting your day?

Cut down on caffeine. Caffeine can also cause bowel spasms, and it’s a natural diuretic. If you are a regular coffee drinker, try to cut down to one cup a day. For every 8 ounces of caffeine you drink, nutritionists recommend you add an equal dose of water to your normal daily intake.

Avoid alcohol. Nothing like a few stiff drinks at night to give you dry mouth the next day. And there’s a reason for that: Alcohol dehydrates. If you feel you must have a drink to feel part of precelebrations, choose a white-wine spritzer or a glass of tonic with a twist of lime. You’ll probably find that you barely touch your drink once you start mingling with your guests.

Don’t skip meals. Food is an important secondary source of fluids, so failing to eat regularly can cause-you’ve got it-dehydration. Skipping meals can also cause blood sugar to dip, making you feel dizzy and ill. Aren’t you dizzy enough already, with all these preparations?

Avoid high-fat meals. Fat is slow to digest and can make you feel sluggish. Once digested, some fat makes it into the blood, slowing circulation. Slowed digestion can lead to constipation. Slowed circulation can contribute to bloat.

Shake the salt habit. The sodium in salt causes water retention. The recommended intake is 2000 to 3000 milligrams a day, which you probably already get in the prepared foods you buy. You don’t need added salt, but don’t cut it out altogether. ”A total reduction also throws off the body’s natural balance,” Heslin says. ”Any imbalance may lead to water retention.”

Eliminate refined-sugar, especially in the form of cookies, pastries and cakes. Some experts say that when you eat these mixtures of refined sugar and flour, the digestive tract absorbs the sugar so completely that what little fiber remains forms a hard stool that’s difficult to pass. And constipation contributes to bloat.

Consider supplements. Some nutritionists recommend B-complex vitamins to curb cravings. Studies have shown that B6 can ease premenstrual symptoms, including bloating. But don’t overdo it. Too much B can be harmful. ”Your best be ”is to take a complete multivitamin daily.

Keep moving! Exercise of any kind gets your blood pumping, which increases circulation. Poor circulation can lead to water retention.

Chill out. Stress has a way of throwing off the body’s equilibrium, Heslin says. When you are under stress, as most brides to be are, your digestive tract doesn’t work well and residue gets held up in the colon, leading to fluid retention.

Last-Minute Bloat Busters

• Do not fast! If you’re too nervous to eat, drink juices and meal-replacement shakes.
• Eliminate all starchy carbohydrates, high-fat dairy products, sugar, and salt.
• Drink from 8 to 10 glasses of water.
• Add an extra workout to keep your blood circulation up.
• Get a good night’s sleep.