BOSTON (Dec. 11, 2009) – It’s no secret that the stress of wedding planning and the pressure to look perfect exacts a heavy toll on brides. In one highly publicized recent example, a UK bride-to-be died after 11 weeks on a 530-calorie-a-day diet. Her case may be extreme, but she’s not alone in resorting to drastic measures. According to a Cornell study published last year, one-third of engaged women employ extreme measures such as fasting or using diet pills to achieve their wedding-day ideal weight. To combat that unhealthy mentality, Bombshell Bride, LLC, a wedding diet, fitness and lifestyle company, recently launched an online magazine, www.Bombshell-Bride.com, to help brides-to-be achieve their wedding dress dream body through healthy habits and nurturing stress-relief articles.

Within a short time of the website’s November launch, the company’s healthy mission has attracted celebrity fitness and nutrition experts to contribute their advice to Bombshell-Bride.com readers. Jennifer Aniston’s yoga instructor Mandy Ingber has shared get-healthy secrets, author of Skinny Chicks Don’t Eat Salad Christine Avanti has revealed holiday eating tips and Anna Paquin’s longtime trainer Clay Burwell has imparted fitness advice to brides-to-be. On a more personal level, the site features wisdom from real brides on subjects such as overcoming emotional overeating, saying no to pre-wedding crash dieting, and using yoga to manage wedding planning stress. In addition, www.Bombshell-Bride.com also features articles on stress relief, workout tips, health-focused research, healthy-eating tips, and daily motivations to counter bridal panic and unhealthy measures.

Founded in 2008, Bombshell Bride, LLC is the creation of Boston-based Fitness Trainer and Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant, Jill Tomich. “I was constantly shocked by the measures bride-to-be clients would go to in order to lose weight for their wedding day,” said Tomich, who also founded New England’s largest outdoor fitness company, Ultimate Bootcamp. “A history of crash diets was prevalent among many of the women, and they came to me seeking a lifestyle change. With my help and their dedication, they learned how to attain a body they would not only love on their wedding day, but also acquired new healthy habits that will last a lifetime.”

Tomich launched Bombshell-Bride.com to reach brides beyond the borders of Boston. Helmed by Managing Editor Diann Daniel, the website’s goal is to empower women with healthy tips to look and feel their best on their wedding day and beyond through inspirational real brides’ stories and from the guidance of health experts, including from Tomich herself, whose expertise has been cultivated from 11 years’ experience in the fitness industry. In early 2010, Bombshell-Bride.com plans to sell launch a series of wedding diet and fitness programs that will be sold through the website.

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About Bombshell Bride
Bombshell Bride, LLC is a wedding diet, fitness and lifestyle company that inspires and educates brides to achieve their wedding dress dream body through a positive, healthy lifestyle. Online at www.Bombshell-Bride.com provides educational nutrition articles, quick recipes and easy-to-follow workouts feature health experts from across the nation who guide brides to new, healthy habits that will last a lifetime.

Nintendo's Wii Fit marketed to women

In the last few years women have been on the mind of video game makers. This time around it’s no longer the super-sexed up cartoon versions of us with over-sized breasts and tiny waists, but women as video game consumers.

Active video games like the wildly popular Nintendo Wii Fit, which has sold over 18 million units since its March 2008 debut, are on a mission to help women lose weight while having fun – at least that’s what their marketing campaigns tell us. But these current exergames fall short by fitness and health industry standards.

In June 2008, the non-profit American Council on Exercise (ACE) sponsored a study of Wii Sports games like golf, tennis, baseball and boxing. While the study shows Wii Sports games provide a slight increase in calories burned over sedentary video games, only one game, Wii boxing burned enough calories (7.2 calories per minute) to be considered intense enough to maintain or improve cardiovascular endurance.

While numerous studies and reviews show most exergames don’t provide “substantial fitness benefits”, exercise alone is not the holy grail of a healthy life. Many of the active video games on the market today don’t combine the fitness and nutrition component to the degree that they could. Ubisoft’s My Weight Loss Coach encourages users to track their activities and diet, although it is more of a video journal than a video game. Social games like Dance, Dance Revolution engage women to increase their heart rate with a workout mode, but doesn’t provide any insight into healthy eating habits.

One exergame that hit the market last month - EA Sports Active – shows promise in bringing both an active life and healthy diet to the forefront. The platform allows you to not only track your fitness progress in the game, but the calories you expend when performing activities outside of the game like gardening and housework. In addition, a calorie tracker provides you with some insight into the world of healthy eating. It seems EA Sports has learned from the pitfalls of previous exergames and from the numerous health consultants they brought on board, including Oprah’s personal trainer Bob Greene. Yet many of the EA Sports Active games lack intrinsic motivation. If you hate running in the real world, most likely running on a virtual track won’t change that fact.

EA Sports Active gets advice from Oprah's Personal Trainer

Elizabeth Lyons, a Ph.D. student at the University of North Carolina’s School of Public Health is studying the intrinsic motivation and presence in video games. The self-proclaimed “geeky-gamer” says that more realistic movements and immersive entertainment is required in active gaming for women to adhere to them. “Give us a reason to run – like being chased by ninjas or exploring a virtual Paris” said Lyons at the 2009 Games for Health Conference held in Boston last week.

In order to develop exergames that actually motivate, educate and provide women with an effective weight loss tool, the male-dominated exergaming industry needs more female video game developers to insert their unique point of view.  They need to win over fitness and health professionals who have been on the defensive about video games by reaching out to them for advice and knowledge.  Special attention also needs to be paid to the female consumers themselves. The newly emerged generation of women gamers and female video game reviewers, like those at Green Pixels, are vocal and not afraid to share their honest opinions.

Although any activity in a woman’s life is better than no activity, exergames are not yet a meaningful tool to help women lose weight.  If the video game industry can quickly act to fill the voids in their formula, there might be hope. Otherwise, exergaming will just become a fading fitness fad.

Buy this book on Amazon

A few weeks ago an unlikely book appeared on my kitchen table.  I say unlikely because I didn’t put it there.  Not that my fiance doesn’t read, he does.  Although the books on his night stand typically contain financial acronyms likes IPO, LBO and EBITDA. Yawn!

Not this book. The book that was pointing at me (literally) to pick it up seemed to have magical answers. Answers to any question I’ve ever had about my body.  I’ve often thought it would be a fun and interesting project compiling a book like this.    It seems like we know more about how to operate our electronic gadgets than our own bodies.   The book was titled “You the Owner’s Manual” by doctors Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz.

I don’t easily get excited by  “health” books.  I read many but rarely recommend one.  I find too often they’re riddled with misinformation, clever marketing ploys and unhealthy gimmicks.  And judging from the number of $1 health books I’ve collected from the used book store, I assume you feel the same way.

With my wary eyes I read the first chapter.  Witty.  Not too technical.  Not too watered down. Research-based information. Great illustrations.  Alright, I don’t hate this yet.

When my fiance came home from work that evening,  I had already read the first four chapters.  Did you know that pineapple can reduce inflammation in the body?  That the brain uses 25% of the oxygen and sugar your body circulates? That your body runs best when it wakes up at the same time every day?  Alright, so I might really like this.

“Where did you get this book?” I asked my fiance curiously.

“Oh, the guy who wrote it is some famous doctor.  He’s speaking at a meeting I’m attending next week.  We got it as a gift at work.”

“Which doctor!?!” I asked excitedly knowing he was soon to be in the presence of a celebrity.

“Ummm…I think the Oz dude.”  Wow, did my fiance just say “The Oz dude” ?  How can he not know Dr. Oz?  Clearly he never watches the episodes of Oprah I record on our DVR.

For those of you who don’t know, Dr. Mehmet Oz has been Oprah’s health expert on her television and radio shows for the last 5 years.  His lively personality, education at prestigious institutes, and impressive ability to pull endless medical facts out of thin air make him a reliable source in my book.

I don’t often do this, but I’ll make an exception when credit is due:  “You the Owner’s Manual“ by Doctors Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz is a keeper.  It’s a great first read and I’m sure I’ll keep it around the house to refer to now and again. You can get an updated and expanded version of the book  at Amazon.com for only $18.

Last week my fiance came home from what I call his “Dr. Oz meeting”.  He had another book: “You Staying Young” by Michael Roizen and Mehmet Oz.  Can you guess what my next book review might be?

The solution? Maybe it’s time for a Personal Trainer to give you a swift kick in your lycra workout pants. Just don’t fall for any beautiful body with the word TRAINER plastered across their shirt. There is no time for second rate workouts when your wedding WOW moment is on the line. Here are 6 interview questions you need to ask before hiring the perfect Personal Trainer.

1. What is your training style?
If you’re a sensitive soul, you don’t want a Trainer who yells in your face. If your fitness knowledge is vast, you want a Trainer who doesn’t talk down to you.

2. How do you train brides differently from your other clients?
In their answer, listen for key words that speak to you: Stress Relief, Posture Practice, Time limitations, specific training based on your dress style, etc.

3. How do you deal with clients that slack off?
Don’t give them hints on how YOUR occasional bouts of lethargy need to be dealt with just yet. Let them reveal their secrets first.

4. What is your cancellation/refund policy?
Be aware of the fine print.

5. What kind of education and certifications do you hold?
Some gyms certify their own “Trainers” in a matter of weeks which means any ol’ employee can pose as a professional. What you need is a Trainer that has an accredited certification by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies like ASCM, ACE or NASM.

6. Why are you the best Personal Trainer for me?
This is their opportunity to make you a believer…and remove that pint of Ben & Jerry’s from your hands

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Thanks to everyone who supported me and the other 12 members of Team Ultimate Bootcamp in the Climb of Your Life stair race to benefit the American Lung Association of New England. It was a ROUGH race, but well worth the effort. But the best part? You can come along for the ride! I took my video camera along with me!

There is still time left to donate! Any tax-deductable gift that you can give, whether it be $5 or $50, would be very much appreciated and go towards the great educational programs the ALA of NE puts on to help fight lung disease.

Support Jill
Support Team Ultimate Bootcamp
After March 6, 2009, Donate directly to the American Lung Association of New England

'Desperate Housewives' Sneak Peek: Boot Camp

If a strapless gown is your dream dress,  cardiovascular activities that get your heart rate revving are going to be your BFF until the wedding day. 3-5 days of cardio a week is a great way to burn major calories to help melt the fat that protrudes out of a strapless dress.  While cardio and a balanced diet is an absolute must, working the upper body muscles will help increase your metabolism,  sculpt lean muscles, and give you a tall, confident posture. 

Add these exercises into your resistance training routine to target your chest and back. Performing 2 sets of 12-15 reps will tone the muscles without them getting overly bulky. If you’re upper body muscles tend to bulk up quickly, do 18-20 reps. Remember, the last 2 reps of every set should be TOUGH.

 Pullover (Serratus Anterior & Pectoralis Minor)

1. Lie on a bench or the floor. Hold a medium weight or gallon of water over your chest.
2.  Holding your core muscles tight, with a neutral spine, slowly lower the weight over your head for 2 counts.  Lower the weight only to the point where you can keep your lower back in a neutral position, but no lower than shoulder height.
3. Slowly raise the weight back over your chest for 2 counts. 

Scapular Push-ups (Serratus Anterior, Trapezius)

1. Get on the ground in a push-up position, either on your knees or toes. Make sure their is a long line from the crown of your head to either your knees or toes.
2. Without moving your elbows or shoulders, lower your chest a few inches towards the ground, squeezing your shoulder blades together.
3. Without moving your elbows or shoulder, push your back up towards the ceiling. Round out your back and seperate the shoulder blades away from one another.
4. Advanced: Put your hands on a stability ball or an upside down Bosu ball with your knees or toes on the ground

Bent over Rows (Rhomboids, Lattisimus Dorsi)

1. With feet shoulder width apart, lean your chest forward and hips back. Hold a resistance band or weight by the side of your legs.
2. Slowly squeeze your shoulder blades together as you lift your elbows towards the ceiling for 2 counts. Be sure to keep your elbows close to the side of your body the entire time.
3. Slowly lower arms back to the starting position for 2 counts.

Punching with Resistance (Serratus Anterior, Lattisimus Dorsi, Trapezius + many others)

1. Attach a resistance band to a solid object, or adjust a cable pulley machine to shoulder height.
2. With a solid bent knee stance, raise your elbows just below shoulder height at 90 degrees.
3. Start with your shoulder blades squeezed together. Slowly punch one arm forward, reaching as far as you can.
4. Slowly bring the elbow back to 90 degrees. Punch with the other arm.

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Ann* asked for my help as she prepared for her wedding day. Her goal was to lose 9 pounds and fit into her dream wedding dress which she bought a size too small.  For  weeks Ann never missed a workout, drank a gallon of water a day and made certain her calorie expenditure through exercise & daily activities was more than her calories consumed by eating. A sure fire way to loose the weight she wanted, or so she thought.  

After 3 weeks of training, Ann came to me red-faced and enraged.  The look on her face was one I’ve seen before: she was so frustrated she was ready to catapult me across the room with a resistance band. When I asked her what was wrong, she squealed like a whistling teapot “I’ve gained 2 pounds in 3 weeks!”

After determining Ann wasn’t stressed at work, wasn’t emotionally overloaded with wedding planning, and she didn’t have any medical conditions that might cause weight gain, I explained to her that sometimes the scale can lie. 

• After a day full of chugging water and eating healthy meals, you could add a few pounds to your morning weight
• Alternatively, many low-carb diets cause immediate weight loss because you are loosing essential water weight.
• Resistance training builds lean muscles which could temporarily increase your weight on the scale. But the awesome thing about lean muscle is that it increases your metabolism. The more muscle you have, the more calories you will burn, even while sleeping!
• Traditional scales gives you a summary of your weight, including bones, organs, muscles and body fat.  Have you heard the term skinny fat?  A woman could weigh 110 pounds, yet still have a high percentage of body fat due to osteoporosis or a lack of muscle.  On the flip side, a woman could weigh 147 pounds, yet wear a size 6 and have a normal body fat because she has lean muscle. The scale doesn’t ultimately determine if you are healthy, sickly or overweight.

Ann agreed to be patient. She continued her resistance training, cardio regime and faithfully wrote in her food diary to help keep her on track.  6 weeks into training Ann was a very different woman.   As she walked into our training session, her glowing face told a different story. ”The dress fits!!!”, she squealed.  This time, the whisteling teapot’s squeal was one of joy.

Ann lost only 4 pounds,  but an impressive 2.5% body fat .  Although she didn’t hit her target weight loss of 9 pounds, she reached her ultimate goal of losing a dress size and never felt better about her body.  As I told Ann,  if you’re committed to tightening and toning your body before the wedding, don’t let a lying scale discourage you. Stay focused and find other ways to measure your fitness success.

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Omron hand held

Tanita Scale

While there are many different ways to determine fitness success that I love, a scale is not one of them.  I prefer to use an electronic body composition meter to track a client’s progress.  These composition monitors are becoming more and more popular.  In fact, many bathroom scales now have a body fat monitor built in. You can buy many popular brands of monitors online. Such as the $32 handheld Omron Fat Loss Monitor or the Tanita InnerScan Body Composition Monitor and scale for $129.

I hear the hopeless sighs, but no need to worry.  In fact, there is a person in your life that CAN help you get into the best shape of your life for your wedding. Look no further than your Knight in Shining Armor, your fiance.

Although it seems impossible that he (who aspires to build bigger biceps) and you (who aspires for toned Yogi arms) can workout together, there are a number of ways to motivate and encourage each other.  While I’m no Fairy Godmother, I’m sure you’ll appreciate these 5 tips from New England Brides (including me) to help get you fit with your future mister. 

Tip #1: Start Now

“Choose what goals you want to accomplish ahead of time and pick a date when you want to start.” recommends Waltham, MA bride Julie Pontonio-Fitzpatrick. 

Crash diets and cramming in workouts a couple weeks before the big day isn’t only a temporary fix, but it can also be dangerous. The results of taking in too little nutients and burdening the body with extreme physical activity are mood swings, exhaustion, fainting and even stress fractures.

Be prepared to reach your fitness goals 4 weeks before the wedding which is when most brides have their last dress fitting.  To see any significant changes in body composition, plan to begin workouts at a MINIMUM of 12 weeks before the big day. 

Tip #2: Define Goals

Take a few minutes to write down specific fitness goals for the wedding. Have your fiance do the same. Be sure to include activities and workouts that will help you achieve those goals. After you’ve both created your lists, compare your goals. Are there activities or workouts you would enjoy doing together?

Here, you can see that both bride and groom planned cardio and ab workouts to reach their goals.  She also listed kayaking as an upper body toning workout. He thinks kayaking is great idea, so they both put it on their Activity Calendars.

Tip #3: Make Activity Calendars

Whether you jot it down in your Day Planner, Blackberry, Outlook, IPhone, or Google Calendar, schedule appointments with yourself and your fiance for your planned activities. Share your calendar with families or friends to help keep you accountable.   If you miss a workout with your man, re-schedule as if it were any other important meeting in your calendar. Be sure you and Prince charming re-visit your Activity Calendar every 3-4 weeks to keep things fresh and fun.

Tip #4: Motivate and Reward

As a couple, find ways to drive each other towards your fitness goals. Offering encouragement and rewards is a great way to help each other achieve results.  Newlyweds Curt and Sheira of Needham, MA have seen great success from working out together. They’ve lost a combined 30 pounds in two and a half months.

“Sheira and I enjoy the spousal competition of working out together”, says Curt. ” It definitely adds to the motivation factor and it certainly makes it very hard to blow off if your significant other is already out of bed and getting dressed to go.”

Make a list of rewards you’ll both receive when all weekly workouts are completed. The rewards can be small such as a movie night, pedicure, or a day at the beach.  Or the rewards can add up towards a bigger item like a weekend away, new workout outfit or heart rate monitor. Whatever the reward, make sure it reflects the healthy lifestyle you’re both working towards.

Tip #5: Recruit Others

If you’re excited about working out together but find it difficult to make it effective for you both, recruit some help. Find a reputable Certified Personal Trainer to help set up a workout regime. Alternatively, find a structured fitness class like boxing or bootcamp that you can both enjoy.

“The group exercise component was a great way to get a good workout without putting pressure on one another the way we would sometimes do with our own workouts, ” says Boston Real Estate Agent Jennifer Athas.  Her and her now husband Marco attended a 4 week bootcamp class. “If Marco ran on the treadmill, I would ask him “how far did you run” or say things like “well that was a quick workout”. With bootcamp, the pressure was off for us to live up to each other’s workout expectations.”

 

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Jill K. Tomich is a Lifestyle & Weight Management Consultant and owner of Boston-based outdoor fitness company, Ultimate Bootcamp. She and her fiance Josh are getting married in Hawaii in June of 2009. She can be contacted at jill@ultimatebootcamp.com