With my wedding just two weeks away,  I thought, there’s no way I’m the only bride that’s endured pre-wedding stress in regard to my fitness routine, so I wanted write about it!

Not all of us have the pocket change or the luxury to invest in a personal trainer, or quite frankly, the time to walk into a gym confident enough with a bride game plan.

That’s why I thought it would be great to create a road map for those soon to be brides that can’t afford a trainer or gym membership.  All you really need is two sets of dumbbells (you can find these at any TJMaxx, Marshalls, Target or Walmart) and you’re golden.  Start there.

I would start with the following based on where your at fitness wise.

Beginner: 1 set of 5-8lb dumbbells and 1 set of 10-12lb dumbbells

Intermediate: 1 set of 8 lb dumbbells and 1 set of 12-15lb dumbbells

Advanced: 1 set of 10 lb dumbbells and 1 set of 15-20lb dumbbells

Next, you will need a small space to create your own little set up to perform the following exercises:

My recommendation is to perform these weight resistance workouts 3 times a week.  Here are the 3 workouts to perform say Mon, Wed and Friday or at least try to space each one out with a day’s rest in between.

Workout #1:

Repeat all exercises below in sequence, each with 12 reps. Have both sets of dumbbells available.  Remember to keep correct form and make these movements challenging with the appropriate weight. 

Beginner: 1 time

Intermediate: 3 times

Advanced: 5 times

Walking lunges

Push ups

Bent over Rows

Lateral raises

Squat-press

Reverse lunge to bicep curl

Workout #2:

Perform all exercises in sequence with 12 reps each.

Beginner: 1 time

Intermediate: 3 times

Advanced: 5 times

Alternating step ups (if you don’t have a bench, you can find a sturdy table or chair)

Single leg bicep curls (standing on one leg curling with both arms)

Walking double lunges (lunge, stay in place and add another stationary lunge and then come up to repeat)

Deadlifts (keep your chest open, knees slightly bent while keeping the dumbbells super close to your thighs as you come up and down.  remember not to let your shoulders drop forward and drive through your heels)

Tricep kickbacks (elbows up high, extend back and bring back to the starting position)

30 second plank hold

Workout #3:

12 repetitions of each exercise

Beginner: 1 time

Intermediate: 3 times

Advanced: 5 times

Jump squats (no weight)

Lateral lunge with overhead press

Bent over flys

Burpee (weight optional)

Crunches

Push ups

Renegade row

All of these movements are terrific in stimulating lean muscle mass, boosting your metabolism, creating fat loss and breaking a sweat!  Before you know it, you’ll be ready to show off your new figure in your wedding dress!

Looking for more workouts and nutrition tips? Be sure to subscribe to my email list to get all the good stuff!  www.kimschaper.com.