Look your bridal best in this season's most glorious gowns. Fitness guru Julie Kitchen offers her figure-sculpting tips...

However seriously you take your pre-nuptial preparations, we all know that this isn’t the next World’s Strongest Woman competition. Physically shaping up is one thing – but sometimes the line between action and overkill can become shady amidst your quest for wedded perfection.


Martina Liana, Vu's Bridal

If you want to look fabulous on your wedding day, it is crucial to start shaping up early, set yourself realistic goals and eat well. Getting fit is easier than you think once you take the plunge and, with the majority of weddings taking at least a year or more to plan, there’s plenty of time in-between the first and final yes to look your ultimate best. 

In order to help you tone up and work out toward sculpting yourself into the more fine-tuned figure that may lurk beneath, we’ve called upon resident fitness guru and Thai boxing champ with eleven world titles to her name, Julie Kitchen, for her expert advice and guidance.  

Taking you through a series of exercises that can be accomplished at home or in the gym with professional trainers, Julie has designed a programme to suit all body types whilst specifically concentrating on problem areas that require attention in order to flaunt your favoured dress style.  

Step into your spandex and transform your body to maximum wedded oomph. It all starts here… 

LEGS

Never underestimate the power of pins. Whether you go for full-length glory or short frills, the shape of your legs can define a dress more readily than umpteen layers of underskirt can disguise them. With vintage ‘50s and ‘60s trends pertaining to shorter, calf bearing numbers – and warmer seasons begging you to flash them – you will smack of sexy confidence if you lavish your legs with the care and attention they need to look – and feel – ultra fine. 


Bonny Bridal, Little Anne Maids

Dress trends – short and ‘50s style skirts and figure-hugging styles such as sheath and mermaid


Martina Liana, Vu's Bridal


White Rose, The Wedding Company

Thai style knee drills
Start with both feet shoulder width apart. Keep your torso slightly forward and drive your knee upward to a height above your own waistline. Start slowly and work both knees alternately and build up a rhythm. Work on one minute reps and five sets.



Fit ball squats
Fit balls are very cheap these days, but a great asset to your training and building core strength. Start with your back straight against the fit ball, which should rest against a wall. Keep your feet shoulder width apart and squat down until your legs are parallel, then return to standing position keeping your back straight (the fit ball will help aid this). It is important to squat slowly, maintaining a good technique. Try three sets of ten reps.




UPPER BACK

With the back being so blatantly on display, dress styles have recently shifted to celebrate the spine and all its surrounding glory. Every angle is being considered, and with the congregation behind your every aisle step to the altar, it’s no longer all about the front. With most eyes fixed on the rear, you will want your back to ooze toned beauty and skin baring shape, so forget about flexing the pecks for a moment and concentrate on everything from nape and blade to your lower lumbar small – and smoulder all the way down. 


Bonny Bridal, Little Anne Maids

Dress trends – Backless gowns, fitted bodices e.g. ball gown and empire, asymmetric styles.


Ronald Joyce, Bliss Bridal


Martina Liana, Vu's Bridal

Tyre beating
Vent your pre-wedding frustration whilst achieving a solid well-toned back. Stand with one foot forward, grab the bar with both hands about twelve inches apart. Rotate the shoulder and swing the bar downward onto the tyre, rotating the hip as the bar descends. Repeat for 20 reps and swap sides.



Straight punching drills
Stand square with feet shoulder width apart and both hands with your thumbs against the sides of the forehead. Throw one arm forward as a strike and twist the wrist so the hand lands with the knuckles facing upward. Bring the hand back straight away and in a perfectly straight line; as soon as the hand returns send the other forward and repeat alternately. Start with three sets of one minute reps.  




TRICEPS

Boost your natural assets whilst toning all and sundry from chest to finger tip.  Upper limbs should be proudly exposed to wrap around loved ones at whim, so bolster your muscle definition by arming yourself with the easy exercise how-to – and shape up those bi and triceps for some seriously seductive shapes.  


Art Couture, County Cream


Charlotte Balbier

Dress Trends – All strapless and sleeveless styles, especially ball gown for fairy tale fashions 


White Rose, The Wedding Company


Martina Liana, Vu's Bridal

Tricep dips
Using a punch bag (as pictured) or similar height object, place your hands facing forward with your palms flat. Beginners should bend the knees to shorten the length of the legs. Lower yourself until your backside reaches the floor and return. Repeat for three sets of ten reps. Try straightening the legs once you are used to the exercise.



Tricep extensions
Stand with you body perfectly straight. Tilt the head slightly forward to allow movement of the arm. Hold a light dumbbell in one hand and raise the arm above the head. Rest the other arm across the chest to assume a better balance. Lower the dumbbell behind the head from the elbow joint and return. Start light with a maximum of eight reps then swap sides.



ABDOMINALS

If not for the day itself, do it for that ocean-emerging Bond Girl moment you’ve always wanted to replicate on your bikini-clad honeymoon. A flatter, more toned stomach can be accomplished more easily than you think, and most fitted dress styles will flounder unless you can fine-tune your stomach. It doesn’t have to be an all out world’s best, but losing a few pounds from the midriff will make a distinctive difference in all dress shapes from bodice to shift. Ditch the under ‘wonder’ wear and get the shape for real: you’ll be fighting fit and feeling fab.  


Bonny Bridal, Little Anne Maids


Essense, Vu's Bridal

Dress trends – Silhouettes such as A-line and ball gown, body con/fitted mermaid and sheaths 


Impression Bridal, Bliss Bridal


Pronovias, Vu's Bridal

Leg raises
Start lying flat on your back. Hold onto a heavy weight or post behind your head. Try and keep the legs straight and raise your feet to point toward the ceiling. Then lower the legs still in a straight position to roughly six inches from the floor and repeat. Try and do the exercise as slowly as possible and do not let your feet touch the floor. Do three sets of ten reps.



Crunches
With your back firmly on the floor, bring your feet in towards your backside (this will help keep your back straight). Place your hands on the thighs and, as you sit up, try and run them up and over the knees. It is important to start the exercise with your shoulders already off the floor, as it will vastly assist the concentration of the abdominals. Do not lower the shoulders to the floor until all the reps are completed. Do five sets of eight reps.




Touchgloves
A family run gym with a friendly atmosphere, Julie and the team at Touchgloves are highly experienced at helping people with their weight loss and fitness goals, offering a programme of fitness classes, high quality instruction and private tuition.
Branwell’s Mill, Penzance
www.touchgloves.co.uk  

Words Hannah May
Wedding Dresses Cornwall
Copyright WED Magazine 2011