Melissa Hebeler / E! EntertainmentBoom. I get engaged, and those pesky extra pounds I've been trying to shake for years need to go...like now. The first half of the engagement, I tried to do it on my own. I was consistently working out and thought I was eating healthy, but I wasn't seeing any real results. I came to the realization that if this is going to happen in time for the wedding, I need help! In comes amazing nutritionist, Kelly Leveque, and my life is forever changed. I do her beWELL bridal diet for 6 months, and now with my wedding less than a week away, I'm down 20 pounds! I didn't think that would ever be possible!
According to Kelly, the first change I needed to make was what I was consistently eating for breakfast! I was starting the day out all wrong. "It's a mistake I see all the time with clients. Trying to be ‘good' by counting calories or limiting breakfast to a juice or bar only backfires into overeating at lunch or caving at the candy bowl," she said. So true!
I switched to starting every day with a #beWELLSmoothie®. Kelly explains, "When you start the day with a beWELL Smoothie, you do your body the favor of calming hunger hormones with your very first meal." My go-to combination: vanilla protein powder (I use Tera's Whey), blueberries, almond butter, spinach, chia (or flax) and almond milk. It's actually really delicious!
Changing the breakfast alone made a huge difference, and seriously kick-started my weight loss. Kelly says, "Secretly, I love this stage because we get to watch the initial weight fall off. Clients are always amazed like it's magic. It's science!" Whatever the case may be, it got me motivated!
For lunch and dinner, I was given a simple goal for each meal: eat what she calls the "Fab Four" (#bwbkfab4). That's protein, fat, fiber and vegetables. She explains, "The easiest way to stabilize blood sugar, within the normal range and satisfy hunger is to focus on consuming 4-6 ounces of protein, 2 tablespoons of fat and 2 cups of fibrous vegetables at each meal."
I'm telling you this girl knows what she's talking about. Fact...Jessica Alba is one of Kelly's clients. Believe me now? Alba's body is perfection.
Kelly is now prepping me for my last few days before I walk down the aisle and say "I do." My diet is still pretty much the same as usual, except with an increased focus on hydration. She suggests eating "skin healthy favorites like omega-3 packed fish, brightening lemon, fibrous leafy greens and water-packed vegetables, like cucumbers."
Then, the other important factor of looking amazing in that wedding dress is keeping my stomach nice and flat. Kelly says, "To decrease bloat, ease digestion and keep things going, brides might want to replace a few dinners during that final week with a bWELL smoothie."
Here are some examples Kelly put together of four great Fab4 meals:
1. Simply grilled salmon in ghee with a cup of sautéed Brussels sprouts with pecans and a cup of steamed broccoli
2. Turkey meat and flaxseed meatballs, with 2 cups of zoodles sautéed in olive oil
3. Chicken pesto lettuce cups with cucumber and tomato, with a side of roasted sweet potato fries
4. Salmon with an avocado and spinach salad with cucumber and lemon vinaigrette
Alright other bride-to-be's, this is what worked for me. I hope it works for you too! Next time I'll be writing you guys, I'll be a married woman! I'm off to get hitched and enjoy a honeymoon with my soon-to-be husband. Cannot believe it's here. I'll tell you all about it when I get back!