5 Reasons To Look At Your Wedding Pictures

In honor of my anniversary last week, I'm posting some of wedding pictures—accented by my 5 Reasons To Look At Your Wedding Pictures!I hope it can remind all you LadyMamas out there—whether married for one year or 30!—to occasionally look through your album and relive the joy and meaning that was your wedding day! 

1. Get motivated. Whether it's to lose weight or some inspiration to plan a date night, perusing through wedding pictures makes me feel motivated again. It reminds me how things were on the most celebrated day of my life: the body that had the stamina to dance way into the night like a rockstar....the naive, unburdened and limitless love in our eyes. Opening the wedding album is like a little burst of a good self-help book!

2. Feel the love. Of course, the wedding is about you and your spouse. But look at how all your friends and family got dressed up, danced like crazy and showered you with joy. Looking at all the people that attended makes me realize that the people who know and love me create a great big circle of love, joy, care and support.

3. Show the kids. My son has a blast whenever he sees our wedding pictures. "Mama" and "Dada" together—the two people who love him the most— smiling away. I think he wonders why he doesn't see us looking like that on the average day. Maybe that's why he cracks up so hard.

4.  Look how far we've come. I see us as bride and groom and see how much we've changed and grown for each other these past three years. And mostly, how enriched our lives are since bringing our sons into the world. I mean, we were awesome then...but they've only upped our cool-factor.

5. Perspective. Our parents didn't splurge for a big celebration for nothing. They knew that having a beautiful and memorable celebration would always be something to center us, to guide us. No matter where life goes, and what challenges it brings, we have a remarkable beginning to look back to—and remind us that even when years pass since our wedding day, there is something beautiful and true to always return to.

If you're a bride, feel free to e-mail me about my photographer or florists. I will happily rave and provide further information! :) 

Rachel's Four Week Wedding Weight Loss Plan

By Rachel Laber

Rachel's experience after gaining and losing weight from her first pregnancy encouraged her to become a certified Personal Trainer. She now helps others "commit to the game" and live a healthy lifestyle free of fad diets. She lives with her husband and two kids in Agoura Hills, CA. Read more about her health musings and personal experiences at www.proteinpancake.blogspot.com.

It's crunch time! 

Rachel's

Four Week Wedding Weight Loss Plan

When needing to jump-start your body for weight loss - or you have a big event such as a wedding coming up! - use this plan to help you reach your goal in due time! 


Granted, you're already cutting out white flour and sugar from your diet. Add these guidelines in the weeks before your goal date:

4 Weeks Before
Eat six small meals a day. For example, 8:00, 10:00, 12:00, 3:00, 5:00 and 7:00. Your portions should be small. First three meals should include carbs, and only lean proteins and veggies for the rest of the meals. Limit fruit to two a day and eat them before 4pm.

Workouts should be five days a week: Three hard days which include strength training plus cardio and light cardio on the days in between.

2 Weeks Before
Six small meals. Only first two with carbs. Cut out fruit. Cut out Diet drinks.

1 Week Before
Six small meals. Only the first with carbs. No fruit. No salt. No diet drinks. Stay away from veggies that cause bloating (ie,  broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, etc). Eat lots of lean proteins and greens and drink tons of water! Up cardio intensity to burn calories everday of that last week.

When the big day arrives, enjoy the wedding cake! 

[Please note, this is a special-event four week prep-plan and should not be used for day to day life!]