So you’re getting married. Well, all brides want to look their very best on their wedding day. Hours are spent choosing the perfect gown, hairstyle and makeup. Many brides also take this opportunity to get in shape. Like the rest of your preparations, it’s never a good idea to wait until the last minute to get started. However, in between planning the wedding and a never-ending workload, it can seem like an impossible mission. The following simple tips offer an easy way to get in shape for the big day.

• Drink like a fish. Drinking water is probably the single most important trick to weight loss. By making you feel fuller, it helps prevent food cravings even as it flushes out unhealthy toxins.

• Forget about drastic starvation diets or “magic” pills with stimulants. Many are not only ineffective but also have unhealthy effects on your skin, hair and overall stress level.

• Don’t skip meals. This is one of the most popular stumbling blocks to weight loss. When you skip meals, your body assumes it’s starving and slows down your metabolism to conserve energy. It’s important to feed your body every three to four hours.

• Exercise for 20 to 30 minutes at least three times a week. This is a “golden oldie.” Exercise actually helps you manage wedding– and work-related stress while burning off extra calories. If you can’t get to the gym, then simply walk for 20 to 30 minutes. It doesn’t really matter what you do, as long as it’s active.

• Take vitamins regularly. A lack of essential vitamins and minerals can make losing weight more difficult.

• Watch your sugar intake. Sugar is a “high glycemic” substance, which means it causes your body to output a higher amount of fat storage hormones (insulin), which are directly responsible for loss of skin tone and increased body fat.

• Skip the salt. A diet that is too rich in sodium causes your body to retain water, which can make you look “puffy.”

With just a few steps, it’s easy to look your absolute best for the walk down the aisle.