KerriCornell

I have to admit, I have been lurking around these boards for sometime. There is some good information out there in regards to weight loss/exercise and then there is some "mis-information" that makes me cringe! We all want to look good on our wedding day. That is a given! But all of our goals are different. Some want to lose 50 lbs. Some want to drop their body fat percentage to 16%, some just want to get into a healthy exercise routine. Whatever is it....the first step is making a goal AND making it realistic. If you want to drop 2 dress sizes but aren't willing to change your diet, then you probably need to adjust your goal. There's nothing wrong with that. It just comes down to how motivated you are to achieving your goals. Make the right goal for yourself, for the amount of time you have to give and for the sacrifices you are willing to make to achieve it. I am currently a group fitness instructor and have trained in the past. My fitness coach and mentor has been in the business for 30+ years and now trains bikini and figure competitors as well as created her own fitness program called Dancer Body Fitness. I am lucky enough to be given amazing diet/fitness advice and I'm happy to share it for those who are interested in diet, exercise or just need a place to start from. The most important thing (and this has been mentioned a few times on the boards before...but probably not enough!) is your diet. Your diet plays about a 70-80% role in in your weight loss/fitness goals. I personally think diet is harder than any pushup, pullup, class, bootcamp, etc. It involves making healthy choices every minute of the day. Below is a link to an article that gives a great 5 day diet plan. http://www.fitnessrxmag.com/nutrition/fat-loss/1279-eat-more-lose-more.html You'll see the key is in eating 5-6 small meals a day. You don't need to eat the same thing day in and day out. But you will notice certain staple foods in your diet. For me its egg whites, oatmeal, chicken, grapefruit and asparagus. I eat a lot of these. For you it might be something else. Every meal should be very high in protein (try for 20g) and very low in sugar. You want to keep your blood sugar regulated throughout the day so you don't have spikes and then lows...causing cravings for sugar. It is not easy. You have to make the choice on a daily basis to eat healthy. There are days when I crave pizza so badly. If you have a craving for something, think about how hungry you are. Could you eat a piece of chicken instead? If the answer is no, your body isnt starving..you are just craving something unhealthy. Drink some water or eat a healthy snack and the feeling will usually pass. Now for exercise...the "fun" part. For your cardio exercise I suggest finding something you enjoy doing. If you love to run (and I am NOT one of these people) then run, go roller blading, play a sport, dance....whatever fun activity you can find that will make you smile and sweat at the same time...do it! I love to dance. So I started taking dance classes as well as dance cardio classes. I loved it so much I started teaching Zumba. Its an excellent way to burn a lot of calories in 60 minutes while having fun. Find something fun...and do it. 3-6 times a week. If you want to lose weight but also don't want to see flabby arms and thighs you need to incorporate weights. This is so important for most women and they don't even realize it. Just something as simple as toning your shoulders will really change the way your body looks. Shoulders, biceps, triceps, hamstrings and glutes are the major muscles I work weekly. Core exercises should be built into all your weight training. It helps you in all other workouts and it works your abs.... and who doesn't want awesome abs! Low weights and longer reps build long, lean muscles (not bulky!). 3lb and 5 lb weights are really all you need to get toned. You might be using a 5lb weight for a bicep exercise...but you are doing it for 3 minutes. I had my fiance (who lifts regularly at the gym) do some shoulder exercises with me. He laughed at the 5 lb weight at first... but he was dying after 2 minutes and I kept on going. (Moral of the story: strength should not be defined by how heavy your weights are!) Also, make sure you have proper form so you don't strain or cause injury to yourself. This is also much easier when using lighter weights. Pay attention to all those big guys at the gym throwing weights around. A lot of them have horrible form and have no idea what they are doing! I hope all of you ladies achieve the goals you set for yourself for your wedding day! This is a great forum which allows us to chat and support one another. Take advantage of all the information out there!!!!! Please feel free to share the exercises that motivate you. Maybe someone else will be reading and think "hey thats an awesome idea!" and now you've just helped someone get a little closer to their goals

The Bar Method is amazing. I teach something very similar and its wonderful for building long, lean muscles! If you don't have the Bar Method near you there is also Booty Barre, The Daily Method, Pure Barre (I can't seem to think of anymore off the top of my head) but all are built off the same principle of using ballet,pilates and yoga so strengthen and lengthen muscles.

Well said Its good to finally see some correct diet information on here for once. You can cardio and left weights all day long..but until you change your eating habits you will never see lasting results...period. (and thats coming from a trainer and group fitness instructor)

Hi Cortneyadam, We were in the same boat as you. Started out with the Your Moments Package. We are only having about 18 guests and wanted to keep things small and intimate. We decided to do the ceremony, then a 3 hour cocktail reception (with hors d'ouvres and using our ipod for music) and then a reservation in one of the restaurants for dinner. This seemed a more relaxed way to go with a smaller group rather than the normal dinner reception with DJ, etc. We still have that plan but upgraded to the Eternity package. It ended up saving us a little money and we got a few extras like a couples massage and bridal hair/makeup. I would price out all your options. We upgraded to the Eternity package about a month ago...so you can always upgrade at a later date. Happy planning!!!! Kerri

Pilar is wonderful! I have had no issues coresponding with her for the last few months. Just make sure yor questions are specific. I've found its better to number them she can resonds to everything. Only 6 weeks to go.....! Yikes!

You girls are right, the drug wars with the cartels are happening in and around the border towns. I live about 2 hours north of the AZ/Mexico border and we are no longer able to travel into Mexico due to the issues. I have been to Cancun/Riviera Cancun once a year for the last few years and have not witnessed any violence. However, I will say that you still need to be careful. Something happened to me at Dreams Tulum last year which I have come to find out happens more and more often to tourists. I had 2 drinks at the "club" at the Dreams Tulum resort and within 20 minutes I went from sober to passing out. 2 rum and cokes may get me a little tipsy but no where near blacking out. I woke up the next morning with no memory of what had happened from the time I was at the club untill 11am the next morning. The only thing I can remember is that I left my first drink at the bar when I went to go dance. When I came back they had a new one sitting there for me and I never questioned it. Later, after arriving home I started googling and found out it has happened to many tourists at large all-inclusive hotels and clubs where GHB (normally used as a clear liquid) is put into drinks. I don't know the reasons for why staff or other tourists or locals would do this to anyone...but its real. Take it from me...never leave your drink unattended! Quote: Originally Posted by shannonmarie Hey Jmc8922! I have had a few people say they are concerned with going to Mexico as well and honestly it really bothers me! If they did their research they would know that the drug wars are not happening in Cancun! I get so sick of people saying things about Cancun/Rivera Maya being dangerous so I did find this and I put it on my website: "We are aware there are a lot of things on the news that may be of concern to you in regards to traveling to Mexico. I have done some research on it and according to the U.S. Department of State, they are NOT saying that you should not travel to Cancun! They are recommending that you do not go to the northern Mexico border cities of Tijuana, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, Nuevo Laredo, Monterrey and Matamoros." I also posted this map: http://www.travelweekly.com/uploadedFiles/MEXICOMAP4.pdf It just frustrates me that people continue to say that! Do a search on this forum about the dangers of Mexico and you'll find more information. I myself have never been to Cancun, but I have friends that go to Cancun twice a year. They even ride the Collectivo (?) (public transportation) and they say they felt safe. As with anywhere, use common sense and they will be fine! Congrats on your wedding! Please post a review since you are getting married before me! J

What a gorgeous, GORGEOUS ring! I am in love with the colored diamonds and gemstones trend.

In case any of you are still looking ....Last Call is having an online sale. 30% off with the promo code "FRIEND". I picked up a pair of Badgley Mischkas for an amazing price! (they also come in black and nude if interested

KitKat, Oh my fiance (and his entire family) love the Penguins... so if they are playing I am sure we will run into each other!!! We are arriving May 11th and staying through the 18th and then we've booked another resort closer to Cancun for our honeymoon and we'll be there for another 7 days. It was tough to convince my guy to take off of work for two weeks....but its totally worth it. Most of our friends and family are arriving on the 14th (some flying from Pittsburgh) so you may run into some of them on the plane or in the airport!!! I am *trying* not to bring too much. Some basic stuff like chair bows, favors, a table runner...stuff thats light weight and can travel easily! We were thinking of taking a taxi into Playa del Carmen to check out the Walmart and see if we can find anymore decorations/flowers, etc. What are you bringing down? I still feel like there is so much to do but I figure once we get down to the resort we can really plan everything. Still trying to wrap up a few things from here like scheduling a TTD session. Are you doing one? We were looking for ideas of places to go. Didnt really want more pictures at the resort and wasn't thrilled with the cenote idea. Still looking! One of the last things Im trying to put together is the ceremony script. Have you been in contact with your officiant at all? I am hoping I can just give them the script when we get down there and not have to worry about it again!

Kitkat, I think I saw you on the other board but I am getting married a day before you! Also, my fiance is from Pittsburgh and I am originally from Philly. So come look for us Our wedding is small maybe 20 people. We are getting marrried on the Pergola at 3:30, then doing a 3 hr cocktail reception at the Orange Lounge and then dinner at Tamarindo. We got the Eternity Package and Pilar has been awesome to deal with. I can't believe it's only 2 months away!!!! I feel like there is so much I still need to do

Kitkat, I think I saw you on the other board but I am getting married a day before you! Also, my fiance is from Pittsburgh and I am originally from Philly. So come look for us Our wedding is small maybe 20 people. We are getting marrried on the Pergola at 3:30, then doing a 3 hr cocktail reception at the Orange Lounge and then dinner at Tamarindo. We got the Eternity Package and Pilar has been awesome to deal with. I can't believe it's only 2 months away!!!! I feel like there is so much I still need to do

Hopefully by now you are happily married and none of that matters anymore I think a lot of girls forget that they need to appreciate the fact that their parents are contributing to or paying for an entire wedding. No money is coming out of your pocket with that kind of budget. I am paying for my wedding myself and would not dream of asking my parents to contribute a dime (in fact I am flying them out). Don't take for granted the large monitary sacrifce your Mom is making on your behalf just to make your big day special. Hopefully, you ended your trip by giving your Mom a hug and a HUGE thank you for all she did. She deserves it.

Hi Jenny, I am using Sascha Gluck. He had a lot of great reviews on here and his prices were very reasonable!. He was also quick with responses as well. Check out his work! Good Luck!

Hi JadeBride, I am doing the Your Moments Package as well. (Wedding is May 16th) We just booked Sascha Gluck for 3 hours of photography. It was one of the lowest quotes I had gotten from a photographer and his photos were among my favorites. Also his response time was within a few hours. So check him out! Just curious what you are planning to do after the ceremony. We were thinking of making a large reservation at one of the restaurants but after 10 people they charge $22/person. I was wondering what others who weren't doing the full reception were planning to do..???? Kerri

Kitkat, That is awesome! We get there Friday May 11th so I will be sure to look for your wedding Where are you having it?

Also, just wondering if anyone has the wedding booklet the coordinators send you? If anyone has it could you send it to me? [email protected] Thank you sooo much!!!!

Hi there! We just got our wedding date confirmation from Pilar: May 16th, 2012. Who says you can't plan a wedding in 3 months

Please let us know what you find out on the site inspection and visit!!!!! Oh and pictures...lots of pictures! Still looking at this resort for a possible wedding May/June. I just noticed their prices have reduced a bit which is helpful. Looking at staying on the La Perla side. Anyone know if guests can stay at either side and still attend the wedding? Are the wedding package prices the same as you see for Paradisus Punta Cana and Palma Real? Thanks!!!!!! Kerri

Just curious if anyone has looked into the new Paradisus resorts being built in Playa del Carmen? Looks like they are scheduled to open in Nov 2011. http://www.paradisusplayadelcarmen.com/ I was looking into the Paradisus in Punta Cana but when I ran across there new resorts I was floored. They look amazing! Any 2012-2013 brides look into weddings here? I would assume the packages would be similar to PPC.