How to avoid feeling bloated on your wedding day.
Picture this.
It’s your wedding day. You’re all done up. Perfect hair. Amazing dress or suit. Excellent makeup, if you’re wearing it. Your accessories are on point and your shoes are comfortable. But, there’s a problem.
Your tummy isn’t feeling great.
No, it’s not nerves. It’s bloat. And, it feels awful. The gas (ick) and water stuck in your body is making everything else not as great as it should be. And you want it gone.
The thing about feeling bloated on your wedding day is that it can be common. With the commotion, salty foods, alcohol, and just general deviation from your regular routine, bloat can happen. Prevention is key when it comes to avoid feeling bloated.
How To Avoid Feeling Bloated On Your Wedding Day
This post is about how to avoid feeling bloated on your wedding day. Is this an icky subject? For sure. And, to be clear, I’m not a doctor or medical professional. I’m just a person who likes a healthy gut, on my wedding day and on every day. The tips in this post are not ground shaking. They are not prescriptive. The tips are just common sense ways to avoid feeling bloated on your wedding day. Remember, do what feels best for your body. Not every tip is for everyone, so pick and choose what feels right for you.
Let’s get into it!
AVOID FOODS THAT TRIGGER YOUR OWN STOMACH
Number one tip to avoid feeling bloated on your wedding day? Avoid foods that trigger your own stomach.
Now, this is different for everyone. For some people, dairy can be a trigger. Others have no issues. Some folks are just more sensitive to water retention and inflammation, and others are not. To help prep for this, do your own research. Maybe keep a journal for a few weeks leading up to your wedding. Write down what you eat, and how you feel afterwards. If you spot a trend, you may have some insight about what to avoid.
MOVE YOUR BODY
Exercise is a great way to reduce water retention. It gets things flowing, so to speak.
As you get closer to your wedding, form a plan to make sure you move your body on your wedding day. This can be as involved as going to an exercise class, streaming your favorite workout, or going for a walk. It can be as simple as five minutes of flowing yoga and a quick stroll around your living room. The key is to make sure you don’t just wake up and sit. Get moving, so your body knows to also get moving, if you know what I mean.
EAT FOODS THAT ARE KNOWN TO HELP FIGHT THE BLOAT
Okay, this part comes with a bit of a disclaimer. There are some foods that are known to help fight water retention, limit gas, and just be generally good for you. As with anything, use your own discretion before you start changing around your diet. Try these foods, if you are not used to them, to see if they work well on your body. You never know until you try, and you don’t want to experiment on your wedding day.
Alright, that said, let’s talk about the foods and drinks that should be helpful as you avoid feeling bloated on your wedding day.
DO: EAT REAL FOOD
In general, real, unprocessed foods will help you avoid bloating on your wedding day.
These foods are devoid of salt and sugar, unless they are added by you. These foods will inheritably will help reduce gas and water retention. Foods like eggs, cooked veggies, olive oils, lean proteins, and rice all tend to be gentle on our systems. Focus on real, whole food, starting a few days before your wedding and you’re off to a good start.
DO: CONSUME PEPPERMINT TEA
Tea does a body good.
These days you can find a tea for just about anything. Some for sleep, some for energy, and some for tummy troubles. While there can be health benefits to just about anything, if you want to avoid feeling bloated on your wedding day, stick to some tried and true winners. Teas like peppermint tea, and green tea, tend to help us feel good overall. Sip on a cup or two leading up to your wedding, and see how you feel.
DO: HAVE SOME PINEAPPLE HANDY
Though pineapple is high in sugar, it is a natural bloat-beater.
Pineapples have enzymes in their juice that help break down protein in your gut. This reduces tummy troubles and bloating. This mixture of enzymes, called bromelain, also has antibacterial properties that can help protect your gut from harmful bacteria.
Additionally, kiwi can be really good to combat bloating. It is filled with fiber and potassium, and contains actinidin, an enzyme that helps improve digestion.
DO: PARSLEY, IT’S MORE THAN JUST A GARNISH
Herbs, like parsley, are winners against the bloat war.
Parsley is easier to consume than you think. Of course, it can, and is, sprinkled over everything. It has a mild taste and bright green color, making it a restaurant favorite to garnish and brighten a dish. Take note of this, and add parsley to your smoothies, soups, or just on top of a warm lunch.
DO: HYDRATE, HYDRATE, HYDRATE
Water retention is the enemy, and sometimes you have to fight fire with fire.
With water, of course.
Drinking enough water is crucial to keeping your body’s drainage systems operating smoothly. Everyone should aim to get half their body weight, in ounces, every day. Not into plain water? Jazz it up with a little lemon juice, fruit, or some flavoring. It will do your body good.
DON’T EAT FOODS THAT ARE KNOWN TO CAUSE BLOATING
Alright, now let’s talk about what you shouldn’t consume if you want to avoid feeling bloated on your wedding day.
These foods may be somewhat common, or they may be easy to omit from your diet for a few days. Your body may be able to tolerate some of them in small quantities, or you may need to be super intentional with strict avoidance. The best way to tell how your body tolerates a bloat-causing food is to omit it from your diet and then gradually add it in, taking note of how you feel.
When we’re busy getting married, eating at restaurants and possibly traveling, it can be hard to be in control of what we consume. Still, if you want to avoid tummy troubles, try your best.
DON’T: ASK FOR SALT
Salt loves to help us retain water, which leads to bloating.
If you are going out to eat a lot before your wedding, perhaps during a rehearsal dinner or at breakfast the morning of your wedding, beware of salt. There’s already a lot of it in restaurant food, and adding more can mean consequences later on. Season your foods with fresh herbs, olive oils, or spices you enjoy, but just go easy on the salt.
DON’T: BEANS, BEANS, GOOD FOR THE HEART . . .
Look, I mean, I love beans. Of all kinds. But, you know, they aren’t great for the tummy sometimes.
To avoid feeling bloated on your wedding day, go easy on the beans. Or, maybe just don’t eat them. In some cases, this is easy. In others, it’s not so much. It may depend on your culture and regular cuisine. You’ve been warned, though.
DON’T: CHEW GUM
With gum, comes air. With air comes gas. Ugh, right?
Simple solution? Don’t chew gum before your wedding. Not the morning of, and definitely not right before the ceremony. Yes, you may want your breath to be minty fresh. If so, brush your teeth. Use mouthwash. Suck on a mint. But gum? Avoid it.
DON’T: TOO MUCH DAIRY
There are many, many people who have sensitivities to dairy and don’t even know it. If you think you might be one of them, avoid it before your wedding.
Now, not all dairy is created equal. A glass of whole milk will affect your stomach differently than a little parmesan on your salad. If you don’t usually avoid dairy, I would recommend to perhaps avoid heavy creams, ice cream, and super soft cheeses for a few days, just to be on the safe side.
DON’T: ALCOHOL, STARTING THE NIGHT BEFORE YOUR WEDDING
One thing about most celebrations is that there will be some alcohol around. And, if you like to drink it, you’ll likely drink some. This, in moderation, is usually not a big deal.
However, remember, the more you drink before your wedding, the higher the risk is that you’ll feel some bloating on your wedding day. Alcohol in general just does not do a body good, effecting most of our major systems in negative ways. So, maybe avoid it, or strictly moderate how much you consume.
DON’T: OVERCAFFEINATE
It can be difficult to sleep right before our weddings. In fact, I once wrote a whole post about sleeping before your wedding, and you can find it here.
If you wake up tired on your wedding day it can be tempting to drink a lot of caffeine. While a little, in moderation, is likely okay, don’t over do it. Too much caffeine can make you shaky, dehydrated, and, you guessed it, feeling bloated. Have a little, if you need it, and then hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
DON’T: BUBBLES (THE KIND YOU DRINK)
While we’re on the subject of drinks that can cause bloating, let’s talk about bubbles. The kind found in carbonated beverages.
There are whole movements around bubbles right now. Probiotic bubbles, vitamin bubbles, and just plain sugar free soda water bubbles. Of course, many people love their sugary bubble drinks, too. Look, just as with before, a little might be fine. But, too much, and those bubbles could become trapped in your system. So go easy on them.
DON’T: RAW VEGGIES
Last food to avoid so you don’t feel bloated on your wedding day. Raw vegetables.
While most cooked vegetables should be fine on your system, raw veggies are a different story. These foods are harder for our bodies to break down, and can cause a sort of system traffic jam inside us. The ruffage in the veggies can irritate our digestion, leading to lots of tummy troubles.
So, to be on the safe side, avoid them. Especially broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and brussels sprouts. A couple baby carrots or slices of bell pepper probably won’t harm you, but proceed with caution.
TAKE TIME TO BREATH AND RELAX
Moving on from food do’s and don’ts, let’s touch on breathing and relaxing before your wedding. When done properly, they can also help reduce bloating.
The thing with breathing and relaxing is that they tell our bodies to keep processing properly. When we are super tense, our internal systems tense up, too. Everything slows down, waiting for the proper permission to proceed. Taking the time to relax, breath completely, and just be still can help with tummy troubles, and all your systems in general.
SEE A DOCTOR
Last tip! If you suffer from bloating, digestive issues, or anything that may impede your wedding day experience, talk to a doctor.
Might it be an embarrassing conversation? Of course. But doctors have heard it all. They are not phased by embarrassing things in the same way that “normal” people are. Be proactive, and have the conversation. You never know what relief you may feel once you do.
THOUGHTS ON HOW TO AVOID FEELING BLOATED ON YOUR WEDDING DAY
Friends, there are so many ways to avoid feeling bloated on your wedding day. Remember to pick and choose the ways that work best for you. You may want to do a little trial run ahead of your wedding, adding certain things into your diet, and taking certain things out. See how you feel and try to replicate it on the big day. Remember to hydrate, move your body, and breath. Happy wedding planning!
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