How far would you go?

I am getting married in less than a month. So naturally, I stumble across the latest pre-wedding fad diet or bridal boot camp in an article here and there, but usually I just skip over it and continue on to the fun articles about flowers and dresses and pretty things. But I will never forget the wedding related weight loss article I read yesterday - and not for a good reason.

Recently, I found my new favorite bridal blog called Bitchless Bride. On the train back from NYC yesterday, I decided to catch up on a little Bitchless Bride reading and found their latest post which cited an absolutely disturbing article via the New York Times about brides using nasogastric tubes as a tool to lose weight before the big day. Really? REALLY?! Yes. You read me right.

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This is an all-time low. The doctors who perform these should be ashamed, and the people who decide to take this route should think long and hard about whether they should seek professional psychiatric care for their notions about dieting.

Read the article. A nasogastric tube is a medical tool used for people who cannot consume adequate calories and nutrition orally due to illness or surgery. These feedings are called Enteral Tube feedings. They are calculated by a Registered Dietitian in a hospital setting for people who are too ill to feed themselves orally: think late stage Cancer, Liver Failure, Crohns Disease to name a few. They are not to be used as a weight loss tool under any circumstance.

Listen up, Girls, and listen close! Your weddings and future important events are not about how much weight you lose or how small size of a dress you can purchase. They are about enjoying an exciting time with those you love and cherish most. Sure, you want to look and feel your best. So start eating a healthy, balanced diet (visit http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ to learn about how you can do that or email one of us and we can talk about your nutrition counseling options) and start being physically active. It's that simple. That's the formula. There is no way around it. Eat right. Exercise. And if you want an extra boost, see an RD who will counsel you on how to best do those things (rather than stick a nasogastric tube down your throat).

Savor the time and don't waste it counting calories or you will seriously regret it. Normally, I try to take a less aggressive approach to my Guiltless writing, but I mean business on this one! Life is short. But it's up to you to make it sweet too.

You are radiant. You are soulful and beautiful. You are the pulse of the Earth. And no nasogastric tube or crazy diet restriction is responsible for that. Think about it.