Are wedding bells in your near future? The next eight months are the busiest time of year for weddings. If you’re busy planning the wedding of your dreams, getting fit for the big day is on your to-do list.

Dropping those extra pounds before your wedding day can be a challenge with all the added stress of wedding planning, but we’ve got you covered. Whether you’re the bride, groom or parent of the bride or groom, here are some tips to help you get fit in time for the big day.

Drink up! (Water, that is.)

There are two key reasons drinking plenty of water can be helpful for weight loss. First, drinking water can help curb cravings, so if you’re busy wedding planning and get the munchies, drink a glass of water. If your hunger doesn’t go away in 15 minutes, opt for a healthy snack such as a piece of fruit or fresh-cut veggies. Second, water helps flush toxins and fat out of your body and keeps your metabolism revved up.

Get in your cardio

Schedule time for at least 30 minutes of aerobic (cardio) exercise five days a week. Aerobic exercise gets your blood pumping and burns calories. It can also help reduce some of your wedding-planning stress. When it comes to cardio, your options are nearly endless, so no matter what kind of exercise you prefer, as long as it gets your heart rate into your target zone (read more about that in the next tip), you’re on the right track. You can try running, walking, jogging, cycling or swimming; bodyweight exercises such as burpees, jumping jacks and mountain climbers; or classes or exercise videos such as Zumba or spin. To boost your burn, get in some weight training on your rest days.

Stay in your zone

To maximize your workouts, you need to keep your heart rate in the target zone. To find your zone, you must first find your maximum heart rate. Use this formula: 220 – your age (in years) = maximum heart rate.

Now that you’ve got your max, use the following formulas to find your target heart rate zone:

Maximum heart rate – 30 = target heart rate high.

Maximum heart rate – 60 = target heart rate low.

Aim to keep your rate in your target zone for the duration of your workout.

Target your abs. Let’s be honest. When you’re thinking about fitting in your wedding dress (or tux) and prepping for that beach honeymoon, flat, toned abs are a must. To get your abs wedding ready, try this 30-day abs routine by the personal trainers at HASfit. There are several free online and app-based training programs, so try a few to see what suits your needs.

Keep a food journal

There’s a lot of note taking involved in wedding planning, so why not add a food journal to the mix? When you’re trying to slim down, writing down what you eat is one of the best things you can do. A food journal serves as a layer of accountability (will that cookie really be worth it if you’ve got to log it in your food journal?) and it helps you see just how many calories and how much fat you’re taking in on a daily basis. Food journaling can also help you identify gaps in your nutrition.

Visualize the results you want

Staying motivated can be tricky, but visualizing your results can be helpful. Take a glance at the calendar to see how quickly your wedding day is approaching and remind yourself why you’ve set out to get fit in the first place. Now close your eyes and imagine walking down the aisle looking your absolute best. All your hard work will be worth it in the end!

Ask for help

If you’re serious about losing weight before you say “I do,” consider enlisting the help of a registered dietitian and certified professional trainer. Having some experts on your side can help you develop just the right diet and exercise plan to help you achieve your goals in the amount of time you have before the big day.

Don’t leave your new healthy habits at the altar. Now that you’ve gotten into a routine of eating right and exercising regularly, don’t abandon these practices in your marriage. Continuing these Wedding Workouts you began before your wedding day can help you avoid the all-too-common post-wedding weight gain.