If you've been lugging around a few extra pounds that you've been meaning to drop, you might feel as though there's no time like the present. After all, you're going to be seeing a lot of long-lost family members and friends at all of the wedding events, and it's only natural that you'd want to look your best. Is this pure vanity? Not really. Remember: Looking good makes most people feel pretty good about themselves. When people feel self-conscious about their appearance, they might tend to be a little reserved or even standoffish in the company of seldom-seen loved ones and old chums. Conversely, when people are happy with their appearance, they're more likely to put on a happy face and actually enjoy mingling with folks from the past.

Your Strategy

So let's say you want to get in shape for those wedding pictures. How are you going to do this? You're going to stop eating for a while? Cut yourself back to a few crackers and a can of diet soda at lunch? Or are you just going to eliminate the double cheeseburger you usually order with your fast-food takeout?

When you're looking to lose some weight, remember: Slow and steady wins the race. Make some healthy adjustments to your eating regimen (starving yourself isn't healthy, and eating fast food every day isn't, either). Look to add some fruit and vegetables to your diet; cut back on the fat. Everything in moderation.

Get Moving

Being active is a key part of losing weight and keeping it off. You don't have to jump into marathon running. Just find something that literally moves you that you can enjoy, or at least tolerate. If you find walking three miles is boring you beyond belief, ask yourself if some music — or talk radio — would help to pass that time more quickly. If you find that one type of exercise isn't floating your boat, look for something else. Are you into team sports? Look for an adult league. You want to swim, even in the winter? Find a sports club with an indoor pool.

The right exercise fit for you is out there — your mission is not to throw in the towel too soon. A lot of people will say flat out, “I hate to exercise.” This hardly gives a particular activity a fair chance at winning you over. If this sounds an awful lot like someone you know (someone like you, for instance), lose the exercise label. Think of it as simply spending thirty or forty-five minutes moving your bod.

The Payoff

There'd better be a big payoff, you're thinking, 'cause you hate to exercise. (We just covered this opinion in the previous section. Adjust that attitude.)

Well, aside from looking good and feeling good about your appearance, you may just start to feel healthier. Carrying around extra weight can be a burden that you don't even recognize. Just tying your shoes can be difficult and exhausting if you're fighting for space when you bend over.

Of course, there are sometimes health risks associated with being overweight, and these can only be determined by your doctor. But if he or she has been pestering you to slim down, this might be the perfect time to do it. Not only will you look like a fab father in the wedding pictures, but you might just achieve the ultimate payoff: extending your life expectancy. Your family will thank you.

Take It Easy on Yourself

Many, many people face the struggle of slimming down, and you might be surrounded by stories of failure. (“Cousin Eddie has been trying to lose weight for twenty years, and he just can't do it!”) Losing weight is a personal venture; it has nothing to do with whether your next-door neighbor has succeeded with his weight-loss goals or whether everyone in your family is heavy. This is about you, and you alone.

If you have a bad day (you just couldn't resist the drive-through, for example, and you went for the Mighty Combo meal instead of the salad), don't let that be the end of your quest. It happens to almost everyone, even those who have successfully lost weight.

Most importantly, remember: It takes time. You can't expect to drop thirty pounds in a month and have it stay off. It just doesn't work that way. Aim for little victories (losing a pound or two a week — that's realistic and absolutely doable for most folks) and you'll come out triumphant.