Eating small meals or snacks with protein every two to three hours promotes a steady metabolism and stable blood-sugar. As a result, you’re less prone to cravings and splurges — which can demolish your fitness plan. I know that preparing food is the last thing on your mind with work, school, home-life, planning a wedding, etc. But that’s no excuse for hitting the drive-thru or grabbing a muffin in the breakroom. Instead, keep your stomach full — and slim– with these convenient no-prep wonder foods!

Edamame takes very, very little preparation. Buy it frozen, steam it for a minute or two in the microwave, sprinkle it with some salt, pack it up and go. These baby soybean pods are roughly 100 calories per half cup, and contain about 9 grams of protein.

Turkey Jerky is a quick and tasty way to get in your protein throughout the day. Oberto brand packs 12 grams of protein per serving at just 100 calories.

Natural Peanut Butter gets a bad rap all the time because of it’s fat content. Too much of anything is bad, so just be responsible and measure it out. One serving size is 2 tablespoons, 200 calories and 8 grams of protein. Scoop it into a mini-tupperwear and eat it with a spoon. Who cares if your co-workers give you funny looks. Remember the trend George Costanza started when he ate his candy bars with a knife and fork?

Popcorn — minus the liquid butter, thanks — is great for an afternoon snack at work. The 100 calorie mini bags are just that, and have 3 grams of protein. Not much, but they’ll hold you over. Just make sure you pop it before work and put it in a plastic bag. No one wants to be “that guy” who stunk up the breakroom with burnt popcorn.

Cottage Cheese is loaded with protein! 13 grams per half cup serving and only 80 calories. You could even pair it up with a sliced apple. Bring it along in tupperwear with a cold pack and you’re all set.

Breathing during exercise, we all know, is extremely important because we need to keep oxygen flowing through our bloodstream and to the muscles… so we don’t pass out. But there is an art to it when you’re “getting your swell on” at the gym.

I’ll make it really easy for you to remember: EXHALE on EXERTION. I don’t think I have to tell you when to inhale, right? So, whenever you’re exerting force such as pushing in a bench press, pulling in a back row, or raising your torso against gravity for a crunch, that’s when you exhale.

It may take a few weeks of making a conscious effort to get it down. To make it easier, try counting on exertion. On every push up, say the number of reps it is on the way up to force air out. Do not hold your breath! This could raise your blood pressure or lead to a hernia. Whatever you do to practice proper breathing, just don’t be that person in the free-weights grunting like a Neanderthal! Not hot.

So, I started looking for wedding dresses… accidentally. It all started after my mom, Nancy, and I put the deposit down for our reception hall (Villa Penna! It’s gorgeous) and then we stumbled upon a bridal dress shop. Nancy is already stressing about finding her dress that won’t make her look like the typical “Mother of the Bride.” As we looked, I thought I’d pilfer through wedding dresses that would look good on me. I wasn’t seeing anything, the saleswoman wasn’t listening to me, and then I went into panic mode.

Taking a week off from the traumatic experience, Nancy and I went to another bridal salon, Alessandra’s. After a few minutes looking, the saleswoman approached me, we chatted, and she spent more than an hour with me to get a better understanding of what I want. Although she didn’t have what I was looking for, she knows what I want and offered to order some that fit my description. In the meantime, she said to keep looking and let her know what I want and they will order it for me. Wow! I think this will be a better experience that I thought.

I want to hear your stories! If you have any helpful tips for me in my search for the perfect wedding dress, email me your suggestions at jenny[@]BridesMadeFit.com