Crash dieting before your wedding is not the answer. And today's guest has the evidence-based framework to prove it.

Dr. Kelsy Vick sits down with Registered Dietitian Nutritionist and Integrative and Functional Nutrition Certified Practitioner Bayleigh Wessel — founder of Balance Blue Collective — for the most practical, sustainable, and science-backed bridal nutrition conversation you are going to find. From protein baselines to blood sugar stability, hormone health to body composition — this episode covers the full 10-month runway to looking and feeling your absolute best.

What you'll learn:

• Why body composition matters more than the scale or BMI
• The add-before-subtract nutrition approach that actually works
• Why eating enough — especially protein — is non-negotiable for body recomposition
• The 10-12 month bridal nutrition timeline broken down phase by phase
• How underfueling and overexercising directly impact your hormones and cycle
• What to prioritize in the final months — hydration, inflammation reduction, and stability
• Why DEXA scans are the gold standard for tracking real progress
• Plus — Bayleigh announces her new podcast No Extremes launching July 8th

Links/Research Articles:

Bayleigh’s Website: https://www.balancebluecollectivellc.com/

Work With Bayleigh: https://balancebluecollectivellc.practicebetter.io/#/6303dccaf1314592c6e3e89a/bookings?s=64caec56aa6a6fd4822c505c

Bayleigh’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dietitianbayleigh/

Bayleigh’s Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@dietitianbayleigh

No Extremes Podcast Waitlist: https://balancebluecollective.myflodesk.com/podcast?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQPOTM2NjE5NzQzMzkyNDU5AAGnFucDrG7W3ZqsCKd51U6H9DKqJdyej1i_Ts9o2Djdo68jdUfAOfXn4vcNMKc_aem_TCdqwlup4TL4GMSPtytWCg

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Your skin on your wedding day is not something you want to figure out last minute. And according to today's guest — it's also not something you want to experiment with close to the date.

Dr. Kelsy Vick sits down with Claire — a Columbia-trained, board-certified nurse practitioner and cosmetic injector — for the most practical, honest, evidence-based bridal skin prep conversation on the internet. From the mistakes brides make most often to the exact timeline you should be following — this episode covers everything.

What you'll learn:

• The most common bridal skin mistakes — and why panic-changing your routine is at the top of the list
• Why you should never try Botox, filler, or a new procedure for the first time close to your wedding date
• The 12-month, 6-month, and 3-month skin prep timeline — broken down clearly
• What treatments are actually evidence-backed — and which ones are overhyped
• What to prioritize in wedding week — sleep, hydration, and barrier protection
• The TikTok skin advice you need to stop following immediately

Whether you're a bride, a MOH, or just someone who wants better skin — this episode is for you.

Links/Research Articles:

Dr. Claire’s Booking Link: https://www.myvelour.com/provider/claire-schwegel-del-signore/services?locationType=in-suite

Dr. Claire’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/confidencebyclaire/

Dr. Claire’s Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@confidencebyclaire

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insta:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispod

youtube:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt

tiktok:: @dr.kelsyvickdpt & @wellnessbigsispod

Nobody puts this in the wedding planning timeline. But it might be the most important tool you have.

In this episode of the Science-Backed Wedding Prep Series, Dr. Kelsy Vick breaks down how learning to read your menstrual cycle as health data can transform your engagement season — from how you schedule high-stakes wedding moments to how you train, fuel, recover, sleep, and show up emotionally on the days that matter most.

This is not cycle syncing. This is individualized cycle awareness — and it changes everything.

What you'll learn:

• Why your menstrual cycle is the most underrated wedding prep tool you're not using
• A phase-by-phase breakdown of what your body is doing and why
• How to schedule hair trials, dress fittings, and vendor meetings around your cycle
• What to eat, how to train, and how to recover in each phase
• Why your energy, confidence, and emotional resilience fluctuate predictably — and how to work with it
• How cycle awareness builds fertility literacy for your future

Peer-Reviewed Resources:

• Elorduy-Terrado et al. (2025) — Muscles / PMC — Hormonal fluctuations & female athletic performance systematic review 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12195628/
• Meignié et al. (2021) — Frontiers in Physiology / PMC — Menstrual cycle phase & elite athlete performance 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8170151/
• Helm, McGinnis & Basu (2021) — IJERPH / PMC — Nutrition interventions across menstrual cycle phases 📎 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8296102/

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