Whether it’s getting a spray tan or a touch–up of Botox, most brides take extra measures to ensure they look their best on their big day.
But Riley Anastasiu, 30, from Palm Desert, California, took her wedding prep to the next level.
She and her now–husband, Isaac, 27, embarked on an impressive weight loss transformation together in the months leading up to their nuptials.
The pair lost a combined 90lbs – without using jabs like Ozempic or Wegovy – leaving their own friends and family members in ‘shock’ over how different they looked when they walked down the aisle.
So how did they do it? Riley broke down the simple ‘lifestyle changes’ they made to shed the pounds with the Daily Mail.
She explained that she had struggled with her weight ever since she was young and had tried every diet in the book to no avail.
‘I’ve done all the diets including Jenny Craig, Weight Watchers, you name it,’ she shared.
‘But at the end of the day, those are temporary fixes not lifestyle changes.’
Riley, 30, and Isaac, 27, Anastasiu, from Palm Desert, California, shed a combined 90lbs ahead of their wedding, leaving their guests ‘shocked’
Riley said they lost the weight by implementing a ‘consistent calorie deficit’ while also walking 10,000 to 15,000 steps a day. She’s seen before (l) and after (r) the weight loss
She admitted that she and her partner Isaac had connected over their love of food and were ‘eating out a lot’ during the early years of their romance.
‘We are both 100 percent sober so food was kind of our fun thing to do,’ she explained.
‘Going to get ice cream, eating out etc. We saw it more as a pleasure thing than something to fuel our bodies.’
She also confessed that both of them were ‘barely active.’
But in May 2025, when they reached the six–month mark until their wedding, Riley realized she needed to make a change.
She wanted to feel confident in herself as she walked down the aisle with the love of her life.
She suggested to Isaac that they try to lose weight together for their upcoming nuptials, and he was all for it.
‘We realized we weren’t feeling our best physically or mentally, and our habits weren’t aligned with how we wanted to show up for this next chapter,’ Riley explained.
In the six months leading up to their November 2025 wedding, Isaac lost a total of 60lbs, and Riley shed 40lbs. Isaac is seen before (l) and after (r) the weight loss
She admitted that many of their friends and family were so ‘shocked’ to see how different they looked on their big day
‘It was a mutual decision rooted in teamwork and encouragement. And honestly, wedding photos last forever.
‘We wanted to look back on that day and feel confident, proud and fully present, without any regrets, just love for the moment and for each other.’
At the time, they both weighed around 215 pounds.
They first started by tracking everything they ate and focused on implementing a ‘consistent calorie deficit.’
Riley said they then bought a treadmill and started walking 10,000 to 15,000 steps a day before she eventually added at–home Pilates and he took up running.
‘I also learned how to better manage my blood sugar, prioritize quality sleep and choose whole, nourishing foods,’ she added. ‘We started viewing food as fuel, not pleasure.
‘One of the biggest turning points for us was buying the treadmill. Having it at home removed every excuse and made movement a non–negotiable part of our daily routine, it truly changed our lives.’
She admitted that it was incredibly difficult at first, but doing it together meant they could keep each other on track.
‘Having a support system is the most important thing. We encouraged each other the whole way through,’ she gushed.
She said: ‘It felt like the perfect way to begin our marriage feeling aligned, supported, and confident in ourselves and each other’
In the six months leading up to their November 2025 wedding, Isaac lost a total of 60lbs, and Riley shed 40lbs.
And she admitted that many of their friends and family were so ‘shocked’ to see how different they looked on their big day.
‘Overall, the response was incredibly supportive and full of love,’ she concluded. ‘On our wedding day, we felt incredibly proud, confident and fully present.
‘The physical changes mattered, but what meant more was how strong, disciplined and connected we felt after committing to that goal together.
‘Standing there, we weren’t thinking about our bodies or second guessing how we looked in photos.
‘We were simply enjoying the moment, soaking it all in and celebrating the work we put in as a team.
‘It felt like the perfect way to begin our marriage feeling aligned, supported, and confident in ourselves and each other.’
