As wedding season is fast approaching, I know that it’s starting to feel like crunch time to get in shape. Crazy diets or insane workout routines…yup….it’s all in there and I’m sure we’ve all tried it or at least thought about trying it. So…I confess, I too am trying my heart out to get in shape for my 10th wedding anniversary. Yup! And yes, I have possibly tried all the “quick” diets out there but at the end of the day…I still just wanted FOOD!!! I love food and I love eating. So much so that I think it should be one of those qualities that should go on resumes. “Skills — Master Food Connoisseur”.
So, I’ve decided to compile a list of do’s and don’ts in getting fit for wedding season. And along the way, I’ll tell you my plan and what I’m doing to get myself back in pre-baby shape and still enjoying delicious food! Like..real food that you can chew and swallow and stuff! haha
DO – Have a Meal Plan
Yes, I know this one can be tricky, but weight loss is 80% what you eat and 20% exercise. So, it’s extremely important to have a Meal Plan. So..here is what I did. After so many failed attempts, I’ve decided that it’s just not worth it to keep trying different things that just doesn’t work for me. I refuse to eat nutrition bars and drink shakes for the rest of my life. It’s a great run and works wonderfully for some folks…seriously it does work amazing, but it was just not for me. Again, I need to actually eat something. So, I weighed the costs and decided that it was totally worth it. I invested in PlateJoy. And it’s really really affordable in comparison to everything else I’ve done.
PlateJoy is a subscription account where they help you personalize your weekly meals. It’s like having someone tell you what to buy and what to make and how to make it….IN YOUR SET parameters of what you like, don’t like, and what kinds of weight/health goals you have. PLUS, it helps keep track of what you already have so that you don’t go to the grocery store and buy things you already own. AND….this is where I geek out. If I have leftover ingredients, I can just type in what I have and PlateJoy will find a recipe for me so that I don’t waste my food. So…I know this is going on and on. But I personalized my receipts so that it is Low Carb and No Red Meat. There are tons of ways to customize, that’s just what I choose. This week, I made batch meals and individual meals and it was awesome. Oh…and you can choose meals that reduce time in the kitchen too:) Anyways, having a meal plan is key!
DO – Meal Prep
I never used to meal prep…like ever!!! And IF I would attempt to do so…guess what…it was Lasagna 5 days a week for lunch and dinner. BORING!!!!! Taking an entire morning (get up early to get the most out of it) and prepping all your meals for the entire week. I used to say, “I don’t have time for that”….but 20 extra pounds later…oh you betcha I’m making time now. Finding the right receipts that are yummy, take little time to make, and can be saved for multiple meals is key. In the course of 4 hours, I was able to make 4 recipes that will last me the entire week. Including snacks! Really taking the time out to do this is so important because when you are hungry and have nothing prepared…you tend to eat something quick or you go out to eat. And sometimes quick and going out can be very unhealthy, expensive, or both. Sure, the ambiance of going out to a restaurant is awesome (I LOVE IT), but it doesn’t need to happen every day, twice a day.
DON’T – Buy Junk Foods
That’s simple right? Not always. If you love junk foods and love sweets or are a soda fanatic, one of the things to do is to limit it buy NOT buying it for the house or your office. Sure, if you are out with friends and want a little something, go for it. It’s not to say that you can’t have it at all, but don’t have it around the two places where you spend a vast majority of your life. Take it out of your home and your work, so that way you limit it to special occasions. Moderation is key, but in moderation, you have to keep it out of reach…or else you’ll be constantly snacking on those mini donuts, chocolates, ice creams, and potato chips!
DO – Get Moving
Even if it’s just taking a walk during lunch or scheduling time to work out. Get moving! It’s so important for our health to keep our bodies moving. So often, we can find ourselves working desk jobs where we hardly ever get up and walk around. So try taking a walk at lunch time. Take a quick minute to knock out some pushups. Seriously, every few hours or when I can remember, I’ll just do 10 pushups. It may not be a lot, but it takes about 10 seconds out of my day and I’m back at it.
DON’T – Go Alone
It can be a lonely journey and when no one else is there to push or guide you along the way. It is easy to fall off the wagon. So, instead of going alone, try seeking out support groups. My go to for fitness is running. So, I sought out running groups within my area and now I have a wonderful group of ladies that hold me accountable and will run alongside with me. It’s amazing what we can do when we do it together.
DO – Track your progress
It may seem silly and almost like a marketing ploy, but truth time…take photos of yourself. Where you are right now and have that as motivation on where you want to go. Then take progress photos along the way. And if you are not a photo person, then that’s totally okay. Start with weighing yourself and taking your measurements. And then track this weekly or bi-weekly. DON’T track yourself every day or weight yourself everyday because that is not going to help, as we fluctuate daily. So, it will be more accurate to track on a weekly basis.
DON’T GIVE UP
Thing is…if you are going out there to get fit for wedding season, take it a bit further. Take it to a level of healthy and happy living. Make it into a lifestyle change vs. a diet. With those quick diets…you aren’t going to realistically stay on nutritional bars and shakes for the rest of your life, so start by making healthily choices now and continuing them. And don’t give up. It’s a tough road but don’t let it get so bad that you look back years from now and go…wow…I’ve gained “x” pounds…or hey, I have heart issues because of all the junk I’ve put in my body. And no, it’s not always about losing weight, it’s about treating your body well. Eating well and getting your body moving. When your body is fueled with great food and you take that time to exercise or just move…you feel better. Body, mind, and soul! A plane is made to fly. If it sits in a hanger without every flying, it’s starts to deteriorate and rust and all the bad things. It’s more dangerous to keep that plan on the ground than it is to keep it in the sky. Our bodies are the same. Our bodies are make to move. So, we are doing a disservice to our bodies when we refuse to workout or take that walk…or circle the block 10 times waiting for that front parking spot. We do our bodies a disservice when we fuel it with bad fuel. We don’t get as far and we don’t do as much when our bodies are being deprived of it’s potential to work. Work for US!
So no matter what, if these do’s and don’ts are not a good fit for you. That’s alright, BUT find something that is and keep up with it. You deserve to live a happy and healthy life!
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