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I wish I was one of those people who simply loves to exercise. But I’m not. In fact…I hate working out. I know it’s important for my health. I know that I feel better about my body and that my clothes fit better when I do it. But I hate it. I really do. With our wedding less than 100 days away though, I’m trying to suck it up and get my ass to the gym so that I don’t regret NOT working out every time I look at my wedding pictures.
So, in order to con/guilt myself into working out, I started this wedding workout calendar earlier this month.
Basically, if I work out, I cross that day off the calendar.
And as silly as it sounds, I really like crossing days off the calendar! So far this month, I’ve been to the gym 8 out of 13 days, and I’m feelin’ pretty good about it. Seeing my progress visually has really helped me stay on track (OK… it’s only been two weeks, but still!), and posting about it here makes me even more determined to finish the month out strong.
Now, the eating thing…that’s even harder for me. This Hippo loves to eat. And with the holiday snacky cakes that inevitably end up at my office, it’s super hard to stay on track. I’m trying to make better food choices in general and trying to incorporate more fruits and vegetables and fiber rich foods into my diet. And to help combat the holiday heft, I’ve decided to completely cut out alcohol from my diet (uh…starting today) until the wedding. Although I do love an occasional glass of wine (or three), I know it’s really just empty calories, not to mention that I don’t always make the best food decisions when I’m drinking.
So…yes. With less than 100 days, the Hippos are on a mission. Does anyone have any helpful health or fitness tips for the Hippos in our last three or so months, especially during the holiday season?
I think you should reward yourself for every week you make it to the gym at least 3 times! Set manageable goals and stick to it!
no tips, just commiseration. whatever “post-workout high” that people talk about? i don’t have that. i am just sweaty and sore and cranky.
but i do it because i care my heart health. that’s always a motivating factor for me, that i want the INSIDE of my body to look good too!
I love crossing things off lists and the calenders! That is such a great idea to get you motivated to workout!
I promised myself that I would work out at the gym every day that I teach (currently, I’m student teaching 3x/week) and go on my elliptical at home 2x/week in order to help me. I was told that I need to work out 5x/week for at least 1 hr in order to lower my cholesterol and, I’ll be honest, it sucks! My tip: start running! When I started working out, I couldn’t run a complete mile in under 13 minutes and today I ran a 11 minute mile!
Good luck to you! We have 115 days until the wedding and I am on a mission. 3 times a week FI and I go for a walk/jog usually about 2.5-3 miles and occasionally do some pushups. It is much easier for me having FI there with me walking. I can’t motivate myself to do it on my own. I have cut out alcohol and cut down on my portions and it has really helped!! I do occasionally allow myself a drink - on thanksgiving I had 2 glasses of wine and I’m sure I will have some on Christmas too but no more wine with dinner just because.
If you’re like me, you feel a sense of accomplishment after working out. Even if it sucked the whole time, you think “I’m so glad I did that!” The eating is the same. Have a little of the sweets, it’s no problem, but limit yourself. And later you’ll feel that same sense of “Yeah, I made the right choice!”
I give myself a gold star on the calendar for every day I exercise. I’m not kidding 
hey wedding month twin - i’m the same boat as you! i’m finally hitting the gym again after injuring my knee from a marathon.
here’s to looking fit, tone, lean and strong on your big day!
I think one think that helps is putting your workout schedule in your planner or calendar before the week starts… if i see “spin” on my calendar for monday im more likely to feel obligated to go.. like its an appointment. and then you can cross it off when your done:)
Because if you are anything like me - the likelihood of subtracting your caloric splurges during the holidays aren’t great, so instead ADD healthy ones!
Veggies and water. Set a daily goal for the amount of veggies you’ll eat, and the water you’ll drink - and for every day you eat all your veggies, a green check, and every day you drink all your water a blue circle. More visual cues to healthy (and ATTAINABLE - even during the holidays!) weight loss helpers.
Don’t track the negative stuff - this is all about being healthy and happy and not punishing yourself - stay positive!
WAY TO GO!!
It takes a ton of time to prepare the food, but I followed the diet plans on http://www.eatingwell.com and lost a pound a week.
It helps if you just have leftovers from the dinners for lunch, because who can prepare all the crazy lunches they have in there? Not me.
You are doing so good with exercising! I found it really easy to exercise when I kept habits of it. When I was really intense about losing weight I’d go Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday. There was just no question about going, it was a given because it was a steady habit. Then work started implementing overtime meetings before office hours every Thursday and it was like, “Hmmm, I think I’m gonna be tired tomorrow morning because I’ll have to wake up early. Maybe I just won’t go tonight…” and going sporadically on Wednesdays eventually eliminated that night. And then I got really busy with visa stuff and wedding planning and I was like, “Well, I really need to stay in and do this on my day off. Maybe I just won’t go this one day!” and slowly Sunday got eliminated. Then Saturdays. Until I’d only go once or twice a week. Once I broke the habitual cycle it was all over. So that’s my work out philosophy.
OMG, I am the worst eater around the holidays, I have no idea about healthy holiday eating
The calendar is great! I actually wrote my whole workout plan on one just like that and did the “x’s” when I was training for a triathlon, it really helped.
Also on the not-drinking front: I had to quit drinking due to health reasons 6 months ago. (Totally difficult in NYC.) Now, I go out, drink less, and keep track of everyone else, and they call me “Sports Center,” because I tell them how silly they acted the night before. It’s not nearly as bad as I thought it would be. You can do it!
Oooh! I was feeling awful about my work out regime today, this is such a great idea! March is coming up wayyy to fast.
You’re doing a great job! Keep it up! Don’t break the cycle - it’s always hard to go back. Find something ELSE that you can cancel, or push back, but make going a number one priority.
I love the workout calendar! The two calendar things that help me work out are crossing days off, and adding stickers. I do a lot of checklisting in my regular life, so somehow, substituting “attach puppy sticker” seemed more rewarding than crossing off after awhile…but I am nowhere near as good as you at being so consistent!
Glad the calendar is helping!! I have always went to the gym, but not enough to loose weight. Plus my morning Reese Cups didn’t help much either! haha! I wasn’t gaining, but wasn’t loosing. I think a HUGE thing that helps me is going to workout classes at the gym. They work me 25 times harder then I would every workout myself! I do 4 different classes through the week, 5 days a week. Plus I see the same people in these classes, and is rewarding when they say, “your looking so good! you can tell your loosing weight!” Plus the teachers get to know you and keep you in check! Maybe look into classes that are included into the price of your gym membership. Another thing we do everynow and then is P90X. My fiance and I are enjoy doing it together and laughing at each other and pushing each other to try harder! We both are working really hard for “bridal bootcamp!” Once you start seeing results, and start working really hard with exercise, you feel guilty not eating right. It makes you want to eat better.
One of my bad addictions was chocolate. So now, I have cup a chocolate milk after my workouts. Gives me my chocolate I have been craving and many health websites say that chocolate milk is a good post workout drink!
Push yourself! You can do it! Good luck!!
I’ve been leaving my 30-Day shred DVD propt up right in front of the TV… makes me feel guilty for watching Food Network instead of Shredding…
i totally did this, and i am a firm believer it helps! instead of crossing the days off though, i had a star stamp that i used on the days i worked out. i loved seeing all the stars!
Crossing off the days is an awesome idea!! Love it!
Eat 5 or 6 smaller meals a day. Be sure to include protein and a BUNCH of veggies (try to limit root veggies though!) in your meals! Fruit is also a great option! Also, remember to drink a lot of water…almost to the point of thinking you’re drinking too much! It will not only help you stay full during the day, it can help make your skin stunning for the wedding photos (if it isn’t already!).
Good luck! Be sure to keep the hive updated!!
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Mrs. Hippo, New York City/Dallas, TX Age and Occupation: 34, Event Planner for a Non-Profit Fiance's Age and Occupation: 35, Finance IT Engagement Date: August 8, 2009 Wedding Date: March 2011 Venue: Samuel Lynne Galleries and Marc Events About Me: I’m a thirty-something bride living in New York City and planning a modern-ish wedding in Dallas, Texas. I love trashy reality television (Jersey Shore, anyone?), online shopping, Sunday brunch, Central Park, and random celebrity spottings on the streets of Manhattan. While I love NYC, I miss good Tex-Mex, my college friends, central A/C, and being in close proximity to a Target. I’m thrilled to finally be planning an event that’s not work-related and to be marrying my best friend in what I hope will be a unique and personal ceremony followed by a reception with plenty of good food, good drinks, and dancing (regardless if it’s good or not).
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