Bride-ier Issues {An Unusual Bender Post}

Written by on in Tidbits and Treats

Hi!! :mrgreen:

How is everyone doing? Excited for the weekend?

My sincere apologies for leaving you in the lurch this week – time has gotten away from me in April! Fortunately May looks a lot more laid back (and it’s my birthday month, so I can’t wait!) and the craziness of starting a business is **knocks on wood** starting to become more controllable. I wouldn’t trade any moment of this whole process for the world, but I have also really missed you!

Here’s where I’m at.

I’ve wanted to talk about this on the blog for a few weeks now and get some honest opinions going. Recently, I announced to you that I am training for a 10K in May. But really, there is more to the story than that. Something bigger, better and…bride-ier.

Source

No, I promise I did not just give away my wedding dress {and no offense to Hello, Kitty fans}!

But that said, my wedding is SIX MONTHS FROM TODAY!!

Where does the time go, I ask you?!

So here’s where today’s post topic comes into play. With six months to go, I have made the decision to attend my own bridal boot camp. I’m not looking to go crazy here, but facts are facts: during the eight months at my previous job, I gained 15-20 pounds. No exaggerations. Stress had me less motivated to work out and after work happy hours didn’t help matters, either.

For Lent, I vowed to only have wine or another drink I enjoy once a week. Then, halfway through, I vowed to give it up altogether. It’s not like my habits were terrible in the first place – but one drink multiple nights a week at social events combined with eating greasier foods than normal adds up.

When all of this started last year, I went a while without really thinking too much of it. But soon my favorite pair of jeans grew too tight and my favorite winter clothes seemed to shrink every time I washed them – and it wasn’t the laundry’s fault 😉 But it was difficult to break out of the cycle when I was working late and came home exhausted and ready to eat and veg out on the couch.

Now that I’m my own boss, I have been much more diligent about setting aside time for me – and although Lent is over, I’m still committing myself to finding one night a week to enjoy that glass of wine or have a beer out with friends. I’m determined to get back into those jeans comfortably – without deprivation.

It sounds vain, doesn’t it? It sounds like I’m only in it for the way I’ll look on my wedding day. But that’s really only a small part of it. The major part is all about the way I feel. I know that on a day that I go out for a run I feel 10x happier, more energetic and productive. That’s not only good for my body and mind – that’s also good for my business, my family and my friends. No one wants to work with or be around Miss Crankypants! The emotional benefits are what motivate me – the physical benefits are just a bonus.

This is a new topic on the blog for me. Many of my readers may be surprised because I tend to keep things lighthearted and stay away from topics such as weight and diet.

So why am I telling you all of this?

I’ve decided that starting in May, I’m going to try to go back to the food journal style of blogging. It really helped put what I eat in perspective when I first started my blog and also motivated me to step outside the box and cook more creatively. My hope is to get back to that place.

I’d love to know what you think about these new goals. At the end of the day, it’s my decision, but I know that the blog world will have some interesting perspective – and I can’t wait to hear it.

Go on, I can take it 🙂

Happy weekend! I’m off to Madison – more details to come with some fun bloggy adventures, too!

Abrazos,

46 Comments

  1. I think it’s your blog and you get to write about what you want. And there’s no shame in wanting to be back to your normal size by your wedding day. It’s your wedding and you only get to do it once. Of you course you want to look and feel your best! Go for it girl!

  3. Great idea, Jenn! I admire your dedication–I, too, am trying to cut back on wine these days. I have been in celebration mode a little too often this semester.
    I am obviously super-psyched to see some of your eats, as you always come up with such tasty creations.

    • Thanks, Caroline! You totally deserve to be in celebration mode, by the way 😉 But I totally understand and have been there with the wine. It just tastes too darn good.

  5. You are going to be the most beautiful bride!!! 🙂 Good for you for taking control of your health and wellbeing in prep for your wedding – the less stress, the better! And working out regularly and eating balanced will help keep everything else in balance, too.

    I hope you have a fantastic weekend!!

  6. Thanks for coming out and sharing this with us. I think that will certainly help you as well. I think your goals are definitely obtainable, and if food journaling helps – then more power to you, girl!

    I know that I have personally found this post inspiring because I am where you were. I haven’t gained any weight, but I have lost all muscle mass, and I just feel “ugh.” So this is a nice reminder and kick-in-the-pants for me too.

    • We shall see – it will be interesting to see if I can stick to the food journaling with how crazy my life is – ya know what I mean? 🙂 I’m glad this post helped you, too! Hope you’re doing well, lady.

  7. Hey girl! I can totally relate to feeling exhausted/run down after work and just wanting to plop! I think its wonderful that you’re making some changes to make yourself feel better. Can’t wait to read more! You sure thats not your dress 😉

  8. 1. Oh man, I am so bummed, I thought that was your wedding dress!! 😉

    2. I still love you and think everything you’re doing with your business is incredibly amazing and inspiring.

    3. I am right there with you (except the weight that I need to lose is a lot more than 10-15 lbs). Our blogs are very personal and they change as they reflect what’s going on in our current situations. I’ll look forward to whatever you chose to blog in the future, and also – if you want to chat/ vent/ share ideas and successes/ whatever about weight loss/ life, you know where to hit me up. I’m right there with ya! 🙂

    • 1. There’s still time…haha!

      2. I love you back! You are an inspiration to me in so many ways and I truly value our friendship.

      3. We shall definitely be chatting/venting/sharing ideas in the coming months. I love your philosophy and Julie and I were talking you up when we met on Saturday! Can’t wait to motivate each other to achieve our goals of living life to the fullest!

  9. Take it from me, whatever the reason it’s better to tackle it at 15-20lbs then where I started from 150! You sound like you got a good plan of attack going.

  11. Of course you need to do what it takes to FEEL good, that is number one. However, I also see nothing wrong with being a little bit vain in preparation for your wedding day!!!! At least… that’s how I rationalized all those manis and pedis in the months leading up to mine!

  13. Im excited for you to go back to full on blogging what you eat. Ive been thinking lately of not blogging what I eat for a chance, but I do think it keeps me accountable. We shall see where our blogs take us, eh? Im jealous your in Madison, I love it there! – Ill have to come to Chicago for a meet up soon (I live in Iowa City).

  15. I’m with them ^ ! It’s your blog, and no matter what you blog about, you always bring us a very balanced, healthy point of view. Excited to see this next step in your journey!

  17. I love this- I think it’s great that you want to go back to where you’re comfortable- only you will know what that looks like- I think you have a great head on top of your shoulders and will be able to get back on track without it being a major sacrifice. Good luck, have fun!

  18. This is your blog… you can write about whatever you want, and people will still read! Good luck!!

  19. you are fabulous, guapa. ain’t no shame in doing what you need to do for YOURSELF. especially when you’re committed to not driving yourself crazy in the process. i just had an interesante idea–slash we haven’t chatted in far too long–so i’m off e-mail you. MUCHO AMOR

  20. I think it’s great that you’re being honest and using your blog to help you be your best, and probably motivate others! We all have times when life gets a little hectic and things – often healthy habits – fall by the wayside. You deserve to feel your absolute best on your wedding day, so go girl!!

  21. I also gained about 15 pounds a couple of years ago and while the last 10 were definitely lifestyle-related and went away once I improved my health, there were 5 that lingered simply due to early 20s body changes and without them, I look TOO skinny. Point is, don’t stress too much about the numbers on the scale or on the jeans tag! Also, good luck w/bootcamp–I just enrolled in something called “Booty Camp” and am mildly embarrassed about it (that NAME!). Cheers!

  22. I think you should do whatever works best for you and if that is bloggin your daily eats than that’s awesome. I’ll be excited to see/read what you are eating now days because as you know, I’m trying to get back into the healthy eating swing of things too.

    And, there must be something going on because my dryer is shrinking things as well. haha 🙂

    Let’s chat soon my lady!

  24. I think you should do what you feel is best, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with wanting to lose a few pounds – to get back to your normal size before your wedding. 🙂

  27. i’m excited to see you food journal/blog – I don’t think fitting back into your jeans comfortably on ur wedding day is vain at all, I completely understand how you feel. =)

  28. I’m pretty excited about your journalling. I started reading when you were journaling and it gave me lots of meal ideas.
    lol @ that dress. hello kitty is cute but I’m not sure I could ever wear it, haha.

  29. Hi Jenn first time i’ve stopped by your blog, but i understand what you mean about how a few drinks during the week with friends can start to add up. I just started a blog myself and am doing the food journal thing, and it is amazing when you start to see what you eat everyday. If your intent is to loose weight before your wedding day it may be a good place to start.
    P.S LOVE the hello kitty dress!

    Check out my blog
    http://lepetitcarrot.blogspot.com

  30. Your wedding is a big day and you will be beautiful no matter what, but I understand where you are coming from. I support you doing whatever you need to do to get where you want to be. It is too bad that wine and appetizers add up! If a food diary style worked for you in the beginning, then by all means so what you gotta do! It seems like a pretty popular format in the blog world, so you will be in good company.

  32. Best of luck with this! I fell into the same cycle of stress-inactivity-happy hours at my old job, and since leaving I’ve found that I’m gradually falling back into a healthier routine. I certainly can’t blame my devolution into laziness on my old job, but it was kind of an eye-opener how drastically my attitude changed once I left, and the positive side effects that I’ve been noticing as a result. I’m glad that you’re willing to write about what you’re doing, and I’m excited to read more!

  33. I had an interesting talk with a friend the other day about exercise and starting your day that way. I run and he does a few other things and we both do them first thing in the morning. I never realized I thought along these lines until he said it out-loud and put it in perspective. He said, “I would rather start the day off doing something I *want* to do and something I *like* doing instead of something I *have* to do.”

    Makes sense right? Even if you love your job, jumping out of bed to work isn’t really appealing. Starting the day off with something you want to do and that benefits you sort of changes the way you approach the rest of the day. Starting the day happy makes such a huge difference!

  34. I can totally relate. When things get too busy, I put myself in the background when really I should be taking care of my needs. It feels good to be good to your body… It’s not vain at all – Feeling your best on your wedding day is important! You’ll be beautiful! I wish you luck girl! I can’t wait to see more food posts!! 🙂

    Take care,
    Kat

  35. You mean you want to feel spectacular on your wedding day?! You crazy girl 😉

    I have no doubts that you’re going to be the most beautiful bride but it’s all about how you feel, and if that means working a little harder at that healthy lifestyle thing to prepare for it, I’m all for it! Looking forward to hearing about your training and seeing your yummy food again.

  37. I think your new goals are AWESOME…you seem passionate about them and that is what it is going to take to get and keep you going. Ultimately you have to put yourself first and then think of the blog…so if it helps you, then, do it 😀

    Good luck – I can’t wait to follow along 🙂

  38. I think it’s great you are being open about this. I gained about 8-10 pounds when I started working this winter and I’m not too happy with it – and my wedding is in JULY!! Eek. I’m doing my own bridal boot camp in the form of some yoga and healthy eating. We can do it!!

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