Monday, January 25, 2010

Being a fit bride part 1

Something I dread blogging about is my fitness. Not just because I'm out of shape, though there is that too, but because once I start, Im going to have to keep it up. It's so embarrassing to blog about how you are going to stick to something and/or kick butt at it and then never blog about it again. I don't want to fail at getting in shape AND blogging about it. Double whammy.

I do need to get into shape though. I'm not incredibly out of shape. I can still easily jog a mile or three. I can roller skate my butt off. I can still climb quite a few sets of stairs since climbing a mountain in Austria this last summer. But I do need to be honest here. I could stand to lose quite a few pounds and tone my body up.

This was me in San Francisco a little over a year ago.


This was me, and Ned, this last summer for our engagement photo shoot at the MN State Fair:


I hate to say it, but I've put on 20 lbs or so since Ned and I met. That sucks. Like, really, really, really sucks. I wasn't thin to begin with. I'm someone who is normally considered curvy, but I was definitely healthier and in way better shape than I am now.

I'm trying to set some realistic goals for myself. I know I can take off the weight I've put on, but I would also like to lose a few pounds on top of that since I want to feel amazing on my wedding day. And not just because of the wedding, but because I really want to be fit and healthy. I want to feel good about myself. There have been many times in the past where I have set very unrealistic goals and totally failed at them. I'm hoping that by keeping things simple and not over reaching, I should be able to accomplish the things I want.

This past Christmas, Ned and I picked up a Wii along with the Wii fit board and Fit Plus. We were hoping it would be a fun way to keep us motivated to work out over the long and cold Minnesota winter. At first it was awesome. We were using it every day. Then I dropped down to a couple times a week. Today when I logged on, it said it had been 13 days since my last weigh in. Shit. Total fail. The good thing was, it told me I was down 5.1 lbs since my last weigh in when I thought for sure I had put on weight.



Me in the summer of 2008.

Since I'm going to make myself accountable, as much as I hate it, I'm going to be blogging about my fitness/exercise/nutrition here at least once a week. Starting today.

My favorite workout on the Wii Fit Plus is the 30 minute run. And taking a cue from my niece, Maddi, when I use the running program, I don't just run in place. I've taken to jogging around my living room and dining room to make it a bit more interesting. I'm lucky to have quite a bit of open space to run around inside my house. Yeah, I might look a bit dorky. And yeah, the Wii might be a bit off in the distance it's telling me I'm running. But I can tell the workout I'm getting. And if I use my heart rate monitor, I can easily keep track of where I need to be with my intensity and how much more I need to push myself.

I got quite a nice workout in this morning. 10 minutes of yoga stretching, 4 minute warm up walk, 30 minute run, and about 20 minutes of boxing. I felt great afterwards and was quite a bit sweaty. I'm planning on doing the 30 minute run at least 3 times a week, but I want to get a Wii workout in at least 5 days a week. I'm not sure what my routine will be, I'm going through a schedule change at work currently, but once I get it planned out, I'll be posting about it here.


Me and Rue in the summer of 2009.

I also have a gym membership at the local YWCA. I have not been going as of late, but Ned has quit his gym so he can join mine and we can go together. I'm hoping that we will be more inclined to go if we are going together and not losing any of our valuable "together time". We both have incredibly busy schedules and between our jobs and our other ventures, it seems like we don't see each other as much as we like. Working out together seems like a win win situation.

- Gan

8 comments:

  1. Okay, I have to delurk because I AM SO THERE WITH YOU. Since Dave and I started dating 4 yrs ago, I've easily gone up 3 dress sizes.

    Gown shopping? It was not the fairytale for me - I kept feeling bad about how I hadn't lost any weight. I start Body for Life tomorrow, and I am hoping to kick some butt and get back to my 2006 weight. (Ironically, I thought I was fat back then. Ha!)

    You and I have similar body types - little in the waist, curvier in the legs, but totally womanly!

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  2. Thanks for delurking!

    Whats Body for Life?

    Oh, and I love being womanly. Isn't it wonderful? I would never trade in my curves to be a twig. But this extra few, ok, more than a few, pounds? They need to go!

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  3. i was so happy to come across your blog! i am getting married this sept. and can relate to the crazy/fun/stressful parts of wedding planning. :)

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  4. Oh, thanks for leaving me a comment, MaryBeth. I think you sent me a Twitter request today, but since I didn't know who you were I declined it. Sorry! I'll totally add you.

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  5. I'm so proud of you, Gan. It's not at all about failure but putting your goals out there so that you can (hopefully) be held more accountable! Rather, that's what it is for me. You've seen me over the months putting my plans out there and have them go kaput...I really try to just get back up and dust myself off and try try again!

    I think you are doing great - the key, of course, is consistency! Well, consistency and keeping things mixed up so your body is always guessing. :)

    You can do it!

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  6. Congrats on wanting to exercise and eat right! It's such a liberating experience to really trust and love your body. But you also already look FABULOUS! Love yourself today and tommorrow and everything will be great.

    Glad I found your blog!

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  7. Thanks, Ama! I appreciate your support so much.

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  8. minneapoliscareergirl - Thanks so much for the compliment. If I was told that I was never going to lose another pound, I would be ok. I do love myself the way I am. But at the same time, I don't feel all that healthy. I know there are a bunch of changes I can make that will make me feel better about myself, and hopefully shed a few pounds also. :-)
    Loving yourself today is really good advice.

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