Celebrate Good Times
2009 October 7
Teaching bridal boot camp the past few weeks has been a bit of a flash back. Its fun to hear about the girl’s wedding plans. People often ask if I lost weight before my wedding. The answer is no. Could I have lost a few pounds probably, but the advantage of living a healthy lifestyle is that you don’t have to worry about fitting into a wedding dress.
Today is my 3 year wedding anniversary. Since, we won’t be celebrating until next week I thought I’d celebrate here with you. We got married at our favorite place in NYC, Central Park. I’m not too keen on tradition, so it was a small ceremony for just us and our family. That night we hosted a “cocktails and cupcakes” party in a gorgeous loft space.
The husband had all of his favorite foods. 
Here’s one of my favorite photos from that day.
Lots of women vow to get in shape when they become engaged. In fact many women get into the best shape of their life at this time. It can be a great catalyst for a lifetime of change. But, why wait for a proposal or waste time dreaming about how good of shape you were in when you got married? We should always be at our healthiest. We shouldn’t wait for a life event to propel us into positive lifestyle changes.
What propels/propelled you to make a healthy change? Have you been able to maintain those healthy changes?
My answer: No one specific event, but a series of events occurred that made me realize that “perfect” eating and exercising isn’t something I have to achieve. I had a “no tolerance zone” for what I deemed “bad foods” and missing workouts. I learned that balance equals perfection in my books. For the most part I have been able to maintain balance. Of course there are times when I have to re-adjust, but isn’t that what balance is all about?
Happy Anniversary!
I love your wedding reception…cocktails and cupcakes! I might borrow that idea if I ever get married (again)!
I think self confidence propels me to make healthy changes in my life. When my body is balance the rest of my life seems to be as well.
Gorgeous gorgeous wedding photos!! You looked healthy and beautiful! Reminds me of Sex and the City just because it’s NYC haha. My healthy change came a sort of roundabout way. I had a weirdly nasty breakup which left me depressed and lonely. So I started running….got obsessed…ran way too much too fast…and then got injured because I took it too far…and then stopped eating properly….got a little bit obsessed…and yadda yadda yadda.
My self esteem took a beating and I am still working on getting my old self back. I now eat healthily and workout regularly. Had that not happened, I probably would be less health-focused. So it’s a toss up…I’m glad it happened in that I will live a healthy life from here on out…but it was a grueling couple of years as well. Life happens, what can you do about it
Happy Anniversary! Yay I was there! It was so beautiful and it was fun to come to NY for the first time and enjoy a beautiful wedding in Central Park! Then a really cool reception in a beautiful loft! I probably still would not have been to NY to this day if not for your wedding. Have a wonderful time in Napa, I can’t wait to hear all about it!
Happy Anniversay and great wedding pictures!
I’ve always enjoyed working out, but I’d say the turning point to me being my healthiest and the best shape I’ve ever been in came around about 4-5 years ago. I suffered a loss that was so painful and found it hard to be motivated to workout. I was very inconsistent. About a year after my loss, I decided I needed help getting myself back into shape and to be motivated. I hired a trainer and the rest is history. I had a personal trainer for 2.5 years and loved every minute of it. I love my workouts (most of the time) and I too have a good balance in my diet!
Happy anniversary! What great pictures! And a gorgeous dress!
Congratulations! I agree, I hate the whole “diet starts Monday” attitude. Change now! I think I realized that I needed to choose a healthy lifestyle way back in high school. I gained weight with a new BF and realized I could not eat the same food as him any longer. Both of my parents have struggled with their weight, and I just made a choice to not be on medication as an adult, but to grow up strong so I’d never need to take any (BP meds, etc.). Save for the ebbs and flows of college living, I’ve maintained my pant size for about 9 years! Of course I have fluctuated on the scale, but working out daily and lifting weights has totally reshaped my body!
Beautiful!!!!! Your dress and flowers were beautiful.
I have always been into exercise and when I stopped a few years ago and didn’t exercise for a year, I felt the absolute worse I ever have in my life. I knew I needed exercise in my life for stress relief, for health, for my everything! So once I reintroduced that into my life, approximately a year ago, it has seen me through losing my job since my company closed, some major personal issues and a decision to make a major career change to the fitness industry!
Exercise makes me feel so good, I’m hoping I can help others feel that way through fitness as well!
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
Happy Anniversary! The pictures are beautiful!
I realized that I had to make serious changes when my health started to suffer. I was so busy with too much work, kids, doing it all, that I totally forgot about myself. I didn’t sleep well and constantly rushed from one place to the next. I looked and felt old. Plus, I was so stressed that I developed high blood pressure. There was little time for exercise, and I didn’t make the best food choices…
I realized that I was far from being the best, healthiest me that I could be. And I realized that while I tried to always be there for everyone else, not taking care of myself first didn’t allow me to be the best for others. I literally had to slow down all aspects of my life and let go of a lot of things.
Today, I make myself a priority because it makes me a better person for myself and everyone else. Healthy eating is a big part of our life, and I love getting my kids involved in shopping for produce and cooking healthy meals.
Happy anniversary! You know I desperately wanted cupcakes for my wedding but my dad vetoed it. Luckily after he did that I decided he didn’t need to know anything else I had planned hehe.
I’m loving reading all of your comments today! Thank you so much for sharing!
Wow! You look so beautiful in your wedding pics!
As for your question – I always considered myself “healthy” because I played sports all the time, even in college. But if I think about what I ate then, I don’t think I would have called it “healthy”. Now I try to focus on fresh, organic produce, less meat, and less processed foods. I have definitely learned a ton just by reading food blogs!
You both look so happy!! Gorgeous dress, photos, and weather (it looked like!) Forget summer weddings; fall weddings are where it’s at
I have had a very longgg road to where my mentality is now! I was propelled to change or recognize that I needed to change later in college. I was completely unhappy with my body, was very unhealthy, and didn’t exercise. I did a complete 360 and went on a very strict eating/workout plan. My friends tell me now that they were worried I was a closet anorexic! I lost a lot of inches, about 30 pounds, and realized that I could, in fact, change my health on my own. I also realized over the years that being strict was not what I needed. I changed from the “diet” mentality and freaking out over calories/workouts, to moving my body, learning how to fuel myself, and so much more.
It’s been about 4 years since that initial change and I’ve kept all of the weight off – gone on to start running, run in races, etc. I think it’s my eating habits that I’m most proud of because they are SO different than before – and so much healthier! I’ve been able to maintain all of that because it really is my life now, only with less strictness and more compassion towards myself
I had let myself go and was eating constant junk food trying to figure out why had gained weight, plus I got comfortable in my relationship…my guy ate every meal out. So we ate, and ate and ate out all the time. lol Now, I cook and we eat out once a week if any. I don’t obsess over weight and I’m happy but would still like to be a bit smaller.
Happy Anniversary! We had a very small ceremony too, very non-traditional in many senses with a private, close knit circle of family and friends.
I lost a lot of weight before my wedding but it was part of the weight loss rollercoaster I was on at that time – a rollercoaster that I wasn’t finally able to get off until a year ago or so ago. You’re right though, these major life events can be catalyst for change, and hopefully get us at least moving the right direction.
Happy Anniversary!!! Sorry this is late. I’m so behind on google reader!