What next? How to stay motivated after the wedding
Alexis sent me an email earlier this week asking how she can stay motivated to workout after her wedding. I invited her back to class. She tried to get Alyssa to come, (Alyssa has also not worked out since her last Healthy Bride class) but she had food poisoning, so could not make it. Alexis came to class and had a fun workout. She kept mentioning how much she prefers working out with other people.
I often hear that after the wedding, things are really hard. There is the let-down from the event, the exhaustion from the months of planning and the need to just veg out for awhile. I think taking time to do nothing is fine, as long as it does not last too long.
You guys work really hard in class, and my hope is that all the things you learned will stay with you. So I feel that I need to do a little butt kicking to get you back out there. You have to start by thinking about what you like to do and who you like to do it with. It’s doubly hard to exercise when you are doing something you don’t like.
Here are a few examples of others getting back out there. Sometimes just hearing about what others are doing will help.
Shanya and Suzanna are a great example of two who have continued to be motivated past their nuptials. I have seen them working out together in the park on several occasions. It makes my heart sing to see them. They have their bands and are doing all of the exercises they learned in the Bride class (and I am sure some they learned elsewhere), but the point is that they are there together. I am not sure that they met in the bride class, but I think so. Great job you two, you are setting a great example for other brides looking for a way to stay motivated.
Tracy ran her first-ever half marathon last April and then told me that she was having a really hard time staying focused. I tried to get her to sign up for another race and she just was not in the mood for that. I then introduced her to Ann. They became running buddies (they live 2 blocks away from each other) and soon enough had put their money down on the Victoria Half Marathon. Hooray for running buddies (and workout buddies too) they really can help keep you motivated.
Alicia had Bradon in August and she is already back up to 6 miles. She has a live-in babysitter (AJ dad of Bradon) and is determined to get back into shape for a race in November. “I am getting back into the swing of things… ran six miles the other day and have committed myself to the golden garden stairs once a week. I am surprisingly not that sore – it might be from carrying around the extra weight that now is gone.” Go Alicia.
Shanna decided to become an iron triathlete. She and her husband Scott train together, so it gives them a common focus. I don’t think Shanna even owned a bike when she entered the half iron race last fall. She went a long, long way from the Bride class to her half iron. Of course, after finishing the half iron, she immediately signed up for a full Iron. She is amazing! Way to Go Shanna.
Karen joined The Healthy Goddess class on Saturday mornings at Phinney. It’s a super fun class with Brooke as the instructor. The group energy helps her get up early on Saturday mornings.
My wish for all of you is that your wedding is just one milestone is your quest for a lifestyle of health and fitness. There is something very motivating about having those eyes on you at your wedding, but taking that momentum and rolling it forward to the “next big adventure” in your life will help you stay on track….from this day forward.
Tags: after the wedding, after the wedding workouts, fitness after the wedding, post wedding fitness, post wedding workouts, working out after the wedding