My thoughts on pressures to lose weight for the wedding (+ lululemon)
Some thoughts on the (often self inflicted) pressure to lose weight for the wedding. Plus my new Lululemon Align Leggings in the perfect camo print EVER!
Shop the post:
Sports Bra: Lululemon (OMG this sports bra is amazing. One of the gals at the new Lululemon store/studio in Lincoln Park told me to try it and I’m so glad she did! It’s a little longer than other sports bras, so it feels a bit like a crop top – but it’s still super supportive. I’m wearing a US4!) | Tank Top: c/o Lululemon (Although I kind of wish this tank had a built in sports bra, I love the high neckline – and the fabric is SO SOFT! I also love the way it hugs the body without feeling clingy. Perfect for any workout! I’m wearing a US4.) |
Pants: c/o Lululemon Align Leggings (I’m sure a lot of you already know that these are the most comfortable leggings of all time. I’ve tried a lot of leggings and I like a few different brands for different reasons… but I’ve never found a pair as soft or as comfortable as the Lululemon Align Leggings. So when I saw that it now comes in the PERFECT camo print, I had to have them! I’m wearing my usual size for Lululemon leggings, US6.) | Sunglasses: Loft | Bag: Under Armor (old but similar here!) | Shoes: Nike
Alright ladies, let’s talk about “shredding for the wedding”, shall we? If you read my monthly fitness recaps, or you have my 2019 Workout & Wellness Planner, you know that I think about body image a lot. Trust me, I wish I could say I always love my body, but that would be a big ole lie. It’s hard not to let negative self talk creep in, especially while scrolling through Instagram these days!
I can usually combat the negative thoughts by taking time off social media (or even unfollowing some accounts), eating healthier, and prioritizing workouts. Those 3 things are super empowering for me and help me reconnect with the desire to be healthy vs. the desire to look a certain way.
But now that it’s less than a year (10 months!) until we getting married, I’ve started to feel the pressure to lose weight for the wedding. Nothing crazy yet, but even as I plan wedding content and look back on some of the topic suggestions I’ve gotten about the subject, it’s hard to ignore that weight is something most women think about leading up to their big day.
My conflicting thoughts:
On one hand, what’s wrong with wanting to look and feel your best on your wedding day? ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Especially if you’ve struggled to find motivation to eat healthy and exercise before now! Instead of just saying you want to “get healthy”, this is a clear goal with a deadline and a reason to keep going. A reason to commit to healthy habits instead of giving in to excuses? I am not going to say one bad thing about that. Get it, girl!
But on the other hand, if you already value health in your life, is it really necessary to stress yourself out trying to lose a few pounds? I agree with wanting to be physically healthy so you feel like the strong and beautiful woman you are… but mental health is important, too! I shared this quote a few weeks ago and so many of you DMed me about it. There’s more to life than being as skinny/fit as possible…
“Those extra 5-10 pounds, that place where your body naturally wants to be – that’s your life. That’s your late night pizza with your man, that Sunday morning bottomless brunch, your favorite cupcake in the whole world because you wanted to treat yourself. Those 5-10 pounds are your favorite memories, your unforgettable trips, your celebrations of life.”
I mean… YES! Do I really want to say no to late night pizza with my man?! Nope. Do I regret the pasties de nata we ate when we went to Lisbon? Not one bite. While you shouldn’t use food freedom as an excuse for bad eating habits all the time, life is about experiences. And denying experiences, especially ones with Adam, just so I look super skinny on one day seems silly, doesn’t it?
You are enough as you are.
And speaking of Adam, I think brides tend to forget one very important detail. Your fiance proposed to you because he/she loves you. As you are. Not because he’ll love you if you lose 10 pounds by this time next year. Who wants to start their marriage by assuming that they need to change in order to be good enough for their partner? Truly.
My pre-wedding plan:
Since I know I feel better when I get my exercise, I’m going to set slightly more aggressive workout goals each month. I’m even thinking about jogging every morning with Luna. Whaaaaat?! Don’t get too excited, I’m thinking like a mile to a mile and a half. But it will get her energy out and help me fit a little bit more cardio into my routine! I did buy a fanny pack though… very excited about that 😉
I’m also going to try to recommit to meal prep during the week so that I don’t find myself reaching for chips or takeout on a normal weekday. I want to indulge when it’s an experience – out with friends, traveling with Adam, or even just trying something I’ve never had before.
Here’s the moral of the story. Even though I want to feel like the best version of me on our wedding day, I also want to feel like ME.
A quick note about these Lululemon Align Leggings
Okay really quick – I can’t let you go without talking about these pants! I’m sure many of you are already fans of Lululemon Align leggings because they’re THE BEST. I like a lot of other leggings for a lot of other reasons… but I’ve never tried a softer or more comfortable pair. EVER. The high waist is super flattering, and they come in a 21″ inseam which is PERFECT for my short legs. Also, I’ve had pairs for years and the key is to wash them on cold/hang them to dry. Do NOT put them in the dryer! That’s what makes them pill!
Even though I have a few pair of these align leggings, I’ve NEVER gotten a color or print. I just always figure I should get solid black if I’m spending $88 on leggings. That way, I can wear them with everything! But recently I’ve been really wanting a pair of camo pants that don’t feel too camo. And then I saw these. HEART EYES!
Now I can’t rave about the pants OR the print enough! It’s so subtle because all of the colors are dark – and it doesn’t feel costume-y or showy at all. Plus, they’ll be so cute with an oversized sweater and boots when running around before or after workouts this Fall. I’m obsessed.
Do you or did you feel any pressure to lose weight before your wedding?
I’d love to hear about your experiences in the comments!
PS. You might also like this post about body image and this reminder that you are more than your physical appearance.
July 24, 2019 @ 8:01 am
When I got engaged, a few people mentioned that they thought I might start a really aggressive workout schedule like many women do. I would have loved to exercise more before the wedding to tone up, but I was SO overwhelmed about actually planning (my engagement was only nine months) that I didn’t have time.
Also, an unforeseen consequence of getting really stressed about the wedding was that I lost seven pounds in the three weeks leading up to the big day. (I definitely did not feel healthy about this or do this intentionally at all! I just wasn’t making time to eat properly.) It’s been six weeks since I got married, and I’m happy to say those happy seven pounds are back. 😉
July 24, 2019 @ 8:05 am
Oh my gosh do I relate so hard to this article! I am getting married in 9 ish months and have found my dress. Now my starting my shredding for the wedding while still eating what I love some of the time. All about that balance!
July 25, 2019 @ 5:22 am
When I was engaged I didn’t go too workout crazy, I was worried that if I lost weight I wouldn’t look like ‘myself’ and regret it years late.
And I’ve know so many girls that were so focused on losing weight for their wedding that they were fun to be around leading up to it or didn’t eat on their bachelorette party… I want all brides to look and feel great, but I agree with Adam! Your man proposed because he loves you for how you are ???
July 31, 2019 @ 11:50 am
Love your honesty about this topic and I felt similarly when I got married 2 years ago. Wanting to lose a couple of pounds and tone up my arms/back wasn’t about impressing my husband (he definitely does not care!) but it was all about feeling my best. I wanted to approach wedding weight loss in a healthy way. I ate cleaner and worked out more than normal and felt super healthy, strong and energized on my wedding day. It wasn’t about crash dieting or calorie counting. For me it was about feeling super confident and also wanting to feel great looking back at all the photos. I think as long as you do it in a healthy way and don’t get carried away, you’ll end up feeling like the strongest and most confident version of yourself by the big day!
August 5, 2019 @ 4:04 pm
I started a workout routine about a year before we got married and was going to classes at 6AM, which was way out of my comfort zone. After a year of doing this 3-4x a week, the biggest change was what I learned about myself. I learned I am a person who needs to do a workout class in order to push myself and that I can accomplish anything. Like you said, you don’t want to say no to pizza with your man and I also didn’t want to be the friend who wouldn’t eat at a dinner party because I was getting married. I wouldn’t say I lost 10 lbs or anything but I did tone, had more energy than ever, and felt good on the day of. I even did yoga in my bridal suite the morning of my wedding because I wanted those endorphins! Most importantly, enjoy the process because getting married is such a special time in your life you only do once.