Bride Workout

Part of the wedding planning for me was/is to step up a fitness routine. I have this nightmare that I'll walk down the aisle and look like a sausage stuffed in a dress, which is not the look I'm going for. So I've been working on my own 'shape it & tighten it' routine.

via bridetobefitness

I have never been devoted to a gym, instead wandering in and out of programs over the years. Pilates combined with an on-my-own workout routine was my happy place. But the re-occurring nightmare of a having a little too much girl for the dress was driving me to be more devoted to the mat.

via bridalmusings.com

Top of the list is arm toning. Sleeveless summer tops is great motivation, add a wedding dress and it becomes a mission. I dream of having Michelle Obama toned arms, not to mention being able to do the level of push-ups the First Lady does. So I turned to a Tracy Anderson 8 minute arm workout program - added some weights, a pilate routine and push-ups (which I'm bad at) and planks (which are a breeze for me).

I wasn't looking for an exercise buddy, but my Granddaughter has been keeping me company lately with her own personal routine. Somehow houla hooping was added to our program. I wonder how that happened.

Sweating for the wedding. Slimming down for the gown. Bridal boot camp. These are all terms being used to encourage frighten brides-to-be into getting toned. At 57, the idea of being the center of attraction in a gown was enough fear to motivate me.

You don't have to be a gym rat to be devoted to yourself. For me it has been about giving myself more attention and time, pushing a bit harder and changing the routine around.
There are no selfies of me exposing my abs or episodes of passing out at boot camp, just a sensible routine. My workout buddy said 'grandma, after the wedding you don't have to do this arm exercise anymore'. It might be the dress that initially drove me to step up the fitness routine, but it makes healthy sense to keep taking it up a notch.

via mindbodybride

 Do you have a personal exercise routine? Do you change up your fitness program on a regular basis?

Catching up

I want to Thank You for being patient and continuing to read this blog, even when I am absent. 

I have to admit that I've been feeling stuck recently when thinking of what to write on the blog. Maybe it's winter blahs (ugh, it snowed again last night), or that my mind is going in a hundred directions right now with wedding plans. But I love writing and creating, so let's start with catching up on things.

Like many of you, we have experienced the back and forth weather tease. Winter coats on one day and spring jackets the next. Crocus flowers bravely poking up from the ground give me hope that spring is near. I am itching to get into the garden to clean up the flower beds and put in some new plantings.

We battled a roto-virus that stormed through the school since the beginning of February. So many people sick for weeks, good two or three days and then down for a few. Poor little muffin - my Granddaughter was up and down with the weather, my nursing skills got taken to the test. She was really sick, and such a trooper through it all. Thankfully she bounced over the March school break and we had some fun with art classes, movies, bowling and a trip to the Royal Ontario Museum.



And of course there is this......

........ the wedding planning.

My mind is in wedding mode all-the-time (especially at 4 am) .... with a constant list of things to do or think about. In addition to the obvious details like guest lists, cake, invitations and linen choices, there are the behind the scene things that are just as important and obvious. 

It is a struggle to keep a balance of time together as a couple while you prepare for a wedding. I crave time alone with Richard, to have regular conversations and date nights. And although there is only something like 75 days until we walk down the aisle, I think it's all coming together well.

I have huge admiration for anyone who has used WordPress. This is the program that I got into while building our wedding website. Ugh! It would have never come together if I hadn't already had experience publishing blogs; and that is where my writing and creative attentions have been directed lately. The WordPress struggle. But it's done. 

On an interesting note - it became evident while attempting to purchase a dotcom, that the titles I wanted were taken. So I purchased a .wedding URL, which makes much more sense anyway.

I'm sure there will be more wedding chatter to follow. 

Thank you for reading.