Good morning! Guess what…? We made it to Friday!
This morning I want to expound a little bit on my post from yesterday. I am so thankful to have found freedom from eating issues and, through Faces of Beauty, seeing myself as the beautiful woman that I am. I don’t need to change to be beautiful, but now that I can move on from a painful past with food I know that I need to change to be healthy. And what better to jump-start a new life in loving my body well than participating in the Blogger Well-Being Challenge through Daily Challenge?!
I was lucky enough to be contacted to participate in this fun 10-day challenge where 10 different bloggers are given a challenge to do and then blog about. And my challenge? Find a picture that represents one of your physical fitness goals.
Well friends, here you go:
In case it’s not blatantly obvious, this is me on my wedding day, marrying my best friend and the man of my dreams. This is also me at a size that is attainable, healthy, maintainable, and appropriate for my body type. Plus I have killer arms. I mean really though, look at those guns! I wish I’d known how awesome they looked back then 😉 It’s really amazing how visualization works, and sports psychologists have known for decades that “seeing” yourself succeeding at a goal is important to actually succeeding. So here we go, I’m putting it out there: in the next 4 weeks I’m going to be embarking on a healthier eating “plan” (the plan is to eat better…hehe) and working out 4 times a week, plus one day of yoga. My goal is to get those arms back 🙂
I love that this photo represents me on the happiest day of my life with the body that I can have for the rest of my life. The fact that I know this is a happy place for me makes the journey to getting there that much better!
What about you? What’s your fitness goal for the next 4 weeks? Make sure it’s SMART – specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-based 🙂
You are just radiating happiness in that photograph! To be honest my health goals for the next four weeks are A: survive Christmas, and B: recover from Christmas and get back to being healthy asap! Good luck with your challenge!
I am OBSESSED with your dress!!!!!!!! I’ve always imagined myself in a lace one as well! I remember seeing pics of Eli Manning’s wife’s dress and LOVING it (minus the gold sash). 🙂 🙂
Have you ever done BodyPump classes? Those classes will tone ya right up in no time! haha But you already look great girl!!!!!
You are awesome! Let me know if you want to workout together sometime!!!
My goal for my wedding is to have arms like that too! What is your arm workout routine?
Beautiful photo! I too wish I was the same size that I was on my wedding day! It’s a good, healthy goal to work towards!
Congrat!
You do look wonderful, but more than that, you seem to be someone who is “happy” within themselves. I set my goals last spring, and it seems to have hit an impasse. I need to keep reminding my self that it took over 20 years to put on the extra 60 lbs I am trying to lose. It will not happen overnight. My short term goals are just to get thru the holidays without putting on any more weight, continue my walking, hopefully hitting three miles a day, and more days at the pool.
good luck with your goals
Thank you for this post! I am 6 weeks into a healthier lifestyle and all too often forget some aspects of SMART!
My goal isn’t exactly 4 weeks, it’s defined by “this winter.” I’m going to ski my first Black Diamond! I want to do it without crying, panicking or putting myself in grave danger. I will ski it confidently! I only started skiing last year and every run is still a challenge but I’m progressing quickly so I know with some hard work I can get there!
i love that goal! you’re going more hard-core than i will this season…i’m sticking with blues 🙂
I love your dress 🙂 and you guys are stunning!
You look beautiful!
I’m pretty consistant with my workouts, so my goal is to work veggies into my diet at least twice and day and limit my Christmas cookies to one (ok manybe two) a day. Sounds balanced to me 🙂
You look gorgeous there! I’ll semi- join you. I’m trying to eat healthier, too. I can’t do the exercise part, but over the next four weeks I want to completely overhaul my diet. The biggest barrier: Convincing my husband to stop buying boxes of cookies!
that’s the hardest part!
Love the guns! 😀
I am going back to WW. I lost 70 pounds 10 years ago and kept it off – until I was put on insulin and 30+ pounds have creeped their way back. I like the weekly accountability 😀
Have a great weekend Heather!
That is such a great picture!! What a great goal you have for yourself. My goal over the next four weeks is to be comfortable in my own skin!
i’d say that’s the best goal of all girl…you can do it!
Such a beautiful picture! And you’re right about your guns 😉
The next 4 weeks for me are all about upping my intensity. I don’t feel as strong as I did earlier this year and want to push myself a little harder to gain more endurance and strength. Besides nothing feels better than the energy I get after a good, sweaty workout!
i know, i love the post-workout feeling after you’ve pushed yourself hard and get to relax!
I think I will only ever get married if I am as happy as you in that picture. The look you and Nate have is one of such bliss. Thank you for sharing. And thanks also for sharing the prior post. You’re beautiful, Heather, and honestly your blog is one of my favorites to read because of your honesty and radiant joy 🙂
thank you natalia! that is so sweet…and i definitely am so incredibly happy with my man 🙂
That is such a beautiful picture! You look gorgeous!
I love your SMART mentality! I always have problems with the “R” part…It took me a while to realize that no matter what I did, I would NEVER look like a ballerina…I’m built like a gymnast…I put on muscle pretty quickly…but they say “strong is the new skinny”…I wholeheartedly agree!!
amen…i’ll take muscles over just being skinny any day!
You are beautiful in that photo, just as you are now!
I plan to indulge over the holidays, but continue to workout as well. When I find myself working out, I also tend to eat better: win-win.
Good luck!
sometimes indulgence is the only way to go…treat yourself well! 🙂
You are just stunning in your wedding photo! you look like a bridal model. Not kidding! And not just b/c of your guns (altho fabulous arms!)
So glad you are feeling inspired to stay healthy!
To not completely let go just because the holidays are here. Believe me, I’ll enjoy tons of treats, but in moderation.
Beautiful photo!
Wow your wedding dress is stunning! What a picture! It truly captures how happy you both are!! That is such a blessing 🙂
I my fitness goals? not be so hard on myself and stop over-exercising. It’s so hard for me to find a happy medium. So my goal is to be more realistic about how much exercise I should be getting and go easy on myself!
thank you so much…i loved my dress 🙂 and i think that going easy on yourself is also a great goal to have!
Heather,
Thank you for being part of our Blogger Well-Being Challenge. And best of luck on your goal. Your arms look amazing in your wedding photo. I’m going to take your advice and use some light weights when walking to help tone up my arms too this winter season.
Happy Holidays!
Alicia
Social Media Manager
MeYou Health
thank YOU so much for inviting me to be part of it! i love the challenges that i’ve seen already!
I love that pic of you guys so much. I know you can do it!
You are so beautiful heather….I love you!!!!
and I LOVE YOU!!! 🙂
I am on an unlimited yoga plan for December. My goal is to go 20 times. I’ve never yet NOT gone 20 times during a month of unlimited, so this is definitely attainable. And I love yoga, so really the goal is just an excuse so when Ryan says “You are going to yoga AGAIN?” I can say, “Well, how ELSE am I going to get to 20?”
Beautiful pic!!!
Ok, well you’re going to hate me for this, but I don’t have any fitness goals. I try to maintain my weight(I’m 5’5″ and 119lbs), and I do stay active. But have never exercised for the sake of exercise. I avoid junk food and sweets(most of the time). Being chased by our cows regularly is enough exercise for me. 🙂
Suzanne
i say more power to you! the fact that you’ve already learned how to do that (as in not thinking about having to watch what you eat) is huge 🙂
Your smile is RADIANT in that photo!
thanks so much sabrina! it was such an incredible day 🙂
I love this pic of you two. My goal is too make it through rehab after having surgery on my tennis elbow and get back to playing soon.
Heather that photo of you and your hubs is gorgeous!! You can be whatever you wrap your mind around. We are all here to support each other 🙂 xo
aw, thank you marla!
My fitness goal for the next 4 weeks is to survive this pregnancy. LOL I’m really hoping he will be out around 4 weeks from now. That’s when I delivered M.
2011 will be 100% devoted to getting back to my physical happy place. You know I can’t wait. And a happy place that is attainable and maintainable is such a good thing to strive for. I can relate.
oh girl, i know you’re ready and i’m ready for you! i’m excited to read about how you bounce back…it’s going to feel so good to have your body back and a sweet little boy to love on!
Great picture Heather. I love the blog. Your goals are great and it is wonderful to hear that you are doing well. Have fun these next 4 weeks with your plan. You can do it!
i am totally joining you on healthy eating! i have been eating so poorly over the last few weeks and definitely feeling it…
I know, I feel icky but am so ready to dive head-first into healthy eating!
What a gorgeous pic of you and your hubby! There’s no doubt in my mind that you will reach your goals 🙂
My goal right now is to maintain my health 🙂
Have a great weekend!
I LOVE that you say “attainable, healthy, maintainable, and appropriate for my body type”- that is such a good attitude to have and I wish more women had it! Instead we have women like my freshman year roommate sticking photos of Victoria’s Secret models up on her walls as “inspiration.” Sigh. We had to have a chat abotu photoshop.
This is the perfect time for me to set a fitness goal for the next 4 weeks because I’m going home for a month-long winter break from school today! Even though the weather will be cold and treats will abound, I’ll have tons of free time and therefore no excuse to laze around. So my goal is to twofold- 1. become the runner I used to be and hit 5 miles again and 2. re-start strength training 2-3x per week.
i’d be lying if i said i’d never done what your roommate did, but since i’ve been doing photography i’ve seen how different photos can look with a little work!
Perfect timing for this post. I was actually laying in bed thinking about how I needed to change somethings. Much like you, I wish I would have recognized how good I actually looked on my wedding day and I would love to get back to that. My goal in the next four weeks is to hit the gyms three times a week and do yoga at home the other two days. I also want to make it to the gym once during the weekend.
that sounds like a SMART goal if i’ve ever heard one!
That really is a beautiful picture of you. Just remember that it’s not just about the way you look on the outside, but how you feel too.
you’re exactly right Alex, health isn’t at all determined by looks…it’s determined by life!