How To Find Motivation To Get Into Shape For Your Wedding

Need motivation to get in shape for your wedding? I’m here to help!

Let’s start off with the obvious. No one needs to get into shape for their wedding. Yes, it’s nice to appear stronger and fitter in photos. However, your partner should love you no matter what shape you are in. You should love yourself as well. Getting into shape isn’t the goal when you’re engaged at all, if you know what I mean.

That said, many people do see being engaged as motivation for getting into shape. Knowing your photo will be taken a ton of times and that you’ll want to look and feel your healthiest can light a fire up under anyone. Remember, getting into shape isn’t about losing weight, per say. It’s about building endurance, muscle, and stamina. The number on a scale is just one data point, and it’s not the most important, in my opinion.

How To Find Motivation To Get Into Shape For Your Wedding

This post is going to go into how to find motivation to get into shape for your wedding. It will give you common sense advice when it comes to exercise. I am not a personal trainer, though. I’m also not a nutritionist. My perspective comes from my own experience with exercise. Exercise has been a big part of my life for about twelve years now. It’s second nature to me, and I love it. I want you to love it, too.

Let’s get into it!

MOTIVATION IS A MYTH

First things first. Motivation is a myth.

No one wakes up one day and all of a sudden feels like exercising when they haven’t done it in ages. Humans just don’t work like that. If you are waiting for a sudden urge to come over you, it likely won’t. Or, it will come once and then not again.

The key is to find urges to exercise from other places. These places are what I lay out in this post. All the tricks and tips I have to making yourself the kind of person who wants to exercise. I promise if you follow the tips, you will find the motivation to get into shape for your wedding.

IF YOU WANT MOTIVATION TO GET INTO SHAPE FOR YOUR WEDDING, THIS IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO….

If you want motivation to get into shape for your wedding, you need to understand that exercising is a habit you need to start. And habits take time. At first, you may find it difficult to want to work out. To remove barriers to working out. To make it happen. However, once you get the habit going, you’ll never look back.

Read on for the tips on what I mean.

FIND A WORKOUT THAT YOU ACTUALLY ENJOY

First things first. The main “motivator” to exercising is to find a workout you actually enjoy.

Now, look, if you love high intensity cardio, do what your body allows. Cross fit, HIIT, Insanity, there are tons of options out there to pound your body and get right to the point. Chances are, if you stick with these workouts, you’ll get into awesome shape.

That said, you may not love these workouts. And, you may not need them. Is having a six pack nice? Sure. Being able to deadlift your own body weight? Yes, of course. But you aren’t looking to be a big athlete here. You just want to improve your fitness before your wedding. So find something you like to do.

Don’t negate the effects of walking. Or yoga. Weight lifting with lots of reps and low weights can be an awesome metabolism boost, too. Dance classes can be fun, as can barre. Try new things and see what you enjoy. I promise there will be something you’re willing to make time for.

SCHEDULE YOUR WORKOUT TIME IN ADVANCE

I’ll admit, I like a schedule. There’s just something about it. It’s a commitment. A placeholder. A time that you’re setting aside to do something.

If you want motivation to get into shape for your wedding, try scheduling your workouts. Look ahead at your week. Find a time that is convenient for you, and put it into your calendar. Set a reminder. Get in the mindset that you will work out at that time, on that day. And then promise yourself you’ll stick to it, even if you don’t feel like it in the moment.

And remember, when it comes to working out, often the hardest part is the drive to the gym (or stepping outside, or pushing play on the video), so to speak. Get into the motion and you’re likely to stay in motion.

REMOVE BARRIERS TO WORKING OUT

What makes it hard for you to exercise?

Is it that you don’t have the right equipment handy? Do you hate your workout clothes? Do you not know when to work out? Are other people holding you back?

List out all the barriers you have to working out, one by one. And then determine what actions you can take to remove the barriers. Maybe it’s buying some equipment. Or going shopping for new clothes. Perhaps you need to set aside time to work out, and tell other people that is what you’re doing at a given hour.

Removing the barriers will make it that much easier for you to form the habit of exercising.

ASK SOMEONE TO BE YOUR ACCOUNTABILITY PARTNER

If you feel like you may not properly hold yourself accountable when it comes to getting into shape, you may need to find an accountability partner.

This can be a friend. A coworker. It can even be a group that you join where you pay money and then receive back money if you stick to your goals. There are lots of ways to go about this. The foundation is that you’re reporting back to someone about your progress. This in and of itself can provide motivation to get going and stick to your plan.

FIND A CLASS OR GROUP EXERCISE

Have you ever gone to an exercise class? Once I discovered them, I never looked back.

There’s just something about working out with other people. The energy can be very exciting. Plus, it’s fun. Does it maybe feel weird at first? Sure. But you get better with time. And, if you find something that’s fun, don’t worry about other people looking at you. Most of them are looking at themselves anyway.

Not only does it give you a sense of community when you do group exercise, but there is usually a cost associated with it. Spending money can be motivating, too, because you don’t want to waste it. Plus, classes come with a built in schedule, so you know when and where you need to be at what time.

INVEST MONEY INTO YOUR WORKOUTS

Did I just touch on how spending money can be a motivation to get into shape for your wedding? Yes, and I want to go into it deeper.

If you spend money on your workouts, it’s an extra layer of commitment. This can be as inexpensive as an online subscription to a streaming service. Or, it can be a membership at a fancy gym. I will say this, though. Don’t think that if you go out and invest a ton on equipment and clothes for a one time purchase, it will be motivating. It’s the monthly payments that are more likely to help you keep going. The one and done stuff will be in the past, real quick.

CHOOSE A CHALLENGE

Every month I choose a new challenge. They aren’t always exercise related. They are motivating, though.

For one month, you can do anything. So why not challenge yourself? It can be to walk every day for thirty minutes, hit a certain step goal every day, try a new exercise, practice lifting weights, or sign up and start going to a gym. Make your challenge whatever appeals to you, but is also still a challenge. And then see if you can accomplish it.

SET SIMPLE GOALS

You know how everyone signs up for the gym on January first and then fizzles by the middle of the month? Maybe they set their goals too big.

When you are looking for motivation to get into shape for your wedding, you want to be realistic. Realistic means simple when you are just starting out. So keep it simple. Have an easy to achieve weight loss goal, if you’re focused on the scale. Or decide to go to the gym just twice a week. Perhaps your step goal is slightly more than you usually do. Just make it achievable and then add more challenging goals later.

TRACK YOUR PROGRESS

Are you into data? Me too.

Data can be a big motivator. And, it can be new age or old school. For example, you can track your progress with literal star stickers on a poster board. Maybe you’re tracking how many times you went to the gym, or classes you attended in a week. It could be tracking the weight that you’re lifting, or the reps that you’re doing. You can also track your progress in a spreadsheet, an app, or even in a PowerPoint presentation. Make it visual, and see what happens. You may get inspiration just by looking back and seeing what you accomplished.

FOCUS ON THE BIG PICTURE

When we’re in the moment it’s easy to get wrapped up in the little things. The feelings of fatigue. The dread for getting off the couch. Overwhelming stress that is consuming you.

Okay, maybe that last one isn’t so little.

The key here is that it’s not always easy to work out. However, you need to get back to the big picture. Your reason for wanting to work out. It’s not about getting going on a single day. It’s so you can look back on your wedding day with a sense of pride and feeling good about yourself. Working out is about strength, endurance, and flexibility. It’s about your health. Don’t pay attention to the little things that may get in your way. Stay focused on the prize.

CHANGE YOUR MINDSET

If you want to find motivation to get into shape for your wedding, you need to see yourself as a person who exercises.

This means that working out is a priority in your life. It’s not something that you put off for weeks on end (unless you have a good reason, like a sickness). People who work out are willing to challenge their bodies. They don’t mind being sore the next day because they know those little tears in their muscles are making them stronger. Exercisers try new things and see what sticks, knowing they can always go back to the movement they love if they need to.

So, change your mindset about exercise. As you move about your day, ask yourself if a “strong, healthy person” would do a certain action, or not do a certain action. Be the person you want to be, and the motivation will follow.

THOUGHTS ON HOW TO FIND MOTIVATION TO GET INTO SHAPE FOR YOUR WEDDING

Friends, there is no magic way to find motivation to get into shape for your wedding. There’s only mindset and your own decisiveness. Remember to make it easy to work out. Find an accountability partner, or sign up for a membership or subscription. Track your progress, and above all, have fun. I promise it can be. Happy wedding planning! 

More On Health & Wellness From Hummingbird Wedding Advice

Kickstarting Your Wedding Wellness Plan

10 Signs You’re Overwhelmed With Wedding Planning

11 Skincare Myths You Need To Know Before Your Wedding

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