One of my best friends is getting married on August 7 this year. And she invited me to be in it! This is the first wedding that I will actually be in, and I am extremely excited!
Although I am all for healthy living with slow, consistent weight loss, playing a role on somebody else’s BIG DAY means a lot to me, so I am implementing Project Bridesmaid. I have to fit into the bridesmaid dress, and I also have to make myself girlie as well as presentable (not look like a gym rat). I’ve got a little over a month to accomplish two very difficult tasks. But I can do it!
I quite like the bridesmaid dress. It’s cute and simple, which means I can wear it other places aside from the wedding. I really like the color, too. It’s really calming, reminds me of the ocean.
The dress is from J. Crew which I ordered online so I wasn’t able to try it on in the stores, but I used their sizing chart and bought a size 10. I think it will be a bit tight when I get it in the mail, which brings us to Project Bridesmaid.
I bought the dress at a smaller size because I wanted to be able to wear it for a few months. One of the downside of losing weight is that you quickly outshrink your clothing. I just don’t have that kind of dough to throw around, so I don’t buy clothes often. If I’m investing money into it, it better last me for quite some time.
Basic plan of attack:
1. Drink a gallon of water a day.
2. If possible, gym twice a day.
3. Strength train at least 4 times a week.
4. Run at least 3 times a week.
5. Swim at least 2 times a week.
6. Increase lean protein intake to at least 100g a day.
7. Stretch every day.
8. Sleep at least 7 hours a night.
Did you think I was going to implement a starvation plan?
I don’t believe in those. I believe in fueling foods, for both the mind and body, as well as balanced training. Aside from training for a marathon, I now have to train for a wedding. Training means being healthy and consistent.
It also means fueling my body. I won’t be able to run long distances off 1000 calories or even 1400 calories.
I’m not setting a caloric intake goal. I’ll eat when I’m hungry, and that’s that. I trust my instincts and my intuitive eating abilities. Focus.
I have yet to figure out a plan of attack for making myself more girlie, but if you have any tips for make-up, be sure to share with me!
Since my Half Marathon, the longest distance I’ve ran is 2 miles. I really needed to get back into the swing of things, so I decided to run a 5K last night.
3.1 miles should be a piece of cake after 13.1, right?
Quite the contrary. The first half mile, my legs felt like lead. I felt like I was dragging dead weight, even though I was maintaining a 10:00 mile pace. I thought of a bazillion reasons why I shouldn’t run, why I didn’t need to run. But I knew it was all mental. So I fought myself.
If you had seen the war going on inside my head – to run, or not to run – it would’ve looked like this.
I was determined to hold a 10:00 pace the whole way through, and by mile two, I was in the groove. Half-way through mile 2, I was feeling the burn. I have never had a run where I’ve kept a consistent pace throughout the entire distance. But I knew that I had to practice consistency if I wanted to break a 30-minute 5K time. For the last tenth of a mile, I sprinted as fast as I could.
I set a new personal best.
It was such a great feeling. Even though I didn’t want to run, I managed to overcome that inner battle and emerge victorious.
The first 5K distance I’ve ever run in my life happened on March 4, and I finished in 37:08. Three months later, I’m running the same distance almost 7 minutes faster. My official personal record, from my last chip-timed 5K race a month ago, is 31:38.
It’s such a huge accomplishment for me. I hope to run a sub-30 5K distance some time before the end of the year. I know it’s possible. I refuse to give up.
Have you ever been in a wedding?
What’s one goal you want to achieve by the end of the year?
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Female. 25 years old. Chinese. Cook. Foodie. UCLA grad. Traveler. Musician. Scuba diver. GWU Law. Runner.
That’s so awesome about your 5K time!
A few thoughts re: Project Bridesmaid. First, congrats! The dress IS pretty, and it’s awesome to be so close to a friend, that you get invited to be in the wedding. I think your plan is AWESOME – it’s all about being strong and fit and healthy and NOT about starving yourself.
On being girly, I have a plethora of ideas! First, how are you going to do your hair? Your hair, makeup, and accessories have a HUGE affect on your overall look. So think about having an updo or getting your hair blown out or curled or something out of the ordinary. Go to a makeup counter at a department store and ask for suggestions and free makeovers so you can try a few different looks for the day. And start shopping now for a steal of a deal on a cute pair of shoes (unless the bride is dictating the shoes?) – they can make or break and outfit.
Before the wedding, think about getting a mani and pedi. Are you feeling girlified enough yet?? lol
Have fun!
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That dress is really nice! I love bridesmaids dresses that you would actually want to wear some other time. I can relate to looking like a gym rat most of the time. Since I don’t have anywhere i have to be besides the gym on most days, my outfits are usually just some version of work out clothes. I love make up and looking nice, but not for no reason. Hopefully once school starts, I can break out of my yoga pants frumpy funk. And, congrats on your fast 5k! I bet it won’t take you very long to break 30m for your 5k time.
Great job Jess! And that dress is beautiful! Good luck with the Project Bridesmaid. That sounds like a lot of working out. Remember to allow yourself to take a break if you need it. You got it girl!
Great run Jess….I ran 4 miles last night and thought I was really booking along for at least some of it, but my Garmin 1 mile paces told a different story…drat. Oh well…I know I’ll keep getting faster if I keep running…and yes, I do need to do some speed and/or hill drills as well…gag.
You’ll look wonderful in your bridesmaid dress.
I’ve been in like 5 weddings? ughh.. I’m tired of them, but at least I don’t have to buy a tux for every single one.
Great run time!
I think the same cartoon in running in my head many days. Glad you pushed past it and had a great run!
Love the dress, very pretty!
I have been in one wedding before. My best friend, who was in mine as well, asked me to be in hers. But at the time I was pregnant, I asked her if she was sure and that I wouldn’t be offended if she wanted someone else who wasn’t going to be bumping everyone out of the way to be in it instead of me. But she insisted that I be in it. I was honored.
I tell ya trying to find a bridesmaid dress for a woman who is 7 months pregnant it IMPOSSIBLE! We had to buy a dress way to big and alter it to fit around my chest. It ended up looking nice and we had a great time! (She is still happily married and we are still great friends)
As for the girly stuff, good luck. I wish I had tips for ya but I need some myself!
Amber
Oh, Yoda, you are going to look SO GREAT in that dress!!! If anyone can pull off Project Bridesmaid it’s you
Dress is beautiful an you will look goregous in it! And no, I didn’t think you were going to implement a starvation plan. You are much too smart (and sane) for that!
You’re gonna look smokin hot in that blue dress.
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I think one of my regrets is actually that I had a year to lose weight before I was in my best friend’s wedding, and I ended up gaining 20 pounds instead. I was so disappointed in myself. There’s these pictures of us, and every time I look at myself I wonder who that girl is, cause I just never think thats how I look.
I think you’ll be doing just fine. You seem to have your things together, and I sure hope that the dress fits like a glove when you get it. Its quite pretty. However you decide to look on the big day, post pictures so we can ooh and ahh over how pretty you are!
Jess! 3 months after your first 5K you’re already running 7 mins faster! unbelieveable! You are one serious inspiration.
I know exactly what you mean about project bridesmaid! I have four weddings coming up in the next few weeks. The first one is the weekend of July 10th. Its long been my goal to reach the 100lb mark for October 10/10 when my brother gets married. I’m standing in his wedding… I can’t wait to read about how project bridesmaid goes. Your dress is lovely! I hope you’ll share some photos so we can check you with all of your hard work in progress!
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Congrats on the new PR and good luck with Project Bridesmaid!
P.S: I did my tri today and the report is up on my blog now. You also had the honor of being the first blog I caught up with
I know what you mean about the lead-legs, I find 5k runs to be the worst! I’m not a fast runner to begin with and I find I don’t get into my running groove until about 5k, so when that’s all I’m running it’s really hard to get into it and push it.
My girlie tip for Project Bridesmaid, take the dress to a tailor and have it altered close to the wedding day, even if it fits ‘fine’ a good tailor can make you look like a million bucks, and it shouldn’t cost very much to have it done. If you don’t wear makeup normally, don’t let anyone convince you you should wear a ton for the wedding, you will feel super silly. Mascara and a cream blush that you can wear on your cheeks, eyes and lips will be easy and look good.
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I get that you don’t like to follow anyone else’s running advice, but I think almost every training schedule I’ve ever seen has a very specific recovery plan after a half or full. While it’s not a big deal to blow off recovery after a half, it will take you a very long time to get back into running if you don’t follow a plan after your full. It’s usually about 2 days off, 1-2 walking, then back into jogging, but look around to find one that works for you.
As a recent bride, make sure you do whatever it takes to make sure the dress fits well on the big day. You don’t want one of your bridesmaids looking like she’s a sausage about to burst its casing. I know you’ll fit in it well, but usually they advise that you buy your current size and then alter it down if necessary. Also, you might want to talk to the bride about hair, make-up, jewelry, shoes, mani/pedi. The bride (or maid of honor if bride doesn’t care) often coordinates shoes and jewelry, but be aware that jewelry is a very common gift from the bride so you’ll all match. The bride might have plans for everyone to get their hair done together, and she may want similar styles, or she may want to be the only one with an up-do, or whatever. She might also have someone coming to do make-up and/or plan a girls’ day for mani/pedi the day of the rehearsal (often after the bridesmaids’ lunch, if there is one, and before the rehearsal). Bottom-line is do whatever she wants! Even if you hate your hair up, if she wants everyone’s hair up, smile and say okay!
My other advice is see if you can take on an area of responsibility for her. Maybe she’d love someone to type out the content for the programs (and get it back to her or directly to the printer), or be responsible for confirming vendors the week before the wedding, or being responsible for getting all ribbons tied on all favors, or brainstorming a list of no-play songs and getting the couple’s input and getting the list to the dj, or affixing stamps to the invites and getting them in the mail on the designated day, or staying after the reception and making sure everything has been collected like cake-topper, gifts, toasting flutes, etc., or by making lists of vendors and setting interview appointments (like djs or florists or photographers or something else she’d need to interview multiple people) or something else unique to her — with the wedding so soon, she might have many of those things done or not need them, but I’m sure there are plenty of things she needs help with. Get a project and let her know she can count on you to get it done. Another fun thing to volunteer to do is to go cake tasting with the couple! I got to be the lucky bridesmaid doing the tasting with the couple in every wedding I’ve been in for the last 10 yrs or so. Tough job, but someone’s got to do it!
The only wedding I’ve been in was my own
We both had gone on diets for several months before, and I was down to about 220 lbs at the time. But neither of us treated it as anything more than a temporary diet to look good for the wedding, and so almost immediately afterwards, the weight came right back. Things are much different this time, I’m in it for the long haul!
I’m sure you’ll have a great time at the wedding, especially now that you look and feel so much better!
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have fun at the wedding! ive been in 2 – my uncle’s when i was about 3 as a flower girl which i barely remember, and once when i was around 12 as a jr bridesmaids for my aunt. that dress was horrible btw. yours looks nice though.
Jess,
You’re going to look great! I am soooo happy that I am going to have one of my best and longest friends in the world with me on a day that means so much to me
I’m glad the invite to be a bridesmaid has inspired you, but you have inspired ME so much with this blog in general! I’m so happy that you’re striving to become balanced, and I so much wish that I could have had someone to tell me all the thoughts you’ve been sharing as I’ve struggled with my own weight and body image through the years. Love you tons!