Wedding Day Shape: Living on this Island

I'll be the first to admit I need to be in better shape. My weight has fluctuated from 107 lbs to 155 lbs in the last 7 years. I'm 26 (about to be 27) and I know I could take better care of myself. There are so many fad diets out there it's hard to decipher what's legitimate and what's not. I think the biggest thing for me is to know that I'll have the endurance to go all day long on the big day. I don't forsee myself wanting to take a nap or anything, but I certainly don't want to feel burnt out by the time I say "I do."

The biggest thing I keep reading EVERYWHERE is to drink enough water. Raise your hand if you don't drink enough water *raises hand*......yea......I know I need to get better about that.
Also, another key thing that is everywhere is eating enough fruits and veggies. Like you can NEVER have enough fruits and vegetables. No one out there will tell you to put that carrot stick down, or don't eat that apple. But of course, someone out there should be slapping that pizza slice or french fry out of your hand. Not all of us have someone that will do that to us. (Lord knows if Jason tried so much as to touch the french fry in my hand I'd snarl or something crazy like that....)

Above all else, it's about making a CONSCIOUS decision every time you eat.

And then there's exercise. If you're like me on this island as a year-rounder, you probably work like 2,3,4 jobs just to survive (and pay for the upcoming wedding). And as much as I love the amazing people who run the Nantucket Health Club, I don't have it in my budget a year in advance to get a membership. However, if you can afford it, I say go for it. They are all really awesome people over there and offer a lot of great classes, advice and help. Another place I adore is the Nantucket Yoga Room.

They have classes every single day of the week for all levels, year round. I am a huge fan of yoga and will find that $15 for the class when I have time (I think that's what they're still charging per class, you can also buy cards) The $15 to me = peace of mind and a healthy body.

In the summer months on Nantucket we're fortunate enough to have beautiful bike paths to be able to walk on. If you've got dogs, that's an added plus. There's also Tupancy that allows dogs, and our dogs LOVE going out there.

Best part about those last couple - they're all free. And if you have a bike or a buddy to go with, even more of a reason to go. And if you don't know where Tupancy is, here's a link.

There's a few things out there to help you out that I am a huge fan of:

• For an online resource to count calories, track exercise, and keep motivated (kind of like Weight Watchers, but FREE) there's Sparkpeople (there's also a free app for them for the iPhone) 
• For healthy recipes from the same folks that you can plug into your daily routine there's Sparkpeople's Spark Recipes (an app is available for free with the iPhone a well)
• Daily Mile (iPhone app)
• Calorie Counter (iPhone app)

Another thing I forgot to mention is, if you've got Comcast's On Demand service, there's a TON of exercise TV things out there. I'm a fan of the 10 lbs to Lose series. I did the Vinyasa Yoga the other day and I felt like I'd been to a yoga class. It was pretty awesome.

Until next time.

Liz