Here we go again; another New Year’s Resolutions’ blog post. But wait, this isn’t just the New Year, this is a whole New Decade! As epic as it sounds, it also represents a totally fresh start and opportunity to set the vibe of your next ten years. We all have ambitions to better ourselves and the lives we lead. Some try to say no to chocolate, some go to church more often, some call their grandparents more. Whatever your resolutions are, they are big steps in the direction of a disciplined and passionate life.

As most resolutions seem to be based around health and increased fitness, I have teamed up with Dr. Ashley Dwyer who started The Big Day Nutrition on this blog post about those easy to start, hard to commit to fitness resolutions. She supplies easy to follow nutrition and fitness plans to help you feel confident and beautiful in your dream dress, with the goal of sustaining your hard work long after your Big Day. She works with brides, grooms, and anyone else preparing for a special day in their lives

Check out her advice on nutrition and manageable routines that may help you see your goals to fruition.

Happy New Year and cheers to an epic 2020!

First off, let me just introduce this beaming babe as the star of this blog, Dr. Ashely Dwyer. She obtained her Doctorate of Pharmacology at the University of Florida. After her first year of pharmacy school, she discovered a new passion that would also allow her to help others: fitness and nutrition. With some encouragement and a little competition from friends, she entered her first bikini bodybuilding competition. An intense 17 weeks of training later, she won first place! (Just based on that, I fully trust her opinions and guidance on all fitness matters. Those competitions are intense!) Her desire to create The Big Day Nutrition came from realizing her wealth of knowledge and personal experience was sought after by the vast occurrence of engaged friends seeking help to get in shape and start healthy habits before their big day. She made the small business owner leap and now has a successful business fueled by her passions and incredible results from her clients.

While her photos are impressive, not everyone aspires for that level of perfection. I show them to you not to brag but to credit her successes that she aspired to obtain. She would want me to reiterate to you “don’t measure your progress using someone else’s ruler.”

Now for the good stuff.

Nutrition > Exercise

Ashley does not focus on grueling workouts and excessive weight loss but how nutrition is the key to setting your body up for longevity and all-around performance. Most are familiar with the phrases “80% diet and 20% exercise” and “you can’t outwork a bad diet.” Going to the gym is not enough. If you are not eating the proper foods that supply your body with what it requires, your Zumba classes and 150lb squats won’t measure up to much in the long run. Ashley comments, “If we fuel a Ferrari with regular, cheap unleaded gasoline, it’s going to run like crap!” Think of yourself as a Ferrari, and yes you are worth that much and more.

Fun Fact: if you clean up your diet, you can actually exercise LESS. (boom)

The 3 things she encourages that are easy enough and set a good foundation for better habits and results are:

Track your meals. Not necessarily bodybuilder breaking down of macros(protein, carbs, and fats) but making sure you are eating enough calories as most females do not and eating enough wholesome foods. If at the end of the week you find yourself chowing Chinese takeout and Chick-fil-a, let it be a wakeup call. Don’t fret though, cheat days are part of the program, you won’t have to completely go cold turkey!
Drink more water! Dehydration is a silent killer. Not to be totally morbid, but people don’t stress water enough, or if you are like my mother, she actually despises the stuff. Buy yourself a large reusable water bottle and set a goal to drink 2 refills a day. As you accomplish that, tell yourself to drink more.
Move for at least 30 minutes a day, 3x a week. She says “move” because it doesn’t have to be a super sweaty session or Crossfit grunting exercises, just get outside and explore or start with something you know you can maintain. Moving your body is proven to reduce cortisol, the stress hormone, which too many cases are coming out now about how stressed the world is. It is entirely preventable. Moving body=greater happiness. Simple math for you.

Remember Your Why

Body goals are set for a reason. You envision your life looking in the mirror saying “damn, I look sexy”, buying that backless dress, keeping up with the youngsters, and being full of energy for all of life’s ups and downs. Comparing yourself to Instagram models or your neighbor who is 5 years younger than you should not be your “why.” It should be because you strive for greatness from yourself and know that you are entirely capable of having everything in life you want. When the cruciferous greens aren’t going down easy and the 5 am workouts you have scheduled make you want to quit, remember your why and keep on keeping on! We promise it gets easier to say no to junk food and to get into gym clothes because after a little while, your body actually craves the healthy food and the workouts. Give yourself a couple of weeks of persistent, hard work and you’ll come out on the other side shaking your head at all the unfinished attempts.

Reasonable Expectations

I asked Ashley how soon people can see results from her programs or from starting their own fitness journey. She commented that it depends entirely on the individual’s level of commitment. Some see results in just one week as bloating and water weight are gone from eating healthy. For some, depending on age, weight, and health conditions, it may take a bit longer. What is important is that everyone can get there. I personally just saw a 78-year-old man squatting more than I have seen chiseled younger men do. Your mind is the only source of excuses and limitations that you set for yourself. Ashley’s first focus is on nutrition and then she aims to target all the sources of stress and dis-ease from your life. By creating a program that eliminates stress, anxiety, emotional eating, and negative mindsets, Ashley guides her clients to an all-around better physical and mental state. She will hold you accountable and also be quick to change up the routine if you are not seeing results. She will even be as attentive to respond to a text saying “I’m hungry and need a snack, what can I eat?” (Hint: protein bars with 20 ingredients are junk disguised as health food)

The Verdict

Set your intentions. Write them down every day. Make a commitment to actually accomplish the set intentions. (It takes 21 days to make/break a habit) If you are someone who needs the extra push, hire a trainer. Check out The Big Day Nutrition and chat with Ashley about her options for getting you on track and feeling better. She is a great place to start. That is the key: starting. This is a start to a year of fresh energy and abundance. Make it count and do the things that you have always said you will do.

After all the efforts you have put into planning your wedding, you might want to look back to the photos and say “that was the best day of my life and that is my best self.”

If you’re looking for an epic planner and wedding designer to create the royal day you deserve, please contact Blue Orchid Events today!