Wedding Wednesday: Not sweating it

Like any bride-to-be, I've been scouring Pinterest and message boards for wedding information and insights. I just want to make sure I'm not forgetting or overlooking an aspect that might be important. 

One topic keeps popping out at me over and over again -- sweating for the wedding.

When I got measured for my dress, I was between sizes. I told the bridal store to order the larger size. They seemed stunned by this. I decided I would rather have it altered than worry about losing weight to fit into it. I'm guessing a lot of brides go the other route. That has been obvious as I continued with wedding planning. 

I saw fitness center and supplement representatives at all three of the wedding showcases/fairs I went to. 

There are countless workouts on Pinterest that refer to fitting into the dress or a bridal bootcamp.

It seems some women, once they announce their engagement, are being approached by fitness and health gurus among their friends lists who want to help them lose weight for the wedding.

I even saw one bride say her parents want to contribute money to the wedding, but have given her sort of a challenge to earn it. They'll give her $60 for every pound she loses before her big day.

As if there isn't enough to worry about in wedding planning, it seems some people have decided to add self-consciousness to the bride's plate.

I've had people ask me (after I mention a workout) if I'm sweating for the wedding or worried about fitting into my dress.

My answer: NO.

I mean, when I do two workouts a day, I've joked that it's because I have a wedding dress to fit into in a few months. But it's not a serious answer. I double up on workouts because I want to challenge myself. I do it for me. I've been active for a long time (definitely long before I got engaged). I've also been working on my eating habits for a long time. My fitness goals extend beyond my wedding day.

Working out, for me, is not just about losing weight. It's about getting stronger, feeling more confident, and taking a mental break from life. Honestly, I'm trying to find a way to work out the morning of my wedding because I feel like it will help me through the day.

Now, I'm sure there are people who do put in a little extra effort into their fitness and diet leading up to their wedding day. That's fine. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with it.

My problem is when people assume all brides-to-be want to lose weight for the wedding. And somehow they feel the need to bring it up unprompted. It bothers me a lot. Not only is it rude (her body and weight are none of your business), but it also sends a negative message to that bride. You're telling her you think she needs to change. Why does she need to get fit for this one day?

Spoiler alert: She doesn't. Someone has already said he/she wants to spend the rest of his/her life with her. Obviously, she is loved as she is. And hopefully she loves herself enough to stand up to anyone who thinks otherwise.