Bridal Bootcamp Diet

Since becoming a mom, my relationship with my body has changed quite a bit. Instead of speaking negatively to myself about my body, there’s a lot more observation about how things have moved around.

It’s like watching a nature documentary with Morgan Freeman narrating, except that this time I’m the animal in observation. As fascinating as some of these physical shifts are (read the sarcasm loud and clear), I have to remember that I’m not just sitting on the couch watching this Netflix documentary, I’m the subject matter.

While some shifts in my body are out of my control, others aren’t and it’s important to recognize when I’m making excuses. In this season of mommying and running a business, I can finally admit to myself that I do have the capacity to work toward some of my desired physical changes.

I’ve had an 80/20 approach with food for quite some time and have tracked on and off, but I’ve realized that in the last few months my 80/20 has become more like 60/40 and that’s taken a toll on both my physical and mental health. With that said, similar to the ideologies I preach to my clients, I’ll be embarking on a wellness journey to improve my physical state. No extremes. No elimination diets. No hours of cardio (in fact I won’t be changing my exercise plan at all).

Since my clients begin their wellness journeys with me for an initial 12 weeks, I will be sharing my journey with you for 12 weeks as well. Each week, I’ll be summarizing what I did and the results of those efforts- including the good, the bad, and the ugly and reporting out on Bridal Bootcamp San Diego’s blog (www.bridalbootcampsandiego.com).

For the next 12 weeks, I’ll be tracking calories and macros to figure out what my body needs to maintain it’s current weight and lose body fat. Because I work with so many women that are either currently under-eating or have history of under-eating for their body size and level of activity, I’ll be disclosing the amount of calories I’m eating to hopefully inspire others to reverse diet (acclimate your body to eating more) before cutting calories slowly. I want to show you exactly what can happen when you diligently track and then cut slowly without going to extremes. I want to show you that you don’t have to eliminate your favorite foods, dinner with family and friends, or Sunday donuts to get results and maintain them in a way that’s sustainable for your lifestyle.

Tracking is not for everyone, but it works for me when I need to be honest with my intake. (Ignorance really can be bliss sometimes.) Like many people, I can underestimate what I eat if I’m not tracking and that’s okay when I’m trying to maintain my current physical state. However, if I’m trying to shed fat, my go-to tool is looking at my calories and macronutrients and adjusting as needed in concurrence with resistance training. Tracking for me is a short-term tool that I like to refer to as my reality check. You might have had one of those when your employer told you that you had to report back to the office post pandemic and you realized that you couldn't wear your teleworking sweats to the office. Good times…

Moreover, while we’re talking about tools that are effective for me, it is important to separate yourself and your physical goals from mine or anyone else’s. We all have a body we feel our best in. My happy place body will be different from yours and therefore it’s important to resist the comparison trap.

I sound like a broken record but I’m always saying that I would never ask a client to do something I’d never do myself. So here it is folks, I’m about to go through the same experience I put you through. I’m excited to share this journey with you.

Disclaimer: It’s important to note that whatever I share is unique to my body and lifestyle. While I am sharing my journey with you, your calorie and macronutrient needs will be different. Furthermore, I am not a physician or dietician and any changes you make to your health should be in consult with a licensed professional.