One Stride at a Time for May 2010 Bride

When the scale hit 200 pounds, this Kansas City bride-to-be decided to change her life one stride at a time.

Bride-to-be Brie has had a lot of change in her life lately. She moved from Chicago to Iowa for law school. Got engaged. Graduated law school. And most recently moved to Kansas City, Missouri with her fiance. Through these journeys and celebrations, Brie has found another reason for change–her health.

As an overweight, out-of-shape child, Brie was not able to finish the “one mile run” in gym class.  Years later, this onetime asthma sufferer is striving to be happy and healthy in her body by her May 2010 wedding by running, working out and eating better. On her blog, The Fit Bride, you can follow Brie as she tackles her fitness goals clearly written in black and white for all to see: “run a 5k in under 30 minutes,” “run a 10k in under 60 minutes”, and (my favorite) “run a race at Disney World.” This is Brie’s journey…so far.

Bombshell Bride: At what point did you decide that you needed to change?

Brie: It was a combination of things. I always avoided the scale, but I had no choice at the doctor’s office and panicked a little when I realized how out of control I’d let things get. I also was a bridesmaid in my best friend’s wedding and wanted to look better in her wedding pictures than I did in the ones I saw from her bridal shower!

I also came to a point where I realized the next few years of my life were going to be really important ones–I knew I’d be graduating from law school soon, and I suspected I’d be getting engaged and married, and I didn’t want to go through those important moments unhappy with how I looked.

Bombshell Bride: What was the hardest part about trying to eat healthier?

Brie: I still struggle with trying to find the perfect balance. It will never be sustainable for me to eat only healthy foods all the time, and my first (and biggest) weight loss mistake was thinking I could eliminate my old favorites entirely. I finally realized that forbidding myself from the occasional ice cream cone or slice or pizza was just making me want them more, so now I work to keep about 80 to 90 percent of my food choices healthy but leave 10 to 20 percent for the less healthy things I still love.

Bombshell Bride: We noticed that you posted your fitness goals on your blog for the whole word to see, does that help keep you accountable?

Brie: It definitely helps keep me accountable. I feel so proud when I’m crossing something off my list!

Bombshell Bride: Why did you choose running as a fitness goal? What was your experience in your first 5k?

Brie: As a child, I had asthma and was overweight and out of shape. I still remember dreading running “the mile” in gym class for the President’s fitness test, and not being able to finish or having to walk while all my classmates and friends ran. As an adult, I decided that I wanted to redeem that poor little chubby girl that struggled so much by conquering my running demons! I still think of the gym teachers that gave me bad grades whenever I’m crossing the finish line in a race. It’s really been kind of a full circle experience for me.

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