I’ve been talking and posting on Instagram about my workout routine a lot more lately, reason being that I now have a workout routine. Since I’ve gotten a few questions about it, I thought I would share it today, along with the tools and equipment that have been most helpful!

I do want to emphasize, first of all, that this isn’t about hitting a certain number on the scale or a dress size. My biggest “why” when it comes to finally getting my act together food and exercise-wise is that I very deeply don’t want to have any regrets about our wedding. I want to know that I did my best to look and feel amazing on that day, and to keep it up afterwards. I want to look at my wedding pictures and only see the joy and love, not the body parts I’m insecure about. All in all, being intentional about healthy eating and exercise is one of the ways I’m trying to focus on what matters on that day, and I think that the sense of confidence that comes from a healthy lifestyle would be an amazing gift to myself on my wedding day!

Running: I have wanted to be a runner for as long as I can remember (thanks to my marathon-running dad), but gracious alive, it does not come easily to me! What has finally worked for me though, is the Couch to 5k app–yesterday, I hit a big milestone and ran two miles without stopping! That felt SO good. Also helpful have been good playlists for when I run alone or on a treadmill (I like to listen to mine and Dave’s reception playlist and imagine dancing in my dress!), easy access to a gym (the gym at my apartment complex was a great selling point–their treadmills are super high tech), a go-to outdoor loop to run, and cute, weather-appropriate running gear. A few of my favorites are below–Asics sneakers, Krass & Co. shorts (they have the best patterns–I’ve gifted them to at least four people!), leggings from Academy, running socks, and my new Nike headband from my future in-laws. I write down all of my runs (the date and mileage) in my appropriately-named Make It Happen sketchbook, which is also where I keep track of my measurements and any in-depth meal plans.

Tone It Up: I feel like a broken record, but I really do love Tone It Up! I bought their Nutrition Plan a few months ago, but their blog and all of their workout videos are free online. I use their weekly workout schedules to plan my strengthening and toning workouts and love their follow-along videos–my favorites are Love Your Body Arms and Abs, Love Your Body with Kettlebells, and Bikini Body 2. I’d say you could do 95% of their videos with just a yoga mat, a pair of weights (I started with 3 lbs and have increased to 5 lbs for most routines), and a kettlebell (I use 10 lbs).

And that’s it! I am still super new to all of this, but I’m really happy with how it has kept my interest and improved my health over the last few months. Do you have any favorite fitness tips or tricks, or ways to stay motivated? I would love to hear!