How to Approach Weddings

"Success is not making a billion dollars. It is to actually wake up in the morning and be in a good mood."

— Gary Vaynerchuk

Enjoy the wedding. That's the only way to do it. Eat the food. Drink the drinks. You are going to overindulge at a wedding whether you like it or not. So just accept that fact heading in and enjoy yourself.

With all that said, here are a few concepts I do my best to implement during weddings to maximize the overall experience:

1. Dial it in the 5 days leading up to the wedding and the 5 days after

When I have a wedding or any other big event on the horizon, I plan accordingly and execute damn near perfect days leading up to it and immediately after it.

Log my food every single day and make sure to nail my calorie target and macros. Eat in a calorie deficit in the days leading up to it or afterwards, knowing I'll be overdoing it for those couple days. Limit alcohol consumption or go dry completely. Get a workout in every day. Walk 10k+ steps every day. Get 7+ hours sleep every day.

For most weddings, the festivities last 2 days max. If you log 5 perfect days leading up to it and immediately after it, that's 10 of 12 days locked in. 10 / 12 = 83%. That's the 80/20 principle. Mission accomplished.

2. Don't overdo it at the rehearsal dinner / welcome party

I screwed up all the time in my younger, dumber years. Came in super hot on Friday night and completely overdid it. Drank way too much, stayed up way too late, and was in complete and utter shambles the next day before the main event even got going.

Be a full participant and very present at the dinner and reception, but don't force an unnecessary late night session afterwards. Call it a night by 11/12 latest when the actual festivities wrap up.

Then you'll wake up feeling fresh the next day, and ready to give the main event everything you've got.

3. If you're drinking, pick one alcohol type and stick with it

The more I mix and match the alcohol I'm drinking, the worse I feel the next day.

During the most recent wedding, Friday night I picked whiskey, and Saturday I picked tequila. And I stuck with those for pretty much every drink I ordered from the bar.

This obviously won't be perfect - there's gonna be champagne and wine served at the table. But the less you mix and match, the better you will feel.

Most importantly, enjoy yourself to the fullest.

Stay well this week,

Hal the Health Coach