Like most military spouses, I know that each year there is a possibility of attending a military ball. I don’t know about you, but I am more of a jeans and t-shirt kind of gal (and that is on my dressier days), so getting dressed up makes me a little nervous and insecure about the way I look.

Many times I combat this problem by developing a workout plan and executing it a few weeks ahead of the ball to make sure I feel strong enough to take on whatever may come my way during the military ball season.

This means that after finding the right dress attire, I want to make sure I feel comfortable in what I am wearing for the whole night.

Starting from head to toe, here are some tips that will help you be at your peak performance and feel your best at your next formal function.

Head Games

From the top, the mind can be a tricky thing when under pressure. During a military ball, you want to make sure your mind is in peak condition so you can remember names and etiquette and then relax and enjoy the wonderful event with your spouse. Letting go of stress will allow you to be your wonderful self. In order to clear your mind and help you relax, try Kimberly’s Three-Part Breath for Peace.

Full Body

Have you ever finished a workout and thought, man I feel like I could take on the world! Well that is the exact same feeling I want to have when I dress up for the military ball. The exercises listed below are great for making you feel like you can conquer anything. Pick one, two, or do all three to help you feel like you can take on whatever comes your way even after the ball is over.

• Sun Salutations

• Running

• Burpees

Arms, Shoulders and Upper Back

Don’t worry you won’t have to bear the weight of the world on your shoulders like Atlas to get better looking arms, shoulders, and upper back. For me, the area I am most conscious of is the inner upper arm area. Many dresses for some reason showcase the arms and this area in particular. So these are some exercises I plan on incorporating into my workout routine to help me feel better about myself or so I can showcase my “guns.”

• Chin-Up

• Perfect Push-Up

• Dips

The Midsection

“Stand up tall, don’t slouch” were words often spoken to me by my mom. The same words echo through my head when I put on something fancy. The best way for me to be prepared for having decent posture throughout the whole ball is to make sure that my middle area is in shape. For me this means strengthening my lower back and abdominal area. If you are like me and want ways to strengthen your midsection try the exercises below.

• Ab Workout (this one is intense so feel free to do as much as you can)

• Back Workout

• Plank

Legs

Even though most military balls have a dinner aspect to them, I often find myself being on my feet more than I anticipate. Either I am walking around talking to others, exploring the beautiful setting of the event, or out on the dance floor cuttin’ a rug (or at least trying to). My legs and feet are often exhausted by time we leave. I don’t think wearing heels helps either. To be better prepared, these exercises are going to get my lower body in shape so I can dance the night away.

• Squats

• Calf Raises

• Tree Pose

• Lower Body Workout

Just remember to do these exercises for YOU so that you can feel good. Don’t worry about if you aren’t at your ideal weight or if you don’t know what to wear. These things will pale in comparison to you being next to your spouse and feeling like you can take on the world.

Do you have a pre-ball routine?