What size dress to order?

I personally wouldn't order a dress that 4 inches smaller but thats because i cant guarantee were im going to lose it.

i lost an inch around my bust and inch and half around my waist but nothing on my hips so the dress still needed to be ordered in the bigger size.

if you ordered maybe a size smaller and you lost more weight than you thought, could they not make amendments to it.

ive heard its easier to amend a dress thats too big than one thats too small.

I echo what bubblehawk said.

Personally, I wouldn't do it because it'd a big risk that I wouldn't make it. However, if I did do it, I'd hire a (good) personal trainer who could also put me on a meal plan - cut out carbs/sugar. This worked for me when I wanted to tone up before.

Doable, absolutely. However, I would order the size you are, it's normally easier to take a dress in than make it bigger without making it look a total different dress by adding bits to it to enlarge it. Also (coming from a slightly larger girl myself) will have so much to do around the wedding, eating healthy and doing tons of exercise will be low on the agenda.

I considered ordering a dress smaller than what I was - it wasn't as much as 4 inches too small. However, I put on a bit of weight doing professional exams (literally didn't move for 7 weeks as constantly studying) and afterwards I didn't lose as much as I'd hoped. I am so glad that I didn't order that smaller dress!

My dress needed a bit of nipping in at the waist but that's been dealt with in the alterations. The size is just a number, I would buy the bigger dress and if you lose the weight you want to then it can be taken in. Buying the smaller dress is just heaping unnecessary pressure on yourself.

Thanks for the advice everyone. It's not necessarily the "size" that I'm bothered about as I don't even know the sizes, I asked not to know, they just told me the sizes in inches and told me to choose which one I want ordered.

It's my own fault.... I'm unhappy with my weight and keep "meaning" to do something about it. But I haven't. Now it's time I do. But I'm one of these people that need to be put under pressure to lose weight.

I know once my dress is ordered I will be on a mission to lose weight.

So just wondered if 4 inches I'd actually doable or not.

Xxx

It is definitely do able, I'm quite small already (size 8/10) and recently lost 4 inches from my waist in 12 weeks. I'm a personal trainer and went on a strict diet & training plan. I had put a bit of weight on after getting engaged and the summer so wanted to get some more focus back and tone up.

You can definitely do it - hope that helps xxx

Thanks Rach

What is the best excerise to focus on for inch loss around waist area? I know you can't target certain areas specifically but there's obviously things that are good for certain areas etc.

Thanks xxx

If you had more time I'd say definitely go for it... 5 months I would find a bit worrying, surely its even less than that as you'll have alterations for the perfect fit before then? It isn't impossible and it may give you the incentive you need but perhaps have a contingency plan in case you don't manage it? Surely you don't want the stress of last minute dress shopping.... or at least get one with a corset back that might be a bit forgiving!

I did similar to Rach. It was for my SIL's wedding because I didn't want to be the "fat chick" in the family photo. I hired a personal trainer who designed my workouts plus diet which was strictly adhered to. I am motivated by attending gym sessions with a PT because 1.) I hate being a flake with other people (but with myself is fine) and 2.) I was paying for it and I don't like frittering my money. He also pushed me harder than I would have pushed myself, but made sure I was safe.

He cut out virtually all sugar from my diet (except for one can of coke per day which I eventually gave up all together). Coffees were americanos only - and no sugar/milk in my tea. (Milk was eventually added back in small quantities). Lots of veggies and protein, and little snacks throughout the day.

Exercise-wise, there were a lot of squats, lunges, variations on squat and lunges, push-ups, pull-downs (and variations thereof), bridges, planks (and variations thereof). There was a lot of HIIT. I was doing a lot of weight work, and very little cardio.

Core strength exercises are important (and helps posture). However, exercises for thighs/butts are great because they're the biggest muscle. Muscle burns fat, so if you make that muscle work then it burns more fat than a bicep or whatnot (or at least that's what I tell myself when I am doing lunges and squats).

I have never felt so good as when I was on this regime (and kept it up post-wedding) but sadly I had to move to another country so this ended up going out the window a bit. If you can afford it, a good personal trainer is amazing.

Best of luck!

I couldn't have actually put it much better than Ash myself! In terms of weight around your middle diet is really key, so that would be the first thing I'd look at! My top tip would be to cut out processed foods, and aim to eat mainly "whole" food, that annoying term clean eating! Think meats, vegetables, potatoes, grains, try and limit carbohydrates to pre/post workout but carbs aren't bad so don't stress about this too much!

In terms of exercise again Ash has it right, work on the bigger muscle groups so legs, back and chest are the main ones - squats, lunges, rows, pull downs, press ups and variations of these. I would definitely do core work as this is important for general health when exercising - plank is a big one. And add some cardio in! I tend to throw a quick 10/15 minute blast of cardio on the end of most of my workouts, HIIT mainly and occasionally I go out for a run or go for a swim!

I hope that helps - if you want any more info let me know, happy to help as much as I can. You can definitely do it xxxx