Bridesmaid dress disaster - pls help

[coffeenut]

I'm in a wedding as a BM for my friend, in a week and a half.
We are wearing beautiful silk halter-neck dresses, ordered four months ago based on our measurements at the time.

Stupid thing now just doesn't fit. I tried it on two weeks ago and it didnt even do up. Cue panic diet (no sweets, no wine) ... just tried it on and the bloody thing only now JUST does up but it looks awful and pulls at the seams, even with spanx .

What do I do?! I cant tell the bride, she's already stressed out. I've looked at getting it altered but I'm really worried about it showing - and I'm not sure it can be done anyway!

Does anyone have a good quick weightloss type diet?! Or any other suggestions? Perhaps if I don't eat or breathe on the day, I won't risk splitting a side seam. Argh, I'm so cross with myself.

[rubyflipper]

Well done - glad it worked out.

[RandomMess]

So glad that it worked, well done you!

[SWIMTHECHANNEL]

Well done!

[coffeenut]

Thanks for your help everyone .

I managed to knock off about 5 pounds in the end which was enough to do it up without any splitting issues and I think it looked okay, with some spanx help!!!!

I bought the Epsom salts but didn't end up trying them as I had a spray tan and was worried about it fading or going patchy in the bath. Basically, I was so stressed that I went down to two meals a day with no snacks (I did have a vodka and diet tonic most nights instead of wine as I was a nervous wreck). Hopefully will keep it off now without any further drastic measures!

[BonaDea]

To be honest, I'd focus on the food rather than on the exercise. Obviously mid to long term exercise is great, but the only way you're going to drop weight quickly is to really cut down on the food you're eating for the next 10 days and that will be really hard to do if you're exercising like a mad thing.

I'd either go really low carb or do one of the soup / shakes combo diets.

GOOD LUCK!

[NerdyBird]

I've had to do this. My dress was bought a year before and I put on weight. No way of getting it altered so I had to crash diet. It worked although the fit was still quite tight on the day.
I would definitely do a diet and exercise, if it's for a short period and you have the motivation of the wedding you'll be able to do it. May still be worth talking to a seamstress or tailor, but letting out clothes is much harder than taking them in or altering the design. It may also cost a lot of money even if it is doable.
As long as you can get it on, move without it splitting and breathe you'll be fine. Everyone will be looking at the bride and hopefully she'll be too happy and busy to notice. Good luck!

[PicnicGatecrasher]

Right. None of the above will work. It's crash time..

Google 'Duncan from blue diet. Do that. To. The. Letter.

If you are doing a wrap dit it about 4 days before the big day, the shrinkage takes a few days. But tbh if you do the diet and a bit of laxative there's no need, and it is expensive.

Drink a load of 'slimatee' from holland and Barrett. Drink 2/3 cups a day for the next couple of days and then see the results after a further couple of days, fairly horrendous (and might be painful with cramps - don't venture too far from home!).

None of this is healthy in the long term but for a quick fix you'll be fine. Eat a bit the day before the wedding and the morning so you're not lightheaded on the day.

Search on here for 'shitter tea' for the reasons I know all this. It will work, but you will have to be disciplined and up for a bit of misery along the way!

Then go straight back to eating properly!

[LuckySaint]

I think epsom salts just make you pee more.
There may be a more scientific explanation... something to do with toxins... blah, blah, blah

But they do work.
You just need to put plenty in the bath.

[coffeenut]

Stupid question - what do the epsom salts actually do??

[Newtothevillage]

Epsom salts in the bath! I posted something similar a couple of months ago and it worked - thank goodness. Good luck.

[GeneHuntsMistress]

Meant to add, I have a juice every day now because I crave the veg & fruit in them! Soooo unlike me. And it's great to know I can have a wild weekend or whatever and just have a couple of days of juicing during the day to clear my system out and drop the extra pounds!

[GeneHuntsMistress]

Juicing diet

I dropped 7lbs in 9 days and I wasn't particularly overweight to being with so a really good loss for me. Also I didn't follow it strictly - I still ate a meal a day. Added benefit is a) I've never felt so healthy in my life and b) even when I went back to 3 meals etc a day, my appetite has shrunk due to not much solid food, and I no longer crave sweets& Chocs.

[coffeenut]

I have the shred dvd but have never done it regularly. Will add to the list - can you really see results in just 1.5 weeks of doing it every day? thanks for all the suggestions so far

[LuckySaint]

I always recommend Epsom salts on these threads.
You'll get them from most pharmacies or Amazon sell them too.

You need the magnesium sulphate type (for bathing) and you need a few large handfulls in the bath.
It's great for getting rid of bloat.

[nilbyname]

Shite! Poor you.

If I were you I would crash diet and exercise like a fiend. It will work, but it will be rotten. You can shift quite a bit by being reckless with eating virtually nothing!

There was a diet linked in here a month or so ago for people who qere about to undergo surgery and had to shift 7-14 pounds in a week. The diet was chemically balanced and issued by the hospital. Have a Google!?

[hellsbellsmelons]

That soup, veg and fruit diet looks OK to do for 7 days.
You'll get loads of vitamins and nutrients.

If that's too hard the cut out bad carbs. Pasta and bread and also try to cut out rice and potatoes.

I agree with doing the shred DVD. I think you can pretty much do this via youtube now without having to buy the DVD.

[AngusAndElspethsThistleWhistle]

Was also going to suggest the 30 Day Shred along with healthy eating. Fat melting stuff!

[BlameItOnTheBogey]

I'd dp the shred every day between now and then. YOu will definitely see results on that timeframe. And cut out all carbs.

[Ujjayi]

Definitely check with other BM even tho you don't really know her. But also take it to a proper seamstress to see what can be done. You'd be amazed what tricks can be performed! Is it a very unusual colour OP? Also what type of silk? (crepe, dupion, duchesse? Satin-backed crepe?). I know an excellent supplier who may be able to colour match if an extra panel were needed.

Do not pin all your hopes on weight loss. You will be up the creek if it doesn't work.

[specialsubject]

don't stuff up your health with stupid crash diets and scam treatments. Stop eating crap, yes. Move around more, yes.

but go get the dress altered.

[WerewolfBarMitzvah]

Oh dear, that's not good.
I would go fairly low cal and then do a body wrap just before the wedding.
If you're strict, you're bound to see results (but not too strict!)
This is my nightmare - I'm a BM next year and shitting it.
Let us know how you get on.

[coffeenut]

I've just printed that diet Whisper - I think that might be doable!

[coffeenut]

oh ireallydontlikemonday, that gives me hope!

yes I have put on weight. It snuck on without me realising - a combination of stopping breastfeeding, moving house and a whole lot of stress excuses, excuses. It is a substantial amount (but less than a stone).

I don't know any of the other bridesmaids at all really, which is why I'm on here! I'm really too embarrassed to attempt to contact any of them. My DM does a lot of sewing and she believes that it can't be altered - I should take it to a proper tailor or seamstress though and see what they think. TBH I would prefer to lose the weight as I'm so worried it would ruin the dress (or that it just wont look right IYKWIM?)

[mycatlikestwiglets]

You could try one of those inch loss wrap things the day before? They take a couple of inches off temporarily so might be the ideal solution if you don't fancy a drastic 10 day diet.

[britishbakeoffblues]

Definitely check with the other bridesmaids.
Have you put lots of weight on? Are any of the other bridesmaids a similar size/shape so you could swap dresses?