Please help- Wedding in 4 weeks and I look like a porker in my bridesmaid dress

[notasize10yetbutoneday]

I am due to be a bridesmaid in 4 weeks time for a very close friend. I went last night to get measured for alterations and whilst the dress fits (just), due to the style of it, it is really accentuating my tummy. This is my problem area anyway as I am a classic apple shape- I carry all my weight on my tummy but have fairly slim legs and arms. I am a size 12 but only 5ft 1 so quite dumpy.

this is similar to the style of dress- can't find exact one

With only 4 weeks to go, what can I do to have a slimmer tummy in the dress? I have the miraclesuit waist cincher this which i usually wear when I need to look slimmer but there's no way I can wear this underneath as the satin clings to everyhting so the hooks and eyes would be clearly visible. Please help me as I am really panicking!

Oh and the other bridesmaids are a perfectly proportioned size 8 and a size 10.

I should have said, I have been going running for the last few months as I was told this gets rid of fat off your stomach but if anyhting it just seems to have strengthened my tummy muscles giving me a rather visible 'shelf' effect if that makes sense.

Anyone, before I cry into my keyboard at being a porky bridesmaid?

Ok, don't panic. You have a month!

How do you feel about joining a slimming club? I go to Weight Watchers and generally people who stick to the plan lose about 2lbs a week but most lose at least 4lbs in the first week so in a month you could lose 10lbs!

Keep up the running. Anything that gets your heart rate up for about 20mins is fat burning. If you store fat around your middle then you should see results soon.

A couple of days before the wedding avoid the foods that cause bloating, fizzy drinks and high salt foods.

And btw, a size 12 really isn't "porky" so give yourself a break.

Good luck!

Have you tried Spanx or similar?

That looks distinctly like the dress my bridesmaids wore. My (slightly larger) SIL wore control pants which went practically from her knees to her chest.

The only way to shift fat is to burn calories - as you have only 4 weeks I don't recommend a crash diet or anything but lots of exercise may help?

When you say you carry fat on your tummy do you look pregnant (sticky out at the front) or have no waist?

In a month you can do a lot!!

Give up bread and fizzy drinks.. and anything you know makes you bloat - up the water intake and think about doing some exercise - I think pilates is great for that area - and it will help you stand taller and better which will make you look slimmer..

Please note that when I say don't crash diet I don't mean don't east sensibly and dieting is pointless, I mean don't starve yourself for 4 weeks on 2 slim-fasts a day beacuse you won't be able to keep going, regardless of how bad for your crash dieting is. But for a couple of days before it's worth considering meal replacement shakes so your digestive system is as empty and compressible as possible if you do want to wear control pants.

I second the cutting out fizzy drinks and simple carbs advice, also the magic pants and control tights can make a big difference to how your clothes look on.

Do stomach crunches/sit ups every day. I have a wobbly tum and see the results of 200 crunches after about 3 days, so in a month you'll be Madonna

Exercise plus healthy eating.

Spanx - nice and smooth. No hook and eyes.

Perhaps a Universal Contour Body Wrap the day before? You will def drop some inches with this (although it won't be permanent).

Peppermint tea helps the digestive system if you do feel like you're bloating.

Oh yes, peppermint tea is brilliant for reducing bloating.

Thank you all, you have calmed me down somewhat!

ontrol underwear is a must- I am going shopping this weekend- but will have to be careful what I get as anything boned will show through the dress. I worry that the highwaisted sucker-inners would roll down after a while so was considering a full-length body type one that includes the cups? Worried i will sweat like no-ones business though if its a warm day.

I don't drink fizzy drinks only squash or water so thats easy. Cutting out carbs will be more of a challenge though. But yes I do find bread makes me bloated so thats gone.

I have quite an odd shape-I am quite a small cup size- B, and then my tummy just seems to go straight down from my boobs with no definition! I should stress though it isn't like a wobbly tummy, it's actually quite toned, i can clench the muscles in and out. then my tummy goes in at the belly button then I do have quite a rounded lower tummy. Attractive.

Everyhting when you say no simple carbs, do you mean no bread, rice, pasta, etc?

I have totally cut carbs in the past (very tough!) but I find even changing to wholewheat pasta or rye bread is good.

Um, push up/padded bra to give you more defintion? It might balance you out more?

The under the boobs Spanx don't roll down. I find them brilliant.

Please could you link to the ones you have, Provincial Lady? i looked on figleaves.com and there was lots of different types of spanx and I wasnt sure which is best?

Thanks

No problem here they are and I recommend the nude ones rather than black as you can wear them under more things. And give your husband a good laugh at the same time!

BTW I am 5'2" so a similar height to you, which means they probably won't ride down on you either.

Thanks Provincial, I'm going shopping on Sunday so will hit John Lewis.

I was going to also say to cut out carbs to reduce bloating but for an emergency solution if you need it look into the juice master detox. I did it a few months ago and lost 10Ibs in one week and my stomach went lovely and flat. It's not an ideal resolution but might be worth a go for a one off! It's hard work AND you will put the weight back on afterwards! Be warned!!!!

I gave up wheat and dropped a dress size in 6 weeks. I did very little exercise at the time so reckon if you added in some exercise you would definately do it in a month.