My wedding dress is too small - help me lose weight!

[ThankYouVeryMuchGerry]

I was meant to be getting married three years ago but had to postpone, firstly because of covid, and then I had bowel cancer.

I tried my wedding dress on the other day and it doesn't do up. Now, its not a proper wedding dress (very small second wedding), and I could just buy another one, but I love the dress and I want to wear it.

It's currently about two sizes too small and I have until August so I want to lose the weigh to get into it.

Due to the cancer, and ongoing, and new health problems, I haven't been able to do any exercise for the past year. I've got the agreement from my surgeons and consultants to do exercise now.

I am also going to do IF and HFLC/paleo/keto to try and shift the pounds. I've already lost three stone from after my cancer treatment but I reckon I need to shift another two stone, and hopefully tone up.

Has anyone got any advice on exercise or eating right (only thing I don't eat is eggs) - I would be really grateful as its been a hell of a few years and I'm looking forward to hopefully looking good on our third attempt down the aisle!

Help!

just eat the bare minimum. one light meal a day with healthy snacks sort of thing dont go over 1200 calories.
non of those diets work. its down to calorie counting.

Quite honestly, I would get another dress. Losing the weight would be great, but you may not be the same shape afterwards.

Honestly I'd just buy a new dress. I know you love the one you have, but there will be another out there just as beautiful that fits you now. You don't need any added pressure after all your treatments and on-going health issues. Eat healthy meals, exercise when you can without going mad - and get better. You'll get into your dress at some point, and you can wear it to celebrate how far you've come. Enjoy your wedding!

I think after everything your body has been though you should be very kind to yourself. Exercise because it’s good for you and will make you feel better. Eat really well because your body deserves the very best nutrients. See how you get on but be prepared to buy a different dress and love who your are and that your alive and well enough to get married.

It’s not something I would normally suggest but have you spoken to your GP about ozempic? It’s a weight loss injection and you may have to buy it privately from a pharmacist but worth a shout

Well first of all bloody well done on getting through every cancer throws at you Cancer is horrendous. Take time to heal and allow your body to recover as well as your mind. Exercise and eat well for your health rather than for a dress.

My advice would be to see if you can get the same dress in a bigger size. Try Vinted or ebay or dress agencies. Mumsnet has been known to find items for posters so if you feel able to share then someone might be able to help. Maybe a tailor/seamstress could add panels to the dress to make it bigger and customise it to you.

I hope you have the wedding of your dreams and wish you much happiness and health.

Why not have the dress altered? How will you feel if you don't manage to lose the weight in time? (Not being negative but sometimes stuff happens and our plans get derailed.) Or treat yourself to something new to celebrate surviving cancer and the start of your new married life?

I'd add too that your body needs nutrients and cutting calories to low levels is ill-advised with what you've been through. Health is more important than anything here so be kind to yourself and see what you can do without stressing your body and see if it can be altered or a bigger size found.

I totally get that you want to fit the dress but you have been seriously ill and in that regard I would nourish your body so I’d have a back up plan

I lost a two dress sizes by eating soups, stir fry veg and fish and lots of eggs ( though you can’t do this - lean mince and Turkey/ steak are filling options)

but mostly care for yourself and build up a sweat type of walking

Easy, go on exante, you will be guaranteed to lose a stone a month if you follow it to the letter.
Only have the bars and shakes - the other stuff is repulsive and makes me sick. You can get special offers and get a months supply for £125. That's less than my usual food shop by far.
I've often used it in an emergency. No milk in tea and coffee though. It has all the nutrients you need in it so you won't be ill. I've lost emergency weight on it before.
https://www.exantediet.com/98-meal-replacements-for-125.list

You can lose a stone a month if you really want to. Eat high protein, low carbs, lowish fat. I'm on 1000 calerie's a day. Eat salads, go easy on dressings, salmon and about 3 baby new potatoes with peas, baked beans on toast, omelettes with ham, chicken breast and baked beans. Salmon, and chicken are my go to meals on my diet.

Eat lots of salad, veg and berries. Don't let yourself get constipated. Drink loads of water.

Thank you all so much for your advice, and more importantly, for your kind words. I will try nourishing myself properly to recover and exercising. Its so annoying not being able to be what I used to be. But I'm still alive and still walking down the aisle so maybe its time to just buy a new dress!

Can you not get the same dress in your new size or only one size down? Get the dress taken out abit? 2 stone is quite a lot to lose and you have obviously been through so much lately you don't need to put so much pressure on yourself!