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A space to talk openly about weight loss journeys and challenges. Mumsnet hasn't checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. You may wish to speak to a medical professional before starting any diet.

Original poster

2 inches all over

85 replies

ABugWife · 07/07/2023 21:16

My wedding dress has come in and it's about 2 inches too small all over, so 2 at the bust, 2 at hips and 2 at the waist.

I have 9 weeks till first fitting and 17 till the wedding.

How realistic is it to achieve this? 2 inches each place sounds like it shouldn't be too difficult?

OP posts:
Bitterballen · 09/07/2023 09:08

ABugWife · 09/07/2023 08:10

There will be no starving of myself. That's the whole point of the thread.

I should have worded my thread - how much weigh would equate to to 2 inches ish of weight loss and is that achievable in the time frame I have , in a healthy way.

I genuinely have no idea if say 7lb would sort it and therefore easily doable..... or if 2 inches is more like 2 stone in which case it's clearly not doable in the time.

If I need to lose say 7lb (again I have plucked that out of the air as I am clueless here) then a first week loss of 2lbs and then a steady 1lb a week isn't starving myself or crazy dieting.

That's the point of my question, what am I looking at here?

I get it. Really hard to say. Like I said upthread, for me that would be 2 stone but I'm a little taller than you and starting point a bit bigger. In which case you may need to lose more to get 2 inches. I just know that for me size 14 -> 10 is 2 stone (and about 2 inches).
Obviously completely depends on fat/muscle distribution however.
I guess from all your posts you've never been a very different size to how you are now or lose a chunk of weight?
7lbs won't touch the sides I'm afraid. You could try for a month and see what happens.

I think at this point we need to see a photo of the dress?! Grin

Original poster
ABugWife · 09/07/2023 09:20

I will probably be the kid it's an awful dress and to just get a new one 😂

I have two, so the original dress I bought in a sample sale in a size 10 so I have that as a back up if I can't get into the new dress.

Pic of new dress attached..... if I get it fastened on time for the wedding I will update with a picture of me in it!

2 inches all over
OP posts:
TheOrigRights · 09/07/2023 09:23

ABugWife · 09/07/2023 08:53

@L1R876 I will just wear my gym leggings or floaty dresses for awhile.

Ok I have re-measured as so many people are asking if I am sure I am a size 6-8.

Now the lactose bloat has gone I am 35-28-39

See attached pics of my clothes labels and me wearing said clothes. I don't aspire to be a particular size, I don't label up the clothes, I just buy what fits. Vanity sizing is a real thing, I don't say I am size 6 in some desperate deluded attempt to convince people others I am a teeny tiny, I am just short and healthy weight.

I wasn't challenging your honesty! I'm sorry you felt the need to prove yourself by positing pics of labels etc.

Your your first couple of posts (size 6/8, less than 9 stone, desire to lose inches) didn't paint the full picture.

Now we know you're not very tall, along with your measurement (and now some pics) indicates that you working on toning up and losing a bit of weight is entirely doable and that you're not on the brink of descending into disordered thinking/eating.

Original poster
ABugWife · 09/07/2023 09:27

I think I was obviously kidding myself to think 7lbs would do it.

I was bigger around lockdown and lost 2 stone but I didn't do any measuring so no idea what it is in inches. A size 12 was getting snug so I just dieted a bit and I just hover between 8st 8 and 9st and now fit a 6-8. I think that's why I thought 7lb would do it Blush

I didn't know I was lactose intolerant then though so a lot of that was bloating too so again I don't know how to connect inches and pounds.

2 stone for 2 inches has shocked me though, I was way, way, out with my original assumptions Sad

OP posts:
Original poster
ABugWife · 09/07/2023 09:30

@TheOrigRights a few people were surprised about my sizing and I honestly am not offended at all. I think it's great that people look out for each other on weight loss boards. I see posts sometimes and think wow that person needs help not encouragement and it's nice that there are people who can say that and genuinely be concerned about others.

OP posts:
TheOrigRights · 09/07/2023 09:32

2 stone for 2 inches has shocked me though, I was way, way, out with my original assumptions

At your size I very much doubt this would be the case.

DryIce · 09/07/2023 09:35

I am similar measurements to you, although fairly tall. I'm afraid when I lost weight after kids it was just over a stone for my waist to go from 30inch to 28

MotherOfClogs · 09/07/2023 09:45

It sounds to me like your body is perfect now, and if you skimmed down for the dress you might not look great, even if the dress did.

Original poster
ABugWife · 09/07/2023 09:46

I am hoping that you being taller has had an affect, logically there is a larger surface area for it to come off. I am short so all my fat cells are stuffed together in my middle?

Well I am going to increase my exercise, clean up my diet and hope for the best.

If I am not in it by September when my first fitting is, and the seamstress can't alter then I will have the original dress altered instead.

No harm in trying, in a safe and realistic way.

I will update each week if I am any closer!

OP posts:
L1R876 · 09/07/2023 09:48

If it was me, id probably try and slim down for the dress, but have a back up dress. As we all know, when losing weight, it comes off in different places. Also, if you exercise, you may weigh the same, but be more toned and smaller all over. Even when the scales don't budge, make sure to measure. Cause I can guarantee if you're exercising and eating healthier, you will definitely be losing inches!

L1R876 · 09/07/2023 09:50

@ABugWife I would probably cut down on sugar, carbs and increase the protein and veg in your diet. Not totally eliminate carbs, but definitely control them. And I have no idea what your diet is like now, so it's all assumptions Grin

AProlificNameChanger · 09/07/2023 09:53

Katrinawaves · 08/07/2023 09:57

You are already very slender if you are a size 8. I wouldn’t compromise my health to fit into a dress, even a wedding dress. Even if you did succeed in losing 2 inches all over, you may find that you look awful at that weight - your face may be gaunt and you might just look painfully thin and ill overall. I’d either alter the dress or go with the back up

@ABugWife Your health comes first. You need to just get a professional seamstress to alter the dress a tad or just go with a back-up option.

Original poster
ABugWife · 09/07/2023 10:33

L1R876 · 09/07/2023 09:50

@ABugWife I would probably cut down on sugar, carbs and increase the protein and veg in your diet. Not totally eliminate carbs, but definitely control them. And I have no idea what your diet is like now, so it's all assumptions Grin

My diet is atrocious, I run off sugar and caffeine so there is massive room for improvements.

OP posts:
Bitterballen · 09/07/2023 10:47

I reckon multi-pronged approach then -

  1. See how many cm you can lose in a month doing what you suggest, to get an idea
  2. Seamstress to see if it can be let out

It's a really pretty dress Smile Good luck and keep us posted!!

Ripedoughnutpeaches · 09/07/2023 11:01

If I fast for a day and just drink water, and combine it with exercise - for me that’s walking 20k steps in a day - I lose half an inch. In nine weeks you can fit in a few days fasting and exercise hopefully to achieve a similar result. I did it for my wedding day. Not suggesting for a moment this is a sustainable weight loss plan to stick to long term but worth doing to get into your wedding dress. Good luck!

timegoingtooquickly · 09/07/2023 12:04

I get it too. People think I'm slim but my body shape is awful.

I'm 5'7'' and 10 stone. I need to get back to 9 stone to get into a size 10 again and if I want to get into my old size 10s I would need to be nearer 8 stone. I just don't carry weight well at all.

I did really well last year and lost weight, got to 9 stone 5 but then Christmas came and I gave up. Before the menopause it was so easy (not that that's relevant to you!) but now it's all so very hard.

TheOrigRights · 09/07/2023 12:39

The dress is gorgeous OP, I hope you get to wear it in October (I think I counted correctly).

DryIce · 09/07/2023 17:20

ABugWife · 09/07/2023 09:46

I am hoping that you being taller has had an affect, logically there is a larger surface area for it to come off. I am short so all my fat cells are stuffed together in my middle?

Well I am going to increase my exercise, clean up my diet and hope for the best.

If I am not in it by September when my first fitting is, and the seamstress can't alter then I will have the original dress altered instead.

No harm in trying, in a safe and realistic way.

I will update each week if I am any closer!

Theory makes sense, good luck OP!! I'm sure you can do it, I'll look out for the update with you in your dress!!

Sizes are so random, I will remember you if I order from asos - generally I consider myself a 10/12

Original poster
ABugWife · 09/07/2023 17:34

TheOrigRights · 09/07/2023 12:39

The dress is gorgeous OP, I hope you get to wear it in October (I think I counted correctly).

Thanks I just love it. So simple and elegant (and blood small 😂)

OP posts:
Original poster
ABugWife · 09/07/2023 17:35

Thanks everyone for the advice and encouragement and even the people saying get a back up, that's very helpful and sensible.

I will report back when/if I get it on. Will try it again in a couple of weeks and see where I am.

OP posts:
BusyCaz · 09/07/2023 18:06

The dress is beautiful and while you are an amazing size now if you do eat junk and cut this out i think you have a real chance x

Jongleterre · 09/07/2023 18:20

Lisa is excellent for weight loss and training -

www.facebook.com/LisaFiitt

NothingTraLaLa · 09/07/2023 19:37

Lovely dress, OP!

Like you I’m short. I think taller people have no idea of how low the normal BMI weight range for us shortarses goes (at 5’0” I would not be technically underweight until I got down to 6 stone 9 and there is fat chance of that).

I don’t know what kind of exercise you do, but I’ve found that swimming really helps reduce my waist measurements even if I don’t lose weight. May be worth a try?

Original poster
ABugWife · 26/07/2023 12:16

So I have been too ill for the gym this week but I am sticking at the clean diet and slightly reduced calories.

Going well, weighing in at 8st 9lbs now, nice slow 1lb a week. Will measure inches at the weekend but I am holding on to hope the dress will fit.

7 weeks till the first fitting and 14 weeks to the wedding!

(my face looks ok still so far for those who pointed out I might end up looking gaunt which is a real concern)

OP posts:
MW1053 · 26/07/2023 12:25

How are your clothes fitting @ABugWife