There’s one snippy comment I’m tired of hearing. You all know what I’m talking about. It can be worded several different ways, and it usually comes up at mealtimes, especially if you spring for a second helping of your absolute favorite Godiva chocolate cheesecake. It typically sounds something like this:
“Don’t you have a wedding dress to fit into?”
At first, I just laughed it off. As time went on, I found it less amusing and more offensive. Why shouldn’t I treat myself to the decadent deliciousness that is Godiva? With all the stress of planning my own wedding, changing jobs, house-hunting, and keeping up with classes, I felt I deserved a tasty reward if I wanted it. My dress fit to perfection when I bought it. How could a single slice of chocolatey heaven affect that?
I was convinced my haphazard, unstructured, twice-monthly workouts would keep me in decent enough shape.
Well, ladies and gents…
I was wrong. Dead wrong. Incredibly, horribly, shockingly wrong.
I just tried my wedding dress on for giggles, and let me tell you that the experience did not leave me giggling. IT’S TIGHT!!! I can’t breathe in the darn thing. It zips all the way up, but just barely and with much gut-sucking.
This is my wake-up call. Starting tomorrow, I am in full health-kick mode. I am starting by pouring all our soda down the drain, giving away my last box of Thin Mints, and hitting the gym hardcore tomorrow. I will spend what’s left of my paycheck on fruits and veggies, and I will thoroughly research healthy recipes to incorporate into my diet. I will learn how to pronounce and cook quinoa.
And whenever I feel my motivation flagging? Well, I’ll just try on my wedding dress.
Anyone else going on a pre-wedding fitness kick? Any tips from anyone already on a health kick? Anyone know how to pronounce the word quinoa?
Ooh, girl! We are ALL with you. Well, okay, I’m with you! When the bridal salon measured me to determine what size dress to order- I was in between sizes and I went with the smaller of the two. And guess where I’m a couple of inches too big? My waist. Of course. So, I am working out 3 times a week- one yoga class, one zumba class, and one cardio combo on treadmill/elliptical/bike. Plus arm weights and sit-ups as often as possible. I am NOT a good dieter (I live to eat), so I’m just trying to keep my portions down and cut out alcohol and dessert when I have the discipline. And then it’s just praying to the dress Gods that I will be okay once my dress comes in! (which is in about 2 1/2 months) Yikes!
Quinoa can be a little scary alone. If you make some to go with dinner, make extra because it makes a great cold salad the next day. Toss in some small diced apples, almonds, golden raisins (and/or dried cranberries), season with a little salt. You can also toss in some raspberry vinaigrette. It has an earthier quality so it goes with almost anything. If quinoa isn’t your thing, there are a lot of other great grains and types of rice out there that are healthy.
My wedding is next week. I kept putting working out off, until finally I realized that I had 5 weeks to go! So, one of my bridesmaids and I decided that if we could get our butts to the gym in the morning before work at least 3 days per week, just to walk, we could have a full spa day the week of the wedding. Well, I started walking, and although I have never been a jogger, I started to run a little bit. I made it 5 minutes, and then 10 minutes, and then I ran for one full mile. I was SO EXCITED! The excitement of being able to run a full mile kept me going back, and each week I’ve added 1/4 of a mile. Starting tomorrow, I’ll be running 2 miles per day until I reach my wedding day 
It became more about the accomplishment than about my wedding dress…
Im in the same boat. Tried mine on last night and it barely zips & I look prego in in!!! Time to start eating right & working out for this girl
My dad pronounces it kin-oh-wuh, if you want to say it wrong. 
One of the problems with wedding apparel (for any women .. brides, B/maids, MOH, MOB, etc. ) is that they are NOT true to your regular sized clothing. Yes, try to keep your weight in control, but don’t be afraid to order UP a size to leave room in the event you can’t control everything. It’s much easier to take a dress in, than to struggle with it, have the zipper pop (had that happen to a client at the start of the church service!) .. or have to struggle with easing out the seams (tough on the seamstress !!).
I hate that question… I don’t have a dress yet and I can get it in whatever size I am at the time… leave me alone!
Me too! I actually yelled at my workout buddy a few months ago when she (yet again) asked the “Don’t you have a wedding dress to fit into?” question. I was all BACK OFF DUDE IT’S A CORSET BACK AND THESE BROWNIES ARE AMAZE-BALLS.
Three dozen brownies and another dress fitting later, I’m religiously doing the BodyRock videos online.
Ugh, that question is evil, I think because it sounds so underhanded and judgey. Good luck with the work outs, I know you’ll look amazing in your wedding dress
Ahh, I feel your pain on this one. The sample dress I tried on was a size 4 and it fit me perfectly (maybe just a teeny bit of wiggle room in the waist), but I’m sure it’s been stretched out a bit from all the other brides who’ve tried it on. I know the brand new size 4 will be tighter and I definitely need to drop a few pounds before my first fitting. I hope it’s not too small!! Good luck on your new nutrition/exercise plan!
My mom has brought this up repeatedly. My dress is actually too big, AND a corset! ugh. Pass the carbs, please.
I decided I was gonna work out like a beast. For motivation, I took a “before” picture of myself and taped it to the mirror so that I got a motivational boost every time I had to use the toilet. VERY helpful.
I completely understand! I’m a year and a half away and I’m trying to start the habits now, because every time I’ve tried to get in shape for a vacation or something in the past, it has backfired. But if there’s anything I need to drop weight for, I want it to be for my wedding! (aside from the being healthy thing, psh 
)
I haven’t tried quinoa yet, but that is also on my list of foods to incorporate over the next few weeks. (I learned it was pronounced ‘keen-wah’, BTW.) Portion control and sweet things are my biggest issues.
Good luck! Keep us updated!
@Everyone: Who has a shiny new gym membership and a personal trainer? THIS UNICORN DOES!!! Woohooo!!! In the immortal words of Fergie, “I be up in the gym just workin’ on mah fitness. He’s mah witness. Woooo!” We’ll see how long I can keep this up before I decide that crafting centerpieces is more fun than running on a treadmill. And there is a big bag of KEENWAH sittin in my pantry now, just WAITING for me to snatch it up and incorporate it into some healthy dishes. Again…we’ll see how long that lasts.
If you have a rice cooker, throw the quinoa in there, makes it mindless. But I do recommend rinsing it a bit first. It has a coating of saponins that will give you gas if you don’t rinse it off. I use a fine mesh strainer, but if you just put them in a cup and swish them around, that will be fine. It’s yummy, enjoy! Good luck at the gym!
Oh Im with you. I ordered my dress a size smaller and then proceeded to gain… oh did I gain. I got a call that my dress was in a knew there was no way it would fit. Activated healthy mode and waited. I went to get it fitted a few weeks ago, scared that I would still be too big… TOO SMALL. Much worse problems to have… much. I’m a fan oh my fitness pal and presidents choice blue menu
That is defiantly one of those questions or comments that people say when its in context to a wedding that they would not otherwise even think of saying. For example, if we had a party to go to next week and you saw me eating a browny would you say “don’t you have a party dress to fit into next week?” no because thats rude. I don’t understand why people loose their sense of judgment when it comes to wedding topics.
My least favorite is when people assume they know how much you are spending and say something like “If I had $25,000 I wouldn’t waste it on a wedding”… WHAT? who said we are spending $25,000? and even if we are, isn’t our finances and budget our business? when did I ask you what YOU would do with YOUR money?
Ugh, its the ugly side of wedding planning.
I wish I had ordered the dress size I tried on (ordered one size larger). I had no motivation to work out.
Mrs. Unicorn, Atlanta, Georgia Age and Occupation: 22, Retail Sales Consultant Fiance's Age and Occupation: 22, Graphic Designer Engagement Date: November 27, 2011 Wedding Date: September 2012 Venue: The Farm About Me: I’m an impatient, impulsive person with a creative side and a flair for the dramatic. I’m very much a DIY sort of girl, and I have the messy craft table to prove it. I worked at a veterinary clinic for the better part of seven years before diving headfirst into the totally different world of sales. I must say, the change has been one for the better; I no longer have clients that bite or scratch, nor does my workplace smell of kitty litter. My true passion, however, is aerial acrobatics and dance, and I hope to open my own studio one day. Mr. Unicorn doesn’t bat an eye when he comes home from work to find his fiancée hanging upside down from a pole. Together, we enjoy shooting things (with a camera), playing Xbox games (my strategy consists primarily of button-mashing), and enjoying the company of our spoiled pit bull named Leeloo. We are planning a fall wedding with lots of DIY details and a rustic-chic vibe. Our budget is tight, but we know we can work around it to plan the wedding we want.
Latest Gallery Pics