Sunday, December 14, 2008

Weight Loss

Google "bride weight loss" and you'll get "about 7,000,000" results. That's a lot of results, many of which are selling weight loss plans. There are websites devoted to weight loss (such as www.fitness-for-brides.com/), webpages of established weight loss websites (such as www.cardiocorebootcamp.ca/page/BridalParty.html), unsafe weight loss techniques (such as http://bridalweightlosscenter.com/), and news articles (such as http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2008/apr/09/fashion.women). Please note, that I am not endorsing these websites. I am just pointing out the varying websites and webpages addressing the goal of bridal weight loss.

The news article includes statistics and reports such as:
-A report in Newsweek indicated that 70% of US women who were engaged were trying to lose more than 20lb in time for their wedding, and of those who were trying to lose weight, more than 20% were taking an approach that the researchers perceived as "extreme", including downing laxatives, vomiting after meals and adopting a new-found smoking habit as a way to stave off hunger pangs;
-A bridal body image survey for a UK wedding magazine indicated that 91% of respondents intend to lose weight for their wedding, as well as rhinoplasty (aka a nose job) (7%), breast enlargements (8%) and breast reductions (5%);
-And anecdotal internet forums in which brides discussed starting a strict diet 18 months before getting married, buying dresses three sizes too small as an incentive and living on 1000 calories a day (half the recommended intake).

That's a little too extreme.

Now, if you are losing weight in a healthy manner (such as through healthy eating and exercise), you can expect to lose up to 2 lbs a week at the absolute most. That's it. One pound is actually more the normal expectation. There are no magic pills that are safe for weight loss: everything out there has side effects.

If your goal is to lose 20 lbs before the wedding, you should have 20 weeks before the wedding. 20 weeks = 5 months.

If your goal is to lose 50 lbs before the wedding, you should have 50 weeks! That's about a year!

Unless, of course, you have dress fittings, which typically are finished 2 to 4 weeks before the wedding. So add 2 or 4 weeks to those numbers. And never buy a dress a size too small. If you don't fit into your dress, you're screwed on your wedding day!

And do you even need to lose weight? Consider that. If you are happy with your weight, or are just interested in toning up, then don't feel pressure to diet.

11 comments:

Jess said...

Too many brides go a little crazy on the losing weight thing, in my opinion. My sister went a little overboard and then ended up getting pregnant within the next few months anyways!
I have to say, I do love the show Bulging Brides, don't know if you've ever seen it, but it's a good one!!

Krista said...

Well, at least with the pregnancy she was forced to eat healthy again!

And yes, that show is fun and addictive to watch. You KNOW they set up the girls for failure. I mean, a strict such a strict diet! No one can stick to that strick of a diet for 6+ weeks! Of course they "cheat" at the shower or bachelorette party!

EliandMe said...

I am aiming to lose 3 stone before the wedding. But the important thing to note is, I needed to lose 3 stone anyway. The wedding is just a convenient tangible deadline.

Marie said...

I do agree some people go very crazy but the goal of a wedding to lose weight can for sure be a good thing sometimes. As long as like you say you're sensible with exercise and eating then it'll come off and in a sustainable way! But there is also far too much pressure to lose weight for a wedding, there should be more emphasis on being confident with who you are. Sorry bit of a rant... LB x

AmyJean {Relentless Bride®} said...

Great post. Honestly. I want to lose weight and tone up... so its not pounds i'm after, so much as feeling good and fitting into my clothes. I think that 1 lb a week is a safe assessment though-as one would just have to cut back 500 cals/day to get there... and with exercise, you definitely can be healthy,tone up and reach your goals! :)

Krista said...

AmyJean - agreed - feeling good is a much better goal!
LB - don't worry about "ranting". This is a safe rant area! (I didn't consider that a rant, btw).
Eliandme - that's my approach, too. I actually started weightwatchers on-line in Aug/07 knowing I wanted to lose about 20-25 lbs (I guess that's about 3 stone) that had crept on over the last 4 years. I also knew I'd be getting engaged in the fall or winter (we'd already talked about it). So I thought I should start a healthy lifestyle as early as possible to lose that weight in a healthy manner. I had been trying for 2 years to lose weight without success, so I decided to try weightwatchers. I hit goal weight at the start of this month, but alas, I'm up 2 lbs again. But given how I've been eating the last 2 weeks, I'm lucky it's only 2 lbs! It just goes to show how much exercise helps.

A healthy lifestyle is sustainable. If your wedding is the motivator, great. But losing weight purely for the sake of being skinny on your wedding day is not okay to me.

Chris said...

I got married in a court after I had McDonalds.

The Less Than Domestic Goddess said...

@Chris Bowers: Hahaha!!

I agree healthy before skinny. I had a friend who was so obsessed with "looking good" for her wedding, quite honestly, she didn't even look like herself for her big day. She looked cracked out and in need of a good meal! It's sad to me that she will look back at her wedding pictures and see someone that doesn't look like her. And of course, she's gained the weight back.

I want to tone up for the wedding. Speaking of which, I've been so darn lazy lately. I need to get back on a fitness plan! Thanks for the post, Krista! xo

melissa said...

Great post. Brides can be crazy. My goal is to tone up so my arms look buff. If I loose some weight in the meantime - all the better.

Rachel said...

I wanted to tone up and lose a little weight for the wedding. I would have liked to have lost about 10 pounds more.... but I ultimately was happy I fit into my dress. And I though I looked great!
Yes, I ordered my dress about a size or 2 smaller.... supposedly. Stupid European dress sizes!!! Really, I needed to lose about 2 inches off my rear... which I knew I could do in the 9 months I had to do it in. But the measurements and the actual size/measurements of the dress once it came in.... I'm not sure it wasn't bigger than it was supposed to be!

I think if you watch what you eat, watch your portion size (my problem!), and exercise - you'll be fine. Remember - you did get engaged as you are, so he must love you as you are!!!

And Krista, yes, I think Montreal is above freezing today... but it's rainy, and tomorrow's supposed to be below freezing!!
It was 70 degrees in Dallas area yesterday (which is warm!), and yes - today is in the 30's (we have crazy weather!). But normally, we're in the 40's to 50's!!!
Canada's cold to us!!! ;-)

Cyd said...

Ahhhh yes, the never ending quest to be a super skinny bride! I hate it when I'm accused of being on a bridal diet. No, I'm a bride who happens to be striving for increased health and ideally a long long life to come with my future husband. But, I do suppose it's hard for people to see the distinction what with so many already thin/healthy women pushing themselves to unhealthy extremes to reach unrealistic standards.

Perfect example - I have a size 2/4 bridesmaid who is worried about looking chunky in her dress. I love her, but come on now - get. a. life.