Now THAT’S Motivation For Ya!

Toward the end of January, I have the pleasure of being a bridesmaid in my best friend’s wedding. A little while ago, I told the story of my trip to David’s Bridal to order the bridesmaid dress, which really could not have gone better.

A quick recap: I tried on a size 12, which fit, and in fact was a little big. So I tried on a size 10, which also fit (meaning I got it zipped…) but it was tight. I was tempted to go with the 10, with the idea that I would be smaller by the end of January (this was in October), but decided it was better to be safe than sorry. I mean, all bridesmaid dresses have to be altered in one way or another anyway (damn racket…) so I’d just have the 12 sized down as necessary.

– cut to now –

The dress has come in. I tried on the dress to see how much altering will be necessary.

And it was tight. TIGHT. So tight, that I thought maybe the store messed up and ordered the 10 after all. But alas, it’s a 12.

So what the hell?! I find it unbelievable that I got that much bigger in the last 2 months – or bigger at all, really. None of my other clothes are ill-fitting, and the scale has actually gone down from October. So what’s going on?

Regardless of the reason, this is the situation: The dress that I am supposed to wear all day (and in photos) at a wedding in exactly 34 days is uncomfortably – and unattractively – tight.

So what do I do? Do I bust my ass trying to slim down a bit more in the next month? Do I try to exchange the dress for a larger size? Do I get it ‘let out’ a little from the seamstress? Do I pour myself into the horror known as Spanx? Do I piss off my friend and wear something completely different? (I’m thinking something in a plaid…)

I’m not entirely sure what I should do. Ideally, I would be able to resize my body rather than the dress, but is that the most pragmatic course of action? And if I go with this plan, how long do I wait before going to the tailor? Smaller body or not, the halter strap is way too long, so an alteration is required no matter what.

Hopefully some of you out there can empathize with me. This dress must be worn in 34 days. What do I do?

What would you do?

  • http://www.logmyloss.com/ South Beach Steve

    I have to say, I would either get it resized or exchanged. While I have no doubt you can get focused and lose weight over the next 34 days, it is playing with fire. Either that or wear plaid. :-)

  • http://fitmindbodyspirit.blogspot.com/ Kat

    I agree. It sounds like it might have been an error on the bridal store's part. If you have lost weight and your other clothes are not fitting differently. I would see if they can exchange it for one that fits now. You can always get it taken in at the last minute.

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/chief100psu Sean

    I saw that you will be running the pittsburgh half marathon from bodybypizza. I am planning to run but still unsure of the half or the whole. Are you on a training schedule? Whats your plan?

  • bodybypizza

    This is a toughie! I cannot believe that this dress no longer fits you as well as it did in October. You've been posting some great recaps of recent road races and workouts, so WTF? I recall a posting you made a few days ago (weeks maybe?) about reaching your 'new low'. This bears repeating: what the effin' eff?! Is it possible that the dress is incorrectly marked? Could it be a size 10 even though it's labeled a 12? Would it be possible to be refitted at the bridal shop just to rule out that wild possibility?

    I would normally default to suggesting that you bust some ass to get your booty in that dress, but things aren't adding up. You have been busting ass as part of your every day healthy lifestyle and yet, the fit is jacked. I'd hate for you to feverishly kill yourself over fitting into this bipolar piece of fabric! That would be a crappy way to start your year and it seems like it would go against everything you stand for (consistency, moderation, etc). On the other hand, it would be a challenge and if we are anything alike, challenges = supreme greatness.

    Honestly, I would make a trip to the bridal shop to be re-sized in-house before taking action. If your resizing reaps the same results, I would probably have the dress altered to fit. Some mysteries just aren't meant to be solved…!

  • jodie

    I agree with all of the above. Call the bridal shop and ask to be refitted when you come home for Christmas. Something is wrong unless you gained so much muscle you are now bulging:) Stupid bridal dress….

  • Kimberly

    Hi Sean! Yes, I'll be going for the half marathon in May. I haven't officially started training for it yet, but I know I'll be following a schedule – I don't know enough about running long distances to feel confident in my abilities to train appropriately without one. I really like Hal Higdon's training schedules, and I will most likely be using his plan for the half. http://www.halhigdon.com/halfmarathon/novice.htm

  • Kimberly

    Thanks for the feedback, everyone! It seems you're all on the same page. I guess I'll go get refitted and see what happened – maybe it's a fluke dress? And, though ideally I would be able to fit into THIS dress, that's a lot of pressure – I'm probably better off having it altered to me, rather than altering me to it.