I just assumed Davids bridal would be where I bought my gown, mabe thats because I also assumed it would be the most affordable there.

You don't have to buy your gown 6 months in advance...most places like Davids Bridal sell plenty in all sizes in stock, and you can order them a couple of months in advance, etc. If you find one that fits well, most of the time a hem is the main alteration needed.

Also, a healthy rate of weight loss is 1/2-2 pounds per WEEK. It will tend to be quicker when you first start and have more to lose...and then slow down the closer you get to goal. I am telling you this, because I don't want you to get discouraged when your weight loss goes from 3 pounds this week, to 2 pounds a week a few weeks from now, and finally 1/2-1 pound a week when you are near goal. That is just the way it works. It is because the more you weigh, the more calories your body uses a day.

I guess when my weight loss slows down I'll just have to kick it up a notch and maybe by then it won't be so hot and I'll feel more comfortable about walking/jogging in public.
Right now when I do exercise, which I admit isn't often, I do it in my living room.

you are right excercise will help...but i think what aphil is trying to hit home to you is to set realistic goals. If you set yourself for too high of goals you may quickly get frustrated and "fall off the wagon" because all your hard work is not "paying off". Take it one day at a time...and know that you will at some point struggle where you may not loose weight for several weeks. That is normal and then you have to find what works for you to loose weight. Just relax some. Journal, drink plenty of water, eat healthy, eat the right amount of calories needed for you age, height, and weight...and you will get there.

That was exactly what I was saying. In the original post you mentioned that you want to lose 3 pounds a week, and frankly-so would everyone.

It doesn't always come off that fast-especially the closer you get to goal.

20 pounds off by Christmas is a reasonable goal. You will certainly look different at 130 than at 150.

Yes 20 lbs off by christmas would be great, maybe that should be my mini goal

ShyShy,
I bought my dress 6 months before my wedding, and it was a size 18. I told the lady at the dress shop that I was planning to lose 50 pounds, and asked if i could order a smaller size. She said to order the 18 and that she would be able to alter the dress down several sizes and that it would still look good. To be honest, I don't think she believed I would lose that much weight.

Well I lost the 50 pounds and came back to have the dress fitted. My dress was strapless and the bodice had wire in it to keep its shape. Although the seamstress was able to take the dress in, she couldnt' reshape the bodice. The result was a dress that made my chest look huge and out of proportion with the rest of my body.

I guess what I'm trying to say is don't buy the dress too soon if you're planning to lose a considerable amount of weight. Or if you do want to buy it immediately, make sure it's something that you can alter easily.

Best wishes for finding the perfect dress. I'm sure you'll look gorgeous.

MJ

Thank you thisisntthertealme,
I'm going to take note of that so when I do go into to pick somethig out I can ask the lady about losing weight and if its even possible to fix a wire bodice, if not or it will be too costly, I'll just steer clear of the wire.

Yes, it IS possible. That was the major component of that $350 alterations bill...reshaping the wire in the bodice.

I do seamstressing/costume making and designing-and I think that if you are planning on losing a good deal of weight that would make you go down more than one size, that you should put off buying the dress. It is better to buy one later that fits-and only needs hemmed, etc. than to buy one now that the seamstress has to basically rip apart and completely sew back together. (Which is what has to be done...) Taking in a formal gown isn't just nipping in the waist...you literally have to slowly rip out every seam of most of the gown, and trim it all down (this involves lots of math...) and then sew the entire thing back together-not an easy task, especially when you don't have the original pattern that the original maker of the dress used when they made it the first time.

This is why alterations are so expensive.

If I took apart a simple Hanes t-shirt, it is actually at least 5 pieces of fabric. Imagine what a wedding dress is-with gathers, darts, embroidery, etc.

If you are in the 150's and planning on 120, I wouldn't shop until you are about 130.

I don't have any comment about marriage, as this will never happen to me, but I want to comment on what Glory87 said.

I hate the term diet, diet to me means that you just want to lose a certain amount of weight for a reunion, or in the OP's case a wedding. I don't agree with Atkins, WW, etc. Unless anyone can stick with these for life, I just think they are a quick fix solution.

I have made a lifestyle change. The foods I eat today, or the workouts I do today is what I plan to do for life. I am not on a diet. I am a calorie/fat/carb/fiber/protein counter.

I'm just going to jump in (a little late) with my 2 cents worth. I'm amazed when (myself included) get obsessed about sizes -- like they are going to hang a big sign on your back as you walk down the isle saying - "looks, she had to wear a 16!!!" At time time I got married I was 150 pounds and a size 10/12 -- my wedding dress was a 16 which I was very upset with at first -- however, trying to squeeze into "my" size made me look absolutely terrible!! I know you will look absolutely beautiful in the style dress you pick out -- regardless of what size -- I know the look on my husband's face as a I walked down the isle with my dad was priceless -- like he had just met a princess and was thrilled to be taking her home!! I know you will get the same look from your significant other -- regardless if you are wearing a wedding gown or a burlap bag!!!

Good luck and with all the stress of planning a wedding, I bet that moves your weight loss along a bit anyway!!!

I just wanted to chime in that I totally agree with FresnoeBeeDude...this has to be about changing your life not only about getting into a smaller wedding dress...And in the end...what you're goign to remember is how you felt not what you looked like...

That said.....I think your goal is entirely possible....

Thank you Shelby, I know my fiance will think I'm pretty no matter what, he tells me so everyday.
He even tries feeding me yummy fattening food even though he knows I'm trying to lose weight because he says it makes him sad to see me eating a salad when he knows I LOVE chinese.
He tells me my dimply thighs are cute (hate when he says that).
When I see I girl on t.v and ask him "do you thinks she's pretty?"
He'll say...
No she looks too plain
Nope she got a big nose
Nope she WAY too skinny
and on occasion he'll say, she's alright.
It's so sweet, why does it make me mad?

Anyway, I'm getting off topic, I guess what I was saying is that I know my fiance will think I'm beautiful when I walk down the isle no matter what I way.
It's just such an important day and it's supposed to be fun and I want to feel confident. I want to be able to dance like crazy at my reception withough wandering if my are flab is going to smack someone in the face, or wandering to myself if I look like a pig in a blanket trying to escape.
I don't want to know that my fiance thinks I'm beautiful, I simply want to KNOW im beautiful.