Charli: The Incredible Shrinking Bride

If you clicked on this post because you’re tired of popping diet pills, losing money on gym memberships you rarely use, and drinking concoctions that taste awful, I’ll be honest with you. I’m not about to preach about some secret diet. I didn’t do anything you haven’t tried before. I found success with Weight Watchers. But, wait! Before you roll your eyes and say to yourself “Been there, done that, Charli!”, ask yourself this: Did you try it or live it?

Like many of you, I’ve been battling with my weight since college. Back then I took my sister-girl curves for granted, not yet realizing that they needed to be handled with care. I ate what I wanted, when I wanted, and let my busy go get ‘em twenty something lifestyle turn me into a daily fast food eater. I kept starting diets and never seeing fast enough results, so I’d give up. Then I got engaged. Suddenly, all I could think about was how disappointed I’d be with my wedding photos if I didn’t lose weight. I knew it was time to commit to a smaller me. It took my wedding date getting closer for me to feel the pressure to trim the fat. Before that, nothing got me off my butt long enough to see a change.

Charli crusin' during heavier times...

We brides have a lot of options out there to lose weight – thirty-day diets, bridal boot camps, etc. Watching your weight is probably the last thing you want to add to your wedding to-do list. I get it. I can’t tell you it will be easy, but I can tell you what worked for me: Total immersion and commitment. First I picked a healthy plan. Weight Watchers worked for me because it was about making a lifestyle change. It’s about portions and planning. Next, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn’t give up, even if I wasn’t seeing results fast. I didn’t set unrealistic goals for myself either. I vowed to lose as much weight as I could before my wedding without picking a number. I started the program in January and realized I had to make major changes around my house. I got rid of everything I shouldn’t be eating and found ways to be active daily. Walking my dog and battling Gibran on Nintendo Wii helped with that. All I needed then was to practice a little (no, a lot!) of patience.

I didn’t give up. I wanted to many times. I cried once because it took everything in me to ride by White Castle without stopping for chicken rings. My friends tried different methods, and sometimes had faster results than me, but I knew I didn’t want to waver from my path. Now, here I am seven months later, so happy I stuck with it. I’ve lost over 50lbs, and so far I’ve averaged about 1.5 pounds a week. I’ve gone from a size 18 to a size 12, and I’m shopping in stores I used to love again. I sleep better, I wake up happier, and I’m so much healthier overall. I’ve never been more proud of myself. What started off being about the wedding is now something that’s all about me. If you’re on a weight-loss journey for your wedding, I wish you all the best. Stick with it – you’ll love yourself so much more for it!

Charli dropped pounds with focus and determination

How many pounds are you trying to lose for your wedding? Have you met your goal? If not, what obstacles have you faced? I’m here, tell me about it!

Be sure to check out Charli’s previous blog posts here.