One Woman's Wedding Shape-Up: "Phew! My Dress Finally Fits!"

The Goal

In the year before I got engaged, I put on 45 pounds. That's right, I said 45. I had moved to a remote town in southern Ontario -- nearest gym, 40 miles -- to be with my boyfriend, Dallas, a former pro lacrosse player who was virtually impervious to the pudge-making power of the chocolate, apple fritters, and biscuits that had become my new pastime. By the summer of 2008, when we returned to Vancouver and he popped the question, I was far from the athletic personal trainer I used to be. I soon found the perfect wedding dress, but it was a size 10, and I was a 14. I bought it anyway; I had five more months to fit into it, right?

When I hit a plateau after I'd lost 10 pounds, I took a shot and applied to be on one of my favorite shows, Fine Living Network's Bulging Brides, a fit-into-your-dress intervention. I was picked! With less than two months until my wedding, I turned myself over to my TV support crew.

My New To-Do List

I met with the show's fitness coach, Tommy, three mornings a week before work. I typically did 45-minute circuits: 30 seconds each of five total-body moves, then rest and repeat with five more, plus cardio bursts. On other days, I did cardio interval routines that Tommy created.

I was so busy at work, I'd skimp on lunch and be ravenous by dinner, when Dallas and I would polish off a pizza or other takeout. To break my starve-then-splurge cycle, the Bulging Brides nutrition coach, Nadeen, helped me plan three healthy meals plus two 150- to 200-calorie snacks. I felt full all day and ditched the comfort-food habit.

I nearly fell over when Mary, FITNESS magazine's fitness director, showed up at a gym session. She told me if I reached my goal, I would model Tommy's workout in an upcoming issue. I knew I could do it; I used to be a kick-butt trainer myself, after all. Suddenly it was also about rediscovering the old me.

Top Tips from Our Experts

Tommy Europe, fitness coach on Bulging Brides: "Do 30 minutes of cardio intervals at least every other day and aim to burn 300 calories per session, which will put you in the weight-loss zone."

Nadeen Boman, nutrition coach on Bulging Brides: "If you're a chocoholic, it may be easier to avoid chocolate entirely, as it was for Hedy, than to tempt a splurge by tasting it. Try going cold turkey for a week -- eat fruit to get your sugar fix -- and see if that lessens your cravings."

Mary Christ Anderson, FITNESS fitness director: "When you hit a weight-loss plateau, stay motivated by measuring your progress in other ways. Gauge your size by how much looser your waistband is or see how many more push-ups or miles you can do."

The dress zipped! I lost 14 pounds and 10 inches in six weeks, and with two weeks to go before the big day, I even had the dress taken in a little. Now, months later, I am expecting a baby girl any day and have been swimming and doing prenatal yoga along the way.

Sign up for our 6-week Bridal Boot Camp to get the plan that Hedy used, plus meals, motivation, and pamper-yourself pointers.

Originally published in FITNESS magazine, March 2010.