MrsG - I think we must be about the same in the slightly boverweight department
2.5 years ago, I was over 5 stone overweight - I lost a LOT slowly. It was very very hard - slow progress and the only thing that worked was strict adherence to the Atkins diet and upping my gym visits to around 8 - 10 classes per week. I even went to the GP because I was struggling so much - got a thyroid test (they lost the results) and a pat on the head, telling me of course losing weight is hard work
For over 6 months, I didn't lose an ounce, but kept on the diet, kept exercising like a demon and must have replaced fat with muscle as I did slim down.
The weight creeps up and down, but I manage to keep it at an less unhealthy but not ideal 2.5 stone over what Weightwatchers thinks I should be and argue that the amount of exercise I do (did before PG) meant that I was carrying a lot of muscle, therefore I wasn't really a whole 2.5 stone more than I should be. I can only keep it at this weight by dieting and exercising.
I was hoping that, even though I was having to eat more carbs and lay off some of the high impact exercise classes, I could offset this by walking and increased metabolism through pregnancy and be OK - now I'm not sure if I'm putting on baby weight or fat, but am determind not to put actual fat on, so will be desperately seeking official medical advice on how to organise my diet to avoid this. Weight is such a huge issue for me