i know this sounds totally wrong but bear with me....

[booboobunny]

i am pregnant for a second time, having not even got close to losing the weight i put on during my first preg - my tiddler is now 8.5 months old. i am delighted to be preg, but also a bit upset that i'm going to be just hooge. i could kind of bear it, but my 2 best friends are getting married this year and (despite my protestations) one wants me as a bridesmaid. i just soooo don't want to be a big elephant at these weddings. i had to go to my both my brothers' weddings last year, one at 6 months preg and one 6 weeks after delivery, so was a just hooge for both of those. please does anyone have any advice about how i can stay healthy, keep the baby healthy and not put on anymore fat, and (horror of horrors) perhaps even lose some.

i know it sounds hideously ungrateful, and i feel exceptionally lucky to be preg again (i'm 37 so left it v. late to start) but have such a huge issue with my weight and just feel like hiding in a cupboard when i'm carrying extra weight. any advice gratefully received.

well, if id meant to do it, i doubt id have managed it so dont hate me, but i lost weight in the first half of all 3 pregnancies...

i just went off all process, easy, stodgy food. so i only then ate fresh, steamed, simple and healthy foods. and if they werent easily available... i just couldnt be arsed/bring myself to eat crap instead.

i eat plently of crap now, btw, dont feel sorry for me

so, like at any other time, i would suggest changing WHAT you eat, never try to eat less. being hungry sucks bumholes. and just makes you miserable and then binge.

I lost loads through morning sickness

I don't think this sounds bad/ungrateful at all. Being pg doesn't make being fat any easier IYSWIM.

I guess all you can do is excersise and eat loads and loads of fruit and veg. No choc or anything remotely bad. Oh and drink tons of water!!

I can't offer any dietry advice but I would say that even though you feel huge - to most other people you will look lovely when you are pregnant.

Whenever I see pregnant women I always think how lovely they look although (like you) when I am pregnant I don't feel it myself.

So try and feel a bit more confident as probably everyone else thinks you look radiant ...

Hi booboobunny. I know how you feel. I was supposed to be a bridesmaid at my sister's wedding (my first and only chance to be a bridesmaid) but I'll be 38 weeks pregnant. I decided against it after finding out that I was pg, partly because I would look huge and partly because I don't think I would have the energy to stand on ceremony.

This is my second pg and I was about 2 stone heavier at the beginning of this pg compared to the first pg. I kept meaning to take the weight off but just didn't get round to it. So far I haven't put on much weight. It helped that I completely went off sweet food so I rarely eat cake, biscuits, sweets etc now. I also try to eat as many vegetables as possible.

Agree with sassari not to eat less but choose healthier foods.

Are you in a position to go out for walks with your lo?

i loooved being pg. thought i looked great!

oh, indulge yourself in dark choc. you'll get the indulgence kick, without anywhere near the level of bad-fats, and theres something in cocoa which releases happy hormones in your brain.

and if you eat/drink plenty of dairy, you poo out more of the fat you take in in your diet. saw it on telly.

thanks guys, i am tryin to eat healthily, but when the nausea kicks in (i'm only 8 weeks btw) it's usually only bread that will sort me out. i had awful ms throughout my first preg (threw up for the last time during labour) so thought i might not have put on too much weight, sadly it wasn't to be and i am left a size 16, from a 12/14. just really kicking myself for not managing to lose the extra while i had the chance. thinkin of getting a personal trainer to guide me, thouh mat leave has left me slightly skint, i think it could be a good option - though suffering from ms nausea and occ sickness is a bit of a worry.
just can't imagine what i am going to wear for these weddings, definitely don't want to duck out of them, as along with my brothers weddings, i have been waiting for them for a long time, but just think i'm goin to look hideous. added to that, i'll obviously be the only sober person within a mile of both!!!! taxi anyone????

oh booboo - i feel yr pain...

fwiw - kicking yrself for not losing in between is not going to help now and anyway, give yourself a break; yr 1st isnt exactly old is he/she??

you can exercise (gently) and slowly modify yr diet to one which you can healthily and comfortably and happily live on forever, even while pg.
i know what its like - you feel like all of life is on hold while pg... i was pg for 3 yrs straight just about! was soooo ready for some 'normal' time!

also - when it comes to the weddings, go get some real practical and knowledgable adive on what to wear to flatter your shape, whatever it is by then. if yr heavily pg it'll be easy coz pg women look delicious i think!!
and theres loads of places doing v fancy maternity wear these days. just ask on here.

I understand completely, but going on a diet is never a good idea when you're pregnant - have to make sure baby gets all the nutrients it needs. And when you've got bad ms eating anything is a bonus! So don't beat yourself up about it. There'll be plenty of time to lose the weight after the birth, so enjoy being pregnant!

I've got three weddings to go to this summer, and am stressing already, but there are some great outfits out there - have a look at JoJo Maman Bebe (www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/jojofinder.php?action=search&branch=IM&category=EOC71), Seraphine (www.seraphine.com/scripts/ProdList.asp?idCategory=9) or Crave (www.cravematernity.co.uk/CraveMaternitySite/category/dresses.htm) for starters.

also look at isabella oliver website
some LOVELY stuff there!