I have always enjoyed good food and have never believed in ‘depriving’ myself of anything. I did exercise (on and off), so was able to keep myself in my regular size 12 clothes.

When I found out I was pregnant, I waited for the morning sickness to start. It didn’t (thank goodness). And I was hungry aaaaaall the time! Or maybe I wasn’t hungry and just ate because I wanted to or because I could. I’m not sure.

When I think about it now, I feel very guilty because my diet at that time wasn’t exactly healthy. I drank a lot of Coke. Sometimes at 6am. I hate the (longlife) milk here- so I was drinking little cartons of chocolate milk (twice a day). I ate chocolate all day long and didn’t do any exercise. I did eat some healthy things of course – but it’s difficult to remember those now. The main thing is: my boy is happy and healthy despite the crap I ate.

My mother constantly told me not to eat for two. I ignored her and, sometimes, even ate for three!

At 7 months I went to London to await the arrival of my gorgeous boy.
OMG- McDonald’s! We don’t have McDonald’s in Lagos. I went craaaaaazy! Cheeseburger, large fries and a Coke. The week before baby was born- I had 2 cheeseburgers (but only 1 portion of fries!)!
And the worst thing is – I used to stop off on my way back from my weekly check-up. I told myself I’d only go once a week (after the Dr) – but I usually ended up there 2 or 3 times a week. And sometimes I had to sneak away from my mum and my hub to get my fix.

Oh! And I forgot about the Coco Pops. I hadn’t eaten those since I was 18. And suddenly I couldn’t stop eating them. Two or three bowls a day (One after the other. Every morning while watching America’s Next Top Model).

And the Bourbon biscuits! I had to steal them from the kitchen and hide them under my pillow to eat in the middle of the night. All because I wanted to avoid the disapproval of the mothership.

Needless to say – I put on a lot of weight. And I put it on everywhere!! My boy is 9 months old (almost) and my wedding ring still doesn’t fit!

After baby was born, I found it difficult to stop eating so much (and I wasn’t breastfeeding (but that’s another story)). Luckily I went right off the Coco Pops. Didn’t go off McDonald’s, though.
And I still want to eat and eat and eat (sometimes).

It was 7 months after V was born that I started exercising again. Pilates twice a week and P90X 3 days a week. And funnily enough-because I’m exercising, I don’t feel like eating *that* much anymore. Unless we go out!

I feel much better about myself and my body. I went from a size 12 to a 16 (sometimes even 18) and now I fit into some size 14 clothes.

I’ve still got a long way to go – but I’ll get there in the end.