Pregnancy is a weird thing with food and my own body issues. At the start I was worried I wasn’t gaining enough weight but now at over 22 weeks I have gained around 13lb and I’m really struggling with it. I know it’s positive weight gain and I’m still lighter than I was when I joined Slimming World back in February but it’s so strange. I look in the mirror and see this big belly which is totally new territory for me. Usually I carry all my weight on my hips and thighs so to have this tummy is something I’m just not used to.

I also feel bad for even feeling like this as I know so many women would swap places with me in a heartbeat. My growing belly is a sign that this little man is growing well but then I also worry as I have an anterior placenta and therefore I’m not feeling a lot of movement compared to other ladies at this stage. I am getting a few kicks but that's not even every day yet - is this normal?

Food is another weird conflicting issue for me. I’ve always been a massive foodie (apart from my loathing of salads and nuts – ick!) and suddenly now I’ve a list of foods I can’t eat but I’ve also developed an aversion to some of my favourite foods. I used to adore big slabs of meat (I’m a total carnivore haha!) and seafood but now the thought of either makes me want to heave. Roast dinners have totally gone out the window unless it’s gammon as I can’t get enough of that salty flavour. All my favourite meals – steak, pulled pork, roast lamb and any sort of seafood dishes have been forgotten about in favour of white carbs and cheese. I could seriously eat pizza, spag bol and slabs of paneer and haloumi every day of this pregnancy but I know it’s not a balanced diet.

I know I need to cut back on the greasy food and get more veg into me and it's starting to show on my skin - I haven't had this many spots since I was in my teens! Where is this glow that everyone talks about?

We went for dinner on weekend before last and the minute I walked into the restaurant all I could smell were prawns. It actually took a lot of willpower not to run off to the toilets as the smell was just awful!

I’m also finding I’m just not enjoying food. I tolerate it, it fills a hole but you know that feeling of being really satisfied with a meal and wanting to mop up every last bit of your plate? Well that feeling has totally gone out the window. Everything is dull, I eat cos I'm hungry but nothing tastes good.

Reading back over this post I sound like such a moan but sometimes you just need to get stuff off your chest. I adore being pregnant and seeing my body do what mother nature intended it to do but it doesn’t mean it’s all plain sailing. Too many blogs focus on the happy side of life and even though this pregnancy has been pretty text book so far I can’t help but have my worries and issues.

Have any of you ever felt like this before?

This book is all kinds of awesome – divided in to months to celebrate iconic milestones in the cakey calendar (does that actually exist haha?) there are cakes to suit every occasion. Made up of recipes from many of the members which through cake club I am now fortunate to call them close friends, this book will have your mouth watering before you even open the front cover.

The founder, Lynn Hill, has done an amazing job putting this book together with the publishers, Quercus and Kris Kirkham has taken the most stunning photographs.


To celebrate the book launch Wharfedale CCC held an event at The Fleece in Otley. A fantastic little pub located in the centre of this bustling market town, The Fleece is usually reknowned for its great food and cask ales. The locals must have wondered what was going on when we all arrived laden with cakes and decorated our spaces with special CCC balloons and bunting.

Quercus kindly sent me a copy of the book for the club and as I had my own signed copy from Lynn already I wrote all the members names down and picked one at random to get the book. Marie was the lucky winner and after her cake wreck she said she couldn't wait to get baking from the new book.

Spot Marie cuddling her prize!

If you haven't bough the book yet I strongly recommend that you do (or ask for it for Christmas). At the moment it is only 6.99 from Amazon - bargain!

Congratulations again to all the contributors and Lynn of course; without her the club wouldn't have started and we wouldn't be on book 2! Question now is.... will there be a book 3???