I had to sew two size 18 bridesmaid dresses together – I was mortified by the way I looked and made a huge change

AMY Edwards, 32, is a mental health nurse and lives in Scarborough with her husband Matt, 36, and children Maddie, four, Felicity, two, and twins Violet and Fred, 18 months.

Here it counts as mental health fights made her reach 20th place – and as the Horror being asked to act as bridesmaid put her back on the path to happiness.

4

4

4

“In the car, returning from my friend’s wedding, I felt my eyes filling with tears.

All day I kept a smile on my face, but inside I felt incredibly depressed.

At age 20, I was so big that I had to have my bridesmaid dress custom made from two size 18 dresses sewn together.

Growing up, I was always slim, 10.5ft 4in and 10st, eating healthily and exercising regularly.

In 2016, I met my husband Matt, then 24, on Tinder, and we got married in 2018.

The following year, we were delighted when I got pregnant – but it was a difficult nine months.

I had mental health issues in my early 20s, and a few weeks after conceiving I began to suffer from extreme anxiety, OCD and paranoia.

I was diagnosed with pregnancy psychosis and started therapy, as well as having a community nurse visit me at home every two days.

I stopped exercising and started eating comfortably, gaining weight beyond the normal pregnancy pounds.

Our daughter Maddie was born in December 2019, and almost immediately my mental health returned to normal.

It was a huge relief to feel like myself again, but I couldn’t contain my comfort eating, especially when lockdown arrived the following March.

Over the next two years, we had three children – Felicity in June 2021, and twins Violet and Fred in December 2022.

Fortunately, although I have suffered complications with all of my pregnancies, I have not had any further mental health issues.

But life was crazy with four little ones, and my weight ballooned as I ate chocolate, candy, and cookies.

In January 2023, I weighed 20 and was a size 26.

A friend asked me to be one of her seven bridesmaids. I said yes because I didn’t want to disappoint her, but inside I felt bad about the prospect of appearing in front of people and in photos.

I adored my children and had no regrets about welcoming them quickly successionbut when I looked in the mirror, I barely recognized myself.

I ate fat rolls and felt exhausted all the time.

I was so embarrassed.

Then a friend asked me to be one of her seven bridesmaids.

I said yes, because I didn’t want to disappoint her, but inside I felt bad about the prospect of appearing in front of people and in photos.

I couldn’t continue

When she sent me the link to the bridesmaids dresses so I could order one, my heart sank.

It only went up to size 18 – there was no way it would fit me.

I was embarrassed to tell my friend and I didn’t want her to change her choice for me.

So I ordered two dresses, paying £85 for the second myself, and found a local seamstress to sew them, at a cost of £180.

When I tried on the dress a few months later, I couldn’t believe it had come to this – but at least it fit me now.

In March 2023, I traveled to Matt’s wedding and cried before getting ready.

I spent the day mortified that I had to be at such a big event looking the way I did.

It was on the way home that I knew I needed to make some serious changes – I couldn’t keep feeling this way about myself.

That month I programmed my Fitbit to calculate my maximum daily calorie intake to help me lose just over 2 pounds per week and reach an ultimate goal weight of 20 pounds, plus I decided to start the Couch To running challenge 5k.

I’m a year into my new lifestyle and I’m now a size 10. I even ran the London Marathon this year, something I never thought possible.

I knew it would be difficult, but as soon as I started tracking calories and gave up takeaways, chocolate and chips, the weight started to come off.

I found time to exercise by running with the twins in a double stroller.

Matt was very supportive and suggested we buy a treadmill so I could also run when the kids were napping.

By December 2023, I had lost 7st, weighed 11st and was a size 12.

I felt much more energized.

I started posting on Instagram to keep myself accountable and was surprised by how many people reached out to cheer I.

4

I’m a year into my new lifestyle and I’m now 10 and a size 10.

I even ran the London Marathon this year, something I never thought possible.

After my friend’s wedding, I threw my horrible bridesmaid dress in a trash can in my hotel room because I couldn’t bear to see it again.

But I’ll never forget how it made me feel – and I’ll never feel that way about myself again.”

Follow Amy @4under3_marathonmum On Instagram.