It’s that time of the month again! No, not that time of the month. I mean progress check time of the month. Yes, four weeks have already passed since my last check-in on this part of my life. Hard to believe, huh?

Last month I learned from some tough moments that continuing to make regular healthy decisions without going overboard will reap me the most progress. I put that lesson into action this month and despite a trip to Fitbloggin, BBQs, and getting closer and closer to my happy weight, I still saw progress this month.

Front Progress Shots: Month 4 on Left – Month 5 on Right

Side Progress Shots: Month 4 on Left – Month 5 on Right

{Begin Side Note} I always feel SO weird posting pictures like this. It has nothing to do with fearing what I look like or people seeing them. You all know I don’t mind putting myself out there openly. I guess I don’t want to come across as “Look at me! Look at me!”. Yes. That’s what it is that feels so weird! {End Side Note}

I didn’t do anything dramatically different this past month. I simply kept myself focused and determined on caring for my health. It did take some extra drive at times, like when my emotional side tried to lure me into binge eating, but I remembered my dedication to caring for my health while still enjoying life. I stayed on top of regular workouts and choosing nutritious foods to fuel my body. That’s pretty much the gist of it.

However, I will say that it does take effort, planning (in a non-anal way), and compromise to make progress in the physical goals I have for myself. While I certainly do not take a drastic approach, I do have to accommodate certain habits in my life to continue the momentum of my progress.

• Occasional counting of calories and measuring of portion sizes. I do not meticulously track my food on a daily basis. Nevertheless, I remain mindful of how much I eat. I do this by loosely shooting for a certain amount of calories in each meal/snack and consuming proper portion sizes in balanced meals.
• Deciding the best way to satisfy cravings. Sometimes I have strong cravings for some chocolate or ice-cream that I do not honor by feeding myself chocolate or ice-cream. Part of feeding myself well for my progress does involve some limitations. I could happily eat a huge bowl of ice-cream every day. But I don’t. I choose to honor my cravings in a way that suits my progress – with a small portion on occasion, an alternate choice (yogurt or a smoothie instead for example), or distractions in the case of a non-hunger-induced craving. I do try to minimize “treats” to a few occasions weekly, so I don’t feel deprived at all but stay on track. I do, in fact, sometimes have to say “no”.
• Setting and committing to workouts. They are a commitment. I make them happen, unless a true physical/mental need for rest. Other than that, no excuses.

Yet again, I plan to persevere in this upcoming month with my commitment to “Body After Baby”. Does that mean I don’t feel satisfied with my body currently? Heck, no! Does that mean I believe I need to tighten up more or lose more weight? Absolutely not! But – does that mean I plan to stop working hard? Also, no. I still plan to live healthy, challenge myself, and see where my body takes me. That’s what this progress is all about. Staying committed to my healthy lifestyle, testing myself physically, and trusting my body to end up right where it wants. Right where it belongs.

• What is one way you challenged yourself physically this past month?

I had to pick my jaw up off the ground this morning. My little man is suddenly 4 months old! I do not know how this happened.

I just want to snuggle him! Even with all that drool on his shirt.

Well, the fact that another month has passed not only means another visit to the doctor, but also another installment of my Body After Baby progress!

This month certainly posed the most difficulty to date. A lot of the challenges were mental and I had to really dig in my heels to not throw in the towel, like I wanted to a few times. Once I calculated up my totals for the month and took my measurements and progress pictures, I learned that the month in fact did bring much success. And the biggest success came with the learning I did through it all.

Front Progress Shots: Month 3 on Left – Month 4 on Right

Side Progress Shots: Month 3 on Left – Month 4 on Right

This month seemed more challenging because, well, I had two weeks where I actually gained weight. In fact, I had only lost one pound on the scale over the course of the month before my final check-in. Frustrating.

Despite the frustration, I fought to keep perspective. I also considered what factors could have hindered my progress on those two weeks I gained. Here’s what I learned:

• Week 1 = + 0.2 = Social Eating: This week came after a week that included quite a few social engagements. I knew I had slacked on the healthier eats, especially on the weekend. I had lots of pizza and also quite a few sweets between a birthday party, cook out, and a movie night with Peter that included lots of candy. I don’t regret those things at all, though!
• Week 2 = – 1.6 = Kept Up Normal Habits: I got back in my groove as soon as possible and it gave me results. I  didn’t do anything crazy this week, but kept up with workouts and choosing healthier options. I still had treats though! Margaritas, Mexican, and fro yo, anyone?
• Week 3 = +0.4 = Eating Too LITTLE: This week started off with a bit of indulgence with Easter treats. I found myself in old habits of trying to cut back extra here and there on my calories through the week to counteract the treats. I didn’t even realize I was doing it until I tried to figure out my gain on that reflective long run I had. I know from experience that my body will hold onto weight like crazy if I don’t fuel it properly. Case in point with the gain I encountered that week, despite eating even less than normal. And feeling cranky from hunger was no fun.
• Week 4 = –2.2 = Kept Up Normal Habits: Once I got back to eating enough and treating my body with respect – bam! Another good loss.

I also want to emphasize a few things that this month shows as well. Consistency matters most. When I keep up with healthy habits, my body makes progress. You have to treat healthy decisions truly as a lifestyle to make strides in reaching your fitness goals. And part of keeping it a lifestyle is to live life! I didn’t give up my holidays or events with friends.

It is also important to remember that progress is not linear. There will be ups and downs along the way, but keeping the bigger picture in mind can help with focus and determination. It helped me to trust the plan that healthy living will bring my body to its happy place and not give up because of a few bumps in the road.

And lastly, the scale does not show everything! If I had focused solely on the scale, I would have missed out on seeing such great progress as evident in my measurement losses and pictures. I see a better difference there than expected based on the scale progress. Your body can make great changes even without huge weight shifts, which means more to me anyways.

I hope you enjoyed this month’s progress update! I know I did because it reaffirmed to me that taking care of my body is all I need. It goes a long way.

• Have you ever faced what felt like a stall in your goals, but actually wasn’t?
• Don’t forget to enter my giveaway for a new workout top!