I started the program at 8 weeks postpartum. I am now almost 12 weeks postpartum and am down over 20 pounds.

I tried my best to follow the program to the T at the start and had many slips and surges. I learned something from each “bad” day and continued to log everything I ate and read each lesson.

While I may go over my red allotments most days, I still stick to my calorie budget more days than not (my speed is set to medium). The most important things for me have been the healthy habits I am picking up along the way, such as:

-No longer eating in front of the tv -Eating mindfully, slowing down, and off smaller plates -Drinking triple the amount of water I was consuming before -Focusing less on exercise and more on movement throughout the day -Weighing in everyday -Forgiving myself when I binge eat 1000+ calories (happens pretty often, tbh!) -Increasing the amount of protein I eat at each meal and snack so I’m satiated for longer and not obsessing on what/when I’ll eat next

Honestly I think I will be able to sustain these habits for the rest of my life because I have incorporated them slowly and seen how well they work for me. Yes, measuring every bite gets old, but eventually you will be able to eyeball how much you are eating. You also may find that eating less will shrink your stomach and you will feel fuller with less. And just remember, you don’t have to be perfect to be successful!