Since Mommy Makeover began, Stacy Cox has developed more control when it comes to food.

“I’m proud of myself with my lifestyle change,” she said. “It’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but didn’t have willpower to do it.”

Several weeks ago, she met her husband at Dairy Queen. When he was placing his order, she found it hard not to order something, but she realized she had the willpower, if she only put her mind to it.

“I had the willpower to say no,” she said. “I was really happy with myself and wouldn’t have done that before. Ice cream is my biggest weakness.”

Since she has been stopped breastfeeding, Cox said, her calorie intake has dropped. She’s also been able to drink less milk and eat a wider variety of vegetables, including broccoli and cauliflower. She had been avoiding those vegetables because they upset her daughter’s stomach.

Over the last two weeks, Cox has been able to lose five and a half pounds.

“I think I am going to miss my goal by five pounds by the end of it, which I don’t think is too bad,” she said. “I still feel pretty good about my weight loss for the three-month period.”

With just one week left until weigh-ins, Cox wants to kick it up a notch and work in at least one extra workout.

Her workout routine has changed over the last several weeks. She hasn’t been using the stationary bicycle as much anymore.

“I’ve been doing more ab and more strength training with hand weights,” she said. “I don’t always do that at the Y. I do that at home, too.”

She has moved some of her workouts at home, simply because of her schedule and baby-sitting services.

During the second week of August, the Mommy Makeover participants participated in a grocery store tour that Cox found particularly interesting.

The moms learned how to read labels and pay attention to reduced fat items. According to Cox, she learned that just because the label said reduced fat didn’t necessarily mean it was healthier.

They also learned that items with reduced fat typically have higher sodium or carbohydrates to make up for it, she said. The trip to the grocery store was definitely an eye opener.

“We were able to choose recipes,” she said. “I like pasta, but it’s not really great for you. I’m a big fan of it so I wanted to try whole wheat pasta and ground turkey. My husband and I both enjoyed it.”

Another new food she has started eating since the grocery store trip is yogurt.

“I could not really eat yogurt, and I know it is good for you,” she said. “I tried yogurt parfait and now I eat yogurt with fresh fruit on a regular

basis.”

Her healthy habits have even wore off onto her husband.

“Which surprises me,” she said. “He used to eat a bowl of ice cream. Now he’ll eat the yogurt if I’m eating it.”

Since the Mommy Makeover challenge started in June, Cox is feeling good about her weight and self-image.

Several items of clothing don’t fit anymore, and several others are starting to fit looser.

“It makes me feel better about myself that people can see I’m making an improvement,” she said.

Cox says all new moms should remember that working off the baby weight and changing eating habits can be difficult.

“You kind of have a mindset that you can eat whatever you want when you are pregnant,” she said. “It’s hard to get out of that after you give birth. I encourage moms to eat healthy.”

Despite being busy, Cox believes anyone can fit exercise into their routines, even if it is just taking a walk with their babies.

Cox said she also wanted to thank everyone involved with the challenge for the extra motivation, which was just what she needed.

Overall, Cox is glad she had the opportunity to participate in the challenge.

“I think it’s giving me a good start,” she said. “I won’t stop doing what I am doing. I still have a ways to go with my ultimate goal.”

• Denise Massie is a staff writer at the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5151 or denise.massie@pharostribune.com