The last two weeks haven’t been great for Mommy Makeover participant Stacy Cox.

Two weeks ago, Cox became occupied because of fair week. She had to work a booth for her business every night in one of the merchant buildings.

“I had to work all day and go out there all evening,” she said. “So I couldn’t fit exercise in that week.”

Last week, Cox was able to exercise only on Monday. On Tuesday, her father-in-law had a serious motorcycle accident and was taken to Fort Wayne Parkview Hospital.

Cox and her family spent the rest of the week in Fort Wayne.

Despite a limited amount of workout time, though, Cox was pleased with herself.

Just last week, she still managed to lose 3.6 pounds. She attributes the success to her diet. Even though the family had to eat out while at the hospital, Cox was able to make healthy choices.

While the family didn’t focus much on where they ate, they avoided fast food restaurants, so Cox had the opportunity to choose something healthy.

Before the Mommy Makeover contest started, Cox admitted it would have been difficult for her to eat something healthy at a sit-down restaurant. After becoming accustomed to the diet changes, she has become more aware.

“I was extra cautious this previous week,” she said. “I knew I needed to be, since I wasn’t able to exercise.”

She said the situation might even have helped her, since she didn’t have much of an appetite. She was dealing with extra stress, but was able to remain focused on her goal.

During the week of the Cass County 4-H Fair, Cox said she encountered some temptations, but tried to resist.

“I did a lot better than I anticipated,” she said. “I still had a pork chop, but that’s not really that bad for you.”

She also attended the fair with her little sister through the Cass County Big Brothers-Big Sisters program.

“She wanted an elephant ear and didn’t finish all of it,” Cox said. “I ate a quarter of her elephant ear, instead an entire one on my own.”

Even with so many distractions and temptations, Cox can’t imagine going back to her old ways.

“I would feel everything I’ve done would have been for nothing,” she said.

The Mommy Makeover participant has been able to make another change to her diet. She recently stopped breastfeeding her daughter, which meant her daily calorie intake was greatly reduced and she didn’t have any more restrictions.

Cox hasn’t changed too much with her exercise routine. She has been able to go to the Cass County Family Y as often as she used to. That hasn’t stopped her from taking walks on the trails on Friday nights, when baby-sitting services are unavailable. She has also used her stationary bicycle at home a few times.

Since the program started, Cox said, living her new lifestyle has become easier. She admitted the first couple of weeks were difficult

“Once I made it through that, I accepted that was the lifestyle I was going to have to have to reach my goals.”

Since her father-in-law was transferred back home, Cox was able to return to the Y this week.

“It’s going to be hard to get back into it,” she said.

Cox has noticed a difference so far and said her pants have been fitting differently.

Noticing a change has offered some encouragement, since her biggest issue with exercise has been frustration from not being able to see the results.

As far as her goal, Cox is one pound short of the halfway point, but she remains optimistic.

“I think with the diet changes I can make without breastfeeding, and if I keep pushing myself, I think I will still be able to make it.”

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