Final weigh-ins for the Mommy Makeover participants took place Friday and the moms were pretty excited to see their final results.

During the final week, all three participants seemed to have the same strategy: to fit in as many workouts as possible, with the hope of shedding just a few extra pounds.

Participant Christina Artrip kept pushing herself to the fullest potential.

“I was a little disappointed,” she said. “I wanted to get a little further. I’m going to work hard and keep pushing.”

Overall, Artrip feels that she did well during the 13-week challenge. She even has plans to challenge and compete against herself, in a way.

“Once the baby is six months, I’m going to try and do it again,” she said.

After she goes through a second 13-week challenge, she will take the opportunity to compare the results from both times.

Although she would have liked to lose more weight in the end, she hasn’t given up on her self yet.

Artrip explained she still has her “pregnancy line,” a line which appears on a woman’s abdominal area while she is pregnant.

When her line disappears, she will check her weight. If she is not where she wants to be at that point, then she will be disappointed.

Since she is still breastfeeding, she said, it is difficult to lose weight.

“I want to push harder, which I could, but I can’t starve myself,” she said.

The last week of Mommy Makeover was challenging for Artrip. Even though she did not look forward to working out, she did so every day. She was worn out from working out and tired from lack of sleep, which also added to her stress.

Her most challenging moments have been trying to get all three sons to sleep at once so she, in turn, can sleep.

The most frustrating part of her experience during Mommy Makeover was trying to find a baby-sitter for her children.

“That’s probably what most moms would say,” she said. “It’s hard to give up a time when you can’t find someone. One hour is a long time and for me to go exercise and come back, it takes an hour and a half.”

Exercising at home didn’t always work either, since she would get interrupted.

So for Artrip, the most enjoyable part of participating with Mommy Makeover was using her membership at the Cass County Family Y.

She also enjoyed all the resources available to her including talking to trainers and participating in nutrition classes. As far as her nutrition, Artrip said she had resisted drinking soft drinks and eating sweets, as well as breads and cheese.

“I’m going to keep doing what I’m doing, but take one day a week to treat myself,” she said. “At least once a week give into my craving in moderation.”

She doesn’t have any worries about getting off track either, since she is letting herself “cheat” one day of the week.

Feeling of accomplishment

Just one day before her weigh-in appointment, Stacy Cox was feeling pretty good.

“Part of me is nervous if I did my best or not,” she said. “It doesn’t matter because of the results. That is what is important.”

She still expects to be close to five pounds off her original 13-week goal.

“I know if certain things didn’t come up, I could have done it,” she said. “The two and a half weeks from the 4-H Fair and my father-in-law’s accident.”

The most memorable part of Mommy Makeover for Cox was actually a repeat health screening at Logansport Memorial Hospital.

Each of the participants had their cholesterol and sugar levels checked once more and compared to the first health screening.

“I was amazed at the results in just three months’ time,” Cox said. “Not only with the weight loss, but the overall health improvement

was amazing.”

Her cholesterol level decreased by 65 points and sugar dropped by 20 points.

“I couldn’t believe it,” she said. “It was really good because all my numbers were close to border line, right under where they are supposed to be. Now they are under.”

While Cox has no regrets from the last 13 weeks, she would have liked to have worked out more often if it had been possible. She does feel like she did all she could do, however.

The most beneficial aspect of Mommy Makeover for Cox was the overall health improvement.

“I learned a lot of nutritional information,” she said.

In the coming weeks, Cox is scheduled to have foot surgery, which means she will not be able to work out. With that in mind, Cox said

she is already thinking ahead, so she can continue to lose weight to meet her overall goal by December.

“I still have to be extra conscious about my diet,” she said. “I plan on asking training what I can do, even if it is just arm exercises.”

Cox just wants to find something to keep her active.

“It is a little concerning,” she admitted. “But out of all things I’ve learned, there are still exercises I can do — crunches and leg lifts. I

think it will be all right. The cardio does concern me. I’m not sure what I can do for that.”

Some late nerves

Going into her last workout, Laura Mize was feeling a bit nervous.

“But I feel good,” she said. “I did the best I could do, and that is all I can ask for.”

According to Mize, the number at the end didn’t mean as much to her.

“Of course, any weight loss is good,” she said. “I definitely want to lose quite a bit more. This is a start for me, and I want to continue doing what I’ve been doing and not give up.”

At the start of Mommy Makeover, Mize set a high goal for herself. She actually set the same weight-loss goal she has always had.

She didn’t really set an overall goal for the end of the 13-week challenge.

“I just take it day by day,” she said. “It doesn’t matter how long it takes me, I just want to get the weight off.”

With weigh-ins complete, Mize admitted losing the weight might prove to be a more difficult challenge.

She said having to weigh in every Monday helped her keep on track and push herself a little harder, especially during the weekend.

“Since I’ve done this, I feel more motivated,” she said. “I can tell for once that I’ve lost weight. That’s a good thing, and I can keep going.”

Now that she doesn’t have weigh-in, she admitted there will be more opportunities for her to go back to her old ways, but she says she doesn’t want to do that and won’t let it happen.

Overall, Mize had a fun experience with Mommy Makeover. Some of the most enjoyable days included running her first race ever.

“That was a lot of fun, I want to do more,” she said. “I really enjoyed that.”

She has enjoyed gaining several new friendships, in addition to losing weight. She said it’s also nice when people recognize her in the store and can see the results of her hard work.

“There’s more people cheering me on,” she said. “It really feels good. I feel like I have more support now than I ever had.”

The biggest challenges included dealing with her dad becoming sick, as well as starting school in Indianapolis. With the additional stress in her life, Mize said it was hard not to return to an old habit.

That habit is stress eating. Before Mommy Makeover, Mize would eat to deal with the stress.

“It’s hard to overcome, but everyone around me has made it easier,” she said.

Mize was also happy with her recent health screening.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “In only 13 weeks, I’m eating a little healthier, working out and exercising. I always thought I couldn’t do this.”

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