As if her normal, everyday stress wasn’t enough, Laura Mize has taken on an additional one.

The Mommy Makeover participant is hoping to become a nurse and recently started classes.

“I drive to Indianapolis three days a week to go to school,” she said.

“It’s getting rough, but I’m doing okay.”

According to Mize, going back to school was something she has wanted to do after taking the last two semesters off.

When this opportunity became available, Mize could start right away and didn’t want to turn the chance down. The nursing program she is attending is a a 14-month course.

Even with a busier schedule, Mize plans to continue working out several times a week and will watch what she eats.

“It’s going to be challenging,” she admitted. “But if there’s a will, there’s a way. I can’t give up, I have to keep going.”

She has slipped up a couple of days, which is something she doesn’t want to make a habit of. She even went to talk to Heidi Hendricks-Knight, the aquatic fitness director at the Cass County Y, who has been working with her.

“I was very upset with myself,” she said. “I talked to Heidi about it and she told me I can’t hold everything back. I can eat a little bit of it or drink a little bit of it and that should take care of the craving.”

Mize finds it better for herself to give in every once in awhile, but continues to work out in order to burn those extra calories off.

“I have bad days, but everyone has bad days,” she said.

Mize has been keeping on top of her workout routine. Even though she continues to push herself, she has recently become frustrated with her weight loss.

“I’m doing pretty good, but I think I hit the plateau they were talking about,” she said. “I lost a lot of weight at first, but now I’m not losing as much.”

She hasn’t let it hold her back, however, and continues to do everything she can to keep losing weight.

As far as weight loss in the last 10 weeks, Mize said she is pretty close to where she wants to be for the Mommy Makeover competition.

“I want to lose more,” she said. “I didn’t expect to lose exactly what I wanted to in 13 weeks, but anything is better than nothing.”

When the program started in early June, Mize had concerns about working out and dealing with the soreness.

Since her first workout, she said it has become easier for her, even though she still encounters some muscle cramps. She can definitely tell if she misses a workout or skips a few days in a row.

Despite having a difficult time telling a difference in herself lately, Mize said other people have seemed to notice and even pointed it out.

“I did go down a size in my pants,” she said. “I don’t think it will be too much longer before I’m down into another size lower. I’m very happy and just taking it one step at a time, day by day.”

She offers some words of advice to other moms who are perhaps struggling with post-pregnancy weight loss.

“I never thought it wasn’t possible, but something like this really got me motivated,” she said. “I encourage every mom, if you want something bad enough, regardless of what anyone says or what

shape you are in, you can do it. ... I encourage everyone to keep going and not to give up.”

Mize said she’s recently started to work out with participant Stacy Cox, which has been beneficial for her. Mize said the two moms have encourages each other, especially since they are going through the same thing.

Working out with Cox is something Mize would like to continue to do once the competition is completed. She is even considering participating in another race sometime in the near future.

Mize feels she wouldn’t be where she is at now, without everyone’s support and encouragement.

“I really would like to thank the trainers at the Cass County Y,” she said. “A big thanks to Heidi, she’s helped me tremendously.”

Mize is scared to regain any weight back, in fear of having to face Hendricks-Knight.

The moms are in the home stretch of the 13-week competition and Mize continues to look forward.

“I just want to keep on doing what I’m doing and obviously lose at much weight as I possibly can,” she said.

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