After I had Tripp,  I went in for my 6-week postpartum appointment and realized I was still about 30 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight. More than just the number that was terrifying, it was how I felt. Tired, sluggish, and completely unlike myself.

That appointment was a turning point. Matt and I talked about what we could do to make things easier on ourselves since it was a lot harder with 2 kids now to leave the house, and we decided to invest in a space at home to work out. We saved up and turned part of our garage into a gym. We added free weights, a squat rack, a treadmill and a reformer Pilates machine, and I promised myself I’d just start…. even if it was slow. Plus It was summer.. we had just built a pool, and I had to see myself in a swimsuit everyday LOL that’ll do it!

From there, I began changing my diet in small ways. Nothing drastic, just little adjustments I could actually maintain. I used ChatGPT to help calculate how many calories I should be eating, what a good deficit looked like, and to help me plan meals that would actually fuel me but still support weight loss. I was already eating a ton less than I did pregnant, so that helped right off the bat. Since then, I’ve lost 30 pounds. Here’s how I made it happen.

My Calorie Plan: Eating in a 1,500 Calorie Deficit
After using ChatGPT to figure out my TDEE (total daily energy expenditure), I learned that I burn around 1,950 to 2,000 calories a day just living life. Since I wasn’t breastfeeding, I didn’t need to keep my calories higher, so I went all in with a 1,500-calorie-a-day plan.

Here’s what helped me:

• Meal planning every Sunday
• Keeping protein high so I stayed full
• Repeating simple meals throughout the week
• Leaving room for a late-night snack if needed (normally KHLOUD protein popcorn)

Here are a few of my go-to recipes that helped me stay on track…

Breakfast
⭐️ Egg White + Veggie Bites (baked in muffin tins with spinach, red bell pepper, onion, and a little cheddar)
⭐️ Greek Yogurt with Protein Granola + berries

Lunch
⭐️ Buffalo Chicken Salad – Shredded chicken tossed in buffalo sauce, served over chopped romaine with cucumbers, tomatoes, a little ranch, and a sprinkle of blue cheese
⭐️ High Protein Elote Pasta Salad

Dinner
⭐️ Lightened Lasagna Soup – Ground turkey, low-sodium chicken broth, crushed tomatoes, lasagna noodles, light ricotta, and lots of spinach (so comforting and filling!!)
⭐️ Grilled Chicken + Roasted Sweet Potatoes + salad — easy, classic, and hits all the macros

Snacks
⭐️ Protein shake (I like Fairlife or Clean Simple Eats)
⭐️ Apple with almond butter
⭐️ Khloud Popcorn

This rhythm made my days easier and helped me stay consistent without obsessing. I also had days where this went out the window…but for the most part, I stuck to my deficit.

My Workout Routine: 4 Days a Week That Felt Realistic
With a toddler and a newborn, I knew I wasn’t going to hit the gym every day. But I committed to moving my body four days a week — and that was enough to build momentum.
Here’s what a typical week looked like for me:

Monday
30-minute incline walk on the treadmill (3.0 speed, incline 10–12)
I’d listen to a podcast or use the time to catch up on messages.

Tuesday
Reformer Pilates workout (lower body + core focus) — 30–45 minutes
I followed an app.  Slow, controlled, and surprisingly intense.

Thursday
Incline walk again (same as Monday), followed by 10 minutes of light core

Saturday
Reformer Pilates full-body stretch and strength — 45 minutes

No intense cardio, no HIIT, no heavy lifting (yet). Just consistent movement that made me feel strong without draining me.

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Consistency and Grace Saved Me!

The biggest change wasn’t physical – it was mental. I stopped waiting for the “perfect time” and just started. I didn’t aim for perfection – I focused on progress. I didn’t cut out all the food I loved – I made room for it. I didn’t punish my body, I supported it.

I also gave myself grace. If I missed a workout or went over on calories one day, I moved on. That flexibility is what made this sustainable.

Losing 30 pounds at six months postpartum didn’t happen overnight, and I’m still working toward new goals. But I feel better in my body, my energy is up, and my clothes fit like me again.

If you’re a postpartum mom feeling stuck or unsure of where to begin, I promise you don’t have to overhaul your entire life. Start with one change. One walk. One healthy meal. Use tools like ChatGPT (seriously, it helped me plan everything from calories to meals) to take some of the mental load off.

Give yourself grace. Start small. And trust that consistency adds up.

You’ve got this 💛