I’m back to share a some more progress about how my body is doing after baby number two. To hear more about why I’m doing this and my disclaimer, you can read about the first month’s progress here.
At two months in I am happy to report that all the aches and discomforts of delivery are behind me. My hair is maybe starting to fall out, but honestly I have so much of it that it’s hard to notice (not a brag- my hair is wild and crazy as you’ll see in the pictures!). A positive note, my skin feels clear again! Thanks to my dad’s Greek genes, I’ve always had pretty decent skin, but during pregnancy and after delivery it felt more bumpy and rough. I bought some new skincare items and it’s been feeling super smooth again which I’m grateful for.
As for my actual body, I’m still feeling very soft. By that, I mean I am very aware of the extra fat and looser skin around my middle, back and thighs. I can feel it bounce and jiggle when I run up the stairs. I still don’t fit into my old shorts and it’s been rather annoying (albeit comfortable) wearing my one pair of maternity shorts over and over. Let’s just say I’m not having my most fashionable summer ever. At least this year I have an excuse- ha!
If I wasn’t tracking my progress, I’d feel there wasn’t any. See the identical-looking pictures above. However, when I stepped on the scale and pulled out my measuring tape to record my progress, I was a bit surprised.
| 1 Month Postpartum | 2 Months Postpartum | Difference | |
| Right Bicep | 11” | 11” | – |
| High Waist | 30” | 29.5” | -0.5” |
| Around Belly Button | 35.75” | 33” | -2.75” |
| Hips | 39” | 39” | – |
| Right Thigh | 22.5” | 22” | -0.5” |
| Weight | 125 | 120 | -5 lbs |
I guess I am heading in the right direction!
This surprised me because though my eating is mostly healthy (for more pictures of what I’m eating, follow me on instagram or check out my weekly meal plans), I’ve certainly been feeling the breastfeeding hunger in full force and have been chowing down more often throughout the day. Also, exercise has been minimal at best.
In the past month I’ve been on one walk with both girls (1.5 miles), one solo run (2.2 miles which felt amazing), completed one Summer Shape Up workout (modified) and three 10 minute mini workouts from PopSugar Fitness (which I LOVE). It isn’t much, but it’s something I suppose.
I haven’t been to the gym yet despite Kaitlyn being old enough because Hand Foot and Mouth is going around these parts and I really don’t want to deal with that right now. An excuse? Maybe.
Knowing I was having a May baby, my plan was always to make it through summer doing the best I can. I can honestly say I’m doing that. Though I’d love to be running more and having regular sweat sessions at the gym, I’m fitting in what I can, when I can. I’m not in my old clothes or feeling overly comfortable in a bathing suit yet, but I’m out there playing and enjoying summer, refusing to let still wearing maternity clothes ruin our fun.
I’d like to say my plan for the next month is to XYZ and lay it out there, but honestly my plan is to just keep doing what I‘m doing. Eat the good stuff, move when I can and enjoy summer. After all, college football season is only 41 days away!
I know many of you have shared before, but what is your favorite online workout?
I really like the 10 minute PopSugar Fitness videos because of their brevity (which I need with an unpredictable 8 week old), the fact that they are FREE, and I actually could feel them the next day (is that sad? 
)
Have a great weekend!
John J. says
Your motivation and commitment to optimal health are exemplary. Think I’ll go for a long bike ride later!
Brittany Dixon says
Your long bike rides amaze me! I think you’re setting the example 😉 Love you!
Sarah@creatingbettertomorrow says
You inspire me for post babies -your get what you can in when you can attittude and not stressing over it is perfect 🙂 I have LOVED the FIt Sugar Prenatal videos – 10 minutes in and out!
I also love T25, not online but in home and 25 minutes total with little to no equipment needed and full modifications for all levels!
Karen says
I think hand, foot, and mouth must be everywhere because we have it bad in this area also. So far we have all lucked out at our home with my little ones.
You look great, remember chasing kids is exercise also:)
Erica { EricaDHouse.com } says
You look great! I thought Hand and Foot was a made up thing until a student of mine sent me a doctors note saying she had it last year.
Katie D. says
I’m 2.5 weeks post partum and feeling frustrated that maternity clothes look shapeless and regular clothes are far from fitting. Thanks for the perspective and reality check 🙂
Emily says
Love fit sugar! I also love denise austin online workouts. They may be a bit cheesy but there are a ton online, free, about 20 mins with moderate cardio and weights. I’m 26 weeks so they are great and easy to modify and I’m sure a good way to get back into fitness. I also like fitnessblender. Kind of bland because they just talk through the movements but I like the strength training moves they show. I have spent way too much time looking up workouts on youtube. Now to just tackle them all. There are a ton out there, and I love that they are quick. You are looking great!! Thanks for sharing!
Marjorie says
1. Hand, foot and mouth is pure evil. With mine being in daycare, he has had just about everything in the book. When he got that one I was like…say whaaaat? I never heard of it until I had a kid.
2. You look great and have such an awesome attitude. It is such a great idea to take inches too. It helps you to see progress. Virtual high five on those pounds lost! Way to go Mama!!!
3. I just let out a giddy squeal that football season is so close! LOVE. IT.
Heather says
Love pop sugar workouts too as well as HIIT workouts I can do with my 2 year old 😉 check out fitness blender for lots of great, free, online works too! I think you look great!
Erin @TheGrassSkirt says
You’re looking fantastic, girl! I hope that you can avoid Hand, Foot, and Mouth in your house. It took Michael WEEKS to get over it, and he was getting his 2 year old molars at the same time. It was…fun.
Jen says
I’m having flashbacks to holding an infant in one arm while lifting a weight with the other. I’m a recent covert to the Fitness Blender videos. Straight forward, not loud enough to wake up the kids, no annoying music, and targeted workouts that I always feel later.
Jaclyn @ BumpSweat says
You’re doing a fabulous job! I really loathe pregnancy acne right now. At the beginning, I developed what I unlovingly referred to as my ‘acne beard’, but it went away 2nd trimester, and my face has been super-clear since then, until the other day, when I started to notice those unsightly bumps on my jawline again. I hope it’s just an end-of-pregnancy phase and not something that lingers after baby’s here.
Jen says
You look great! I don’t think the pictures are identical at all. But I know how you feel about feeling soft and having no clothes that fit. Workout clothes ftw! Keep up the great work!
Liz @ I Heart Vegetables says
You’re doing great, and I can definitely see a difference!
K says
Brittany, I think you are setting an amazing example of how important it is to just sick to basics (eat well, exercise as able) and trust thyself! My favourite videos are all on YouTube: Fitness Blender, Zuzka Light, Melissa Bender and Christine Salus. Enjoy every small step toward feeling great about your body 🙂
Kelly says
Hello 🙂
Awesome perspective! Love your honesty & bravery in putting this out there! You honestly look beautiful & your smile is radiating confidence 🙂
Hope this helps…I achieved a ton of progress in ridding of that post-2nd baby “softness” & not only worked my body but also strengthened my mind by following/participating in http://www.hiitmamas.com. It’s a free blog geared towards moms, written by a mom who posts 5 quick crossfit inspired workouts Monday through Friday that are effective, empowering & minimal equip. is needed! I started when my 2nd was about 6 months old after “warming” up with YMCA step, spin & strength classes & other cardio for the first six months. It honestly took my body to new heights in less time per day than I was already committing to & truly gave me a glimpse into the person I am outside of motherhood (I kind of lost her after starting our family & didn’t realize it) and I had a life altering moment of, “Oh! There I am!” I felt like I was able to re-aquaint with my non-motherhood self & found such personal growth & encouragement in improving my physical abilities week to week 😉 It not only worked my body in such a fast & efficient manner, but it showed me that it’s absolutely possible to also make myself a priority amongst the all encompassing motherhood/wife role.
Now that my youngest is almost 3, in about a month, I am loving the workout program on http://www.2fitathome.com. Lynn Manning is the trainer, and she’s just awesome. She’s another Mom who is a women’s fitness specialist (her husband is Drew Manning, the trainer who did a fitness experiment that he calls “Fit2fat2fit”)
Love reading your daily blog dose! Thank you!!!
Take care,
Kelly
Sarah says
Even in your “one pair of maternity shorts,” you still look cute! I like your laid-back, but committed approach to health and fitness. Seems like a really healthy (in body, mind, and spirit) way to approach it :-).
Pam says
You look great and have a great attitude. Enjoy the summer and I’m sure with time and the effort of eating healthy/exercising you will meet your goals. Great to see a healthy attitude about this topic.
Lauren B. says
I didn’t know pop sugar had free workouts! Great tip!
You look beautiful as always and I love your attitude to just “keep on keeping on” and not get overly anxious about it! Doing what you can when you can will definitely be the name of my game too!
Maria says
Don’t kill me, but I’m so excited about fall already! I know. But after the 4th of July, it just sort of hits.
You look great! While you may not be getting in a lot of formal workouts, I’m sure you’d be surprised by how many steps and how active you are each day with a baby and toddler. I don’t do a lot of workouts these days either, but I make sure I get in a lot of steps (even if it is a 10 min walk here and there), so I don’t turn into a complete couch potato 🙂
Laura @ FitMamaLove says
This postpartum period where you can’t fit in your regular clothes, but your maternity clothes are getting too loose. You’re making great progress, but I know how it feels to want fresh, new clothes and not be able to buy any yet. For at-home, quickie workouts, I love combining some of the Fitnessista’s videos. She has some great new barre ones out!
Meg says
You look great, Brittany! I am due with my first child in two weeks and am stressed about losing the baby weight afterward. Although this is my first, you and I are the same age, and I know you have said it’s been harder this time around. It is really encouraging to see that even without regular exercise and spartan dieting, the weight will slowly but surely come off. Also, I think your hair is gorgeous!
Maria B says
You and your daughters look wonderful, but even more important is how you feel at this point.
I can recommend jessicasmithtv.com and on her youtube channel for lots of free workout videos. There are all types of workouts and lots of different time lengths.
Dominique @ Eat, Pray, Lift says
You look amazing, and not just because you’re bouncing back to that hot-mama bod. 😉 That happiness just shines on through you!
I’ve used a few of the Pop Sugar yoga workouts and really enjoyed them, so I’d love to hear any specific workout recommendations you have!
Kristie says
Try blogilates! The workouts are diverse, quick, and she talks the whole time which distracts you from how difficult some of the moves are (sometimes I mute it more often than not I appreciate the distraction!). I’d recommend the Victoria’ Secret Series, but my fav video is the 5 best exercises to flatten your lower abs!
Amanda says
You look awesome! Good job-your an inspiration for post-baby health, healthy mind and healthy body.
Toni says
Hi, I really like Erin Motz’s 30 day yoga challenge on you tube. It’s free! And they are all about 10-15 min long. Would be great for postpartum!! And you can pick and choose. They have different focuses. I also love blogilates (but so hard!) the tone it up girls workouts and also Jillian Michaels. All free on you tube. But I know you like yoga so you might want to check those out. Erin Motz is great!
Michelle says
My dad is Greek too — those are some STRONG genes!
You look great and I do see a difference. What’s funny is that last year, when I was in your shoes, I would look at pictures and not see a difference — and now that I look back I can. It’s all about perspective. I think the best approach is really to fit in the workouts when you can. You’re breastfeeding – that IS a workout!
My favorite online workouts are from Fitness Blender. They have a lot of quick HIIT workouts – perfect for when you just don’t have a lot of time!
Samantha says
I like Jillian Michaels’ 30 Day Shred and would like to try her 6 Week 6 Pack video as well. The only thing is, I was doing The Shred about 5 days a week until my knee started hurting from all the squats and lunges. Reading your remarks about prolactin made sense to me. I wonder if that’s why I ended up with knee pain. This particular knee has given me trouble on and off, but it usually gets used to the squats and such after awhile. Lately, I’ve felt tired and busy with a toddler and an 8 week old. Tonight, I carried my toddler in the Ergo on my back while walking on the treadmill. THAT was a workout! I could feel the extra weight!