It didn’t always FEEL like it was working while I was in the middle of it. But looking back, these are the things I kept coming back to. 👏🏼 42 lbs down, and the biggest changes came from habits that were simple enough to repeat through real life as a mom. Here’s what I kept doing when nothing seemed to be changing ⬇️ 💪🏼 Strength training with ONLY dumbbells 3-5 days a week. I followed my Movement With Julie weekly workouts at home. Having my workout already planned meant I could pick up my weights and get started instead of spending that time figuring out what to do. 📈 Working toward getting stronger. I tracked my weights and reps so I knew what I’d done before. When I could finish every rep with good form and still do several more, I’d try a heavier dumbbell. I didn’t increase every workout, but I kept giving myself opportunities to progress. 🚶🏼‍♀️ Walking outside of my workouts. I aimed for 10-12k steps most days. Stroller walks with my son helped me build more movement into my day without needing another scheduled workout. That was MY routine, though. If you’re starting with fewer steps, build from where you are. 🍽️ Eating balanced meals without cutting out my favorite foods. I prioritized protein, included fruits and vegetables, and ate carbs and fats that helped me feel satisfied. I kept foods I enjoyed in my routine instead of making my progress depend on avoiding them. 💧 Paying attention to water and fiber. These were everyday habits I kept working on alongside my meals and workouts. The basics deserve attention, too. 😴 Prioritizing sleep as much as motherhood allowed. Some nights were better than others. I did what I could and adjusted my expectations when I needed to. 🗓️ Choosing consistency over a perfect week. Some weeks I trained more than others. Having a 30-minute workout option helped on busy days, and missing a workout didn’t mean I had to wait until Monday to return. 📝 Looking for progress beyond the mirror. A heavier dumbbell. More controlled reps. Better balance. A movement feeling more manageable. Those improvements gave me something concrete to recognize while visible changes took time. 🥹 Giving my body time. My postpartum return to strength took longer than I expected. Once I started, I had to keep reminding myself that a few weeks couldn’t tell the whole story. The transformation you see came from all of these habits together. Dumbbell workouts were my strength training, and nutrition, daily movement, and recovery mattered, too. If you’re in the stage where you’re showing up but can’t see much changing yet, track what you CAN measure. Give yourself credit for getting stronger and building a routine you can repeat. You don’t need to copy my weights, my step count, or my timeline. Start with a few habits you can keep coming back to. That’s what helped me. 🫶🏼 Want the weekly dumbbell plan I followed? 💪🏼 Movement With Julie gives you five new workouts each week, 30- and 60-minute options, all at YOUR own pace. 🔗 in bio to get started 🫡 #postpartum #workoutmotivation #dumbbellworkout #homeworkout - @movementwithjulie