“I’m still trying to lose the last 5 or 10 pounds.”

Have you been saying that for YEARS? Maybe you started saying it when your youngest was born. And now that baby is in elementary school. 

Here's the thing. Those last 5 to 10 pounds can feel like a whole different ball game.

And before you start eating less, cutting out dessert, or adding another workout, there are a few things I want you to know…

As a registered dietitian who has worked with over 3,000 moms, I hear this ALL the time.

So let's talk about why those last few pounds feel so stubborn, what actually helps, and whether they're even worth chasing in the first place.

Where Did Your Goal Weight Even Come From?

This is something I always want moms to think about.

WHY is that number your goal?

Is it because:

• That's what you weighed before having kids?
• That's what you weighed in your 20s?
• That's the last time you remember feeling really good in your body?
• Or is it just a random number you've been chasing for years?

Maybe when you weighed that number, you had more energy. You were working out regularly. Your clothes fit. You felt strong and confident.

But if you weighed 3 pounds MORE than that number, couldn't you still have all those things?

And if you weighed 3 pounds LESS, couldn't you still feel tired, weak, or uncomfortable in your clothes?

Of course!

The number usually isn't what you actually want. It's how you THINK you'll feel when you get there.

And that's a pretty big difference. Ask yourself “what does that number represent for me? How do I want to feel physically and in my body?” Shifting your focus to feeling those things can unlock something even better.  

Stop Letting the Scale Ruin Your Day

Your weight changes every single day.

Seriously. You could eat the exact same foods, do the exact same workout, and still weigh 3 pounds more tomorrow.

Why?

Because your weight can change based on:

• How much water you're holding onto
• Where you're at in your menstrual cycle
• How much sodium you ate yesterday
• Whether you've pooped
• How much food is still being digested

None of those things automatically mean you gained body fat. And honestly, it would be pretty hard to gain 3 pounds of pure body fat in a few days. 

But SO many moms step on the scale, see a higher number, and immediately think they need to eat less.

Instead of chasing ONE number, I recommend finding what your healthiest weight range is.

We are all different heights, ages and body types. For example, maybe your body feels its best somewhere between 140 and 150 pounds or between 160-170. 

That gives you room for normal changes without feeling like you've failed every time the scale goes up.

And if your goal is to build muscle and lose fat, remember that your body composition matters too. You can get stronger, build muscle, and have your clothes fit better without seeing a huge change on the scale.

If you catch yourself stepping on the scale and not liking a number, then restricting or telling yourself you need to workout or feeling guilt and shame, it’s time to take a break from the scale. If you catch yourself stepping on the scale and liking a number and then rewarding yourself with food or having that completely change your mood, it’s time to take a break from the scale.

The scale can be one way to see trends. It’s data. It’s often a symptom or side effect of what’s happening inside. I’m not saying it’s not important at all, but if you’re weighing yourself daily, letting the scale dictate your mood or actions, then taking a break will be one of the scariest but most freeing things you can do. 

And there are other ways to track progress without being obsessed with the scale. Tracking your sleep, water intake, protein and fiber intake, your body composition (fat and muscle mass), your labs. The scale doesn’t tell you the entire story. 

Here's What Nobody Tells You About Reaching Your Goal Weight

I've hit my goal weight before. I've even gone BELOW it.

And you know what happened? Absolutely nothing magical. No clouds parted. No angels started singing. Nobody threw me a parade.

Sometimes we build up this number in our heads and convince ourselves that everything will be better once we get there. We'll finally feel confident. We'll finally love how we look. We'll finally be happy with our bodies.

But losing those last 5 pounds isn't going to magically fix how you feel about yourself. And sometimes you get there and realize your clothes still fit the same. 

Or sometimes the scale doesn’t change, but your body composition does. Your jeans finally fit. You get dressed and feel like everything is flattering. 

That's why I want you to think about something bigger than the number.

What's your REAL reason for wanting to lose those last few pounds?

Do you want more energy? Do you want to feel stronger? Do you want your jeans to fit comfortably? Do you want to keep up with your kids without feeling exhausted?

Those are all great goals.

And maybe the side effect of losing the last 5 pounds by changing your habits may help you get all of those things. And you might be able to achieve them WITHOUT losing another 5 pounds.

 

Why the Last 5 Pounds Feel So Much Harder

Okay, so let's say you've thought about all of that, and you still want to lose those last few pounds.

Totally fine! But there's a reason it can feel harder than losing the first 10 or 20.

The closer you get to your goal, the smaller your margin for error becomes.

When you lose weight, your body generally needs less energy than it did at a higher weight.

But here's what often happens. You keep eating the same portions you've always eaten. Or those little bites and snacks throughout the day start adding up. And because you don't have as much room to work with, those extra bites can make a bigger difference.

It doesn't mean you need to starve yourself. It doesn't mean you need to spend another hour at the gym. It just means you may need to pay a little more attention to your habits.

The Sneaky Little Habits That Add Up

As a busy mom, I KNOW how easy it is to eat without even realizing it. You're making dinner, packing lunches, cleaning up after the kids, and grabbing random bites along the way.

Sound familiar? Here are a few things I see ALL the time.

1. Finishing your kids' leftovers

A few chicken nuggets here. Some leftover mac and cheese there. The crusts from their sandwiches. None of those foods are bad. But if you're doing this every single day on top of your regular meals, the bites can add up to things you didn’t even notice or enjoy. 

2. Snacking while you're cooking

You're making dinner and suddenly you've eaten a handful of crackers, some cheese, and half the ingredients before the meal is even ready. 

Again, it's not about never snacking. It's about noticing when you're eating because you're hungry versus just grabbing food out of habit. And having intentional snacks planned throughout the day so you’re never going into a meal overly hungry.

3. Portions slowly getting bigger

I LOVE peanut butter. But there's a pretty big difference between a measured tablespoon and the giant scoop most of us grab straight from the jar.

You don't have to measure everything forever. But occasionally checking portions can help you understand how much you're actually eating.

4. Assuming something is healthy because of the label

Not all yogurts, protein bars, or coffee drinks are created equal. Some flavored yogurts and fancy coffee drinks contain a surprising amount of added sugar. That doesn't mean you can never have them! But comparing labels and finding options with more protein and fiber and less added sugar can be a really simple place to start.

5. The weekend creep

You eat balanced meals all week. You have a routine. You're feeling great. Then Friday night hits. Pizza. Snacks at the kids' games. Dinner out. A few drinks. Sunday brunch.

And suddenly your weekends look VERY different from your weekdays. You don't need to stop enjoying your weekends. But if you've been wondering why you're not seeing changes, it's worth looking at the WHOLE week instead of just Monday through Friday.

Sometimes Tracking Can Be Helpful

I know. I know. Nobody wants ANOTHER thing to track. Especially when you're already managing approximately 47 different things for your family. But here's why tracking can actually be helpful. Most of us aren't very good at guessing how much we're eating. And if you're grabbing bites throughout the day, it's even harder. That doesn't mean you need to track every single bite for the rest of your life.

Sometimes tracking your food for just 1 to 2 weeks can be a HUGE eye-opener.

You might realize:

• You're not getting nearly as much protein as you thought.
• Your fiber intake is pretty low.
• You're skipping meals and then feeling starving at night.
• You're eating more snacks than you realized.

The goal isn't to become obsessed with numbers. It's to figure out where a few simple changes could help. And if tracking makes you feel stressed or overly focused on food, you can skip it. It's an optional tool, not a requirement. 

It is hard to change what we don’t measure. 

The Last 5 Pounds Come With a Price

This is probably the MOST important thing I want you to understand.

You might be able to lose those last 5 pounds.

But the question is… What are you willing to do to get there?

Because depending on where you're starting, it might mean being more consistent with portions, tracking food, or making choices you don't necessarily want to make right now.

And that's where I think moms need to be realistic.

I'll use myself as an example. Right now, I'm in a weight range where I feel REALLY good. I have energy. My clothes fit. I'm stronger than I was when I was a college athlete.

Could I get more precise with my food and try to lose another 5 pounds? Probably. 

But do I WANT to? Not really. 😂

I want to enjoy pizza night with my kids. I want to get ice cream as a family. I don't want to weigh every ingredient or feel like I need to plan my whole life around food.

And right now, those extra 5 pounds just aren't worth that trade-off for me. But maybe you're in a different season. Maybe you have the time and energy to be more precise with your nutrition.

That's okay too!

There's no right or wrong answer. You just need to decide what's actually worth it to YOU.

What Actually Helps You Lose Those Last Few Pounds?

If you're already close to your goal and have solid habits, you probably don't need to completely change everything you're doing.

In fact, I'd encourage you NOT to. Start with a few small changes you can actually stick with.

1. Prioritize protein at meals

Instead of grabbing random snacks and calling it lunch, build a meal around a good source of protein. Think eggs, Greek yogurt, chicken, turkey, fish, tofu, or cottage cheese.

Protein helps you feel full and supports your muscles, especially if you're strength training.

2. Get more fiber

Most moms I work with aren't getting nearly enough. Add fruits, veggies, beans, whole grains, nuts, and seeds throughout the day.

You don't need to make this complicated. Even adding berries and chia seeds to breakfast or a serving of veggies to lunch can help.

3. Plan your meals and snacks

I'm not talking about spending 3 hours meal prepping on Sunday. Hard pass.

I'm talking about knowing what you're going to eat before you're starving and standing in front of the pantry.

Have a few easy breakfast options. Eat the same breakfast and snack all week to limit decision fatigue. Keep simple snacks on hand.

Know what's for dinner. It takes away SO much of the decision-making. You’re less likely to order DoorDash if you know what’s for lunch and dinner. 

4. Pay attention to mindless eating

You don't have to stop eating your favorite foods. But if you're constantly grabbing bites while cooking, scrolling, or cleaning up, start paying attention to those habits. 

Sometimes simply sitting down at the table without a phone, computer or TV to eat an actual meal makes a big difference. Paying attention helps you determine when you’re full and satisfied and when you want more. It’s easy to over-eat when you’re distracted. 

5. Keep strength training

Please don't think you need to add an hour of cardio every day. Building muscle is incredibly valuable, especially to women as we age. 

It helps you get stronger, supports your body composition, and makes everyday things like carrying groceries, lifting your kids, and keeping up with family life easier.

And you don't need to spend hours at the gym to do it. You can build muscle and change your body composition in 15-20 minutes a few days a week at home with minimal equipment. 

Stop Measuring Progress ONLY by the Scale

If you're eating better, lifting weights, and feeling stronger, but the scale hasn't changed much...

That doesn't mean nothing is happening. There are SO many other ways to see progress.

Pay attention to things like:

• How your clothes fit
• How much weight you can lift
• How many reps you can do
• Your energy throughout the day
• How consistent you're being with protein and fiber
• How well you're sleeping
• How you feel doing everyday activities

Because what good is reaching your goal weight if you feel exhausted, weak, and miserable trying to stay there? 

The goal isn't just to be smaller. It's to feel GOOD in your body.

Your Goal Weight Isn't the Finish Line

Here's something else nobody talks about enough. Losing weight is one thing…

Keeping it off is a whole different story.

If you have to cut out every food you love, work out for hours, or constantly feel hungry to reach your goal, how long are you realistically going to keep doing that?

A month? Six months? Forever?

Probably not.

And that's exactly why I focus SO much on building habits that fit into your actual life.

I'd much rather see a mom make small changes, lose weight slowly, and maintain her progress for years than follow some extreme plan for 30 days and end up right back where she started (or worse).

You have kids to raise. A family to feed. A million things on your to-do list. You need something you can actually keep doing.

Not just until you hit a certain number. But for YEARS.

So, Are Those Last 5 Pounds Really Worth It?

That's something only you can decide. But before you start cutting more calories or adding another workout, ask yourself: What am I REALLY hoping to get from losing these 5 pounds?

More energy? Better-fitting clothes? More confidence? Feeling stronger?

Because those things might have a lot less to do with the scale than you think.

And if you still decide losing those last few pounds is important to you, that's okay!

Just make sure the habits you're building are ones you can actually live with.

Because at the end of the day, I want you to be strong enough to keep up with your kids NOW and active enough to play with your grandkids someday.

That's worth a whole lot more than a number on the scale. 

Tired of Overthinking What to Eat?

If you're tired of trying to figure out what to make for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day, that's exactly why I created Busy Mom Meals.

Every week, you get:

• Quick, macro-balanced meals that take 15 minutes or less of effort
• Simple recipes with 10 ingredients or less
• A done-for-you grocery list
• Family-friendly meals so you're not cooking separate dinners
• Easy ways to get more protein and fiber without tracking every bite

No spending hours meal planning. No complicated recipes. No making separate meals for your kids. 

Just stupid simple meals that help you eat healthier without spending your life in the kitchen.