It’s been almost a year since my last Muscle Mommy Diaries update. During that time, I worked with a personal trainer at Lifetime, experimented with the Ladder workout app, and focused on staying consistent rather than chasing fast results while trying to lose the last 10 pounds.
The progress has been slower this time around, but I’ve still lost another 7–10 pounds and built more strength along the way.
If you’re new here, this post is part of my weight loss series. So far, I’ve gone from 209 pounds to about 147 pounds — a total loss of 62 pounds, which is almost the size of my 9-year-old. 😮
Muscle Mommy Diaries Series
• How I Lost 30 Pounds in 6 Months
• Muscle Mommy Diaries Vol. 1 – Maintaining Weight Loss (This post)
• Muscle Mommy Diaries Vol. 2 – How I Lost the Last 10 Pounds (This post)
• Muscle Mommy Diaries Vol. 3 – Coming Soon
Where I Am Now (March 2026 Update)
Right now, I’m bouncing between 145–147 pounds. My weight fluctuates depending on things like carbs (or Cadbury eggs), my cycle, sleep, and hydration. Unfortunately, all of those things impact the scale — not just food and workouts.
Since my last update, I’ve lost about 7–10 pounds in nine months, including the holidays, which honestly feels like a win.
My recent InBody scans show that I’ve lost fat while holding on to most of my muscle. When you’re losing weight and strength training at the same time, protein intake becomes extremely important, so that’s my main priority right now.
One thing my personal trainer at Lifetime taught me was the importance of properly fueling before workouts. When I was younger, I would train on an empty stomach, but now at 36, I know that’s not ideal.
I usually drink a protein shake before my workout and recently started adding a banana for carbs so my body uses that for energy instead of burning my hard-earned muscle.
Speaking of my personal trainer, I actually worked with one at Lifetime for about three to four months — and that experience taught me a lot.
What Helped Me Lose the Last 10 Pounds
• Staying consistent with strength training 5–6 days per week
• Prioritizing protein at every meal
• Properly fueling workouts with protein and carbs
• Using structured workouts through the Ladder app
• Tracking body composition instead of only weight
Trying a Personal Trainer at Lifetime
Hiring a personal trainer is a huge investment. I truly believe it’s one of those things you have to look at as an investment in your health. At the end of the day, what is your health worth? Everything. Taking care of yourself matters, mama. 🤍
Quick storytime — this could honestly be a whole separate blog post.
I took an Alpha class at Lifetime (basically their version of CrossFit. There was a wall-ball workout where it felt like we did 1,000 squats. I’m extremely competitive, so of course I pushed myself way too hard. I ended up with the worst knot in my upper glute / low back/hip area. That injury bothered me for almost two years.
After 6–8 months of trying chiropractors, dry needling, massages, and foam rolling, I decided to try Dynamic Stretching at Lifetime. It is AMAZING. I genuinely feel like a professional athlete every time I go.
Lifetime Dynamic Stretch Appointment
During my free trial session, my trainer worked on my hip for about 50 minutes. It honestly felt like she healed it in one appointment. My pain went from about an 8 down to a 3 in a single session.
She explained what she believed was causing the issue and recommended a program of two workouts plus one stretching session per week to stabilize my hip, correct imbalances (I also have scoliosis), and help prevent long-term damage.
And just like that… I found myself charging a little over $6,000 to my husband’s Amex for a three-month commitment. 😅
Not going to lie — I was terrified to tell him. I waited until he got home.
But my justification was simple: $6,000 is cheaper than hip replacement surgery, and being in constant pain was really starting to affect me as a mom, wife, and person.
Thankfully, he understood.
What I Learned from Working with a Personal Trainer
I’ve been working out consistently since 2012, so I’m not new to the gym. But even with that experience, working with a trainer still taught me a lot.
My biggest takeaways from working with a personal trainer were:
• Learning how to properly brace my core during almost every movement
• Improving my bicep and tricep form
• Adding stabilizing and balancing exercises to correct muscle imbalances
I also learned a lot about fueling properly, supplement timing, and recovery. The assisted stretching sessions were incredible — that’s still my favorite part. I try to go at least once a month when I can.
Overall, the experience was absolutely worth it. If you’re thinking about hiring an in-person trainer, I highly recommend it. Having someone push you past your comfort zone and correct your form is so awesome. It will help you build a strong foundation, which can make a huge difference when you are trying to lose the last 10 pounds.
After my time with a personal trainer ended, I wanted something that would keep me consistent without the same price tag. That’s when I found the Ladder app
The Ladder App (My Favorite So Far)
After finishing my personal training sessions, I tried a fitness app called Ladder. Honestly, it’s the closest thing to having a personal trainer without the huge price tag.
I started using it around October 2025. I just finished my 25th straight week of hitting at least three workouts. Most weeks, I actually do five or six workouts, unless I’m traveling.
That level of consistency has been huge for me.
Why I Love the Ladder App
I’m currently on Team Transform with Coach Shelby. She’s active on Instagram and TikTok, and I joined her team because I’m working on fine-tuning my body — building my glutes and upper body while tightening my core to create a more hourglass shape.
The app runs in 6-week workout programs, followed by a lighter 2-week deload period, and then another 6-week program. During each program, there are A/B weeks, which makes it easy to track progressive overload and record your weights in your workout journal.
The best part is how interactive it feels. You sync the app with your watch or phone, choose your playlist on Apple Music or Spotify, and then hit start.
Your coach walks you through the entire workout — including the warm-up, the lifts, and the cooldown — while giving cues through your headphones and encouraging you to push your effort or increase your weights.
Most workouts are about 40 minutes long, which fits perfectly into my routine. They’re challenging but not filled with crazy supersets, and I’ve seen great progress using the program.
The app also includes Flex workouts, where you can add extra cardio, stretching, or core work if you want to push yourself further.
There’s also a team chat, and your coach posts videos before and after workouts so it still feels personal even though it isn’t fully customized.
Ladder App Info
Overall, I love it. If you’re looking for something structured that doesn’t break the bank, this is what I recommend.
The membership is $179 per year, which includes the workout programs, tracking tools, and community. You can also upgrade to access the ability to privately message your coach, although I haven’t felt the need to do that yet.
If you want to try it, you can get a 7-day free trial here. Just note that it’s currently only available in the iOS App Store.
Why Progress is Slower Now
Trying to lose the last 10 pounds over nine months might sound slow, and honestly, it kind of is — but it’s also completely normal when you’re close to your goal weight.
When I first started losing weight, I had a lot more to lose, so the progress came much faster. Now I’m mostly focused on body composition — building muscle while slowly losing fat.
This is when tools like InBody scans at the gym, DEXA scans (if you’re feeling fancy), or even InBody home scales can be really helpful. You can gain muscle and lose fat while staying the same weight, but your body can look completely different.
As a millennial woman, I know how hard it can be to take the power away from the scale. It’s something you have to work on constantly. But ultimately, how you feel, how your clothes fit, or how you look in your favorite jeans or bikini are much better indicators of progress.
You can also track your muscle growth and strength instead of focusing only on the number on the scale.
I could go on a whole tangent about why building muscle in your 20s and 30s is so important for long-term health. As we get older, we naturally start losing muscle mass, and that muscle helps keep us strong, mobile, and active.
My Real Why
I know I talk a lot about being a “muscle mommy” and building an hourglass shape, but deep down, my real motivation is simple:
I want to be an active grandma in my future grandkids’ lives.
What I’m Focusing On Now
Right now, my focus is simple:
• Staying consistent with the gym (5–6 days a week)
• Prioritizing protein and whole meals
• Following my dinner rotation system to keep meals simple
• Building muscle and getting stronger
• Tracking my food occasionally to make sure I’m hitting my protein and calorie goals
My non-aesthetic goals right now include eliminating my hip pain by balancing the muscles on my left and right side, keeping up with my running habit (about 3–5 miles per week — nothing crazy), and eventually getting my first pull-up.
If you’re just finding this series, you can read how I originally lost 30 pounds in 6 months, or catch up on Muscle Mommy Diaries Vol. 1.
As always, I’m so glad you’re here following along on this journey with me.
Remember: health is wealth. You can’t out-exercise a bad diet, and you are worth investing in — whether that investment is time, money, or effort.
You only have one body, so take care of it.