108 | Losing Weight But Still Feel Soft? Here's What's Actually Happening in Your Body

The scale is moving but you still feel soft, undefined, and not like yourself. Sound familiar? In this episode Val breaks down exactly why this happens — and it is not a willpower problem. It is a physiology problem. If you have been eating less, doing more cardio, and still not seeing the results you want, this episode is going to connect a lot of dots for you.

In this episode we cover:

• Why weight loss and fat loss are NOT the same thing
• The eating pattern Val sees constantly in postpartum moms that stalls results (it is not what you think)
• Why the weekday vs weekend eating swing is keeping your body stuck
• How cortisol is actively breaking down your muscle and storing fat — especially around your midsection
• Why cardio is not the answer and what to do instead
• What body recomposition actually requires — protein, progressive strength training, and nervous system support
• Why postpartum moms are starting from a different baseline and why that matters
• Val's personal story — from pancake butt postpartum to stronger glutes at 3 years PP than before baby
• How Val felt soft again in January 2026 and exactly what she did to fix it — labs, logging, stress, and sleep

Resources mentioned:

• Core Comeback Challenge — 4 week progressive postpartum core program → https://my.playbookapp.io/wellnessbyval/programs/core-comeback-challenge-4-week-program/45013
• Free Protein Guide → https://wellnessbyval.kit.com/proteinsnackguide
• Episode 104 — Stop Jumping Back Into Workouts Postpartum — Do This First 
• Episode 100 — Sleep, Cortisol & Fat Loss: Why Postpartum Moms Can't Out-Train a Stressed Nervous System 

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This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical, nutrition, or pelvic floor physical therapy advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before beginning a new exercise or nutrition program postpartum.