Five months after baby Noah was born, News 4 Jax Morning Show anchor and first-time mom Melanie Lawson made a commitment — to her health.

Lawson, who is also a member of the Coalition’s Board of Directors, decided to lose the 20+ lbs of pregnancy weight she was left with and live a healthy lifestyle.

“Do I have time to do this?” was the first question she asked before starting the journey. Ultimately, she decided that health is a priority.

She went through the Baptist HeartWise program, including a screening that looked at her blood pressure, heart rate, BMI and other indicators of heart health and a nutrition class with a registered dietitian. Her screening showed that her heart was healthy, but the extra baby weight was still a risk factor. 

As Heart Month winds down, her story was featured on News 4: Watch Part 1 and Part 2.

She has since incorporated healthy food into her lifestyle and works out on a regular basis. She’s lost weight and improved her healthy cholesterol numbers.

“I’m in this healthy game for the long run,” Lawson says at the conclusion of her story.

Retaining postpartum weight is linked to long-term obesity and health risks. While it can take six to nine months to lose postpartum weight, dropping those pounds is associated with better health outcomes. Eating healthy and exercising during the post-partum period can also relieve stress and help postpartum depression.