Ask Jonny Bowden

Well there are a few things to say. First, at 120 and 5'4" you are at a perfect weight, so you are probably unhappy with your body composition more than anything else. Is there fat anywhere else on your body? Chances are if your body fat is a bit higher than you would like the answer is in your diet, though it sounds like you're eating very well.

Second, if you have a little "tummy bulge" this could be caused by a couple things that come to mind immediately. One is a mild food allergy or delayed food sensitivity which can cause some bloating, water weight and excess fat. Try eliminating wheat, dairy and sugar for four weeks and see what happens. Very likely you'll see some noticeable changes. Even better, take out all grains plus dairy and sugar.

the second thing that might cause it is stress hormones. Cortisol, the main stress hormone, has been found to add abdominal fat even in slender women who are under a lot of stress. With a couple of kids, that could well be you. Try reducing stress by adding an extra hour of sleep, taking some time for meditation, or just taking better self-care. That could be the key to the whole thing

and don't worry so much about it. IT sounds like you're tremendously healthy and you're at a good weight. Be patient and keep experimenting with different things and you'll find the key.

warmly
Dr. jonny