183.4 lbs. This is the kind of post I was hoping not to write. And even though I would like to take a few minutes of my life to mope about it, I think I'll pass and try (really really hard) to focus on the positive. Such as the fact that I was wearing size 12 shorts yesterday and was actually comfortable in them. So small victories and baby steps is what I am thinking. it seems high though, 3.5 lbs in one week? Something must be off right? Right??? Hassan made a helpful suggestion to check my progress a couple of times during the week. The benefits are two fold. Firstly, if I truly did gain those pounds back, had I stepped on the scale during the week I would have seen them creep up. Secondly, it would give me an indication whether or not the number I report on Monday is a real number or some sort of an outlier that was caused by excess water the night before. In any case, it is what it is this week.
Here's where I'm struggling. Food. I can't make my family (and by my family I mean Hassan....my kids will eat anything!!) change their diet for my sake. Don't get me wrong and go hating my dear husband! He's been supporting me and making sure I am stocked with fruits and veggies and he's always on a lookout for a healthy snack for me. He means well anyway, he bought whole grain bagels for my benefit (they turned out to be everything bagels, but his thought was appreciated immensely). But when I am cooking dinner, and running late (almost daily) I really don't have it in me, time or effort - wise to come up with an extra side that is healthy solely for me. I know, I tried it in the first couple of weeks and it was just pushing dinner time even later. And late dinner means late bed time, which means, cranky kids, resulting in irritated parents. Plus the later Kiara gets tucked in, the less down time we get before we are unable to keep our eyes open.
Getting out to exercise has been tough as well. For me to be able to work out after Hassan gets home I have to have a plan for dinner. Be it a plan for Hassan to make dinner or making it myself, the kids can't wait when they are hungry. And we do everything in our power to make sure they don't get to that stage where they are actually hungry. Hassan calls it "Hunger Prevention Program" because really "I love dealing with my hungry tired cranky kids" said no one ever! So to that end, I have to have my workout gear on the second he steps in the door and then I'm out earlier, back earlier and everyone (hopefully) is happy. If I wait until after everyone is tucked in, that's just crazy talk. So to summarise. the kids call the shots. Not that it's a surprise. Once I go back to work, which is really really really soon, I'll be able to get out for lunch time workouts and not have to worry about it come evening. Also, I am so stealing Nadia's idea for afternoon snacking! Pack a head a broccoli! Pick all afternoon, guilt free!!
So doing what I can and hoping it's enough until I am back to work and then re-evaluating the routine and trying it again. Time will tell...meanwhile I'll keep an eye on those numbers this week and post short updates throughout as much as I can. Or one big weekly update as It's been the case. Good night! :)