Scale was at 169.0 this morning and I am THRILLED. You want to know why?

Let me give you a rundown of yesterday.

It included not one, but TWO restaurant meals, one with daddy after morning bible study at church (planned) and one at a local pizza parlor at 7:00 in the evening (unplanned). In addition to go, go, go as I was expecting in the morning, I spent the afternoon once we got home frantically catching up on chores my busy day on Monday had caused me to fall behind on. Then my husband got an email from a friend and political candidate, last minute, that she wanted us to videotape her and the other candidates for this particular office (state house) during their speeches at the aforementioned pizza parlor. It was going to run two hours past Seth's bedtime, but otherwise we weren't too worried. So I went from busy with chores to busy making myself P3-compatible salad dressing to take with, and then getting myself ready while my husband did the same with the kids. The afternoon was also spent emailing back and forth with a wonderful Skype piano teacher I am planning on taking lessons with soon, trying to get things set up and policies understood, etc etc. No exercise occurred for obvious reasons.

That event went well, though my calories for the day were already high from the restaurant meal earlier and dinner didn't help. All kids stayed quiet enough that they didn't disturb anyone during the speeches, which is awesome for that time of night. At this point it was 9:00 and we were rushing around to get everyone in bed and not collapse, ourselves.

When I got home, however, there was a message on my answering machine from a friend with a week old baby. I wasn't sure what was going on, but given that she had called at night (however sweetly) I obviously didn't want to let it sit overnight, in case she needed help with something or had to go off with the newborn and needed a babysitter for her older daughter. So I left a message with her and she got back to me with nursing problems and needing assistance. At this point I was tired and stressed and indulged in some pumpkin with cream to give me some energy and likely as a little stress eating, too. Controlled and logged, but by that time in the night I was just getting through!

I drove over at 10:00 last night to show her some tips and troubleshoot his latch and position. That went very well and we were able to figure out two nursing positions she liked that made latching him properly much easier and hopefully will allow her to heal without further tissue damage. For being so cute and little, those babies are vicious sometimes!

By the time I got back from her place it was 11:30, and mind you I only got about four hours of sleep the night before, waking early to complete my bible study and having gotten to bed late the night before. But waiting for me in the kitchen was bread I was letting complete its' rise from being mixed earlier in the day and shelved for our impromptu recording session for dinner. I had fully risen bread waiting to be baked, at almost midnight. So on the oven went while I took a quick shower, then I set the timer and baked the bread, before collapsing into bed around 1:00.

And that was my crazy day, after an only slightly-less crazy day on Monday.

Coming up on my period again, with cruddy sleep, restaurant eating that is hard to calculate and tough to order for P3, running hither and yon the entire day, and ending the night with semi-emergency new mommy situations AND baking? That I was still within my window by a pound is a sheer miracle! When I was expecting to do a correction day and ended up at 169.0 (range is 166-170) it's like a golden egg under my pillow in the morning - lovely and completely unexpected ;)

Fasting has been going well and did help me go less over my calories than otherwise would have. I made it to noon before that lunch date with my husband broke it. More and more, I'm actually thinking 2:00-9:00 or so might work better for me. I like pushing that morning fast as long as possible and it has been comfortable while helping me control my calories.

Though yesterday's exercise didn't happen I am continuing on with my schedule today. Hit the Floor Softer is my Wednesday selection and I am hoping it is easier than it was last time! My focus is more on my core and keeping it curled, regardless of what my legs are doing (or not doing, as the case may be!). The strength will come, but the core tuck is what creates inch loss and protects my spine, which is most crucial.

I have gone over on calories twice in four days and it has netted me small gains within my range. However I have no want or need to make a habit of that, so I'm shooting for 1800-ish calories daily right now to draw my weight back down a little. It's all a part of management - dealing with the stress, finding a sweet spot, and rolling with the punches of some crazy days!