Week 16 - Subway, Banana Bread & Maintenance Mode

Monday was my day off with Arlo.

It was a pretty chill day. Him and I went for a nice walk in his little Kmart pram. It’s just a cheap stroller I grabbed, but honestly, it does the job so well.

Sometimes the basic things end up being the best things.

After that, I picked the kids up from school, and because Jason was home, I snuck Rocky out for a little Subway treat and some groceries, which was really lovely.

I actually had one of their salad bowls.

I don’t know if you’ve ever had one before, but it was delicious. Very underrated.

Monday night, Jason made steak and rice, so I got the leftovers for meal prep, which was amazing.

We love when dinner accidentally becomes future lunch.

And then while I was scrolling through my photos, I found this photo of my licence.. From 2020...!!!

Not the best-looking licence, if you ask me.

Honestly, why do licence photos always look like you’ve just been arrested and asked to prove you’re innocent?

Tuesday was a very busy day with work and check-ins.

I did my workout at lunchtime, and then I actually left my gym clothes on for the rest of my meetings, which no one commented on, thankfully.

Professional from the waist up.

Sweaty gym girl from the waist down.

Balance.

Tuesday night I started attacking the drawer.

Yes, that drawer.

The brown sugar syrup crime scene.

Unfortunately, the Spray and Wipe was not cutting it, so let’s just say that attempt did not last very long.

I opened it, tried, realised it needed more emotional support than I had available, and closed it again.

Wednesday, we had a wonderful support call.

Honestly, this week has been a bit of a blur and went really fast, but I did make it up Mount Taylor on Wednesday, which was wonderful.

There’s something about getting outside, getting the heart rate up and looking out over everything that just resets my brain.

Thursday, look at this funny photo of Arlo.

I put my walking pad up against the wall, and he was trying to climb it backwards.

Of course he was.

Because why use it as a walking pad when you can treat it like an indoor toddler mountain?

Then all the neighbours came and played in our driveway, which I love to see. It’s honestly one of my favourite things. Kids running around, bikes everywhere, balls flying past your head, someone crying every now and then.

Community.

Chaos.

Same thing, really.

While they were playing after work, I went for a walk.

I also started the third book in the Throne of Glass series. I’ve been properly committed to reading again lately, and I love it. I’ve been falling asleep reading every night instead of doom scrolling, which feels like a much better life choice.

Still dramatic, just with fae and assassins instead of Instagram analytics.

Thursday I also finally uploaded my next YouTube Video, this time an upper cable workout!! https://youtu.be/CZqlYs7kmk0?si=zQ4PZJ7r8jB0f5XW

Friday morning, everyone was doing that 80s photo trend.

One of my girlfriends made this photo, and that’s me with the glasses on the far left. I think I look pretty cool.

My mum also did the kids, and they looked great.

Nola said, “Ew.”

Friday was also crazy hair day, which is always cute and chaotic.

Saturday was honestly the most beautiful day ever.

It was 21 degrees, and I tell you what, the sunshine was so nice. Spring is definitely showing off now, and I am absolutely here for it.

I had such a busy day, but I actually filmed a day in the life as a reel, so please find the link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdOS99-yjal/?stkn=ZG93bXo0amR1NDll

Sunday I got up really early and went for a walk up Mount Taylor at 6:15am.

Starting the day on the mountain always makes me feel like I have my life together, even if the rest of the day proves otherwise.

After that, I don’t know if you guys saw on my Insta storty, but I accidentally ordered way too many bananas.

So naturally, banana bread had to happen.

I made banana bread for my mum, and then I made banana bread for our family.

And you will be so proud.

I actually cleaned the drawer.

Yes.

The drawer.

I got hot soapy water, cleaned the drawer, cleaned the baskets, and the brown sugar syrup saga is finally over.

Please respect my growth during this difficult time.

After the banana bread was baked, we went over to my mum’s house for lunch.

She made lean mince burgers, chicken burgers, salad and fruit, and she made pancakes for the kids.

I tracked my lunch and made a really good choice. I skipped the rolls and just had a naked burger with salad.

Still delicious.

Still on plan.

Still a win.

After lunch, we all walked to the park.

The kids are really good at finding four-leaf clovers, so they found a bunch of them, and then they went on the swings.

I had a turn on the swings too.

Honestly, underrated.

Once we got home, the kids all played together, and then we made a nice dinner and had an easy evening.

It was a nice, calm end to the week.

Now, heads up for next week.

I’m actually going to put myself on maintenance calories.

Well, closer to maintenance.

I’m upping my calories and trying 1,500 calories, and I’m also increasing my protein to 140g because I have my next medical procedure coming up.

I want to make sure my body is fully nourished, supported and ready to recover well, so I’ll continue with these calories for a few weeks afterwards too.

It looks like my STRIP phase will be paused for around four weeks, and that’s okay.

Even if I’m still in a slight deficit, that’s okay too. The main priority is making sure my body has the support it needs for recovery.

Fat loss is important to me, but recovery has to come first.

If you don’t know what medical procedure I’m having, I’ll link the blog here with a bit of background: https://www.caseysblog.com.au/post/week-6-surgery-sydney-standing-jeans

Now for check-in.

Week: 16 Phase: STRIP, about to move into maintenance/recovery calories Nutrition adherence: 7/7 Weekly average steps: 10,114 Training: 4/4 Average body weight change: -200g

The things I’m most proud of this week are:

• Getting Mount Taylor in and keeping my walks ticking along

• Choosing a Subway salad bowl and actually loving it

• Training even on a busy check-in day

• Getting back into reading at night instead of scrolling

• Finally cleaning the brown sugar drawer crime scene

• Making choices at lunch that still supported my goals

• Being sensible and planning ahead for recovery instead of trying to force fat loss through everything
  

The areas I need to improve next week are:

• Adjust mentally to maintenance/recovery calories and not panic about the increase

• Keep protein high

• Keep movement gentle and consistent around how my body feels

• Keep reading at night instead of doom scrolling

• Stay organised with simple meals while surgery/recovery approaches
  

So that was Week 16.

A week of Kmart pram walks, Subway salad bowls, steak leftovers, tragic licence photos, gym clothes in meetings, the brown sugar drawer saga, Mount Taylor, Arlo trying to climb the walking pad, driveway chaos, 80s photos, crazy hair day, banana bread, four-leaf clovers, swings, and finally accepting that the next little chapter is about recovery.

Not quitting.

Not going backwards.

Just adjusting the plan to match real life.

And honestly, that feels like a pretty grown-up decision from a woman who only just cleaned syrup out of a drawer.