I could tell you it’s baby weight, but that would be a lie. I was back to pre-baby size a few months after giving birth, before even arriving in Benin. It was after I got to post that the weight gain began.

I doubt I’m alone in this.

You have no idea what those strange fruits and vegetables even are, let alone how to prepare them. But what’s that you see in the freezer aisle? A frozen pizza? That’ll work.

You get tired of frozen pizza, but you’re still not brave enough to tackle those strange fruits and vegetables. What can you buy online and ship from the U.S.? Mac and cheese? Okay. And throw some cookie and brownie mixes in too while you’re at it.

Navigating this crazy new life is hard. Here, have another cookie.

Before long it’s time for your first trip away from post. Oh my goodness! Bagels and real pizza and sushi and waffles and good cheese? Who knows when you’ll have access to such deliciousness again. Better cram in as much now as you can!

And before you know it you’re back at post and none of your work clothes fit, and there’s nothing that makes a person grumpier than sitting at work all day stuffed into clothes that don’t fit.

Or maybe it’s just me.

But I don’t think it is.

Unfortunately for us, the Foreign Service Fifteen is worse than the Freshman Fifteen. It hits at a time in our lives when our bodies aren’t quite so resilient. I’ve been working on it for a few weeks now, but no luck so far. Except for negotiating the purchase of a bunch of fancy exercise equipment for the house, which will certainly help. But it won’t arrive until its current owners leave post in August.

In the meantime…

What’s worked for you, Foreign Service friends?