Sunny, Thank you for all the advice. I look up to you so much, and to have you here, encouraging me, is so wonderful. 158! WOW! I am so excited for you! I totally endorse the paper journal thing. I found the cutest little bound pocket notebook at the Barne&Noble checkout counter -- it has a cardboard cover and a flap that comes from the back that you can tuck in to be a page marker. It has a built in rubber band that keeps the notebook closed (and gives me a tremendous sense of privacy). I started using it on 1/10/05 (my first conscious day after my surgery), when I decided I was going to try to get healthy, and one week before I started WISH. Since then, I just jot down my foods that need to go in my WW journal, my weight progress, my exercise records, etc. All the challenges I have done are in the back. Sometimes, I go days without writing in it, especially if I've had time to journal a lot on line, but other times I am making notes in it all day. Sometimes, I just jot down some thought that makes me happy, and I try to remember to look at those pages when my enthusiasm or determination is waning.
Thinking about having my WISH friends with me at the finish in spirit or in person, to hear your voices is something I LIVE for. I really have to start visualizing that. Of course, I think I will be in a puddle of tears!
I am really going to think "WISH for the FINISH" and that will help keep me motivated.
Hi, Vee! Your triathlon sounds so exciting. What a HUGE accomplishment to look back on. It must be so nice to be able to refer to a time when you set a goal and achieved it. I mean something like that, that is such a challenge and that so many people couldn't begin to undertake. How amazing it must have felt to complete it. And your DH sounds like such a sweetie to have come back and run the end of the 5K with you. He must have been really proud of you.
DH and DS12 came back at the end of the 4th of July 5K and brought me water, but said they wouldn't do the end with me because it was my finish. I think I might have tried a little harder if they'd run it in with me, but I thought it was so sweet of them to do that. Recently, I have heard Andy tell three different people, "I was so proud of my mom at the Firecracker 5K -- I saw her running!"
So, where am I today? As I call it, "food and mood" --
Food yesterday was good.
B: coffee w/FF creamer, waffles, apple, light cheese (6)
L: tiny bit of leftover turkey chili (2); leftover stir fry w/rice and shrimp (mostly veggies) (3)
D: 4 butterfly shrimp (4); flounder del rey (4); couscous (3); soy crisps (1)
Dessert: No pudge ice cream cone (2)
Today, my friend and I did 2.39 miles in 41:50 (17:30/mi). The pace is way too slow, but I am just glad to be dragging myself out to walk. The spasms in my lower left back are so much worse and some mornings I can't even stand up when I get out of bed. Hoping increasing my walking will not worsen the situation and that my back will just get stronger. Unfortunately, I probably just need to "suck it up" and make an appointment.
. . . okay, the wonders of the internet. I wrote that and thought, "don't just say it. do it." So I just called and scheduled an appt for 8/4. Maybe in the next two weeks I will have gotten past this and will be able to cancel the appointment, but since it is so hard to get on his schedule, I figured I'd do it. Interestingly, he only works in our family medicine practice 2 nights a week because his full-time job is sports medicine director at a university. So, when I had my achilles tendonitis he was incredibly helpful and supportive. I should have done this a long time ago.
Breakfast today was a small sesame bagel w/just a hint of cream cheese (7). It was something I have been craving and it was delicious!
Lunch will be a huge green salad with some fajita chicken (just for taste) (2)
I have all sorts of yummy fruit, too -- a banana, 10 cherries, a plum, and a peach (5 points total). I don't know why, but I was really craving fruit this morning. I have to decide whether to eat each piece individually and savor the taste, or create a yummy fruit salad and much on it all day.
Not sure yet about dinner, but I'd love to keep it light and do another huge salad, maybe with some chopped hard boiled egg. Hot summer nights are perfect for light dinner salads.
No progress on the scale this morning, but that is just a timing issue. Should be significantly different next week.
My trip is 1 month from today. I am thinking it would not be unreasonable to strive to be out of this "decade" by the time I go -- I think it is 7-8 pounds. So, that is going to be my goal. And I am determined to do it.
Once again, my WISH buddies are getting me past the intimidation to the determination and anticipation that I will need to get to the FINISH line. 
WOW! Thank you so much. 
I know I am not. That's why I am still here, after all the times I have tried and failed to lose weight. I've finally found a place where I can find the support to make this time different and to reach my goal.
And yet, here I am. Actually planning to wear sausage bike shorts and a tee shirt in public and to move my wobbling, jiggling self fast enough and far enough to get a medal that my partners will probably have to pry off my neck before my first post-half-marathon court appearance 
(and God knows, DD got her Miss Melodrama talent somewhere 
), the fact is that I have never been healthier or more active and that in and of itself is a huge accomplishment for me, which I certainly credit to my WISH support team! 
