Well, since Tuesday I've lost 2 of the lbs I put on the last two weeks. Still many, many more to go, but at least I'm now going in the right direction. I had started my excercising again, but last Saturday I went for a long walk at the San Diego Wild Animal Park and the last leg was this long very steep hill. It seems to have re-injured my foot (the one I hurt when I fell at work a few months before PIP). I think it was the stress of going uphill for that long stretch. My foot has not been used to that angle when walking. So I'm laying low on the walking for a few days to see if it gets better.

Kathy - you are doing magnificently!!! 12 lbs already!!!! Wow. Only 3 more pounds to your goal before Italy. Looks like you will make it or at least come very close. Good for you!!!!!! If I'm not mistaken, you are losing faster that you did before PIP. Do you think it is that the JC program is working better than anything you've done - or that you are just so exceptionally motivated this time? Or both? Anyway, I'm so happy for you. You are giving yourself a very good 50th birthday present.

Don - I'm so excited for you with your diving lessons. And then for all the fun you will have when you actually go on dive excursions. You will most likely see some amazing sights!! Plus lots of good exercise. You may have had a few slip ups on your diet, but the lbs you've lost prove that you are balancing it out with lots and lots of control and good eating habits. Plus all your exercise. Congratulations on your success so far. It really looks like you are going to meet your goal!!!!! Oh and by the way, a very happy belated "doc dance" to you!!!

Dena - You are reaching your goal in exactly the way you had planned to do. Slow and steady. Steady being a key word. I do understand about the candy at work. Luckily, I just work with 3 other people and they don't bring in food to share very often (just eat their lunches and dinners near me so I can smell all the good food! LOL!!!). When I worked for big companies with lots of people who brought in food to share, it was sooooo hard to resist. Sounds like under the circumstances, you are holding up well. Good for you!!!!!!!!!!!

Michele - I didn't know you scuba dived. I should have known with your love of the water. The swimming you've been doing (before all this nasty weather and ash in your pool from the fires) is a great way to stay in shape. I bet you enjoyed it even more in the Bahamas :) :)

Donna - I'm so glad you are joining in here with us. Love your sweet and encouraging spirit!!!!! How is your back doing? It's always so hard to fit in exercise anyway, but with injuries it makes it so much harder. Good luck. You should be very proud of yourself for being at the point where all you have is those 3 lbs that you keep working on. You are right about the portion control. That is key. Keep focused and just don't be like me and let the 3 lbs grow to 5, then 10, then 20, then. . . .

Wendy - how is your back doing? Are you still working on the E.T.? Keep at losing those 5 lbs. You can do it (maybe you already have?). You did fairly good actually, to have only gained 5 after PIP. Afterall, you were gone for 2 full weeks (plus those extra days at hotel and travel). So you should be proud of yourself for holding it down as much as you did. Hang in there!!!

Trish - You hang in there too. You are still doing better than me. It is very hard, isn't it? Especially when our spirit is not in it and when we have those busy, busy times and lots of temptations. You & I can get back on track and soon we'll be sharing all our good news with the group here!!!

Take care everyone. Have a good Friday and be good this weekend (at least most of the time :) ).