It's definitely easier to feel like exercising when you can be outside in the sunshine!  I just finished mowing the lawn and taking a walk and the fresh air was wonderful! I've been doing better with not eating so mindlessly in the evening.  I've been following my own advice about chewing gum or popping a Werther's sugar-free candy in my mouth (the kind of advice that's been "do as I say and not as I do!") Signing up for the six week exercise class at Slim and Fit has also helped me feel more positive about losing weight and just getting in shape.  At class I definitely can see how much more work has to be done yet - heck, just getting up and down from the floor takes time!  And I have to work at shaking the negative feelings about wasting the time that's already past and having to start over.  Bottom line:  it's hard work.  Especially when you have quite a few pounds to whittle off.  I really think I had forgotten how hard I worked last year at this contest - I treated it like a third job;  every day certain things had to be done with healthy food choices and definitely exercising - no ifs, ands, buts, or excuses.  Many mornings you wake up and lay there and don't want to go to work.  But you do.  That's the mind set you have to work on to get in shape.  And developing and keeping that mind set is also very hard work.  Jamie says that "lean people lead lean lives" so it's got to become (and stay!) second nature to everything you do and eat.  Tom's latest blog was also right on target about the daily food/exercise battles that are won or lost -- and you're right back to the hard work part!!  No quick fix - just a lot of blood, sweat, tears, yelling and determination! See you on Saturday -- here's to victories each day! (and if the weigh-in day is not one day of winning battles, then you've got to focus on the next day and take it from there.  Don't give up!) Barb