I backslid over the summer from the end of the all-star challenge and fell back into some old habits, but I think I have turned it around this week and am making a good final push before the fall.

Mostly, I appreciate Sara's effort to keep us all engaged and moving forward in what is a hard time for many people with vacations and summer activities, so thank you very much.

Honestly at times I feel I did really well on the challenge, but then there are other times when I feel like I failed miserably. I was extremely motivated in the beginning, but as summer went on I let life get in the way. I did have a few times when I got back on the wagon and this group really got me going again, but again life got in the way.

I did learn a lot about myself through this challenge. I learned how easy it is for me to give up on something. But I also learned that if I take five minutes and remember my reasons for wanting to start this healthy lifestyle in the first place I can get back up and going again.

I've also seen a change in myself. I feel better about myself. I haven't lost much weight but I am getting more toned. I feel better about myself when I look in the mirror. I'm not focusing on the things I don't like anymore. All I see now is someone who is motivated and working towards a goal. I also see a good role model for my children.

This challenge has been awesome and I want to thank Sarah for keeping this going strong. I honestly feel that if this group hadn't been here I would have given up a long time ago and never got back up.

I feel that I have participated consistently throughout the challenge. The weekly challenges helped me look at the things in my life that I could change and kept me motivated.

I had a lot of family and friend gatherings and some travel for work this summer and I was able to navigate all of those situations and stick with my exercise and healthy eating thanks to the support and tips I received in this group and through the website.

I have incorporated a lot of things into my life that I believe will help me keep my changes for life - I watch my self talk and keep it positive, I exercise realistically at the gym, I have started DVD exercise at home for the days I can't get to the gym or am traveling, I am eating healthy and controling my portions, my cravings are under control and I have learned how to allow some 'forbidden' foods at times so that I can live a normal life in the real world and don't have to give up my progress to do it, I have learned to take time for myself because I am a better person when I do and I have more energy and can accomplish more, I have learned that my children (even though they are young adults) do learn from my example and have a better handle on their lives because of my new healthy lifestyle, I have learned that I need to be accountable and encouraged and support is key, I have learned that keeping track of my food intake and exercise plays a key role in my success and I do this religiously!

While I have achieved my weight loss goals up to this point I think the thing that I am most proud of is my significantly increased fitness level. I can't believe how much I can do now that I couldn't in the beginning. I love the feeling it gives me - my body is becoming stronger and my endurance is definitely soooo much better. I have a physical coming up in September with blodd work and everything and while I didn't have any medical issues when I started I am looking forward to seeing some improvements and can't wait to get my doctor's impressions.

I think that my consistent participation helped others too cause I know when I log on and no one is around or nothing has changed for days it can get discouraging and I am sure that is true for others.

This is the first challenge that I have participated in and I may consider the new site one this fall cause this has been a great experience for me. Thanks everyone for your help and support to me!!! PS - I was shopping yesterday and I have gone from a size 24 to size 16. Awesome!!!! Patty

These last two weeks, I have turned that around and lost a few pounds, leaving me at 3 lbs lighter than before this challenge started. I have bumped up my exercise and motivation. Even though I am not eating 100% perfectly, I have started to follow my diet guidelines again. I have started to have a better more positive attitude thanks to a few people in the group giving me some positive reinforcement and kicks in the butt.

Although I did not participate as much as I would have liked to, I did vote a few times and answered some but not all the questions.

I feel as though, even though I didn't give my usual 100% to this challenge, that I have gotten much more than I gave from it, and I thank you my diet buddies for all the help. I thank all of you that donated prizes, that was so motivating to all of us, and very generous. I especially thank Sara for doing such a great job on the challenge, and putting this all together for us. And I also thank her for listening to me whine.

I definitely think I could have been more involved. I learned a lot this summer about what has been stopping me from losing weight in the past and I think I have moved past some hurdles that I didn't even know were there in the past. In some ways though this made more more introspective than I usually am which made it a little more difficult to keep up with things here on the website. Now that things are settling down into a new pattern in my life I look forward to taking the things I have learned and putting them into use for a better future.

I agree with rmanley. Sarah deserves a great big hug and a thank you. She has done so much to keep this group alive.