SO glad you're back!!!!!

:wave: :D

Dip -- there aren't enough words to tell you how happy I am to have you back with us. :grouphug: You were -- and still are -- a huge part of the LWL and Maintainers families and we're so glad that you've come home.

I look forward to many more wonderful Dip posts. :)

Dip, welcome back! :wave: Lieke, I hope you have a wonderful vacation. Hi Mel, hi Meg, hi Ilene, hi all! :grouphug:

Ellen, I know what you mean about the mileage and heat - when you're doing 10 miles or so, there's no way to not do some of it in the heat of the day unless you go out in the middle of the night! :lol: That's one relief about switching back to the half; since I'm walking it, the long mileages take *forever* even at a fairly fast pace. It's nice to think that my longest training days will only be 3ish hours rather than 6! We'll have to have a 'virtual afterparty' after we finish our races. :woo:

Susan, are you much of a walker? A lot of marathons are walker-friendly now and that makes them much more accessible. I have a lot of training schedule links if you're interested.

I did my first long training walk Friday (well, 4 miles, which really isn't that long to me anymore, heh) at a new trail which I think will work out really well. Now I just have to keep walking during my trip back east next week, and not eat the world while I'm there. :chin:

Good Evening, LWL!

WOW, I am so stoked and so happy for the welcome backs. I went to bed last night feeling renewed, and got up this morning with a new attitude and a very positive outlook about my eating and exercise.

It's really wonderful to come home from a rough day at work to this soft place to fall, especially when this is the time of day I dump carbs and fat down for comfort. Not tonight, though. I was happy with frozen strawberries and Cool Whip Free. Last meal - Kitchen closed at 6 PM. I'll have a cup of green tea a little later.

Still the scale addict, I was down a pound this morning. I did 50 minutes on the treadmill and ate clean and frequently throughout the day. I need to make out a lifting schedule for this week yet. And tomorrow I'll prep food for the week. Official Weigh Day is Friday and a free meal will be allowed on Saturdays, if at all.

Life here is pretty rural, and the town I live in has a whopping population of 300. It is a tourist town with 2 major marinas, several tourist traps, and the official "season" will be over after Labor Day. The Hunter's Moon Festival in October draws them back for one last hooray, but after that you just don't see much activity until May. This is where we wanted to retire so we say we are in "transition," but quite a way from returement yet. There are quite a few Chicagoans who have relocated down here, and some of us are thinking about starting a social club.

There is a gym in the next town but I hear it's rather expensive, and I'm on a tight budget right now. I sure would like to see a leg press, though! I haven't been there yet, but I will at least check into it on Tuesday when I'm off from work. Maybe I can afford it if I give up something else. Wages here are about half of what I'd be making in Indy, and food, gas etc. is just as costly. Produce of all things is more expensive!! And that's a bummer for clean eating. The Wal-Mart Super Center is 17 miles away, so one trip per week is scheduled. The small store in town just doesn't have the things I need to eat clean, so I have to be very careful and calculating when I make up my grocery list. And I will have to shield my eyes when I walk in the front door at Wal-Mart as not to see the bakery. Just like the old days, my weaknesses haven't changed.

My job is a little over a mile away from the house, but it's been god-awful hot so walking is out of the question for now. I got an adult tricycle for my birthday, but haven't been on it since the heat came upon us. It's not even cooling off in the evenings. Some evenings I walk down to our boat (half a mile) and just sit on it to watch the sun set. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to Fall.

Well, I better get off of here and get busy. I'll check in again tomorrow. Thanks for being here!

Hugs to all!

dip

Wow, it's old home week!

Dip, YOU were one of the lost LWL'ers I was thinking about, too! I'm so glad to see you back.

Mel

Dip -- Don't forget the LWL salute when you walk into WalMart!!

I'm exhausted!! We had a wedding yesterday it was a very full day and very late night, so today is a rest day and semi-clean because this morning the brides parents paid for a brunch for everyone who attended the wedding... The rest of the day will be clean... I'm off for a snooze!!

You got it, Pookster!

Gosh, Ilene! I had forgotten we called it the LWL Salute! LOL! Hope you had a good nap!

We are about to get hit with a storm so I wanted to report in before I have to shut down. I did well today, even walked early in the AM down to the lake. It's a nice walk going - down, literally, and then home is all uphill. Did very good on food - very clean and got the groceries done this afternoon. I've decided to drive further, into the city where there's a Kroger, and better produce. Plus all the FF/SF Kriger products I'm accustomed to. Heck with Wal-Mart!

Well, I best shut down - see ya'll in the AM.

Have a great evening!

dip