20 Challengers out of the original 30 still at it! Thanks to those who checked in! YOU ARE LEARNING A VALUABLE THING...just by not quitting...that will serve y ou--and me--well for maintenance. ALSO: A request for specific blog posting if you're willing. Please read.

With the late additions of T2KO, Nanette, and KT, we close out at 20 challengers checking in.

With only 4 updates to go, we are down 1/3rd from the original 30 challengers.

Pat yourself on the back if you didn't quit, if you stuck it out thick or thin, computer or life woes included. You are learning a very valuable weight-loss-sustaining lesson. You stick it out.

Life will suck big rotten eggs sometimes, as some of us have learned. People you love will become gravely ill..or die. People you don't love will make you miserable. People you love may make you miserable. Finances will tighten (or, we hope, blossom). Computers will be wonky.

For the rest of our lives, no matter how much weight we lose, want to lose, or plan to maintain OFF, we will have to find a way to do it through good events, bad events, tempting events. Through illnesses, holidays, milestones, meltdowns.

Whatever is happening, good or bad, in your life, it might be a pitfall--and, yes,  joyful events can make us overeat, too, not just stresful ones. Vacations may be fun and relaxing, but they can make us hit the bad food mojo hard. Anniversaries and birthdays and Channukahs and Chritmasses and solstices may bring feasts that barrage our will. Divorces, deaths, moves across town or across countries or across oceans can make us just not know what the heck to do to keep going on our health strategies.

But we have to figure it out or all this hard work we've done to get fitter and less fat...will be UNDONE. It will vanish.

Just look around at the weight loss bloggers who gained it all back when vigilance went down or strategies got abandoned or focus flagged.

Regain is amazingly easy. As I'm finding in the refeeding/metabolism healing current phase. I have a different body composition, but I don't fool myself. I have to work this, and work it hard. :) Or I'll be obese again. Easily.

I would like bloggers who have lost and regained to consider doing a blog that might help others see how hard it is to keep focus. I would like bloggers who lost and have not regained (in months, at least) to give tips this week.

And all bloggers: Consider doing a "my holiday strategy post" this week by Wednesday. It may help you get through Thanksgiving. What specifically will you do in terms of focus/foods/planning to keep your eating in check and your exercise on target? STRATEGY: Have one. Share it. It might help someone else.

This is not a challenge requirement like the original rules (reread the rules if you have forgotten, lost track, or gotten lazy about the things you are supposed to do). This is a request that might help YOU and US.

So, kudos to all who were accountable, checked in--good, bad, or in-between--and are still fighting the fat fight and NOT QUITTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This alone makes me very happy and proud of you, OF US. All of us who just keep doing it, being real, being honest, and not just throwing in the towel.

You and I, we make it, we  eventually get there...if we don't quit. Epiphanies and knowledge only come as we continue to try, learn, do, fail, do again.  GO FORWARD!!
I believe in our abilities. :D

Many blessings and grace upon you --and your families--all this week when we remember our many, many blessings...be well