If I were a runner, or a racer of any sort, I think I'd have more practice at hanging in there and training for the final stretch...  because I've learned that this is when I tend to slow down and peeter off from the track to reaching my goals.  I guess I just lose momentum and begin to hang back, and doubt myself and:

THEN I'M LOST!

Suddenly, I turn around and I can't figure out why no one is behind me and the winners have all weighed in and I have no idea what happened.  I know this sounds ridiculous, but it is honestly how I felt the last time.  Luckily, I was able to critically retrace my steps in those final two weeks and see the many, MANY places I strayed.  No wonder I ended up lost and no where to be found near the winnings!

Of course, when I see all the red flags appearing again (that time of the month, I'm "tired" of dieting, I just want to eat what I want, I can have a little of that, one cheat meal won't hurt me, this dessert can't set me back that much, "live a little"), I am stopping in my tracks this time, because I see the pattern now!  The truth is, it's still me running the same race I ran last time.  The question is:

Will I change course this time?

.... hmmmm.  Good Question:)

I find that when I honestly seek answers for questions such as these, I find the help I need.  For example, I've been seeing a lot of posts about food journaling tonight, and I KNOW that is one of my greatest needle movers.  I have also seen a lot of posts about food plans.  These are the flags I need to replace the red flags with, because they are often the ones I surrender when the internal babble I expressed above takes over in the final countdown.

Personally, I find that blogging and reaching out for help to GAIN momentum as we LOSE weight in the last two weeks of this round is also of paramount importance.  Please let me know what other tips and flags you suggest out there -- I am ready and willing to receive help and continue the practice of learning to stay with it through the end, but I know I can't do it alone.  This week has been all up and downs on the scale -- what are YOUR needle movers to bring it down, and keep it going through the Final Count-Down?  I am just dying to know:)

Thanks in advance, friends, for your help!