Pedal Wench and Flyebye, I really appreciate those posts.

I did a lot of eating this year. It was a huge year, and sometime last spring I realized I was not going to take off the weight very soon, and it wouldn't help to beat myself up. So, I decided to get through the summer, try to make my goal ride, and lose weight this fall.

Even though I made up my mind to be OK with not losing weight last spring and summer, I admit I was ASTOUNDED that I could work up to exercising, pretty hard, for 12-13 hours/week, included a ton of climbing & lactate threshold work, without losing a single pound...in fact, gaining weight through compulsive eating.

Now, I am working with a coach, counting every calorie, and vowing to lose weight by spring. I know from experience that once the hard training starts in the spring, forget dieting, for me...though I know I will have to watch it.

And, Flybye, thanks for your note about the sermon. It was an encouragement to me all the way around, weight-wise and otherwise.