Wow! Becky, you look great! I am envious of you in the Netherlands. I have always wished to return there. I loved the country. Get a Bike and go native! Have some risjtafel for me! Ah, the museums, churches, the Concertgebow orchestra, the parks, the coffee houses, and the super nice people. I found most people there spoke English very well, so I hardly used my Dutch, as they all wanted to practice their English (which was WAY better than my Dutch!) I am glad your Tummy Tuck went well. I hope to get one someday (after I win the lottery ) Lou Ann

Hello everyone, I just wanted to post and let you all know that my family and I made it to The Netherlands. We have been here for about a week. We are currently looking for someplace to live and are staying in a Bungalow Park. Thank goodness they have internet connection. The whole food thing has been hard because even just a hamburger is different in some resturants here. I am very fortunate that I can tolerate hamburger. We have lived in Europe before, Germany, but it is different here. For one thing we are not near a Military post, the nearest one is about 2 hours away. I will be making that trip once to twice a month to go grocery shopping at the commissary. Things are very expensive here. I know things will get better once we get a house and get settled. I don't have my scales with me so I worry about weight and I am just judging off of my clothes to keep me on track. It has been hard to eat with all the traveling and moving. Luckily I have had Slim Fast High Protein bars with me to help me make my protein. I am also very anxious to get back to the gym. I am right at 3 months out from my hernia/TT surgery. I am nervous about being away from my plastic surgeon but hopefully I will come back next February. I hope to have my boobs fixed, no implants, with the same surgeon. I will be paying out of pocket so I will fly back to CA and have him do the surgery. A really great friend has offered to let me stay with her while I am there!! Okay I hope you are all doing well!! Take care, Becky

Lou Ann, I can soooo relate! I am a true needle phobe and when I had to have spinal steroid injections for severe back pain (I have partially herniated the lowest 2 "L" disks - I can never remember the numbers) they had to give me Valium to semi-knock me out in order to do them! I had a series of 3 injections - the first injection helped some, the 2nd worked wonders and the 3rd helped a little more. I haven't had the injections re-done in several years, but know that I may need to sometime in the future. I may eventually need surgery, but for now, I get by with occassional Tylenol. I hoped the weight loss would "fix" the pain problem, but it has not. It isn't as bad as it used to be, but it is still there. Good luck! Vickie J.

You're not alone Donna~I know what you mean about wanting a "cushion". I guess psychologically that would be helpful to me. And, I'm still losing....down to 150 as of yesterday which is a thrill for me b/c that was my ultimate weightloss goal. So, now to try to maintain that~urgh, its never ending! Tracy B 328/150 5'9"

I'm not still loosing...but then I'm at the goal the doctor set for me but I want to loose more. I'm 5'4 and 150 but for my height I should be more between 130-145 according to the BMI. So I'd personally like to be at 130. But weight loss has stopped. I've had my tummy tuck and look great. However, I don't want to be so close to that side of the fence. Do you know what I mean - I'd for once in my life would like to be able to not worry. I think if I get to 130 I will have enough of a cushion that I don't have to worry. Am I the only one like that?