There you are!! I was worried about you with all the bad weather going on in Germany. I am ecited for you for your tumy and breast!! That is so awesome. Good for you!! Have a good weekend Jacquline, love donna p.s. My knee is doing great!! I am driving now -- yeaaaa. And basically in no pain at all except at night when I go to bed, which is normal. I am getting a good range of motion and making good progress. So all is good with me!!

Happy Friday to us!! I work at an American School and we have no students today!! and what a relief. Sorry it has been so long since I've been on line. I have looked but not said anything for a while. No floods here....I am about an hour from Frankfurt, Germany in a town that is filled with American Service Personel: Kaiserslautern. We have the biggest American Hospital outside the US: Landstuhl and Air Base: Ramstein. And more than 30, 000 Americans live and work here. I am well, except for wanting to EAT all the time. And No I am not hungry. I am getting plenty of good food but the picking at things all day ha**** I am still at 160 but only because I run 5-7 times a week 3-4 miles!! I could loose that last 10 pounds if I could stop picking, but alas. I am OK. I have an appointment for tummy tuck breast lift for January 8, 2007. I am pretty sure I am done loosing. Next will have to be butt and thighs which are the worse I have seen( OK, Maybe not the worst , but totally annoying). I have also moved up on the transplant list: I have been waiting for a cornea for a while. The cornea is the clear white part of your eye that covers the eye and helps you focus. The good news is that I can be called at any time and finally begin the process of sight!! Boy, I guess that is a lot going on!! And working full time too. I cannot believe that it has now been a year and a month since I took the plunge into this journey. Time to start counting the Blessings!! I hope Ann, you are doing well..I read about the Heart issue and you are in my thoughts. Donna Mae: That KNEE!! Gotta heal!! I think about you often too!! The weather here has turned: I scaped ice off the windshield Thursday AM!! YUCK. Hope everyone is well and not suffering from the muchies like me!! Where do they come from? Hugs from COLD Germany, love Jacqueline

hi Sharon - if my understanding of water loading is correct, now is about the time for us to start doing it. 20 - 30 minutes before you're planning on eating you should drink 16 oz of water - it will prevent us from overeating (now that we are able to eat more) and we will feel fuller. Continue to not drink for 30 mins to an hour after the meal. I'm not sure if it will kick start the weight loss but it is supposed to help keep us fuller. I need someone or something to just kick me! I hope that was helpful... Linda

Mine is just like Linda's, Chew, chew and chew slowly. Another one for me is knowing when to stop. sometimes I have that last bite that makes me sick. You think I would learn. I'm good with waiting an hour after eating to drink because I will have a sugarfree hard candy to suck on. It moistens my mouth. This was a good question. Thanks donna. Koukla

chew chew chew and eat slowly - I can't seem to get that through my thick thick head! hugssssss...Linda