Karen - Thank you for taking time to email me regarding my up and coming surgery on March 21. I've read your profile, and it looks like we are pretty much alike (or at least from where you started). I am 45, between 5'5"-5'6" and weigh right about 390. I'm using you as inspiration. You see, we have a family vacation planned. We fly out of Spokane on 6/21/03. I've been hoping that I could lose 75 to 80 pounds before we left and it looks as though that was about where you were at that time. I'm going to have to adhere closely to all the rules (as you did) and try to get in as much exercise as a working girl can - I can sympathize when you said that wasn't always the easiest when you work full time. Congradulations on losing half of the weight you needed to get to goal. And with your husband soon to be joining you on this journey, that should make it a little easier. Don't get discouraged, even if he passes you up. You can do it - you've come this far.