I went to the local department store in July 2002 to buy some new clothes. Well the size I REMEMBERED fitting me, no longer fit. Something drastic had to be done. After years of the low-fat/low-cal school of thought being pounded into my head, I thought drastic would be trying low-carb. Now, I'll never turn back. Also, I had tried plenty of low-fat/low-cal diets in the past with short-term success, only to gain all the weight back and then some. Carb and caffeine withdrawal was no picnic but I was surprised at how relatively easy this WOE was. I voted "cautiously optimistic" in the poll.