Hi, bah! I agree with everyone who says "Do it now, while you're young!" Be sure to decide on a plan and follow it, at least now while you're getting started. You can even use info on the plans that you'll find on the net. There are links all over this forum; that'll let you do some research without buying several books. The success stories and the ones about problems and how to solve them, as well as the recipes, will help a lot! I like the Zone because it is a bit more moderate than Atkins, and a young person would probably lose rapidly on it even though it allows a few more carbs. For pure simplicity, though, without a lot to figure out, Atkins is great. Good luck, take it one day at a time, and be patient with yourself!