I've bought the book, read the book, checked out the web site. I've done some reading here (Thanks Nat et. al.). And, I've lost enough weight on Adkins that I'm no longer ashamed to set foot in the gym (silly, I know, but we all got our neuroses).

My goals for the exercise are:
Better self esteem through better body and accomplishing positive goals.
Stronger back.
Helping my diet to remove the excess "me".
Also, I won't turn down more endurance, more energy, and a bod that turns heads

So, here are my questions:
1) Supplements: Right now, I take a multi-vitamin (no iron). Chromium picolonate (sp?) once a day. Flax oil capsule once a day. I see references to several supplements for weight lifting/muscle building:
Creatine
Glutimate
Whey protein

Are any of these required (I'm guessing not). They are all pricey at the local GMCs, so I have to pick just one or two, which one(s) are the "best", considering my goals above?

2) Diet: looks like I won't have any major problems with Adkins and BFL thanks to all the wonderful info I found here, but any insights are welcome.

3) Stretching: I didn't find any specific references to this in BFL. Did I just miss it the 1st time through? Do folks stretch before and after a lifting day or just before? I'm way to stiff for my age, so I'm looking into some sort of stretching class at the gym I decide to join (Ti Chi or yoga or some such). Any recommendations.

I'll keep y'all posted on my progress, I've narrowed my gym choices down to 2, just going for a final visit to each this weekend before I plunk down the cash to join.

Thanks again for all the wonderful advice and support.