Another thing that just hit me ... until you wrap your head around the realization that this is NOT just to lose weight, this must be your new WOE (way of eating) and/or WOL (way of life), you will keep losing the pounds, then gaining them all back with friends. Once you make a lifelong commitment, your weight loss will become permanent!

If you're doing Atkins, climbing the carb ladder will help you discover where to draw the line, and will help to make this a very livable WOL. It's worked for me and many others.