Did Atkins in '98 and lost 30 lbs in 3 mos - got me to less than my goal weight. It was great. Of course then I rested on my glory and slowly started gaining back.

And since then, I've half-heartedly re-started the diet - usually lasted from Monday to Friday, but never really stuck with it longer than 2, maybe 3 weeks tops.

Always loose pretty good the first few days, then stall - enough to discourage me and throw in the towel - this time I'm determined to stick it out but I have the same pattern.

Down 10 lbs in 6 days (from 172 to 162)

Up 5 seemingly overnight- back to 167

Now been hovering around 163/64 for 2 weeks.

Did I mess up my system with playing yoyo for 4 years? Is age a factor? Was 37 in '98 so I've crossed over that 4-0 line???

I think it is important to realize a few things.

1) You won't lose 10 pounds of fat over night. Most of what we lose in the first few weeks of induction is water with very little fat. We didn't gain 10 pounds of fat over night and it doesn't come off that way either (don't we wish though!)

2) Age does play a big part in how fast we lose. Mainly as we age, our metobolism starts getting sluggish. Excercise on a regular basis can assist our metobolism to burning fat.

3) Yo-Yo dieting also plays a factor in how fast we lose. Our bodies get wise to the fact of "oh not again" when we start a diet and it holds on for dear life to every fat cell we have. Burning muscle tissue instead thereby slowing our metobolism even more.

So with all that said. Think of this as a way of life not a diet. Learn proper eating habits and proper nutrition and you will never again have to gain weight and go on a "diet".

No matter what diet you chose to follow....this one or some "quick weight loss" scheme that just came out this morning, unless you change your eating habits you will ALWAYS have a weight problem. There is no magic little pill waiting around the corner. So no throwing of towels! Get on the plan and stick with it. It does work....I have lost 48 pounds so far in 12 months and I am over that 4 0 marker