I started Atkins on April 1, 2003. I writing this for those who occasionally get discouraged. It does work!

First of all, I've lost 30 lbs. since I started this. My clothes are too big and I look and feel like a new person.

I had everything against me - my age (almost 60), taking medications, diagnosed with a fatty liver, I didn't exercise, I was a very slow loser. I would read about all the quick losses and on occasionally would become very discouraged and swear I was going to go off of it - but haven't.

I had blood work done before I started and a month ago. My cholesterol went down from 170 to 128 and my triglycerides went from 169 to 104. I had to take a lot of tests for my heart because before I went on Atkins, I was having Arrhythmia's. I asked my cardiologist what he thought of the Atkins and he said he hadn't seen enough about it. I showed him my blood test results and all of my heart tests were really good. He smiled and said congratulations and for me to keep doing what I was doing.

I just kept feeling that the fat I was eating was going to my arteries - not so. Nice and clean.

I've gone off my cholesterol lowering drug (Lipitor) and am now working on going off my blood pressure med and beta blocker.

Don't be discouraged. Don't look for a temporary, quick loss solution. It took a while to put it on, it's not going to take a week to take it off. The health reasons alone are worth it.

When someone says "oh you can't have that, can you?" about some food, I just reply that I can have anything I want - but I choose not to. I haven't gone off it one time. I've been tempted a few times - but I didn't want to mess up what I was doing.

I am so proud of myself because I didn't know if I could do it. I still have 20 lbs. to go, but I know now that it is possible and I can do it.

I told myself 5 months ago that when I lost 30 lbs. I'd have cheesecake. So yesterday I made one with walnut crust - the baked cheesecake AND the topping. Today I choose to have a piece - and maybe will choose to have two.

I haven't deprived myself. I make ice cream and have had cheesecake before - just not the one with the crust and topping. This is all so divine.

And off I go for my next 20 .... and then a lifetime of being healthy and eating right. I had to share this with anyone who felt they couldn't do it. If I can - anyone can.