I am 5'2" and looking to lose about 15-20 lbs. I am medium boned and exercise religiously 5 days a week (walking) for 45 min. I am 43 years old.

I started out in March, 2003 doing Atkins because I had heard about the success of people losing with this program that previously couldn't lose on any other program let alone stick to anything else long enough to lose. I did it for about 2 months, saw that I had only lost 2 lbs. and somersized for another 2 months having lost no more weight. In June I decided to go back to Atkins, thinking that maybe even that one meal of carbs was probably too much for my body and decided to cut the carbs down to as minimum as I could. I have been doing Atkins religiously, without cheating for 3 months and have not been able to lose any weight since June. I fluctuate with 2 lbs up and down. Other than that, no movement. I am extremely frustrated. Other friends of mine who have done either one of these programs have melted away and I cannot understand why this is not working for me.

I have yo yo dieted since I was a teen, having starved myself and done weight watchers once and succeeded and then tons of times afterwards and not succeeded.

I was on the pill up until July this past summer and have since stopped thinking maybe this was interfering. I have a problem with triglycerides and was on Lipitor and slowly was able to go off of it after being on Atkins. I take calcium and vitamin C and B12 every day as well as a multi-vitamin. I was diagnosed with a goiter but was told that my thyroid is functioning normally.

I also drink at least 2 1/2 liters of water a day.

I have just recently begun lifting weights as well.

Can Steve or anybody else give me some advise....I am frustrated to tears!!!

The following is a usual daily menu that I have been following:

Breakfast:

2 egg omelette w/ pepper and cheese, coffee w/ cream, flaxseed (to keep me regular)

Mid morning snack:

veggies with ranch dressing that I prepare at home and sometimes a hard boiled egg.

Lunch:

tossed salad, can of tuna w/oil, cheese, ranch dressing, a side of grilled veggies, a handful of almonds or walnuts

Mid afternoon snack:

decaf coffee with whipped cream that I prepare and if I'm hungry, I nuk some cheese

Dinner:

Some kind of meat, steamed veggie and salad with dressing that I prepare


*** I live overseas and cannot get a hold of all of the convenient Atkins mixes and foods to make eating more interesting so my menus are from scratch. I also keep kosher and cannot mix milk with meat at the same meal.

The only things that help me feel like this is not a diet and that I can live with this is to be able to have that whipped cream in my coffee and the nuts....these things have curbed my cravings and let me go on without feeling deprived.

I just don't know what else to do....can anyone help?

Thanks,

Wishful