I've been off and on a low-carb diet for the past 4 years. After I was in Europe this summer and lost 20 lbs from just walking around and drinking lots of water, I hit the diet when I got back and have kept losing. Though, I am not on the Atkins diet. I have heard that it can lead to problems by cutting out different items. Although I'm not totally sure what is cut out (I've heard carrots/tomatoes...and of course carbs), what are some health risks?

I'm doing a similar diet from the Mayo Clinic...aka The Grapefruit diet. The grapefruit acts as a catalyst when combined with bacon (protein) in the morning, as well as an egg or two. Then a salad with any type of meat, any amount with dressing for lunch. And finally, red or green veggies with meat for dinner, or another salad. Like Atkins, no carbs...or what I like to call "heavy carbs"...potatoes, rice, pasta, bread, etc. Veggies have carbs in them, but they are "light" or "natural carbs". Also, limited milk (if you can handle it, one cup a day for dinner)...and for die hard coffee drinkers, only 1 cup a day. The diet tries to cut out caffeine. Be on the diet for 12 days, off for 2, then on again...etc. It works for me, but once I begun to plateau about 2 weeks ago, I've started to rework my diet by adding a few carbs here and there...like tortillas.

Also, has anyone been on the diet long enough to consider becoming vegetarian? I've had thoughts about it and it would be a much healthier lifestyle, lowering cholsterol and fat intake, etc. Thoughts?