Here is what I hope is some encouragement for the newcomers.

Here is my long-term history on Atkins. http://www.geocities.com/kragness2/...ss1_history.jpg

As you can see, I've been on and off a few times. But at least my start weight each time has gone down. Many of the points are weekly, but a few are monthly.

I have finally learned that this is not a diet I can simply go off of, but a change of lifestyle for the better. I always feel better when I'm not it, I'm never hungry, and my blood chemistry is great. Most of all I hated the afternoon slump I got when I wasn't on the diet.

I feel my biggest challenge will be when I do get to my goal weight, how to introduce more carbs with out going overboard. As you can see from my past, I was not very successful.

The only measurement I've done is around my gut, and that went from 42" to 35". From a tight 38" pants to a comfortable 32". Looking back I should be did more.

Most of my exercise has been from weightlifting, and the occasional roller blading and tennis. I found a big help is that my wife is on this way of eating too.

To all of you, stick with it. If you fall off the wagon, get back on ASAP, then don't get on the scale again for at least a week. Don't trust scales or ketostix. Try for a gallon of water a day. Draw strength from people that criticize this way of eating, you will have the last word in the end.

Good Luck!