[Jim Lutz]

Well, guess I'll throw in my two cents worth. On January 9, 2006, I stepped on the scale and said enough is enough. Little bit over 300 pounds. Went on Atkins Diet for about 4 months and dropped 50 pounds. Then I went off the Atkins and I tried to add carbs back in, and I did, but at a cost. Weight creeped back up, not horribly, about 10 pounds to 260, and I stayed there consistently throughout 2006. So far this year another 5 to 10 have creeped back on, so I am back on Atkins as of this past Monday with the intention of making it a lifelong thing. I need to drop another 50 pounds, and I believe I can do it this way. By the way, I realize the Atkins plan takes a lot of heat and has many detractors. What I believe is these things have to be suited to the individual, and everyone's personal metabolism and issues and eating habits etc have to be considered. For the record, last year, having been well over 300 pounds for years, and a smoker (no longer) my August 06 annual checkup had the doctors amazed, my numbers across the board were that of a 35 year old. I'm 51. (act 21) Cholesterol 140 good and bad both just fine, BP was normal, all good. I believe attitude counts for a lot in these sorts of things. I have a good attitude and believe that things will work. And they usually do. FWIW, YMMV.