Amy Dungan

It seems I'm doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over. Maybe I'm being a bit melodramatic. I do usually learn from my mistakes. But sometimes I try something, look back to analyze it, and realize it's really not that different from the other things I've tried. “Hello Abby. Will you be staying long?” There are lots of reasons why I believe I'm abnormal, but today I'll just highlight one of them. We can save my various other flaws for analysis at a later date.

This success story starts with Susan being 380 pounds on her 40th birthday. Like many of us who have struggled with weight, she didn’t like being in photos and avoided them when possible. So when she got her photos back from the celebration, she didn’t recognize herself. “I not only looked bad, I felt horrible” says Susan.

CarbSmart Is Reporting From the Low Carb Cruise 2012. The Low Carb Cruise 2012 starts on Sunday, May 6, 2012 and Dana Carpender, Amy Dungan and I will be there.

I'm thrilled to introduce our latest success story, Marilyn Brazzle, an inspiring and compassionate lady. A CPA working in management consulting for an accounting firm in Washington, DC, she resides in Frederick, MD and runs a non-profit sanctuary for homeless senior basset hounds. "At any time I'm sharing my home with about 20 old dogs," says Marilyn. Her exercise includes caring for her home, the dogs, and her commute to work.

If you want true inspiration, you need look no further than Kent Altena. Eight years after starting Atkins, Kent is still literally half the man he used to be. In 15 months he'd shed 211 pounds and reached his goal. He's since rejoined the National Guard and has become a volunteer firefighter and EMT. He's also an active runner and has completed a number of marathons.

Wheat Belly gives us the history of wheat. You'll learn all about the modifications made to wheat in the last few decades, and how they affect human health. One fact that surprised me was how much insect repellent/weed killer ends up in today's wheat supply.

Laurie Rosen's journey begins when she was having major health problems such as IBS, heartburn and hypoglycemia. A co-worker mentioned Atkins, and it was such a radical concept that she wondered if there actually might be something to it.

This month's awe inspiring success story comes from a good friend of mine named Hank Garner. Hank describes himself as a man who is incredibly blessed. Happily married for 17 years to his wife Dawn, they have 5 wonderful children and enjoy small-town life in Southern Mississippi. A web designer, Hank loves spending time with his family, the outdoors and being active. His newest passion is running, which he does 4 or 5 days a week.

This month's source of inspiration comes from a sweet lady named Debbie Cusick. Debbie, retired from IBM, resides in Florida with her dog Flo, and three cats who graciously allow Debbie and Flo to bask in their presence. She's a birdwatcher, avid reader of mysteries, involved in choral singing and working with Flo, whom she hopes to eventually enter into obedience and/or agility competitions with in the near future. Another hobby of Debbie's is pastel painting. And let me tell you, this lady has some talent. She also has the talent of inspiring others. Today, you'll see why.

I sat down today at my dining table to make a list of the reviews I have yet to finish. I've still got a lot to share, so it's quite a list. Sitting there I realized a couple of things.

So what did you do last Saturday? I had several dozen low carbers in my backyard! The Second Annual Low Carb Meet & Greet was a smashing success, or at least I thought it was.

An article caught my eye today and I had to do a double take. The gist of the piece was that if you are enjoying exercise, you aren't doing it right. If you want to get technical, I supposed that may be true. I'm a fan of the Slow Burn method for building strength, but let me tell ya, It's not fun. I don't get up of a morning and think "I can't wait to work my muscles until they hurt and my body feels like a blob of jelly!" So maybe we are only really working our muscles if we are doing something that is uncomfortable. I'll concede it's possible.