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Some people can tell what time it is from looking at the sun. I have never been able to do that; the light is always too bright for me to see the numbers.

Peggy from Georgia is 43 years old and is 5' 7" tall. She has lost 46 pounds to date following the Atkins program. Peggy began low carbing in July of 2001 weighing 224 pounds and wearing a size 24. Now, at 178, she is nicely in size 16s. Her goal is around the corner; she would like to weigh 158 and wear a size 12.

Kellie from Illinois has reached her goal weight of 132 pounds and overcome bulimia while following the Atkins program. Kellie is 5' 7" tall and 31 years old.

I'm coming to the conclusion that for me (note: I said 'for me'), being fat is a 50 - 50 proposition. 50% physiological, 50% psychological. And I've turned the corner from physiological to psychological. I'm making the right WOE food choices automatically, without pain or agony. Therefore, I can only conclude that I'm into mental housecleaning territory. This kinda goes along with those emotional motives for getting/staying fat and about having to deal with (perceived) inappropriate feelings of sexuality.

Some of us have been scared into our weight loss effort by the threat of dire consequences. Our doctors have told us we will die if we don't lose 100 pounds, or our husbands have told us they will leave us if we don't lose 50. The surgeon says the lifesaving operation can't be done until the weight comes off, and we don't want to die. We have four small children and no job, so we can't afford to lose the husband, so the diet starts and we will know when we get there. If either of these are true for you, you can stop reading right now, because your course is simple.

Lyndi from Georgia is 38 years old and 6' tall. She has been following the Atkins program since January 19, 2002, and has lost 41 pounds to date. Lyndi started her journey weighing 304 pounds and wearing a size 26. She now weighs 264 pounds and is wearing a size 22! Although Lyndi is unsure of her goal size, she is working toward a goal weight of 180 pounds.

We've been talking about diets and dieting. Dieting for weight loss has really only been a potential issue for the average person in the last few hundred years because prior to that, most people's problem was getting enough food, not getting too much. But by the mid 1800s obesity was becoming a problem for some people.

Tonight's meal has a special advantage: all the preparation work can be done the evening before. This makes it perfect for those nights when you know you're going to be getting home from work late, or when you know tomorrow is going to be incredibly hectic. (Are there any days that aren't hectic? If you have a calm, peaceful day occasionally, please let me know your secret!)

Linda from Florida is 57 years old and 5' 7" tall. Linda has followed The Schwarzbein Principle since mid-January, 2002, and for four years prior to that followed The Carbohydrate Addict's Diet. Her pre-low carb weight was 275 pounds; she currently weighs 205 pounds and has dropped from a size 24 to a size 16.

Do you tell people what you weigh or what size you wear? In the dark of night, when you're lying in bed and can't sleep, do you admit to yourself what you weigh? Do you tell your family you don't want clothes for your birthday because you don't want to tell them what size to buy? Do the numbers haunt you? Do you wind up asking yourself, "How did I let this happen?" Are you embarrassed, ashamed, or frightened?

What should you do during an Atkins Stall? Learn at CarbSmart Magazine. Read Di Bauer's article about the Atkins Fat Fast including recipes.

Last time, we started talking about the history of diets and dieting. I pointed out that although the word diet actually refers to those things that are customarily eaten, these days we usually mean an attempt to lose weight.