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Low-carb shopping can be hard on the budget, particularly if you are purchasing hard-to-find or specialty items. Where should you look for your groceries, and how can you be sure you're getting the best price?

One of the questions I hear most from new low carbers and would-be low carbers is, "How do I make food interesting without potatoes, rice, pasta, and so on?" That is, indeed, one of the greatest challenges to everyday low carb cooking.

Alicia from Pennsylvania is 33 years old and 5' 4" tall. Alicia has been following the Atkins program since July 23, 2002, and dropped from a high weight of 234 pounds to 190 pounds. Her dress size has shrunk from a size 20 down to a size 16. Alicia's goals are to weigh 135 pounds and wear a size 10.

Jeff Martell from Ontario, Canada, is 46 years old and 5' 6" tall. He has been following the Atkins program since February of 2002, and has dropped from a high weight of 276 pounds down to just 190 pounds! His waist has shrunk from a size 48 waist to a 40! Jeff's goal weight is 175 pounds, and he's well on his way.

Low Carb Cooking 101 If you have kids, you know that it’s difficult to get them to convert to a lower carbohydrate style of eating. After a while they greet every new culinary concoction with a fish-eyed glare and mutter, “Is that low carb?” If it is, they immediately inform …

When you first begin low-carbing, it can seem a daunting task to prepare your kitchen. Not only do you have to divest yourself of all those high carbohydrate staples in the pantry and fridge, but you'll quickly discover that many of the more interesting recipes call for ingredients you've never heard of! Xanthan gum? Soy lecithin? Vital wheat gluten flour? Rice protein powder? How are you ever going to know which items you really need and which are so esoteric that they'll take up space in your cupboards forevermore?

CarbSmart Low-Carb Success Stories from 2002.

OK, here we go. In the last article I wrote entitled "The Twelve Days of Christmas," I detailed my plan to avoid gaining those dreaded "10 holiday pounds" that everyone gains. Well, needless to say, IT DIDN'T WORK! You know when those low carb "gurus" warned us about the one bite being the "kiss of death" on this way of life? Well, they were right! It is so hard to control the cravings and binge eating that the "one bite" produces.

I am happy to report to my CarbSmart readers that Cathie from Florida reached her goal size of a 5/6 right before Thanksgiving!

Tonight's meal, featuring Italian Marinated Flank Steak, is a simple meal. It goes together quickly with a minimum amount of fuss, and leftover steak is wonderful to munch on for breakfast or lunch, and it is also a terrific addition to a simple salad to turn it into a main dish meal.