We moved into a new home last month (finally!), and my husband bought a new grill to celebrate the occasion. It's a mammoth thing, all stainless steel and shiny, and looks something like a not-so-miniature aircraft carrier. This is a "manly man's" grill, huge and professional-looking, containing all the bells and whistles. The problem is, my husband can't cook.

Karen G. is an American living in Poland. Karen is 5' 4" inches tall, and has been following the Atkins program since December 31, 2002. In that time, Karen has dropped from weighing 228 pounds and size 20W to weighing 168 pounds and wearing size 12/14. Karen's goal is to weigh 140 and (possibly) be a size 8.

Christine from Ohio is 5' 2" tall and 36 years old. Christine has been following the Atkins program since May of 2001. She began her plan weighing 163 pounds, and is currently at her goal weight of 120 pounds. As far as her starting size, Christine said, "Sorry, I can't help you in this area. I was too scared to get a tape measure out! I do know I was in a size 14 jeans and now I'm in size 3/5. Whooohoo!!"

Ruth Glick doesn't know it yet, but her family is about to become larger. After reading her cookbook, Fabulous Lo-Carb Cuisine, trying some of the recipes, and talking to her on line, I've decided to ask her to adopt me. I want to eat like this all the time, and I'd like to enjoy her company. She's delightful.

Since it was just Thanksgiving the other day, I don't know how it can already be February, but such is the speed of 'time travel.' And speaking of how fast things travel, I want to tell you this piece of trivia which may or may not be true, but which ought to be true if it isn't. They say that the speed of a computer mouse, that is, the distance the cursor moves across the screen, in relation to the distance the mouse actually moves across the mouse pad, is measured in units called mickeys. Don't you just love it!

Becky is 44 years old, and is 5' 10" tall. She has been following the Protein Power Plan, Atkins, and has occasionally a CAD (Carbohydrate Addict's Diet) meal since March of 2000. Becky started her low carbohydrate journey weighing 285 pounds and wearing a size 32. She currently weighs 195 pounds and wears a size 14. Becky's goal is to be 160 pounds.

Kelley from Indiana is 50 years old and 5' 7 1/2" tall. She is fairly new to the low carbohydrate lifestyle and follows Dana Carpender's plan for 50 grams of carbs a day as written in her book How I Gave Up My Low Fat Diet and Lost Forty Pounds!

In order to make low carbing a lifestyle and not just a "diet," I've learned to get creative in the kitchen. This is how I stock up my Low-Carb kitchen.

Myrna from Pennsylvania is 46 years old, 4 11" tall, and follows the Atkins program. When Myrna wrote to me, she wanted to share with our readers not only her Atkins success story, but also how she fell from grace, and has rebounded after making her goal weight, then regaining from her first time around with low carbing. Myrna started her low carb journey in Sept. of 2001 at 165 pounds and a size 12. She achieved her goal of 125 pounds and a size 6 after only four months low carbing.

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.

Much like how Dolly Parton has to be thankful to the underwire in her bra, I am so very thankful for the support shown by all my readers during my "Operation: Atkins 2.0"! I replied personally to many of you who mailed me, but after 36 hours, 2 boxes of Band-Aids for my blistered fingers, and a full bottle of Visine Eye-Drops, I decided to go with a blanket statement of thanks for the remainder of you. So if you didn't hear back from me, it's not because I'm unappreciative of the support, I just didn't have the time/strength/power to do it! The mind is strong, but the body is oh so WEAK!

JJ from Idaho is 'ageless,' she tells me and is currently at her goal weight of 112 pounds, down from her starting weight of 189 pounds. JJ is 5' 1 1/2" tall and has been following the Atkins program for three and a half years.