At the beginning of the summer I was a bit discouraged about things. My high school play director had told me he wanted me to slim up this summer, and I just didn't have any hope for myself in accomplishing that task. I've tried before but have never had success. Although I had heard about the low-carb lifestyle, I figured I would try the low calorie avenue and hope that I would lose weight that way. When I had a doctor's appointment in the early summer, I had lost about 4 pounds and was at 246. He recommended the low-carb diet to me. It surprised me that the doctor prescribed to this diet, but I trusted his advice and proceeded to change my eating habits. I noticed slight losses until I had to leave for a 5-week music program at a university away from home. During that time I maintained my lifestyle on the diet and did not have any access to a scale. Let me first say that for those of you on this diet, I would recommend not weighing in too frequently. It can be frustrating to weigh in everyday because there are natural fluctuations in weight loss progress as the body chemistry changes. Anyway, I just got back from the summer program, and my family certainly noticed a change in my appearance. Just today I weighed myself for the first time in nearly 6 weeks. I weighed 210 pounds. That means that I've lost 40 pounds this summer alone! Fortunately, I'm blessed to be doing this while I'm still young and have a fast metabolism, but I'm just so happy I'll be able to go back to school confident in myself and my new look. For those of you who are older and are trying to do this diet, it's important that you develop it as a lifestyle and not a temporary weight-loss plan. Weight-loss is a process, and the results will come... gradually. You absolutely must give it time, and it will pay off. I also have one brief disclaimer: Be careful once you've reached your target weight! Integrating carbohydrates back into your diet must be gradual, or else you'll end up right where you started before you know it.

Good luck to all who need motivation! Stick with it and you'll be glad you did.

Congratulations Charlie!!!

It's always wonderful to hear other people's success stories. Your words of advice are wise words.