I just wanted to say hello to everybody here. I've been reading this
group for more than a year now and it's been for me a source of much
valuable information, support and - quite often - fun.

I'm Polish, a translator and my interest in low-carbing started when I
was asked to translate a book on LC diet. And, somehow, as I was working
on it, the ideas which I used to dismiss very easily, not knowing much
on the subject at all, began to make perfect sense.

Before I gave it a go, I experimented on a slightly overweight
colleague, who was happy to embrace the idea of "a new diet" and, after
previous rather unsuccessful attempts at dieting, suddenly started to
lose weight beautifully. That made me go: "Hm? This IS working, after all".

I'm overweight but not obese (79 kilos as of today, at 168 cm height). I
first went on Atkins last year and lost 11 kilos, from 85 to 74, then
went slack and gained 7 kilos back. Typical, I believe - and necessary
to make one realise that this WOL works ONLY as long as you really stick
to it. Heh. "Elementary, dear Watson".

Now I'm back to it - low carbing for the past month. Not too strictly (I
wasn't counting my carbs or calories, just generally avoiding all
sugars, flour and starches, occasionally allowing myself to have a glass
of wine). I've lost only 2 kilos so far but already feel the "side
effects" - have more energy, don't need so much sleep.

I haven't decided yet whether to take a "strict" approach, religiously
counting carbs, or just do what I'm doing now anyway - not eating any
bread, pasta, rice, sweets. I'll see what will work best. There is no
need to hurry, is there, when you decide that high carb foods are not
for you anyway.

That's all from me by way of introduction. I plan to stick around - this
is a great group. AFAIK on Polish usenet there aren't any groups devoted
exclusively to low-carbing. Not yet. So, on the "general dieting" groups
there's much bickering between followers of LC diets and their opponents
- too much of it to read comfortably, too little sensible advice.  But
LC diets are gaining more interest every day - Atkins, South Beach. So
that may change with time.

Kredka