I am a 57 year old female, 5'1" who has been overweight since the birth of my youngest child 34 yrs ago. I went on the Atkins plan in the 1970's ,lost the weight but went back to my old eating habits and naturally regained the weight. I started at 155 and went 97 lbs. Well the weight started coming back on and my blood lipid levels were just awful Cholesterol 284, LDL 198 and HDL 3. Triglycerides were over 400. Weight 140. My hubby and I decided to try this wol again just about 3 yrs ago. We both lost the weight and greatly improved our lipid levels. I now weigh 110 and have been maintaining for almost 2 yrs. Cholesterol is still high,258,but HDL is now 96 and triglycerides are 85. With these levels the ratios put me at 1/2 the average risk for heart disease, CVA and diabetes. This time we gave up the idea that this was a diet and decided it was a life style change.