I'm just starting Atkins today after seeing the Dr yesterday!!! I had lost 40 lbs on Atkins almost 3 years ago and then got pregnant (at 42, definately not planned),I only gained 8 lbs during the entire pregnancy, but after his birth I have really put on alot of weight. As I remember the first 2 weeks you must stay under 16-20 carbs per day (eggs have 1, even splenda has a fraction so it's almost impossible to do none)then you slowly increase 5 more per every 2 weeks until you reach your preferred carb intake level, mine was about 60, warning if you go off this lifestyle, yes you have to change how you eat forever or the weight will come back on pretty quickly, my husband yoyos on this he'll lose 20lbs in 2-4 weeks and then eat normally for 3 months and then do it again he has done this for the last 3 years! Good luck