Lowcarbezine!

First of all, I can't write to you without telling you how much I absolutely love 500 Low Carb Recipes and how I have recommended it to at least 3 other people who've run out to Borders to buy it. At last! A comprehensive recipe book full of recipes for real people! I have been so disappointed that as more and more LC cookbooks come out, so many of them have ridiculous dishes full of ingredients that might make someone's mouth water (not mine) but are just not practical for family dinners. My husband (not a LC'er) and young son barely notice that dinner is diet friendly when I make recipes from your book - they are so family friendly and good that they don't realized they are eating low carb!

I am a 31 year old woman who has done the low carb thing several times, and who this time has finally really "got it". I am also diabetic (so I know carbs backwards and forwards) and have PCOS (so I know how insulin resistant I am), and after just three months eating this way I have not only lost three sizes, but my health has improved. Thank you, thank you, thank you for the

cookbook, the ezine...the information!

I am reading through your Lowcarbezine! past issues and I just finished your "rant" about the fast food restaurant law suits. In it, you mention how frustrated you were with the blame being placed squarely on fat. That rang a huge and loud bell with me. I recently read an article in Redbook talking about how to raise your metabolism, and while I was thrilled to see increasing protein in there, I was a bit ticked when this was immediately followed up with "this doesn't mean you have to do the Atkins diet" or something of that nature.

I get so frustrated that so many people just don't get it. I see people in front of me at the grocery store with all the prepackaged low fat foods in their carts that probably give them the fictitious satisfaction that they are eating healthily. Then I look in mine and see all the vegetables, proteins, cheese, and I know that I truly am doing the right thing. I want to tap them on the back of their shoulders with a box of processed fat-free cookies and tell them that they're doing it all wrong! And then I see programs talking about food items being healthier because "It's leaner and much lower in fat than beef," etc. and my eyes roll so far back into my head that I have to smack myself so I can see again. (Not literally, of course! :) ) In short...blaming fat annoys me.

Why, why, why? There is so much information out there! Why do these people deprive themselves of all the luxuries we have? Excellent food, satisfying portions, outstanding health! I want to scream, "LC'ers don't eat six eggs and half a pound of bacon for breakfast every morning! We don't eschew vegetables! We don't eat sticks of butter with a spoon! We can have fruits! The media and health industry take the exaggerations and try to scare you away from this healthy high protein, high vitamin, nutritious lifestyle!"

I am alternately frustrated by the lack of understanding in mainstream people and encouraged by the amazing availability of low carb products now. I live in a medium sized city (65,000 population) and without paying a penny in shipping I can buy low carb bars, shakes, bake mixes, tortillas, chocolate, candies, etc. etc., at retail and discount stores. My dream? That someday we'll have Low Carb Restaurants and Food Network will have a low carb cooking show (any thought of this as a next step to promote your books? Hmmmm? Hint!) and doctors will begin widely prescribing the LC lifestyle as a way to improve...well...everything!!

Anyway, that is my rant...something about your writing and your passion for this lifestyle struck a chord in me and I wanted to write to you. Again, thank you so very much for what you are doing to educate anyone who wants to learn. I am very much looking forward to your new book, and will be one of the first in line to buy it.

Please keep up the outstanding work!