I am 58 years old, and I started the diet in October 2002. I weighed in at 190 pounds, and since I'm 4 feet 11 inches, every pound showed. I was embarrassed about the way I looked and had some serious health problems, like high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and a chronic lung disease. In essence, I was a wreck.

I began the South Beach Diet and thought if I could lose a few pounds, I would feel better. But, realistically, I wanted to get to 130 pounds, and then hopefully reach 120 to 125 pounds. Once I got into the regimen — eating right and seeing the scale going down and not gaining any weight back — I thought to myself, "This really works."

When I began losing weight and checking in every two months with my physician, he was amazed at my weight loss. Each time I would see him he would say, "How much are you going to lose?" I told him my goal and he just shook his head. I don't really think he thought I could do it.

Well, my blood pressure was going down, my sugar levels had stabilized — and he was really surprised. I do not take meds for my diabetes as I maintain it by diet. I still take blood pressure medication, but my blood pressure has gone from 150/90 to 128/62. Big difference! Before, I could not walk across the house without gasping for breath, and now I have been able to cut my lung medications in half and, hopefully, will be able to get off them eventually.

I continued on, and after one year I am now down 58 pounds and am only 3 pounds from reaching my goal of 130. My plan is to stay in Phase 2 instead of going into Phase 3, as I feel I don't need the other carbs added to my diet.

Today I feel like a new person. I went from a size 22 to a 14 and am working toward a 10 to 12. I think I could probably do the 12 now, and I am going to check next time I am out shopping. I can wear blue jeans, not elastic waist, and feel like I look good. People I haven't seen in a long time are amazed at how I look. My husband is especially proud of my accomplishment. My son made a comment the other day about my weight loss, and that made me feel so good. He said he didn't want to make my head swell, but I was looking good. That made me feel so proud.

I hope that there are others who can reach their goals and be a new person like I am today. There is no way that I will ever go back to my old eating habits, as I refuse to put the weight back on. I have made a commitment to myself that I am going to be a healthier person — and be proud to go somewhere and not have people looking at me and saying, "My God, look at her!" I know how that feels from firsthand experience. Now I hope they say, "Wow, look at her. I wish I could look that good!" I now take pride in my appearance and the new me, and I don't ever want to be the "Old Me" again.

Thank you Dr. Agatston for this wonderful diet and sharing it with all of us.