Welcome!!! I'm Carole. Like you I lurked a few days before I made the decision to join in. The people here are beyond amazing when it comes to encouragement and friendship. Anything you need you can ask and someone will step up for you! I've never seen this type of camaradrie anywhere else on the web.
Have you noticed how Weight Watcher, Jenny Craig, etc come out with "new" diets each year....that's because they know they don't work so they keep messing with their eating plan. Dr. Atkins got it right the 1st time! If you haven' read the book yet, do so -- I just finished it yesterday but had a good handle on the basics from reading and looking for answers before I started.
I wish you the best of luck and hope to see you around!!