Dieting, I have come to realize, is largely a matter of numbers. Whether one takes the more traditional route of a "calorie counting" approach or the "low-carbohydrate, high-protein" direction that I have undertaken, you are always counting something.

In my case, I count carbohydrate grams as well as some other things.

In the process, I may have discovered a new number. The new number is… "Wow!"

I have not been able to assign a value to the number, but it is a very high number…relatively speaking. It usually comes to light when reading the nutritional data on the labels of food products.

For example, I look at my can of diet, caffeine-free Dr Pepper and find that it has 0 (zero) grams of carbohydrates and sugar is not even listed. Then I look at my son Zach’s can of regular Dr Pepper and find that it has "Wow!" grams of carbohydrates and "Wow!" grams of sugar. The relative part is that, in this case, the first "Wow!" equates to 40 (grams of carbs) and the second "Wow!" equals 42 (grams of sugar).

Cornbread stuffing is another "Wow!" in the carb count, 69 grams. That’s certainly a big "Wow!" (I just thought you would want to know that about cornbread stuffing.)

Cakes, pies, and other "sweets" are like "Wow!" squared or "Wow!" to the third power, etc.

I count other things as well and thought that it might be fun to share some of the "numbers" with you:

• 57 – The number of days I have been on the Adkins Diet, having officially started on Jan. 31.

• 21 – The number of pounds I have lost to date. (Unlike traditional diets, this high-protein diet helps build and maintain muscle while burning fat.)

• 0 – The chances I’ll be at my ideal weight by the start of tennis season.

• 225 – The number of days I will need to lose the 80 pounds I’ve targeted to reach my desired weight. I’m actually allowing myself 365 days.

• 31 – The number of carbohydrate grams I consumed at my Sunday dinner.

• 257 – The number of carbohydrate grams my 17-year-old son, Zach consumed at his Sunday dinner.

• 6 – The number of miles I walked over the weekend.

• 112 – The number of miles I’ve walked since the start of my diet.

• 2,016 – The number of steps I take in each mile I walk (on my treadmill).

• 225,792 – The estimated number of steps I’ve taken in those 112 miles I’ve walked since the start of my diet.

• $7.50 – The amount of money that Mike Becker has fined me at our noon Kiwanis meetings for having my name or photo in the paper for this diet series. The money goes to our Kiwanis iodine deficiency disorders fund.

• $2 – The amount of money that Mike Becker has had to pay because I’ve made sure his name is in the article as well.

• 50 cents – The amount of money Mark Kaufman, The Sidney Daily News on-line services manager (who attempts to challenge me by offering me cookies and other prohibited food stuff) has had to pay because his name was mentioned. (Including this one!)

• $29,268,637 – The amount of money, as of March 9, 2000, Kiwanis International has awarded in grants to 77 nations and areas to support their programs for the virtual elimination of iodine deficiency disorders. UNICEF and its field staffs monitor the use of the funds.

• 17 – The number of e-mails, regular mail, etc. that I have received to date with expressions of encouragement.