The one thing I’ve managed to figure out: everyone’s body is unique, and programs that work well for one person totally suck for another. For me, I’ve discovered late in life that limiting carbs to the ones I truly crave works pretty well and lets me eat huge quantities of non-carbs, which works well with my piggish greedy nature. The key seems to be trying lots of approaches and tailoring and finding what you love that works… and not giving a f*ck what anyone else thinks you should be doing.

I work with a lot of engineers and scientists. Just because someone has an impressive list of letters after his name does not automatically means he have common sense. Besides common sense does not sell books.

The relationship we have often has lessons for us to learn, but destructive relationships can take a serious toll.

Keep preaching and setting an example in yours, as sometimes we preach to change others, and sometimes we preach so that others do not change us!

Diane – I THINK he was setting up a straw man argument, I don’t know anybody saying that either. Easier to use this to “prove” that calories are irrelevant, rather than attack the real evidence. But, here’s a riddle: if the average person gains a pound/year, the theoretical math would be about 10 extra Cals daily, unless it’s all gained between Christmas and NYE?

SFG – Holy cow, 200 pounds? That’s incredible. It must feel so different! BTW, since I am unable to comment on your blog, well wishes to your sister (and you, too).

Hopeful and Free – Have you ever checked out Ben Goldacre? He writes a column “Bad Science”, I believe for the Guardian. Good stuff.

Cammy – I agree with you completely. I think he was struggling, looking for a journalism career, and he found a niche. A profitable career, minions included!

Dr J – it was hard for me to read his expressions or figure out how much of what he says he really believes, but he seemed surprised by me, as if he’d never met someone who lost weight using that outdated and unrealistic “eat less move more” cliche. I’m puzzled even more by him, though.

The way to get well known, elected, or sell books is to tell people what they want to hear, not what they need to hear (and listen to)! I suppose I’ll never know, but too many people with decent ideas sell out when fame, power, and money come their way.

Seems you have done a good job debunking Taubes in words and in how you have changed with what you learned in your own behavioral changes.

I like that you mentioned fidgeting There are studies supporting how people with “set points” can burn many more calories than most would imagine with that.