True enough, Samuel, each calorie must be accounted for, as you say. However, hormones, especially insulin, have a huge role in what is used or stored as fat. This is what irks us Atkins believers, that the "calorie is a calorie" people seem to ignore this. 1500 calories from bagels will not be dealt with the same way as 1500 calories from olive oil. I personally think they're dodging this fact, because it would mean the beginning of the end for their beloved pyramid. Like Gary Taubes said in "what if its been a big fat lie,' "endocrinology 101." Cheers, Bill