I can definitely say that I have seen things from both sides of the fence on this issue. I myself did in fact follow the same type of regime that you happen to follow for a number of years. I am a woman and yes I have taken essential fatty acids for years. I limited the amount of supposedly "bad fats" for "good fats" and ate all the good carbs that you speak of. In fact, I was someone who very rarely ate "twinkies" as you keep mentioning. After the birth of my son 3 years ago I began struggling with my weight although I was still doing exactly what you have recommended in your previous posts. I began getting very depressed because I was doing everything right and still was not able to lose weight. I even consulted with a nutritionalist in my area who gave me tips for exactly what I had already been doing. He stated that without essential fatty acids, weight loss would be minimal.

Needless to say, my weight continued to raise until my legs were burning like fire at night after I had been on my feet all day long. I decided I had to do something or I was going to look for a different career. That is when I bought the first Atkins book and began reading. To my suprise, it wasn't a diet after all. It was a way of life. It also wasn't about "no carb" life, it was about lower carb than I was eating at the time. It was about knowing the "good carbs" from the "bad carbs". It was about maintaining your insulin levels so your blood sugar didn't go nuts everytime you ate.

There are so many people who are misinformed out there. I don't know how many people have said to me, "Be careful, you know that eating no carbs can be dangerous for you." Actually I just told someone the other day that there is virtually no way you could EVER eat no carbs unless you are only eating meat. Even an egg has a few carbs. Everything you eat that isn't animal has carbs. There are just so many people who think that low fat is the way to go because it is what our society has been used to for so long.

Have you ever thought about this? Back when the food pyramid was designed, who benefited from it the most? Wouldn't you say that farmers benefited most from it? Especially wheat and grain farmers. Which brings me to my next question regarding the food pyramid. What is at the top of that pyramid? Doesn't it say to use fats sparingly? Doesn't that go against everything you have posted regarding your essential fat? I don't think they meant to say, "Oh by the way, you need to use fats sparingly, but make sure you get some essential fatty acids."

I think you really really need to read the Atkins book. Dr. Atkins was such an intelligent man. His book really makes you understand exactly why your body works the way it works. I saw where you mentioned that he made tons of money before his death. Let me tell you, I have lost 27lbs and all it cost me was $5.00 for a paper back book. I didn't go spend $200.00 at a time for some weight loss guru to tell me what to do. I didn't have to buy any packaged food. I didn't have to report for a "weigh-in" at the most popular weight loss hang out like LA weightloss. I simply read his scientific information based on his many years of experience and I followed what he said to do. My legs no longer burn like fire and I have gone from a size 13 to a size 5. I am a female athlete who doesn't have any problems doing cardio or any exercise program. I play softball and volleyball regularly. I walk everyday and I feel wonderful.

My accomplishments actually aren't the most remarkable thing though. My husband began the Atkins lifestyle after he saw how well I did. Prior to starting Atkins, we spent countless nights in the emergency room with chest pains, blurred vision, and tingling in his fingers. His blood pressue was 150/90 at 32 years of age. Someone who has always been an accomplished athlete was in the biggest battle of his life. We tried all kinds of diets. We tried everything under the sun. He even stated once that he felt like a rabbit because he couldn't eat anything or he would gain more weight. Keep in mind, yes he was taking his essential fatty acids just as I did. Nothing worked until he tried Atkins. His blood pressure has now dropped to 120/70 and he looks wonderful. He is considered the "poster child" for the Atkins lifestyle at work. People are constantly asking him what he is doing to lose the weight. He has more energy than he has had in 4 years thanks to the "low carb" way of eating.

I have seen you post on here several times about how "fit" you are. I have seen how you say that some 21 year olds couldn't keep up with you. My question to you is this....Have you EVER had to battle your weight? You even stated that you have lived this lifestyle since you were in your 20's. So, until you have been overweight yourself, you can NEVER fully understand why people do what they do to lose weight and better their health. Until I had my children, I didn't have a weight problem. Since I was an athlete, I didn't really have to worry about that. Then the childbearing years hit and it was all downhill from there. I feel better than I did before I had my first child and I wouldn't go back to that lifestyle for anything. I basically eat whatever I want with the exeption of candies and cakes. If it is white and fluffy....I do not touch it.

Like I said before....read the book. I think it would do you some good to at least open your mind and understand why we do what we do. I personally didn't like the way I felt while I was following the regime you follow. Now I feel wonderful doing what you say is so bad for me.

hi blue,
thanks for the long post. i listen to very little that is supposedly mainstream. so you do not have to convince me about the pyramid or the 4 basic food groups, or whatever they come up with next.

since i do not know you personally, i can not make specific statements. however, the first thing i would do if a person was willing, is to have them take all these tests that i have referred to - as this is the best way of knowing what is going on in the body. from these tests, there is almost for certain things i would have found that make you, me, your husband, etc., out of balance.

the diet i have prescribed is the best for optimal health.

the first step is to see where a person is out-of-balance, and then go to correct that.

i am glad that you are finding success in what you are doing. like i have said before, the main problem i have with the low-carb diet is simply too much saturated fat, and not enough carbs.

blue,
just so you understand me a bit. most everything i hear and read, i assume is bs advertising, its goal being the financial betterment of some group of people. that does not mean i won't investigate further. but i am a classic example of the "doubting thomas". i have to see it work in action.

i will give you a couple of examples in health, that most people take for gospel truth. first is that silly percentage game that most nutritionists play. each diet touts certain prescribed levels of protein, fat, and carbs. the moment i see this, i tend to tune that source out, as the source has not reached the level of sophistication equal to my own, and it is doubtful that they have much to tell me.

we need to look at the body as a machine. our machines do different things on different days, so it is not likely that this machine will need the same level of food groups on these different days. so not only are different people apt to have different needs, the same person will have different needs, as the person's life changes from day to day. a day sitting at the desk is not likely to have the same needs as the day spent running for 2 hours.

so i try to make sure that the person is getting what he needs, based on the desires of the body for that day. whatever the 3 percentages are for that day is more an after-the-fact trivia, than it is a pre-determined goal.

the second is this silly bmi measurement. a tall lanky person comes in great. a short, stocky person comes in horribly. but the stocky person could actually have less body fat. the bmi totally ignores body types, and musculature. some of these 10% body fat athletes don't even do well on the bmi. since what we are attempting to discover is how much body fat we have, the only guage should be that - body fat. while all 3 ways of testing for body fat have some built-in accuracy problems, they are at least attempting to measure body fat.

>>"the moment i see this, i tend to tune that source out, as the source has not reached the level of sophistication equal to my own, and it is doubtful that they have much to tell me."



So why are you still here? Wouldn't your time be better spent helping out folks who might actually be willing to humour your (one, singular, be-all-end-all, sophisticated) 'optimal diet'?

And if your way is optimal, and so much more sophisticated than that of nutritionists, when is your book being published?

I have to second hkblue's situation. I ate low fat, lots of fruit & pasta, worked out 1 1/2 hours A DAY, and was a size 12. I thought I had it all figured out.
Now I walk up three flights of stairs a couple of times a day, eat 70% fat, and I'm a size 10.
Time to shift the paradigm.

I think, gymee, that this should actually read: the diet i have prescribed is the best for gymee's optimal health.

ON BMI - yes, body fat percentages are a better estimate of overall health. However--there's a bit of chicken and egg going on with body fat. A high body fat count may not necessarily mean that a person "is" in bad health but that the eating, lifestyle, and genetic factors that contributed to that increased fat did put that person at risk while they were doing it. So someone with a high body fat percentage who is losing body fat might still look pretty darn healthy when evaluated as follows...

ON ASSESSING HEALTH - basic bloodwork testing a full metabolic panel including all the T's, with lipids (HDL, LDL, Triglycerides, etc.) blood sugar fasting and H1C, kidney, liver function, potassium, calcium, sodium, plus blood pressure, pulse, and hormone levels, should give a pretty basic but round picture of an individual's general health. Of course there are exceptions, nuances, more involved and accurate tests, etc. But it's better, I think, than strictly looking at body fat and making assumptions.

ON OPTIMAL NUTRITION - This is so individualized, even you, yourself, recognized that people who sit at a desk have different nutritional needs than someone who has a very physical lifestyle. This is why the food pyramids are difficult to make one-size-fits all. We must consider how dietary composition does affect an individual via:

1) metabolism
2) energy level and subsequent physical activity
3) the relationship with individual genetics
4) the absorption of nutrients that can affect the other three

And...

5) sex & age of a person (and hormones) - this is going to seriously vary nutrition analysis. A young man of 19 has different nutritional needs, moreover different acceptable body fat, than a 55 year old woman going through menopause.

So we can all argue about how many carbs are optimal or how much protein or how much saturated fat will work, but chances are what is good for the young goose may not be good for the aging gander.

That's why some people can happily exist on 200 g of daily carbs for decades without any health problems, and others develop T2 diabetes as young adults. For most people 200 g is excessive, but most people are not as healthy as you are, gymee, nor as active, and only about half of us are men, moreover, even fewer than that are your age, and less have the same blood type, and fewer yet have the same genetic markers, daily stress levels, caring for my children in middle school who might be inappropriately flirting with men of your age--that's enough to make my blood pressure go up regardless of my own diet....

hi kristine,
the error in logic that this statement makes, is that of assuming that those who write books are those with the most knowledge. the correct assumption would be that those who write books are those that have either the most money or the best connections, and the desire to write one, in the first place, which is usually because of financial gain.

i have no desire to write a book, nor am i looking to make lots of money.

i agree. your diet, like many others, was not getting enough protein or essential fat. the answer is not to go low-carb to the point of ridiculousness, but rather to make sure that you get the correct amount of protein and essential fat. AMPLE PROTEIN, AMPLE ESSENTIAL FAT, REMAINDER NATURAL CARBS.

HI BV,
that was a good post. i will respond to more of it later, but i wanted to touch upon one point now. i was not saying that body fat percentage was an absolute and only marker for good health. i simply said that if we want to use it as "a marker", then let's apply a test whose goal is to measure it, instead of using body size as an indicator of body fat percentage. my main point was simply to note how silly and inaccurate most of these things are, FROM PEOPLE IN THE KNOW. these are the same people who kristine is so enamored with - you know, those guys that write books.

most of the crap that we learn, and accept as common sense, is just that - CRAP. and the reason why we accept all of this, is because we are too lazy. we want a big daddy, which is why we have such a huge monstrosity of a government. they are very willing to play big daddy for us, as they rob us blind.

Well, this thread was so darn long but I still want to add my two cents. This will be a long post as well, but I have been reading your responses and while I find it wonderful you have found optimum health, I do not think you are discussing it in a respectful manner. I believe to some, you are being condescending. I am not going to disagree that this way of eating works perfectly for you. However, I do take offense to you not taking anyones opinion. There might not be appropriate order but I am just writing in none particular, stating what comes to mind next. Your statements are in bold.

As you know, i do not buy into studies anywhere near as much as you do. This is the first rude condescending remark that might have been unintentional but TO ME expresses that you might feel superior to all of us because some of us believe the research and not your opinions.

i use my life experience, and others that i know, because at least with these results, i know they can be trusted to be accurate
How do you know that your experiences are to be trusted? What makes your tests any more accurate than a trained scientist? Your own opinion and how you feel is great FOR YOU. However, you might want to take in to account that many people feel absolutely wonderful on the way of life they have chosen. And you should respect that.

i "empirically" put theories to work. i have first-hand empirical knowledge of what i say.
Would you please give me a run down on how you conducted these studies? How do you ensure there is no bias? How do you ensure that your work is capable of generalizing to the entire population. I see your degree is in computer science. I do not doubt that you are an intelligent person, yet I beg to differ when you speak of being able to conduct scientific research. Were your studies longitudinal? Qualitative? Quantative? Where were they performed. Field, survey, lab, controlled? What were your variables? How did you choose your sample of persons? Was it random? And did you choose enough? Please enlighten me.

Also you could let me know how any of your studies are more accurate than any other study performed. If you state that you did not receive any money to skew your findings, well I will just say this. Money may not be your motivator but perhaps the need for being right and proving LCers wrong, would be yours. You are so adamant in your beliefs (I am not saying that is a bad thing but you seem to bring us down for believing as adamantly as you do) that I do not believe you could conduct a non biased study. With all due respect. And as I am sure all scientists have their biases, that is not the point, my point is for you to realize that your work has no more credibility than anyone else's.

If you do not believe in studies, how do you know your lifestyle is good for you? If you say because of the tests I have had, my stamina and the way I feel, well then you should give that same respect to people who follow LC as they have great tests, more stamina and feel better than they have in years. Your studies on yourself and others (again i would like to know the numbers in your study and how you stopped bias from occurring) are the same way we gauge ourselves, the way we feel.

Who does all these tests you speak of? Doctors? Those evil white coats?





what many of you guys do not seem to understand is that my opinions did not just float into my brain one evening.

The same as our opinions did not float into our brains, you seem to think we are all a bunch of uneducated people who come here for a quick fix. Do you think I do not discuss with collegues, professors, researchers? Do you think I did not consume all the research I could find on this? If that is the case, it is quite arrogant of you to think our intelligence could not possibly reach your level. I am not trying to be rude and maybe neither were you but by saying researchers are not up to your "superior intellect" (pharaphrasing) is rude in and of itself and makes me think you are here to antagonize people and not have an intelligent debate.

i have used many books, some well-educated people in the field to toss around ideas. i then used the scientific method and tested stuff. it has been over a long, long time that these ideas have come to me, not by osmosis.
You base a lot of your "knowledge" on books but do you think these authors pulled these ideas out of the air? No they did research, STUDIES. Studies that you do not agree with. And everyone, unless independently wealthy, need funding to perform such research. So you might as well disagree with everything in the books and articles you have read. Do you realize that the educated people you speak of would have probably done their own studies. And if they haven't, well they are not as educated as you believe them to be since it takes independent study and research to gain a masters level education and beyond. That is when you really know your specialty. I will not argue that they are uneducated, if that is what you are going to come back at me with. I am sure they are extremely educated individuals, but perhaps not to the godly level you promote them as. To the level where you can take their word and dismiss years of research. And as for the scientific method you use, I am patiently awaiting your response.

let me see. i get accused of not using scientific studies, and when i use them against your scientific studies, i get accused of changing my mind. if that is not a catch-22, i don't know what is.
I don't believe anyone chastised you for NOT using studies but for disregarding them as rubbish. Monetary motivation rubbish. Then you site your own. If you could have at least accepted some of the scientific evidence provided for you, then maybe when you suggested your own, you would not have been thought of as a hypocrite. AGAIN it was not that you didn't site scientific studies but because you thought they meant nothing.




You say you do not believe Dr Atkins and other Lc believers because they do not live that way. Where is your proof of that? Dr. Atkins lived his lifestyle. I don't see what you meant to prove with that statement? Who doens't live their research? Dr. Atkins did not feast of spaghetti and potatoes.

Have you ever thought, that Jack Lalane and yourself might just have great genes that enable you to consume vast amounts of carbs and be healthy?

I also want to add that although you think Jack Lalane (sorry for the spelling) is different and did not do this for money, and LIVED his life that way, well he did make money. Wasn't he the one who put his name beside that juicer? Isn't it common knowledge that it is better to eat the fruit in order to get the nutrients, not the juice? Was that a monetary persuasion? Do you drink a lot of juice?



You became quite rude however with this statement.
dr. atkins died at the age of 72, from cardiac arrest. claims that diet was not at fault, but rather a fall on the sidewalk. boy, those sidewalks are meaner than i had imagined.
And you berated others for taking the low road. He did not die from a cardiac arrest. I believe his cardiac arrest was a few months before his fall, if not the year before. Wow took awhile to kill him. But my grandmother had cancer aboout 6 years ago, so when she dies from natural causes, am I to say that it was because of the cancer that has since been elminated from her body? And for further reference, I could be as healthy as a horse, yet drop dead due to history of severe heart disease in my family, I cannnot possibly do anything to stop it. Actually, come to think of it, it is the exact same disease Dr Atkins had his arrest from. Cardio myopathy. Hmm something to think about before you make any further Ignorant comments.

i have supplied overwhelming evidence that your western lc diet, with its carte blanche attitude about saturated fat, allows more saturated fat in the diet, than just about any other diet in the world.
Sorry, but I did not see anything overwhelming and for you to use the word evidence pertaining to what you have said, makes you look even more misinformed. Studies are crap, yet your opinion and your own studies are what the world should follow? I do, however, commend you for being so unwavering in your beliefs.
I think what Kristine meant when she said write a book, was that why waste your time on here when we believe what we believe and you can believe what you want while HELPING people who WANT to hear what you have to say. Nothing to do with money here, since we all know you are against money making, and doctors and studies (books don't count of course )



You even said yourself that we do not live longer because we eat better but because of MEDICAL SCIENCE keeping us alive. So how can you say
...tire of all this comparison to what the caveman used to eat. for some reason, people think that they used to be really healthy 2000 years ago or more. the truth is that one was a grandpa if he made it into his 40's. their lifespan was very short in comparison. they have found egyptian mummies riddled with arthritis, worms, etc. people in the olden days were far from optimum health.
I know we died extremely young, however, you have nothing to prove that it was because they ate a diet high in animal protein. Or otherwise. And if it is the case that we ate vegetarian, your next assumption, then why did we die young?
It is NOT the way we eat

so i suspect they ate vegetation year round, and smaller animals when they could catch them... So if this is the case, they died early because why? They ate carbs and veggies? I don't know what you were trying to get at here. I don't think anyone said the caveman lived forever or were even healthy for that matter, I think they were stating that we are eating what is natural to the human species. And it is only medical science and the abundance of man made things (adequate shelter, better clothing, absence of the huge beasts that use to keep our population down) that keep us going. Although I admit this is pure opinion.

Also, again you SUSPECT, you do not know. So while you will not take claims that they ate animal protien, you stay with your ASSUMPTION that they ate vegetarian? How is this any more correct than what anyone else was saying. Because it was found in a study, does not make it wrong, but because it is what you think, it is right? I am just not comprehending your way of thinking

Near the middle to end of the thread you begin to agree with what everyone has been telling you all along...
but i do not think we are in need of grains in the same way that we are in need of fruits and vegetables.
THEN WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM WITH THE ATKINS PLAN and other LC plans? You have not made that known to any of us. If we do not need grains the same way then what is your point? You do not know how the atkins plan etc work in the maintenance stages. I know you want to have the last word but I don't think that can happen as you pretty much agree with the logistics of the plan, but want to promote YOUR optimal health plan. If we are in agreement, what was your reason for comng here? To convert?

take a look at the Harvard School of Public Health. they are saying a lot of what i have been saying. limit your saturated fat, but make sure that you get lots of the good fats. about the only 2 high-glycemic carbs that i eat are bananas and potatoes. most produce is placed in the low-glycemic table. We do get lots of good fats, perhaps I cannot speak for everyone but they supplements and fat you speak of, well I consume them as well. Again,w hat are you fighting for? You are chanigng your fight. You statrted with carbs are good, eat lots and lots of tem everyday, now you are speaking of good fats? And you now agree that you badivally stick to low glycemic foods. I think you may just like to disagree with others because when it comes down to it, we mostly agree. You can call it CRAP FOOD, but we are looking at the glycemic index for the list. Same thing, different words. You stay away from them as well.

I think we all agree that the standard american diet is horrible, which is why some of us chose to follow this plan where we limit refined carbs and gradually add in whole grains later, all the while eating a variey of veggies and fruit. You do not seem to respect this way of eating, although many times you agree with much of what is stated.

I think a lot of people took offence to what you are saying only because you think your way is the only way. Yes, you agree to some extent to the LC lifestlye but then you backtrack and say you are right and this is the only right way for the majority. How have you determined this (this question being asked yet again)

You question everything but yourself. What makes you so sure that you are right? You question science, doctors, nutritionists. But not yourself. I know you have stated you have a big ego but that will not get you anywhere in life if you do not question yourself at some point. And I am not saying that you are nothing in life but until we can see others points of view (which at times you seem to do but then revert to your old preaching) we will never be true individuals. I wonder why you came here because if you say that you agree that this plan works for some and you definitely agree diebetics and others with problems should use this, what is your motive?

I wish you all the luck and again, I am happy that this is what works for you. For lots of us, this does not work and ends up being the worst thing we have tried in our lifetime. You are an avid exerciser, I wish to remind you this and the majority of the population do not subscribe that that fitness level nor do they wish to. Moderation is wonderful and healthy as well. Good day and good luck

>>"the error in logic that this statement makes, is that of assuming that those who write books are those with the most knowledge."

No, it is the assumption that someone writing a book has information, opinions, and hypotheses backed up with research, hard facts, and/or observations. As Steph pointed out, you dismiss research. You dismiss anyone with dollars in their pocket (which is silly - science isn't free and someone has to pay the bills). The only observations you have are your own. You are the sole subject in your experiment. Doesn't make your hypothesis worth a heck of a lot to anyone but yourself, does it?

Gymeejet,

You have made numerous comments about how people who eat the way you suggest should live much longer lives. How is it then that my grandmother managed to live to the age of 95 when she did not eat the way you speak of? She was a good ole southern girl who ate lots of "Fried" meats and lots of carbs with butter smeared all over them. Have you ever been to the south and seen a meal on Sunday afternoon? I guarantee you that there are more fats and carbs on one table than you could ever imagine. I would also guarantee you that my grandmother did not take a dietary supplement her entire life. She wouldn't have even had any clue what essential fat was. Therefore, the way my grandmother ate had absolutely nothing to do with the age at which she finally died. She was genetically able to live that long. Plus, the good Lord decided to take her at 95, not 28 or 48 or even 78. Some people are just genetically able to live longer than others. Besides, I personally do not WANT to live to be 140 years old. My grandmother told me on her deathbed that you can actually live too long and I believe her.

As for you looking young because of what you eat, I must say that I am 30 years old and I have had people say that I look like I am 18 years old. I have seen MANY women that I graduated with and they certainly do NOT look like a teenager anymore. In fact, some of them look like they were rode hard and rolled up wet. I am a Dental Hygienist now and I have had patients who have asked me if I was actually old enough to be cleaning their teeth. How could this be possible if your theory is correct? My youthfulness does not come from the foods I eat. It comes from the genes that my Mom gave me. Which, speaking of my Mom....she is your age and has had people ask if she is my sister. Once again, she does not follow your way of eating and she is just as "young" looking as you are. She is also in absolutely terrific shape. She could run circles around several 20 year olds. So what gives? Could it be that your way of eating is not the ONLY way to achieve optimal performance? I believe so. You even said yourself that our bodies are like machines. Cars run on gas, but if you tried to put gas in your computer printer it wouldn't do you much good. Our bodies basically the same way. What is good for one person may not be so good for another.

I would also like to ask is are you a Doctor? You mentioned in a previous post that you "prescribed" a meal plan. I'm not trying to be ugly here, I was just curious since Doctors are usually people who prescrube things.

I also say where someone asked you when you would be releasing your book. I saw that you posted that you are not out to make money. However, if your way of life provides "optimal performance" wouldn't you write a book in hopes of helping people everywhere the way Dr. Atkins did? If you are truly concerned, wouldn't you want to give everyone your valuable "knowledge" so they could themselves get optimal performance? I think the problem would be that if you tried to write a book, you probably would not sell many copies because people in general do not want to listen to someone who rambles on about how this can work unless they have some proof. Our society likes to see proof before they try anything. Do you honestly think I would have even attempted a low carb lifestyle if I did not research and speak with individuals who had already achieved success with it?

My body is not like yours obviously. Like I said in my previoius post, you obviously have never had to struggle with weight, so you will never know. I would be very curious to know exactly how many people you have taken under your wing and actually helped them go from "obese" to "slim and trim" all while achieving "optimal performance".

YEAH!!!!!!!!! Low Carb might not work for every one but for some of us it is the only way to have optimal health. I've tried all of the other ways, they don't work for me, I have (had) high blood pressure, and moderately high cholesterol, but they are coming down now that I have been following the Healthy for life program by the Heller's. I have energy and no longer crave sweets, and salty snacks anymore, and my weight is coming down, Even though I eat more than I did before, I am just eating right for me now.


Carolyn

As you know, i do not buy into studies anywhere near as much as you do. This is the first rude condescending remark that might have been unintentional but TO ME expresses that you might feel superior to all of us because some of us believe the research and not your opinions.

hi steph, this is not rude, simply a fact. i am not prone to believe things that i read anywhere near as much as most of the rest of the people on this discussion forum.

how you got the idea that i might feel superior because you believe these studies is beyond me. if i were to attempt to place people on some sort of superiority schedule, i doubt i would use their willingness to believe in studies very high on the list, but rather how they treat others.

a better way of saying it is that i do believe many of you are somewhat naive about studies, in that you are not aware of the extent to which they are used for advertising. in other words, you put too much trust in their honesty.

i use my life experience, and others that i know, because at least with these results, i know they can be trusted to be accurate
How do you know that your experiences are to be trusted? What makes your tests any more accurate than a trained scientist? Your own opinion and how you feel is great FOR YOU. However, you might want to take in to account that many people feel absolutely wonderful on the way of life they have chosen. And you should respect that.

steph, basically what i meant is that my studies are not biased. most studies have been paid by entities that benefit by the results of the study, so you can be darn sure of what the results will be. i have nothing to gain by what i say - that is the difference.