"dkw12...@yahoo.com" <dkw12...@yahoo.com> wrote:

Viewing a method used to fatten hogs and sumo wrestlers as
healthy is nonsense.  Thinking that a government
recommendation is good simply because comes from the
government is nonsense.  The food pyramid from 1993 is and
has been since the beginning nonsense with no scientiific
data to back it up.

There are many types of balanced diets that are far superior.
One simple way to do that is draw a line above the bottom
rung and mark the layers above it as for humans, the layer
under it for livestock.  There are other systems that work
even better.

When it was introduced in 1993 the current obesity
epidemic was already in full siwng.  It did nothing to help.

Best evidence says there is no one way that is best for
everyone.

Incorrect.  Pick a diet philosophy inconsistant with what your
individual body does best on and you WILL fail.  It can't be
about philosophy other than accidentally.

But do it based on the data.  Do it based on your own results.
Why am I a low carber?  Because I tried low fat for 20 years and
gained 50 pounds doing that.  Failed result of a failed plan that
I stayed with far too long - I didn't start reading books on other
plan types until it had gotten out of hand.  Someone else might
have started on low fat, done well, and should stick with it.  The
OP started on low carb, did well, and should stick with it.

The OP's reason for wanting to switch is simple - People ignore
the data so there is drive to push people off plans that work for
them.  That's nonsense.  The plan that works for that one
person, no matter what the philosophy is, that's the plan that
one person should stick to.  Pushing someone to abandon
success is nonsense and idiocy - And pushing people to one
specific plan with no idea if they are already successfull at some
other plan is exact what the nonsense food pyramid is.

You're a sucessfull low fatter.  I should push you to switch to
the nonsense food pyramid, right?  After all, the fact that you are
successful at your plan is utterly irrelevant.  It's not the food
pyramid therefore it's unhealthy.  That's as idiotic as if I tried to
push you from your sucessful low fat just because I tried low
fat and it failed for *me*.  You're not me.  You *are* succesful on
low fat.

People raised in vegitarian cultures seem healthy to me.  The
ones that made a choice on their own, you and I have met different
vegitarians because the ones I've met haven't been all that healthy.

But it can be determined for any one person for that individual.
Try a type for at least 6 months.  If it works stick with it and make
small changes to improve.  If it fails try a different type for at
least
6 months.  Mild low cal like Weight Watchers, low fat, low carb,
systems based on an elimination process like the Texas elinimation
system or Atkins, systems based on digestion mechanisms like
Fit for Life, combination systems like Carbohydrate Addicts Diet
(combines mild low carb and mild low cal) or paleolithic systems
(combines mild low carb with elimination systems), Weight Watches
point system (combines mild low cal with mild low fat) and on and
on.  All of them work fine for some so it's a matter of trying types
until you have the data on your own reaction to them.

It is the single worst guideline out there.

And also your hunger level.  Consider food as a preventative against
hunger and your ability to stay on a system lasts longer - An ounce
of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  It's far too easy to overeat
when a rash of hunger comes on.