Conference rocks::weight_control

    Complex carbohydrates are found primarily in grains - wheat, rice,
    corn, oat, etc.
    
    Any products made with those grains - cereal, pasta, breads, etc,
    will have complex carbohydrates.
    
    Sugars - fruit sugars, table sugars, etc, are simple carbohydrates.
    
    Those are the only 2 types of carbohydrates - simple and complex.
    
    The easiest way to find how much complex carbohydrates a product has
    is to check the nutrition information label and list of ingredients.

    Complex carbs are what used to be considered "starches" in those
    nutrition classes they made you take when you were a kid.  Rice, pasta,
    potatoes, bread, corn, beans, peas, cereal, etc...
    
    They should make up about 60% of your caloric intake a day.
    
    Diana

    While we are on the subject of carbohydrates, what can anyone tell me
    about a diet called (The Dr. Atkins Revolution Diet)??? Its supposed to
    be a Low Carbohydrate diet,starting out at 0 carbohydrate intake for
    level one of the diet. This diet is a high Fat content intake kind of
    diet, the thing is! I don't know just how healthy this diet really is.
    Any information, suggestions, and opinions are welcomed and
    appreciated.
    
    Thanks,
    
                                                      Lisa

    A high-fat, lo-carbohydrate diet?!?
    
    I don't know anything about the specifics but I can tell you right off
    the bat that it isn't a healthy diet.
    
    Besides, that's the way most people eat anyway.  If you want that diet,
    just keep on going...
    
    Diana

I tried this one back when I was in grad school.  For weight loss, it was great.
for anything else, it was not.  

The concept is to keep your body in a state called ketosis.  Ketosis causes your
body to burn considerable amounts of fat, but only partially.  The side effects
are euphoria, bad breath, and strong urine.  If you don't megadose on water, you
can seriously damage your liver and kidneys.  You drop your carb levels to 0,
then slowly increse them until you body is at the maximum level it can handle
while still being in ketosis.  For the average person, this is less than 20g/day
of carbs.  

To give you an example, on a typical day, I would have:

	Breakfast:  omelette (3 eggs, 1/2 lb cheese, cooked in butter)
		    6 slices bacon

	Lunch: Large Chef's salad, w/ approx 1/2 lb meat & cheese, 
		1/2 cup blue cheese dressing
		2 hamburger patties

	Supper: 3/4-1 lb meat or lo carbo pasta, veggies, cheese.

On this diet, I dropped pounds like crazy.  Unfortunately I also increased my 
appetite like crazy.  Also, I found that carbos are lots more interesting than 
protiens and fats.  So one day, I stopped by a bakery and ended up eating about 
a half dozen major pastries.  Needless to say, it was not long before the lbs.
came back, and brought a few friends.  And, my cholesterol levels were pretty 
high, too.  It took me quite a while to get my eating habits back to being just
bad.  The diet had trained me to severely overeat, and rewarded me with weight
loss.

By the way, much the same principles come into play on a fasting diet, too.  And
it was on a fasting diet (OPTIFAST) that I was able to successfully shed the 
excess pounds.  The key was that it was not just a fast, but it was medically 
supervised, and I received extensive guidance in eating bahavior and nutrition.
It was that guidance that contributed to my long term success.  The fast was 
a means of dealing with a problem that was potentially more dangerous than the
fast itself.

    What you say seems to make since, but why would a doctor write such a
    book and treat patients on this diet if it brought harm? I would like
    to give the diet a chance for it to work but I'm also afraid of all
    the high fat foods I'm eating. Any idea of how long its safe to stay on
    it without running the risk of side effects?
    
    Thanks,
    
    Lisa

      re .-1
    
      >                           why would a doctor write such a
      >  book and treat patients on this diet if it brought harm? 
    
    
    To make money, perhaps?  Or, if you prefer a less cynical answer, the
    information available at the time this book was written (over 10 years
    ago) was not as thorough.  There are some excellent books on
    nutrition/weightloss/metabolism by Covert Baily.  If you read
    Covert Bailey's books, you will find a lot of answers as to why this
    diet is not healthy; this diet will in fact train your body to gain
    weight more easily.  IN one of his early  books, I think, Bailey gives
    a simplified explanation of why you lose weight rather quickly on a low
    carbohydrate diet:  Your body normally derives energy from glycogen,
    which is created from carbohydrates and stored in your muscles.  If
    your body does not have a supply of carbohydrates from your diet, these
    glycogen stores will be used up.  Because your body stores each
    molecule of glycogen with 4 molecules of water, you will cause your
    body to become lighter in this process. So you will weigh less, and
    fairly quickly.  You will also not have a lot of energy.  And as soon
    as you start eating carbohydrates again -- and you have to at some
    point -- your body will replenish its store of glycogen and water, and
    you will have your weight back.  On a more long term low-carb diet,
    your body goes into ketosis, as mentioned in a previous note.  This is
    NOT GOOD!  This is what happens to untreated diabetics.  It does HARM
    to your body. Yes you are "digesting" your fat, but you are also
    destroying muscle tissue in the process.

    
                          

    As I'm reading your message I'm getting more concerned by the minute
    I don't want to end up really sick from it. I'm also tempted to stay
    on it a while longer, this is the only diet I've tried that I don't 
    mind being on while I'm losing some weight and never feel hungry.
    While we're on the subject, do you happen to know where I can find
    Maple Syrup Slim-Ette? I've just about looked everywhere except a
    health store?
    
    
    Lisa

    re: ketosis
    
    Ketosis is characterized by ketones in the blood.  Ketones come about
    when sugar (glucose and glycogen) stores are depleted and fat stores
    are used _exclusively_ for energy.

    A diet that is very low in carbohydrates will force the body into
    ketosis.  The diet can be high-fat or high-protein, it doesn't matter
    which, as long as it is low-carbohydrate, it can bring on ketosis.

    Ketosis can bring on serious illness (hyponatremia, hypocalcemia,
    etc) or death if not monitored by a doctor.


    re: why would a doctor promote such a dangerous diet?

    I can only guess.  Some doctors are dishonest, some are quacks,
    some are in it for the money... maybe one of those reasons?

    
    As a general rule of thumb, any diet which touts a quick loss along
    with UNUSUAL dietary guidelines is *dangerous*.
    
    This includes "miracle fat burner pills" and diets that suggest you
    eat lots of certain foods.
    
    Any good diet :
    	a. suggests eating a variety of foods (esp grains and vegetables)
    	b. is based on sound nutritional advice
    	c. doesn't offer something for nothing
    	d. doesn't promise miracles
    	e. teaches you how to cook and eat without extra fat
    	f. stresses the importance of regular exercise (inc. walking)
    	g. isn't advertised at 4am on cable TV  :")

    I'll second what Mike said (hold the presses!) and add that there are
    lots of "reasons" why a doctor might write a book recommending a diet
    which is bad for you...
    
    - he might be a bad doctor - a medical degree doesn't guarantee 
      competence.  *Someone* has to graduate last in every class.
    
    - he might not care whether it's good for you; being a doctor doesn't
      mean he has empathy for his "audience".
    
    I think the most likely reason is this: the diet descibed causes quick
    weight loss.  Many people will stick to it for anywhere from a few days
    to a month.  Eventually, though, your body will "demand" the nutrition
    it needs in the form of a binge (like what happened to JP.)  The binge
    is likely followed by continued binging or just going back to the way
    you ate before, and you gain the weight back you lost (plus a few).  Many
    people will then blame themselves for having lack of willpower, rather 
    than the diet, for having a lack of willpower.  They may eventually try
    the same diet again (having had what *looks* like "success" the last
    time) or a different one.  Either way, the doctor has sold one book. 
    What's more, people will recommend the book to their friends, since
    they "succeeded" (in the sense that they lost weight).
    
    The weight loss industry makes most of it's money on people who gain
    and lose and gain and lose.  The diets that make the most money are not
    the ones that promote slow, steady, permanent weight loss but the fad
    diets that result in very quick weight loss but are impossible to
    maintain for a long period of time.
    
    In Overeater's Anonymous we have a subset of people who follow a diet
    that OA *used* to endorse called the "grey sheet", which is basically a
    high-protein, low-carb diet.  OA, however, stopped endording grey sheet
    years ago because it is not healthy.  It retains a strong following,
    though, because it "works" in the sense that it does promote speedy
    weight loss and, in people physically addicted to carbohydrates,
    decreases cravings.
    
    Diana

    re: D!  amazing how two parallel lines manage to cross every once
    	    in a while...   :")
    
    
.7>    information available at the time this book was written (over 10 years
.7>    ago) was not as thorough.  There are some excellent books on
    
    Sorry for the late response, but it took time to find a Merck Manual
    more than 10 years old.  Ketosis was well undestood in the 70s, so
    being 10 years old is not an excuse for the book's misinformation.
    
    No matter how you look at this diet, it's a health risk - it taxes
    the kidneys and liver (and remember any fast taxes the HEART also)
    and it's a temporary solution - you WILL gain the weight back once 
    youhalt the diet.

    Has anyone here had the personal experience of all I'm hearing?
    for instance, has anyone had these side effects you talk about?
    Kidney problems, heart? or liver? please share your personal 
    experiences with me. I'm rading and listening to all these warnings
    but is it just what you also hear about the diet or has it really
    happned to you?
    
    
    Lisa

I have no idea about hearts and kidneys, but I went on a lo-carb diet for
a while and I was tired, woozy, dizzy, and depressed.

Most of the people I know who have gone on such a diet, even those
who sing it's praises, describe these symptoms.

I have heard stories from "grey sheet" people who have followed
this diet for many years, and yes, people have spoken of their own
very distinct physical problems, ranging from listlessness to
emaciation/anemia, hairloss (*not* pattern baldness), allergy 
reactions, etc.  Of course, such stories generally come from those
who later decided *against* continuing the diet, so who knows...

D!

    re:.13
    
    I have never had kidney, liver or heart problems.
    
    But I never follow fad diets, either.

Well, I've been on this diet a couple of times and it worked; the first
time I lost about 30 pounds and it stayed off several years.  I eventually
gained the weight back as I started eating more carbs.  The first time I
was on the diet about 4 months - and followed it to a tee.  The second
time, not so much success because I *love* carbs and didn't have the
willpower to stay on it.  I've never had any health problems to speak
of, and have studied all the bad effects this diet has on your health.
I still think we're all individuals though, and our bodies react to, and
process foods differently.  I'm convinced I'm 'carb alergic' and will never
be able to lose weight and keep it off without using a low carb diet.

FWIW -

If you decide to try it, let us know how you do....

Mary

    I have started this diet, I'm on my 4th week and doing fairly well on
    it. Out of the four weeks I broke the diet twice, the first weekend
    and the third which was Easter. At Easter I broke it quite badly
    because the quitostick did not change to purple one litlle bit, but
    on the following day I went right back to level one for about four days
    and now I'm even having a few carbohydrates. I'm adding a few green
    beans to my supper along with a bigger salad, or a bit of rappini, a 
    carrot stick here and there, a strawberry or two and even a thin slice 
    of cantolope. I'm taking a multivatimin everyday,drinking more water
    than usual and overall I feel pretty good. Now for the good
    news!!!!!!!! I have lost 10 POUNDS so far, I would like to loose 10
    more and then try to keep at least 15 OFF. The next 10 don't seem to
    want to come off as easy maybe because I'm intaking a little more
    carbohydrates, but thats OK, I'm patient and I can wait as long as they
    do come off it can take a little longer. I want my body to adjust to
    a little higher dose of those carbos while still losing.
    Now! any suggestions as to whatelse I can add slowly that is quite low
    on carbos without jeopardizing the diet?????????
    
    Thanks for all your help,
    
    Lisa

Hi Lisa - am glad its working for you!  I went home last night, after
entering my reply to you and decided that I am going back on this diet
too - I'm tired of counting calories, fat, etc. and never being able to
loose the weight following conventional wisdom.

As far as carbs - don't worry about the green beans, salads and most
veggies; they are real low in carbs.  For general guidelines, crops
that grow above the soil are low in carbs, below the soil high (like
potatoes) with the exception of corn & peas which are both high -

I can't remember some of the earlier information in this note but do you
have a book containing the carbs in food?  If not, they have several small
books on the market you could just carry around in your purse.  From what
I remember from my diet, sugar & simple carbs were an absolute no-no.

I'm buying the sticks at lunch today - wish me luck; I'll miss the pasta
for awhile!

mary

Diana, regarding the 'grey diet' & addiction to carbs - maybe I'm physically
addicited to carbs?  How can you tell???  Please tell us whatever you know
about this & how do people who ARE addicited to carbs find the willpower
to give them up??

thanks!

mary

    Just wanted to stick my nose in here for a minute.   I know that your
    going to do what you want to do, but this really doesn't sound healthy. 
    Years ago I went on a low carb. diet, and the minute I went off it I
    started gaining weight like crazy.  So I ended up starving myself for 2
    days, then the "regular" eating for one day (low carb).  It really
    messed up my matabolism, and I'm just now straitening it out by eating
    veggies, a few fruits and usually pasta with veggies and a bit of
    chicken breast.  I'm a firm believer that losing slowly is better.  I'm
    changing my eating habits and should have the weight off my Nov/Dec.  
    
    Later
    
    
    Donna

    re: .17: 
    
    excuse me, but what is a "quitostick" ??

I'm just so *frustrated* trying to lose weight with eating carbs!  I've been
thinking about this all day, and really think I might have an addiction here-
am going to do some research with O.A. to try to determine if thats the
real problem.  For many years I can keep weight off by limiting them to
one serving a day - but no pizza, pasta, or any of that other good stuff -

the sticks are bought in a pharamacy and you test your urine with them to
determine if you're in a state of ketosis - I can't remember the name.

thanks for your concern- I appreciate your comments.

mary

    re:.20
    
    They'll learn that the hard way.

Re .21:
They are called ketosticks, and test your urine for ketones which are passed out
of the body when you are in a state of ketosis.

Re .22:
The psychologist that works with my OPITFAST group specializes in addictive 
behavior and eating disorders.  I'm amazed at some of the case studies he has
presented.  I'm particularly amazed by the the number of cases where the 
disorder is rooted in being abused as a child.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not
saying that all fat people were abused children.  It's just that the inability
to lose weight can be the result of very ordinary or very bizzare things.  If 
you really feel you have an addiction to carbs, you might want to consider 
speaking to a professional that specializes in that type of behavioral problem.

Re .17:
Just bear in mind that the diet does cause medical problems.  Just because there
are no noters here who have had the problems, does not mean it does not happen.
It places a strain on your liver and kidneys that may not show up until many 
years from now.  The worst part of the diet is that it does not have any means
of educating you to proper eating habits.  On the contrary, it teaches bad 
eating habits.  That means that you will either stay on the diet until you die, 
or you will gain back the weight.  When I was on OPTIFAST, which is also a low
carbo fasting diet, I had blood tests every two weeks, and an EKG once a month.
In addition, I talked to a doctor every week.  By the way, of my group, none of
the 3 men had any complications, and 5 of the 7 women had minor complications 
that required modification of the basic diet, or the addition of supplements.
I strongly recommend that you seek behavioral guidance instead of doing this
diet.  However, if you feel you must do it, schedule a physical with your doctor
first, and discuss the diet with your doctor.  They will be able to tell you a 
lot about why you should not do it.  If you are still unshakeable, find out if
you can  get some degree of medical supervision.

Re .18:
And just so this does not come off entirely negative:  Back when I was on the 
diet, my roomie was, too.  At the time he was hypoglycemic, and thought this
was the best way to control his problems.  We "discovered" a low carbo pasta,
called jerusalem artichoke pasta.  (It is not from Jerusalem, and contains no
artichokes.  A jerusalem artichoke is a low carbo root veggie.)  I don't know
how low the carbo level actually was, but a plate of regular pasta would put
my roomie to sleep for an hour or so until his blood sugar stabilized.  A plate
of JA pasta did not have any visible effect on him.

    ABout a year ago, there was an item in the New York Times/ "science
    Times" section, by Jane Brody, a well known nutritionist, who writes a
    regular column for them.  In this item, she presented the results of a
    study (I can't remember where from) that indicated that when you eat
    fats, they almost immediately, and with something like 95% efficiency,
    are stored in fat cells in your body.  If your fat cells are "full",
    your body creates more.  The researchers theorize that this is a
    protective mechanism, since it is not good to have fat drifting around
    in your blood stream, so it has to go somewhere and usually it goes to
    someplace you'd rather not have it, right?  So it's doesn't seem too
    far off base to theorize that on a low-carb diet ( which contains more
    fat than you use in a day) you're gonna end up with more fat cells. 
    Yes, your ketosticks say you are destroying body tissue.  But you could
    be changing the overall composition of your body to have more fat cells
    and fewer lean muscle cells.  And those fat cells will *always* be
    there.  Fat cells do not go away; they just get less full.  
    
    Years ago I used low-carb diets as a way to lose weight, and I wish I
    had never done it.  You can not stay on it all your life.  And you will
    gain back all the weight - plus more! -- when you go off it.  This
    happened to me.  The only successful way I've found to keep weight off
    is to exercise.  And not wear-yourself-out exercises, either.  I have
    the best results with just walking 30 - 45 min per day at least 4 times
    a week....
    
    I know you're going to stay on this diet, because it looks like you're
    getting results.  But maybe you should also be working toward something
    more long term to keep the weight off.
    
    JMHO
    
    -ellie

    >Diana, regarding the 'grey diet' & addiction to carbs - maybe I'm
    >physically addicited to carbs?  How can you tell??? 
    
    I don't know if *you* are, but I know *I* am.  What "addiction" means
    to me is that I *can't* stop having something, even when I know in my
    head and heart that that thing is self-destructive to me; it means
    having a physical, emotional and spiritual pull to something so strong
    that it overwhelms my intellect and my free-will; it means using that
    substance to numb my feelings and console myself.
    
    >how do people who ARE addicited to carbs find the willpower
    >to give them up??
    
    I haven't "given up" carbohydrates.  In fact, I eat a high carbohydrate
    diet as recommended by many nutritionists, including my own.
    
    Instead, I have learned techniques and a way of thinking of living that
    allow me to eat carbohydrates without being owned by the pull of
    addiction.  I've done that through Overeater's Anonymous.
    
    If you want to know more about OA, feel free to write to me!
    
    Also, you can check out the EATING_DISORDERS notesfile.  Contact Bob
    GR8FUL::WHITE for membership.
    
    As an aside, I saw a book at Barnes and Noble recently entitled
    "Carbohydrate Addiction".  Haven't read it.  I also have hear numerous
    recommendations for a book called "Sugar Blues".  (Sugar is a simple
    carbohydrate.)
    
    Diana

Diana, thanks for the information.  I am now a memeber of the eating_disorders
conference and am looking forward to learning more -

thanks again to everyone who replied -

Mary

    Hi Mary,
    
    Good luck as you start the diet, hope it works for you also. The more I
    read these notes the more confused I get, I'm kind of torn between
    staying on the diet and worry about the effect it might have on my
    health, OR go off of it and stay at the weight I'm at or put on some
    more, this diet seems to be the only one so far that has produced
    results without having to starve.
    Here is the scoop: I'm not rediculously overweight but I am overweight
    nonetheless!!! I'm 4',11" and weighed 135lbs.
    I've lost 10 so far so I'm now 125, I seem to be at a stand still maybe
    because I added some of the vegies to my diet instead of staying at
    preety much 0 level of carbo intake? what do you think???
    I would like to lose 10 more lbs, so that when I do go off the diet and
    start eating a variety if foods I'm able to stay between the 115 and
    120. If I can accomplish this much I'll be very happy. I do not care to
    be any thinner as long as I'm able to maintain this goal.
    
    Lisa
    thiner If I can manage to stay between 

    RE: 24
    
    Can you tell me where I can find this Jerusalem artichoke pasta???
    
    
    Thanks,
    
    Lisa

    It can be found in the health food section of many grocery stores.  I
    think the brand name is DeBoles.
    
    Diana

	Lisa,

	Have you discussed this diet with your doctor ?

	Karen

    RE:31
    
    No, I haven't but then again, I have never discussed any other diet
    with him that I have gone on before. The last time I saw my doctor 
    he gave me a clean bill of health, of course that can change preety
    quick for any of us.
    
    Lisa

Hi again Lisa, am not sure why you wouldn't continue to lose weight, when I
was on this years ago I don't remember it stopping until I added enough carbs
to stop the fat burning.  I feel much the same way you do regarding the
safety of this diet, but I don't see why, after losing another 10 pounds,
you couldn't just add enough carbs to stop ketosis and stay at that level
without gaining weight.  For me, I was able to keep the weight of for years;
finally regaining after I married my husband who *loves* to cook, is Italian
& our mainstay was pasta?  It took me about 3-5 years to regain it all, but
I finally did (30 ugly pounds worth!), looking back I don't know why I
didn't 'just say no' alittle more often!

Well, I started last Monday, am taking in about 20 grams of carbs a day and
have lost 3 pounds so far -

take care & keep noting!

Mary

.33>safety of this diet, but I don't see why, after losing another 10 pounds,
.33>you couldn't just add enough carbs to stop ketosis and stay at that level
.33>without gaining weight.  For me, I was able to keep the weight of for years;
    
    Ketosis is indicative of a period of fasting.  Remember, the body is
    being denied its primray source of energy while on this particular
    "diet."  (and I use the term loosely)
    
    And fasting causes the body to store energy, rather than expend it,
    it causes the body processes, your metabolism, to slow down.
    
    When you stop fasting, and start eating what was a normal amount of
    calories, you couldvery well gain weight, even while eating amounts
    that would cause weight loss in normal people.

    re .34
    
    Thats EXACTLY what happened to me.  You don't know what your getting
    yourself into, folks.
    
    I went from 15 pounds overweight to 100 pounds overweight.  Don't tell
    me this doesn't effect you.  (my opinion, not meant to raise flames)
    
    dh

no flame taken, just trying to understand the biology of it all!

thanks again for all your replies....

mary

    RE:33
    
    Hi Mary,can you tell me what your 20 grams a day of carbs consist of?
    and is the stick turning purple with that amount? if not can you still
    lose if if its not turning?
    
    I have lost 2 more pounds I am now 123, I'm eating some green beans
    with my meat at supper time or some broccoli, at lunch I'm having
    twice the amount of salad recomended and at least the 4,oz of cheese
    for snacks, coffee, water, and diet pepsi.
    I feel good and much lighter so I'll continue this way for a while.
    
    Lisa

    I highly recommend THE CARBOHYDRATE ADDICT'S DIET by Doctors Richard
    and Rachael Heller.  They discuss carbos and why it is necessary to
    eat your "reward" meal within a time limit.  I found the book
    worthwhile.  
    
    Trudy

    RE:38
    
    Tell us more please!!!!!!! I'm not sure I know what you are saying?
    
    
    Lisa

yes, .38 would love to hear more, in the meantime I'll try to find the book.

Lisa, the 20 grams is not a hard & fast number & yes, the stick still turns
purple.  Basically, I'm eating green/red peppers, lettuce, cucumbers, lettuce,
radishes - all those salad thigs, sometimes 1/4 avocado.  I make my salad as
large as I'm in the mood to eat, I don't really measure those things.

for cooked veggies, green beans, zucinni, brocolli, cabbage - and try to limit
those to 1/2 cup/day.

I haven't added any other complex carbs (back to the base note 'eh?), but
am planning on brining those in in another week ...

I don't have a copy of the recommended diet, so am just going it on my own.
I'm using egg beaters (as well as eggs) for breakfast, salad, usually chef
or tuna with lots of greens for lunch (no oil dressing), and some meat
(red, chicken or fish) for dinner with cooked veggies or sliced tomatoes

I've got LOTS of energy (much more than when I was on a more 'traditional'
diet) and have lost 4 pounds now in 8 days -

I've taken heed to advise to watch out when you go off this diet, my
intent is to continue to note after I'm done to let you all know what
happened (and if it *is* bad, maybe discourage others!)

mc

    RE:38
    
    What is this diet all about? and what is this "reward meal" all
    about? would you please comment?
    
    Thanks,
    
    
    Lisa

    Lisa,
     
         I also recommend that book...  It will give you a test to find out
    if you are a Carbo addict and to what level.  I have tried the diet for
    about three weeks and lost about 2 pounds a week on it.  Not bad and
    it's not really a diet but a way of eating.  
    
    You have two low carbo meals each day and then for 1 hour a day you
    can eat what ever you want as long as it is well balanced.  You can
    eat alot of food in 1 hr.  You can even drink on it.  Take care when
    starting any diet or change in lifestyle.  I found it easy to stay on
    but if I skip any of the Low Carbo Meals I would get light headed and
    then it would be ease to fall off the diet.  
    
    -marc
    

    I need help!  I thought being on a low-fat diet included the benefit of
    pasta, rice, etc. because of its low fat content.  However, I was just 
    reading in the FLEX notesfile that one should stock up on pasta, etc. to 
    gain weight.  Is this true?  I've just started this low-fat diet and was
    looking forward to pasta dinners.
    
    Any advice?
    
    Thanks...
    

.43>  I need help!  I thought being on a low-fat diet included the benefit of
.43>  pasta, rice, etc. because of its low fat content.
    
    You thought right.
    
    Pasta (not egg noodles) and rice are very low in fat.
    
.43> However, I was just 
.43> reading in the FLEX notesfile that one should stock up on pasta, etc. to 
.43> gain weight.  Is this true?
    
    If you eat enough of any food, you'll gain weight.
    
.43> Any advice?
    
    Eat a varied selection of low-fat foods.  Make sure to break the
    monotony of the diet with a variety or fruits and vegetables and
    low-fat main dishes.  Don't get bogged down eating the same thing,
    day after day.
    
    Also, be careful for fats hiding in the tomato sauces you make or
    buy for the pasta.  Read the labels.