I've just finished a book, called The Diet Delusion (in Australia), and what an eye opener it was. Written by Gary Taubes. Your library will likely have it, but under a different name.

Definitely worth a read, though I must admit I skimmed a bit as it is very detailed.
Clearly shows that we are being constantly misinformed by the medical authorities and the media on just what is proven and what is theory or plain lies.
What comes out is that obesity is not a simple thing to treat, as the body is very complex. It's not as simple as saying 'eat less and exercise more.'
Exercise can lead to hunger, so you eat more.
Eating less can lead to unrelenting hunger which cannot be tolerated for long.
Refined carbs may be addictive, and extremely hard to cut back on, yet they are without doubt the main cause of obesity, not fats and oils as they tell us. It is to do with insulin.
The book explains it all very well.
I'd recommend it to anybody struggling with weight problems as it reveals the true history of weight-loss trials, what works and what doesn't.

I saw this author on Dr. Oz... where he was treated very poorly.

http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/man-w...ays-wrong-pt-1
Click at the bottom for parts 2 and 3.

http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/mehmet-...ng-i-say-wrong

Another person you may find refreshing is Tim Ferriss:

http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/mehmet-...ng-i-say-wrong

I've lost 30 lbs and still losing following his advice. His book is fascinating! (there are other topics besides weight loss too)He claims that there are scads of studies on food intake and weight that are never applied to most people...ignored by the medical community. High end athletes with special trainers, like Olympic, are the few who know these tricks and use them well.
http://www.doctoroz.com/blog/mehmet-...ng-i-say-wrong

I am eating well, and not terribly hungry and feeling so much better! He was on Dr. Oz too. And treated better for some reason..
http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/four-...fect-body-pt-1
Click on the links 2 thru 4 at the bottom for more.

Mr. Taub is only reiterating the research...and is favoring others that have preceded him... Dr. Barry Sears, The Edes, and Atkins.

I personally believe that the diets that are high protein, are being black balled because there isn't enough protein to feed everyone this way. Also political subsidies in US go to the grain farmers, and sugar producers!

I just cannot handle all those carbs... so I am eating rather high protein and moderate fat containing meals.

Dr. Oz, here is US is getting very wearing IMO. He reverses his statements, and does not deliver the truth. He holds back information in a major way, while maintaining a game show atmosphere on his program, which gives an impression of helping. I've caught him in a frank lie, just recently! If he really told the truth his sponsors would fly the coop and he'd have no income!

BTW, Tim Ferriss says that studies do show exercise does not really improve weight loss much. He has some exercise moves that accomplish alot and take just minutes! I do think for people with metabolic syndrome or diabetes, some exercise does improve insulin receptor action.

congratulations on your weight loss mrs D.!!!!!

hi MrsD, my daughter saw that Dr Oz show, and said how poorly Taubes was treated.
What can you expect though from a TV industry that depends on sponsors and can't risk upsetting the giants of the food industry, not to mention the so-called diet and nutrition experts.
There have been many similar exposures of this dietary mis-advice before, but they get no traction as the current juggernaut of dietary advice is just too large to confront with any success.

My wife and daughter tried the Atkins a few years ago and had good success, but found it unsustainable due to its restrictions.
I couldn't watch them eating bacon and eggs every day, and telling me that fat was good for losing weight. It just seemed so illogical.
So I can understand why this revelation about fat not being the bad guy but the good one is so hard to accept.
Yet we all know, I'm sure, that sugar rich and refined carb foods are bad in any quantity. They are just so much of our life that it's really hard to exclude them.
It's a mindset thing, like giving up smokes or alcohol.
We don't have any of those bad foods in the house, and so can't be tempted.
We still have treats for special occasions but even then look for less sugary options.
We are having great success using coconut oil as a replacement for other cooking oils.

I have been off my muesli breakfast for a few days now, but surprisingly I have dropped nearly 1kg-something I've been trying to do for quite a while after eating too many desserts on a holiday.
Early days I know but I'm very pleased. Will maintain a low carb diet from now on.
It's a shame that this post isn't drawing any comments-I wonder why that is?
And well done on the weight loss!!!

yes I love coconut oil to cook with and coconut milk for curry dishes...yummy!
I know all about how I should be eating...it is just hard giving up so much!
trying to go low carb starting today.
bizi

I still eat some carbs, but very few and carefully.

I added beans and other legumes (as per Tim Ferriss) for metabolic satisfaction. I can't tolerate chili beans, so I do black beans, and Edamame beans and lentils.

Also there is a low carb pasta called Dreamfield's which works for me.

I use a Lebanese roll up when I want a sandwich thing.

Eggs yes, bacon and sausage? no. I do use a turkey sausage however sometimes. I eat some form of fish/chicken/turkey/lean pork or beef every day.

There is a Heinz low sugar ketchup now. I also pick and choose
salad dressings carefully, because alot of sugar can be hidden there. The diet is a bit boring, but as long as it works, I will stay on it. Nuts for snacks. I allow myself some very dark chocolate in small amounts some days. No potatoes, no rice..
I substitute sweet potatoes. And I have found a very good mango/peach salsa to use with the beans.

Ferriss found that a high protein breakfast of 30 grams of protein was essential to the eating plan. And I try to do that each morning. It prevents hunger later in the day.

I am going slowly, as I don't have a time deadline. If I don't eat correctly during the day, my blood sugar goes UP! Fasting really spikes it for some reason. Also smaller meal sizes, and more frequent small quality snacks. (Smart Balance peanut butter or nuts are my typical snacks). I don't do much fruit. I am fructose intolerant. But I typically have an orange a day, and now with cherries in season I have about 10 cherries, with breakfast. I lost 30 lbs in 5 months.

When my 2 very old cats died this winter, I was very upset, and didn't eat much for about 2 wks. That sort of jumpstarted me and as luck would have it, I saw Tim Ferriss on Oz, and bought his book.

I do think eating plans change as we age, and since I've been insulin resistant for most of my life, diabetes has always been looming over me.(it is in my genetic history). Carbs have just been becoming too difficult for me, recently.
I do agree that the Atkins plan is too extreme for most people, but some do like it.

My eating plan now does have carbs in it, but they are what Ferriss calls "slow carbs" digested very slowly over time to level out blood sugar spikes and lows.

thanks for sharing!