(K. gahagan) wrote in
om:

Please send your response to my e-mail address at by
Friday, November 26, 2004.

No. You posted it here; you can read the responses here.

1. Do you know what a fad diet is?

I don't know your definition of fad diet, no.

2. In your opinion, do you think fad dieting is a healthy way to
lose weight?

I can't answer this question because you've failed to posit your
definition of fad dieting.

3. Have you tried more than one fad diet to lose weight?

See my response to #2.

4. Have you personally or someone you know lost weight on a
particular fad diet?

See my response to #2.

5. If so, have you maintained your weight and for how long?

See my response to #2.

6. Which diet do you believe to be the most realistic?

Do you mean effective instead of realistic? Or do you mean realistic in
the sense of giving the dieter a realistic chance of sticking with the
plan? By diet do you mean a weight loss plan or do you mean an eating
routine that one follows for life? e.g., A koala's diet consists mainly
of eucalyptus leaves.

#6 is a very poorly worded question.

7. Which diet do you believe to be the healthiest?

For whom? An overweight person? A diabetic person? A pregnant woman? A
cardiac patient? A 4 year-old child?

8. Which diet do you believe to be the most unrealistic?

See my response to #6.

9. Which diet do you believe to be the unhealthiest?

See my response to #7.

10. Do you think exercise plays an important role in weight loss?

I think exercise can speed weight loss, if it's of the correct duration
and/or intensity, depending on the person's body type and amount of
overweight.

11. What is your opinion of the Atkins Diet?

I think it's a good guideline in that early versions stipulate--in a
plan that one follows for life--a decreased dependence upon sugars and
processed foods, and a reliance on fresh, unprocessed meats, dairy, nuts
and vegetables. I've lost 40 pounds following the guidelines of the
Atkins Diet, and I've kept it off for more than 6 months now. I do not
eat prepared, processed foods marketed (by Atkins Nutritionals or anyone
else) with 'diet' or 'low-carb' labels.

12. When not dieting, do you make a conscious effort to follow the
limitations for the Food Guide Pyramid?

I do not diet in the sense that I can only assume you mean. In February
of this year I adopted a new way of eating for the rest of my life. No,
I don't follow the FDA's pyramid, as it relies heavily on grains--at the
behest of US agribusiness--which raise my blood sugars to an
unacceptable level and cause cravings for more sugary and/or processed
foods.

13. Overall, do you think any kind of dieting is a good way to
lose weight?

I don't think a temporary change in eating habits--without a lifelong
commitment to healthy eating principles--is bound to help anyone keep
weight off in the long run.

14. Do you wish to receive a copy of this report?

It would be courteous of you to post the report where you asked for
contributions to your study: here in this newsgroup.

Cate