With stroke in my family history (my dad) I would never even think of going on the Atkins diet. I just wouldn't do that to my arteries. I agree with the "all things in moderation" point of view. There are easy and safe things to do to keep those extra calories from turning into those extra pounds, like leaving the table when you could still eat a little more and definitely never taking that second helping. We seldom if ever have desserts in the house also. (OK, now and then if Breyers ice cream is on sale.... ) If it's not in the house, it's sort of hard to snack on it.

Now for some real depressing thoughts. I was listening to the radio several months ago and there was a nutritionist on talking about the "menopause years." It seems as women approach that time of their lives they must eat 30% less calories just to maintain their present weight due to metabolism changes. How unfair is that? How come men don't have to deal with that? So for women especially it might be a good idea to get ride of those extra pounds before you hit those *magical years* when it will be harder.