[jennyp]

Dr Jebb said: "We simply do not know the long-term health implications.

Gee, I guess "long-term" must mean something longer than 3 1/2 years:

JennyP's numbers since going on a low-carb diet

Date	Mos. into diet	Weight	BMI	Total	HDL	LDL	Total/HDL	Triglycerides
10/20/99	0	163	24.8	unknown - wish I had tested beforehand
4/21/00	6	147	22.3	244	76	158	3.2	48
3/20/01	17	156	23.7	241	74	149	3.3	90
5/15/02	31	154	23.4	219	78	128	2.8	66
6/09/03	44	141	21.4	233	77	143	3.0	66

After losing 1 lb per week, I plateaued at 16 lbs below starting weight. Then I drifted upwards over the next year to around 8 lbs below starting weight & stayed there for a year. Then I cut out ice cream for dessert (we couldn't resist giving ourselves bigger & bigger portions over the months!) & my weight drifted back down by 16 lbs (to 23 lbs net below starting weight). I also switched to a canola-based margarine, but recently I couldn't find any and had gone back to regular margarine; that might be why my total cholesterol came down last year but was higher in the last test.

[carlo3b]

my weight drifted back down by 16 lbs (to 23 lbs net below starting weight...

Can't find an argument in those facts.. keep up the fine work, skinny!

[Technogeeb]

I also switched to a canola-based margarine, but recently I couldn't find any and had gone back to regular margarine

Have you considered trying butter instead of margarine? It tastes a lot better, and is better for you. As long as you don't consume it in a high-carbohydrate diet, the saturated fat from butter is a healthy part of a balanced diet (a lot better than the hydrogenated oils used in margarine) and you get healthy amounts of many nutrients (vitamin A, vitamin E, selenium, etc.) as a nice bonus in addition to the better flavor.

[Core_Conservative]

Try switching to real butter, it has noo carbs and tastes so much better (and it's natural) - just my thoughts.

[Old Professer]

Throw away that imitation butter and eat the real thing.

[ET(end tyranny)]

Look for Smart Balance in your stores. It has plant esters in it which is supposed to help lower cholestrol. Smart Balance is a lot cheaper than the one that Regis Philbin pushed. Plus you can use it for all things, frying and baking. However you could use the real butter too, but if you are concerned with your cholesterol you might give the Smart Balance a try. I noticed my cholesterol went down while using it, but the Atkins diet tends to lower cholestrol anyway.